"So, you're in good terms with Baste again?" I asked Thrante as she told me she's living with Baste again.
I have no work today so I decided to meet Thrante. It's her day off too so I decided to visit her here in the penthouse.
"He offered me a 30 days of marriage. I just thought his offer sounds good and he promised to rewrite his statement once this agreement ends."
"Then what? What if you will your mind?"
She bit her lower lip. I can see how hard this was for her. But she looks like she's just go-with-the-flow set up and she has no back up plans.
"Look," I folded my arms. "if this agreement works, I hope you guys will get back together."
"What for? We will be annulled after this."
"So, it's fine with you that Baste will love someone else?" I asked, incredulous.
"If he wants to, who am I to restrain him?"
"You sound so confident. Did you find a better man already?" I accused.
"Me?" She chuckled with distinct mockery. "I am busy with my work. Besides, if my marriage with Baste didn't work, how much more with the others?"
"You got a point," I brushed off the topic.
I went home straight after chitchatting with Thrante. I saw Mommy busy painting.
"I'm home," I announced. I went to Mommy and kissed her cheeks. "Where is Dad?"
"Work, Etincelle. Do you need something?"
"None, Mommy. I was with Thrante."
"How is she?"
"She's doing good."
I got myself a seat and sat next to my mother. I clung my arms around her waist and rested my chin on her shoulder.
"Mommy," I called.
"Yes, baby?"
"I love you, Mommy." I smiled at her.
"Hmm," she suspiciously squinted her eyes at me. "Did something come up?"
"None, Mommy. I just thought I haven't made you proud of me."
"What?"
She brought down her paint brush and held my arms. She made me face her. I frowned.
"What made you think you haven't made me proud of you?" She asked.
"Look at Thrante, Mommy. She has two master's degrees and now working under the Arcas. While me? I still don't have a work."
This was why I was so proud of my cousin. She strived hard to get her wants. She pursued and fought for her dreams. I wanted all the people to know how precious Thrante was.
Mama just smiled at me, tucking the lose strands of my hair.
"Whatever happens and whoever you are, you are always and forever my baby."
Tears welled up in my eyes. Until now she's treating me like a baby. minit ang sulok ng mata ko. She sheltered and nurtured me which help me boost my confidence. While Thrante, my cousin, built herself on her own self, her title and her life.
"Mommy," I frowned.
"It's okay, baby. You're still young."
"I'm just one year younger than Thrante but look at her... she has her own title already. She's one of the most prestigious engineers today."
"Baby, life is not a race. Your path is different from Thrante's. You should not compare yourself to others."
Still, it didn't make me feel better. People thought I was better than Thrante but the truth was she's far better than me. My name is powerful and influencial but Thrante's beyond that. She made her own title.
"I still don't have work," I folded my arms.
"I thought you're working with Joshua? Isn't it you've been offered by a different company?"
"Yeah but I don't like any of them. I'm starting to think I took the wrong field."
"What do you really want to pursue?"
I fell silent. I don't know either. All I wanted was fun and adventure.
"Why don't you travel again so you can find the real thing?"
"What real thing?"
"Something that you haven't figured out that you actually like to work on."
I mulled over her statement. I remembered after my travel I got a lot of inspiration. I used my learnings to become a better architect and I tried different things I never thought were part of me; things that I started to like after my travel.
That night, I went to a club alone. I didn't tell anyone. I wanted to be alone. I was not the usual life of the party. Clubs suddenly felt like a lonely place.
"I'll have tequila please," I told the bartender.
When the bartender left, my phone vibrated. checked who was calling. It was Joshua Lopenac.
"Hey!" I welcomed joyfully.
"Where are you? Your background is too loud."
"Just having fun somewhere!" I shouted so he can hear me.
"Alone?"
"Uh-huh."
"You're gonna drink? Who will take you home?""
"I can drive. I'm not gonna get too drunk tonight."
"You should have called me, Etincelle." His tone was disappointed.
"It's okay,"
"Here, Ma'am," the bartender said politely and placed my shot glass on the counter.
"Thank you," I replied.
"You call me when you wanna go home, okay?"
"Sure. What made you call, by the way?"
"It's about work, Etincelle. I shall call you tomorrow when you're free."
"Thanks, Josh."
I placed my phone on the counter. Joshua ended the call. I swilled my shot and quickly sipped the citrus fruit. I scorned as bitterness and sour taste touched my tongue. I felt like my throat was in a lake of fireāit was burning.
"One more please," I told the bartender. He nodded and got me another shot glass.
I was alone 'till I felt someone's presence beside me. He smelled like a fabric conditioner. I peered at his side. I wasn't wrong with my guess.
Jonas Martin is here.
"Hi," I greeted him.
"Hi," he forced a smile. "Alone?"
"Kind of,"
The bartender presented me my order so I turned away from Jonas. I haven't seen him for couple of weeks now.
"Are you here for fun?" He asked me.
"Sort of," I quaffed the tequila and sipped my citrus fruit. "How about you?" I peered at his side.
"Sort of," he replied coldly.I brushed off the topic, tearing off my gaze from him. My body was heating up. Two shots made me dizzy already.
"How old are you again?" He asked curiously."25?" I was not sure. "Or 26.""Still young," he remarked.Silence followed. I was just staring at my shot glass, not knowing what to do. I feel like I will doze off if I will add another shot."You're an architect, right?" He asked again."Yup. Why do you ask?""I have a friend who's looking for an architect. I'm thinking if I should recommend you to him. Is that okay with you?""Really?" I peered at his side. His eyes were serious. "When?""Is that a yes?""Will I ask if not?""I want to make sure. There's still a tendency you will decline the offer if you don't like it.""Depends on the job.""What does that mean?""I specialize restoration. You might ask me for commercial buildings."He slid his palm across his mouth, staring boldly at me. I turned my face away. His hot stares burned my body even more."Here's the thing," he
Folding my arms, I studied the face of Jonas who was standing mightily in front of me. He stood beside Joshua and a man I didn't recognize. He was out of out of my league, not even in my circle of friends."He's the client I was telling you," Joshua spoke up, referring to the stranger. "He has a land property in Aurora. He plans to renovate it. It's an old house and they want to turn it to a restaurant.""What era?" I asked and looked at the stranger."By the way," Joshua piped up. "It's rude to just discuss things without proper introduction, right?""I'm Architect Reyes," I introduced myself to the guy and offered him a handshake."Jacob Lozano," he smiled—it was benevolent, and accepted my hand.His hand was big and warm. I smiled warmly. He looked good. He was friendly and approachable.Jonas cleared his throat, jabbing the back of his palm again
The following morning I readied myself because we were going to Aurora. I brought extra clothes and underwears just in case of emergency. I just thought they would tell me we would go home tomorrow.Five in the morning was our call time. We have to be early because Aurora is far from here and to avoid the heavy traffic too. I calculated the time travel. It's almost five hours."Good morning, E!" Joshua greeted happily when we met outside the house. He told me he will fetch me up and we will go to Jacob's place together."Good morning, Josh! Why are you happy today?""I don't know either," he chuckled.His attire is just simple. Plain pink shirt, heavy jeans and a leather boots."You're in love," I accused."Oh?" I chuckled. "I'm just happy today.""Don't lie to me, Josh. I know you. So, you're hitting on someone?""Nah," h
"I was surprised that Jonas was there. I remembered he offered me a job too. Maybe that's the offer he was referring to. He said his friend is looking for an architect," I told Thrante. I recalled what happened yesterday."And? Have you talked to Jonas again?""I haven't yet. Someone called him yesterday when we were off to go. He called her Honey. Do you think that's his girlfriend?""I'm not sure. But I know someone whose name is Honey.""Really?" She nodded. "Who is she?""Honey Rallos, my family lawyer.""Oh," my lips formed in O shape. "Do you think there's a connection between the two? Isn't she a friend of Joshua?""I don't know," she shrugged. "Jonas is a friend of Joshua, I supposed.""They were batchmates.""Maybe Jonas and Honey were batchmates too?"I fell silent. What is it with me if they wer
They left after that while I and my friends remained on our round table. I wandered my eyes around and realized how full of people this place was."Boy hunting you want?" Morthena asked all of the sudden."Boy hunting?" Morayta repeated, sounding confused."It's up to you, guys. You might like to. Philip told me there's a lot of boys here.""Pass," Morayta quickly replied, waving her hands dismissively. "I'm not into boy hunt tonight.""Same," Haponesa shrugged off."Where's Azy by the way?" I asked. This is why I feel ùlike someone is missing. Azy isn't here."She's not available. You already know why," Morthena replied.This was why marriage sucked. It restrained you from doing your old lifestyle. Thinking about it made me sick."I'll just room around," I told them and excused myself.I looked for a shot to drink. I would drink tonight but not too much. I promised to Mama I wouldn't come home drunk.
I woke up feeling exhausted and in pain. I checked myself and to my great surprise, I was naked! I abruptly covered my body with the comforter. I felt like all my blood went dry."What?!" I shouted.I wandered my eyes around the place. My eyes quickly widened as I realized I was inside a familiar room. My heart hammered against my chest.The door opened and a familiar face of a man came into view. My eyes quickly widened. I checked myself again and I was utterly naked!"W-What..." I trailed off.My cheeks flared up in embarrassment. Why is he here?! Why am I here inside his room?! Why am I naked?! Did something happened last night?!I swallowed the lump in my throat. My mind went wild. I hear voices in my head but I can't even open my mouth to speak up. My tongue cowered."Did we have some fun last night?" I asked directly."You forgot?"
One month passed and that was the last time that I saw Jonas. I tried not to show up in front of him. I don't to remember what he said that I did the first move that led to something. That was the least thing I would do! Men beg for me. I don't beg for heaven's sake!He really thinks highly of himself, huh?As I descended from thre stairs, I smelled an awful odor from the kitchen. I winced, fanning my nose to shoo away the bad odor."What are you cooking, Manang?" I asked our helper as I arrived at the kitchen."Adobong manok, hija. Why?""Why does it smell so bad?""Really? I put some ginger already.""It makes me so sick, Manang. Please, change your menu.""Your mother requested me to cook this.""Nah," I waved my hand dismissively. "Please, Manang. Just change it already. I hate the smell.""What do you want me to cook?""Anything. Just please not chicken."I walked away. I can't endure the
Two red lines on the pregnancy test made my heart pound cruelly against my chest. The result told me I was positive. I was pregnant!My hands were shaking in fear. I don't want to believe my eyes. I don't want to believe that the results told me I was pregnant. I wasn't! This can't be!My menstruation was delayed for two months already. I never missed my period so it's quite questionable. It's my first time to experience this.A tear escaped from my eyes. My hands were shaking while putting the testing kit on the sink. I tried another test and it had the same result. There were two red lines.I picked up my phone and called Thrante. It took few rings before she picked up her phone."Thrante," I called out."Why? Is there something wrong?""W-Where are you? Are you home?""Yes, Etincelle. Is there something wrong? You sound troubled.""Uhh," I trailed off. "I-I have something to tell you.""Huh?" She sounded dread