Chapter Three

“Tricia? Is that you?” Isang boses ng babae ang nakaharap sa akin. “Remember me? Annie? Your classmate nung high school?” Now I remember her.

“Oh? Hi Annie.” She’s been my rival since day 1. I remember galit na galit sya sa akin dahil ako ang nag valedictorian sa batch namin. After her mother donated a 3-storey building sa school, she thought na sa kanya ang top 1. But hindi naman sa pagmamayabang ay puro perfect score ako sa lahat ng subject and extra curriculars ng school.

“You look different, tired? Frustrated? How are you?” umupo sya sa harap ko. I know her. She’s just here to brag something. Naka designer clothes siya, prada vintage bag, puno ng accessories ang katawan and a diamond ring on her finger. And I look opposite. Naka leggings lang ako, white oversized polo shirt, no make up and no accesorries. Cellphone lang ang dala ko. And stress ako for days na, remember?

“I’m doing great Annie. How about you?” I ask her nicely. Tamad akong makipag ukrayan.

“I’m feeling greater. As you can see naman I am getting married next year.” Grabe ang ngiti nya hanggang magsimula syang magsalita about her fiancé, her perfect life and all. I have no guts to contradict her life story so I started to nod and smile at her.

“Well, how about you? What are you doing now? I met your mom and she said lumayas ka raw? Are you okay?” Kunyari concern. “Honestly, you look…poor.” She said with a smirk.

“Hon? Sorry to keep you waiting.” He approached me and kiss my forehead. Then he looked at Annie.

Nakita ko ang pag iba ng mukha ni Annie. Jay’s presence seems distracting to her. Napangaga lang ito sa kanya. He’s wearing his black longsleeves na nakaroll hanggang elbow niya. Same scent ang naamoy ko sa kanya. It tingles my nerves. Mas nagising pa yata ako kaysa sa kapeng iniinom ko.

I smile at him and look at Annie. Sure akong pinapantasyahan niya ang boss ko.

“I’m sorry miss? I’m Jay Lim, Tricia’s Fiance. You are?” Habang inabot nito ang kamay ky Annie. Ay, friendly siya. Ang Annie naman ay dali-daling inabot ang kamay ng boss ko. “I’m Annie Delmondo, Tricia’s classmate nung high school.” Tudo ngiti ito. “You look familiar, by the way? Are you the Lim of Mount Arc?”

Ngumiti si Jay and tumango. Pahumble naman si boss. Umigham na ako when I notice na hindi pa binibitawan ni Annie ang kamay ng boss ko. ‘Nice to meet you Miss Annie.” Ani Jay habang kinukuha ang pagkamay ky Annie.

“Hindi ka naman nagkukwento Tricia na my fiancé ka na pala. And I haven’t seen any ring on your finger.” Osyoso ng bruha. Magsasalita na sana ako para masupalpal ang bunganga niya pero kinuha ni Jay ang aking kamay at nagsalita.

“I took it from her yesterday, pinaadjust ko lang dahil lumuwang sa kanya. Pumayat kasi siya lately. But anyway Miss Annie, I’m sorry to intervene you chit-chat but I badly need to spend time with her right now.”

Natulala lang si Annie. Tumahimik na lang ako habang pasimpleng ngumiti. “We have to go Annie, happy to see you tonight.” Kinuha ko ang folder and cellphone ko at tsaka tumayo habang hawak-hawak pa ang kamay ng boss ko.

Hindi ko na pinatagalan pa at umalis na ako sa harap niya. We left her there na parang wala lang.

Paglabas naming ng café ay bumitaw na ako sa kanya. “Where are we going?” Tanong ko sa kanya.

“I have reserve dinner for two in Shangrila. Is that okay?” tanong niya sa akin.

“Is it okay po bang ganito ang hitsura ko?” nakatitig siya sa akin. He is looking at me from head to toe.

“I don’t mind.” He said at pumasok na sa kotse niya. I have no choice but to go inside the car too.

Jay’s POV

 “Well, how about you? What are you doing now? I met your mom and she said lumayas ka raw? Are you okay?” I heard their conversation. “Honestly, you look…poor.” I hurriedly went to her and kiss her forehead. “Hon? Sorry to keep you waiting.”

She smells so nice. Not too feminine but it makes me like her more. I look at that woman in front of her ay na naka nganga na. Too fancy, I saw her somewhere but I don’t mind. What lingers my senses is Tricia’s scent. She looks so simple but her character amazes me.

Nang umalis na kmi at nagtatanong na siya kung okay lang na ganun ang hitsura niya. I stared at her. Her eyes, face, lips, her petite body. She looks beautiful even without make up and without showing a lot of skin. “I don’t mind.” I told her.