"Hmm, alright!" I positively replied. There''s a hint of unknown feeling inside but I chose to ignore it.


    Binigay ko nng sa secretary ang pagkain bago lumabas ng building. I went to the nearby mall and went to some boutiques. I googled myself on buying some important things. Nakapagtataka at hindi na ako p-bili ng mga gamit na ididisy kong sa bahay.


    Nang madaanan ang isang boutique ay kaagad akong naglibot-libot. I grimaced when nothing suited for my liking.


    Lbas na sana ako nang may mahagip akong pamilyar. I took a closer walk to verify if it''s really her.


    May kaharap itong babae at mukhang hindi maganda ang tim ng pag-uusap n.


    "Mag-ingat ka sa mga sinasabi mo, baka bukas o sa makwa, ikaw pa yung mapapahiya sa mga pinanggagawa mo." My lips curled into a smirk when I realized what''s going on. It surely is Maite.


    Sinuyod nito ang kabuuan ng babaeng kaharap at pagak na natawa.


    "You b*tch! How dare you tell me those things!" Maite raised an eyebrow and looked at the girl in a mocked manner.


    "Ikaw ang nauna. Pero bakit nung pinatn kita, mas sobra pa sa biktima ka kung maka-asta?" Maite said sharply. Hindi nakasagot ang babae at umuusok ang ilong na tinalikuran si Maite.


    "There''s really not a day that a bad spirit will follow you, yeah?"


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    "Hah, w tg― Celestia?" untag nito nang makita ako.


    I waved at her. Ang kaninang mataray na mukha niya ay naging maamo bi. Kaagad niya akong npitan at niyakap.


    "Wng pinagbago, angganda ko pa rin." si Maite.


    I rolled my eyes and hugged her tightly. Hindi ko inasahan na magkikita kami ngayon. It has been such a long time when west met.


    "What are you doing here by the way?" tanong ko. At mukhang na-rma naman siya sa sinabi ko.


    "Nothing, really. N-Nag-shoppingng ako at na-"


    "Maite," putol ng kung sino sa kanya.


    I saw how Maite squeezed her eyes shut as if putting herself to embarrassment. Sabay kaming napalingon sa nagsalita, and there stood a tall guy throwing sharp res at Maite.


    "Nandiyan ka p, anong ginagawa mo dito?" mataray nitong tanong pero hindi maikaka- ang kabado sa boses.


    "Should I be the one asking you that?" masungit na pabalik na tanong nglaki.


    Looks like they are enemies.


    "Bakit mo binabalik ang tanong sa akin?" medyo tumaas ang boses ni Maite.


    "Bakit? Ikawng ba ang pwedeng pumunta sa mall? Di ''ba hindi? At bakit mo ba ako pinapaki-man rito? Dun ka sa babaeng haliparot na yun at mukhang interesadong-interesado pa yun na samahan ka." si Maite. Palipat-lipatng ang tingin ko sa dwa, hindi m kung magpapam o dumeritsong lumayo sa kan.


    I saw the guy massaging the bridge of his nose beforeposing himself.


    "I''m not interested in her. I''m sorry, please let''s not argue. Let''s go home, Maite."


    Lumapit si Maite sa''kin. "Let''s hang out some other time. I just need to deal with this creature."


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    Pagkasabi ng huling linya ay rumolyo ang mga mata nito. I nodded and bid farewell to them. Nang maka-uwi ay plim pang ang gabi. Kaagad na bumungad sa akin si Roseanna.


    I didn''t greet her and just walked past her.


    "So you''re close with Wayde now? Noon, halos isumpa mo pa kami dahil gusto ka naming ipakasal sa kanya. What happened now, Celestia?"


    I gritted my teeth and answered. "What happened is not your business, Roseanna."


    "He will leave you. Hindi ka magtatagal sa kanya, I''m sure of that. Wayde would just throw you something like trash." I clenched my fist.


    Staying calm is the only thing that I bear in mind. My mind is congested and I would be more of it if Roseanna would provoke me.


    "Iiwan man niya ako o hindi, w kanang pakim ''run. Better stay in your line, Roseanna. I don''t need your pointless statement."


    I was about to walk away when she threw a line that got me thinking. Naramdaman ko ang pagkirot ng puso ko sa sinabi niya. Na sahat ng mga sinabi ni Roseanna ay dun ako mas naapektuhan.


    "Just how many months have you two known each other? Pumunta ka sa office niya diba? pero w siya ''run. It just shows how he prioritizes his business more than you. Because you''re not the priority and never will be."


    Natikom ko ang bibig ko at hindi na sumagot, ni hindi ko manng siya tinapunan ng tingin. I went straightly to my room and took a bath. Hindi pa rin maw-w ang sinabi ni Roseanna kanina.


    I trust Wayde.


    Hinayaan kong dumaloy angmig ng tubig sa katawan ko. It has been a year since we knew each other. At sa mga panahong iyon ay hindi ko kanman iniisip ang mga bagay na ''yun. She may know Wayde longer than me, but she will never see Wayde''s sacrifices to where he is now.


    How cruel she can be.


    Kaagad kong pinunasan ang buhok ko at pinatuyo iyon. When I nced at the clock, it''s already past 8 pm. Kinatok rin ako ni Manang Helen para kumain pero tumanggi ako. Sabay nng kami ni Wayde mamaya.


    I made my way to the main balcony to breathe some fresh air. Kaagad na bumungad ang mmig na kapaligiran sa akin.


    I watched those myriad lights outside. Those moving trees as they swayed with the breeze. Hindi ko mapigng mapaisip na naman sa sinabi ni Roseanna.


    Aaminin kong hindi ako mapakali dahil dun. Those statement from her lingers in my mind like a windmill. I was never been the priority even before. Because you''re not the priority and never will be.


    There''s always a line between the business and with my dad''s rtionship. But I couldn''t me him for it. Dahilhat ng ginagawa niya para sa akin, para sa kinabukasan ko. I never think of it not until Roseanna mentioned it. Ni hindi kan sumagi sa isip ko ang mainggit sa isang bagay na hindi naman tao pero ngayon, I doubt it. m ko kung gaano kahirap ang industriyang pinasok niya at kangan kong intindihin iyon. After all, it wasn''t just me. Wayde... didn''t grew up with his parents beside him. W siyang matatakbuhan kung meron ''mang masamang mangyari o sa masasayang araw niya. And those kinds of situations made me realize somehow. An hour had passed.


    Bumibigat na rin ang talukap ng mga mata ko. Iniba ko ang posisyon ko sa pagkaka-upo para hindi antukin. I also entertain myself on watching some movies.


    An hour had passed when I felt my phone vibrating. Awtomatiko akong napabangon upang kunin iyon.


    "Celestia, have you eaten already?"


    "Not yet, why?" I answered in a low tone.


    "I may not be able to join dinner with you. Bakate na akong maka-uwi ngayon, I''m sorry for not being able to meet you today. Don''t wait for me already." nagbaba ako nang tingin at napatango kahit hindi naman niya ako nakikita. I tried my best not to be affected. I took a deep breath and tried to stop myself from over-thinking.


    It took me seconds to answer Wayde, who was also waiting for me to respond.


    "Ganun ba? Oh, okay, mag-iingat ka sa pag-uwi." I replied and ended the call.


    Hindi ko na hinintay ang pagsagot niya. It was rude for me to act that way pero hindi manng ako nagsisi na sinabi ko ''yun. I can sense a bitterness that is hovering over me.


    Damn it! What the heck is happening to you, Celestia?