The Girl He Never Loved Back (Montealegre Series #1)

xl. the awaited soirée

"Tingin sa itaas please."

I did what my makeup stylist told me.

It's already six o'clock in the evening and I'm still sitting here and getting my makeup done. At exactly nine o'clock the party will start pero kailangan na eight o'clock ay naroroon na ako para batiin ang mga guests.

Just like what Mom told me this morning.

We have to socialize with the guests and acknowledge their presence. Kahit gaano kadami, kailangan masiguro na lahat ay babatiin at makakausap.

Sinapo ko ang sentido nang kumirot ito.

My lips twitched. I slept late last night because I had been thinking of what Gray and I talked about.

Napalabi ako.

"Y-you know my answer, Gray."

Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. He remained staring at me with a cocky smirk on his lips.

"And you also know my answer, baby."

Napalunok ako.

I know what he's trying to say.

. . . that he won't stop . . . that he won't give up just like what he promised me.

"Gray--"

"It drives me crazy to see you with him that I couldn't help but to drive my ass all the way here."

Mas humigpit ang kapit ko sa railings.

"Just one chance . . . Sapphire." I saw him holding his phone tightly.

"One fucking chance baby . . ." He muttered under his breath.

Seeing him there beside his car . . . looking at me and asking for a chance pains me. It gives me a hard time to breathe because I know I can't give him what he's asking for.

I'm in love with Travis . . . sigurado ako ro'n.

But why does it affect me so much while listening to him asking for a chance?

Nagdadalwang isip akong tumalikod at pumasok muli sa kwarto ko after mumbling sorry over the phone. I cut the line off and sat on my bed as I bit my lower lip.

I've always been in love with Travis . . . si Travis ang gusto ko. Since I was in 11th grade, si Travis lang . . . but,

Why . . . why did I hesitate? I'm sure si Travis ang gusto ko pero hindi ko maiwasan hindi kwestyunin ang sarili kong nararamdaman.

Kinuyom ko ang kamao ko sa takot . . . sa takot na may ibang dahilan kung bakit ako nagkakaganito . . . kung bakit nararamdaman ko ito.

"As expected . . ."

Mommy clasped her hands together after she examined me — or should I say . . . look at me from head to toe.

"It suits you well, Sapphire. You look just like me," lumapit siya sa 'kin para mas tignan pa lalo ang damit ko. "Halatang-halatang Montealegre ka."

For the first time, she looked proud at me as she smiled while staring at my sapphire v-neck satin mermaid dress with a shining criss cross at my back.

Ginawaran ko lang siya ng maikling ngiti sa pagpuri niya. Kahit sa ganitong paraan lang ay natutuwa na ako na nakikita kong proud sa 'kin si Mommy. Nananatili ang tingin ko sa kaniya sa salamin na kaharap namin dahil pinagmamasdan ko ang malaking ngiti niya sa suot ko.

She looks so proud . . . I have never seen her face like this as satisfied as before.

"What are you doing there, Sapphire?"