All For Show (COMPLETED)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Paglabas ko pa lang ng sasakyan ay si Pablo na agad ang unang hinanap ng mga mata ko. I just didn't want to leave him by himself. Alam ko na matanda na siya and that he could handle himself, but still, I was the one who invited him here. To an extent, I felt responsible for him. Besides, na-try ko na na pumunta sa events na ako lang magisa at walang kasama. Granted na kaya ko naman ang sarili ko, still, company would've been nice.

Patingin-tingin ako sa paligid nung instead na si Pablo ang makita ko ay nakita ko si Stephen, iyong pinsan slash best friend ni Leo.

"Cerise," pagtawag niya sa akin.

I gave him an awkward smile. "Hi," sabi ko sa kanya.

Okay naman kami ni Stephen. Hindi siya asshole. Hindi rin siya mabait. Actually, hindi ko alam kung paano siya i-describe. It's just that when the thing with Leo and Therese happened, he was one of the people 'in the know.' So when I went to Manila, isa siya sa mga tao na iniwasan ko. Ang dami kong iniwasan na tao kasi ang dami rin nila na nagtago sa akin sa mga nangyari between Leo and Therese.

Looking back, I felt so alone... like everyone hated me enough para pagkaisahan nila ako. Kasi sino ba ang gagawa nung ganon, 'di ba? I was hurt real bad that I went to Manila despite not knowing anyone there. But it's fine. It's all in the past. Okay na okay na ako ngayon.

"Akala ko hindi ka pupunta."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Why not? Kapatid ko 'yung bride."

His lips parted a bit na para bang nabigla siya sa paraan ng pagsagot ko. Kung sabagay... It had been ages since we last talked. Ni hindi ako umaattend ng mga reunion dahil ganoon iyong level na ayoko silang makita. Iyong version ng Cerise sa utak niya ay ibang-iba na sa kaharap niya ngayon.

"If you'll excuse me," sabi ko nung makita ko iyong sasakyan ni Pablo na magpapark pa lang. I knew I could've done more damage and told him na pupuntahan ko iyong boyfriend ko, but I felt like that would've been too much...

Besides, makikita din naman nila kami. And chismosa iyong mga Tita ko. I'd trust na hindi pa rin sila nagbabago at alam na ng lahat ng tao sa simbahan na may kasama akong lalaki.

Nang malapit na ako sa sasakyan ni Pablo ay sakto naman na bumukas iyong pintuan at lumabas siya.

God... I wanted his confidence.

The way he walks? It's like he owns the place. Could this guy be ever be intimdated? Nakaka-curious lang what it will take to intimidate a guy like him.

"Got caught in traffic," sabi niya.

"It's fine," I replied. "Kakadating ko lang."

"Oh, great."

"Why?" I asked kasi parang relieved siya.

"I want to be standing right beside you when you see your ex."

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Oh."

Bahagya namang kumunot ang noo niya. "I mean, that was the point, right? For you bringing me here?" he asked, looking at me like he was a bit confused sa reaksyon ko.

I quickly gathered myself. Masyado na akong natuwa sa presensya niya. Iyon nga pala talaga iyong dahilan kung bakit siya nandito. I mean, bakit ba nagulat pa ako e sobrang clear naman right from the beginning na iyon ang dahilan kung bakit sobrang kapal ng mukha ko when I approached him? I really didn't waste any time when I asked him to be my date for the wedding.

"Of course," I said with a smile. "But for the record, he's not my ex."

He shrugged. "Would you prefer that I call him the guy who broke your heart?"