SIN: Valeria Caruso

38.2: Surprise?

Sipalay Beach Resort.

As I watched the sea crash against the pristine sand, all my negative thoughts were washed away. The gentle breeze made the heat bearable, even in my thin black one-piece swimsuit with a halter. The surroundings were serene, with the enticing sound of the waves prevailing.

"Heeeeey, sexy!"

Awtomatiko akong napalingon sa boses na tumawag sa akin no'n. I wasn't wrong in my assumption.

"Hey!" I hugged Arden, who was wearing a knee-length red satin dress, its see-through fabric revealing her red two-piece swimsuit. "You're so hot! Where are the others?" I glanced at my staff and waved to greet them, and they did the same.

"Paparating na sila, baka mamaya nandito na rin ang mga 'yon. Nauna na kasi kami mag-swimming kaninang umaga. Hindi na kita napuntahan kasi malayo 'yung cottage namin sa inyo."

Tumango ako. "Oo nga, 'eh."

The two of us sat on beach chairs and grabbed some wine.

"Si Livia? Nasa photoshoot pa rin?" she asked me.

I just nodded. Mula noong umalis si Livia kanina sa dining area ay hindi na siya bumalik. I found out from mom that they went straight to do the prenup shoot. I didn't like how I felt. I didn't want to be jealous because I knew Zevran wasn't mine. Even though I knew he didn't have feelings for Livia, he was still with another woman. Not just any woman, but his fiancée.

I hate that all I can do is talk. I hate seeing the reality of competing with my sister. I hate that for the second time, Livia is involved with the man I love. But this time, the situation is reversed. And I'm so damn stupid.

Dinala ako ni Arden sa isa sa mga shop rito sa Sipalay na nagbebenta ng iba't-ibang products na gawa ng mga manggagawa na tiga-Negros-Occidental. Some were handcrafted, making them unique because not all products nowadays are made by hand. There were so many beautiful products I wanted to buy for my loved ones, and I had no regrets because they deserved to receive gifts even without an occasion.

I paused when I saw the jewelry section because of the familiar necklace I spotted. So this was the shop he was talking about. I touched the letter V hanging on the chain necklace and caressed it.

"Maganda po ang disenyo n'yan, ma'am. Hindi po kinakalawang." nagulat ako sa biglang pagsulpot ng isa sa mga saleslady. Nginitian ko siya.

"It does look like it."

"Noong nakaraang araw nga po, may bumili sa amin na guwapong lalaki, matangkad siya tapos mukhang may lahi... binili niya rin po 'iyang chain necklace na may letter V. Noong tinanong ko po siya kung kanino niya ibibigay 'yan, sa girlfriend niya 'raw po."

I swallowed slowly. Girlfriend... Even though I wasn't by his side while he was choosing this, I could still picture it in my mind.  Tinago ko ang ngiti sa aking labi.

"Did he only buy this?" I asked the woman.

Umiling siya. "Nakakapagtaka nga po, 'eh. Lahat po ng produkto rito na may nakasulat na letter V, binili niya. May binili pa po siyang iilan na furnitures tapos po ipinalagyan niya ng pangalan."

My heart was pounding.  "A-Anong pangalan?"

Sandali siyang nag-isip. "Val... Valeri... Valerie? Ah hindi... Basta Val 'yon eh."