Checkmate on Love (COMPLETED- Published under PHR)

Final

Ano raw? Anong na miss niya? And it seems her confusion is written all over her face so he answered her.

"The kiss. Your lips. I miss it so much."

Ibig sabihin...?

"Yes. Hindi ako tulog noong halikan kita noon. I wasn't even drunk at all. Gusto ko lang matikman ang matagal ko nang pangarap - ang halikan ka. Pero ngayon hindi ko akalaing mas matamis pala ito kapag tinutugon mo na."

"Please stop joking around."

"I'm not. Mavis... I love you." He was staring right into her and she really felt his words.

Gusto man niyang paniwalaan ito pero hindi ganoon kadali iyon. "Jacques, you're just confused... Si Thea. Siya ang mahal mo."

Umiling ito. Hinila siya patungo sa kwarto nito at binuksan ang drawer. Kinuha nito ang isang maliit na box at ibinagay sa kanya.

Nang buksan iyon ay nakita niya ang kapares ng singsing.

"Her parents wanted us to get married in exchange of the merging. Alam nilang hindi kakayanin ni Thea na pamunuan mag-isa ang malaking kumpanya nang tulad sa kanila. They think I would fit the postion. Hindi ko na sinabi kina Mama at Papa. I don't want them to think I'd be a sacrifice. 'Yong gabing pupunta sana tayo ng concert ay kinausap ako ng magulang niya to make the engagement official. I wasn't really drunk but I can't go home rightaway because I'm scared to see you. I love you so much then at alam kong 'pag makita kita, mababago mo ang desisyon ko."

"But you agreed."

"Initially, pumayag ako. We told them na nagkasundo na kaming magpakasal ni Thea. But I have my reasons."

"What reasons?"

"When companies merge may tendency na mapalitan ang pangalan ng kompanya. I did it to keep the name of the company."

"Name?"

"Fortich and Artiaga. At least kahit sa pangalan ng kompanya ay makasama tayo."

"Teka—"

"No. Listen to me first. I want you to understand."

Tumango na lang siya upang magpatuloy ito. Mukhang hindi rin naman talaga siya pagsasalitain pa.

"Thea is a good excuse for me to stop wanting you. But in the end ako rin ang unang humiling sa kanyang huwag na naming ituloy ang engagement dahil pareho lang kaming mahihirapan. I told her if she wanted to run away dahil hindi pwedeng ako ang umalis. Marami akong dapat ayusin sa kompanya. And she was glad to agree. She went away telling everyone that she'll have to study abroad. We fooled everyone that there will still be a wedding after she comes back. Pero ang totoo, sumama siya sa lalaking matagal na niyang mahal at nagpakasal sila sa England."

"She's in love with somebody else?"

"Yes. When she went home last year. We decided to really end up the show. Tutal pareho naman naming nakuha ang gusto namin. The merging is already done too. Hindi na kailangan ang kasal. Wala din kaming sinabing rason kung bakit kami naghiwalay. It just happened kung baga."

"Everyone thought you haven't moved on because of her."

"I haven't moved on because of someone else. Read the inside of the ring. I engraved something there."

Binasa niya ang nakasulatdoon. Jacques &Mavis

"Anong ibig sabihin nito."

Inalis ni Jacques ang sariling singsing at pinabasa ang nakasulat sa loob noon. Parehong pareho ang mga ito. And she's sure it's the same ring she saw he was wearing on her debut party.