Hopelessly Devoted (Under Revision)

CHAPTER 05

Anya's POV

Light pink mermaid gown ang napili kong suotin para mamayang Gabi while Eshell choose the red rose gown that matches Gaze's necktie, we're now in front of the mall where boys told us to wait since they are not yet done finding Xavier's tuxedo and necktie that will pair mine

"Xavier is way more ideal husband for you, Anya, don't you see it?"

Eshell suddenly said, I turned on her and tilted my head

" What do you want me to do Eshell? Divorce Drew? Xavier won't be happy if I chose him out of pity, no one will be happy if I do that, because Xavier deserve more"

I sincerely answered her, Eshell let out a sigh

"Did Drew calls you? Did he tries to find where are you last night? Did he even worry on you for not coming home last night?"

"Hindi naman ako umasa Eshell"

"Umasa ka man o hindi, it's still a proof that he really don't care about you, how sweet he is right?"

Right after Eshell said that, a black SUV suddenly stopped right infront of us, bumaba ang binatana nito sakto sa may driver's seat, there, my heart recognizes him immediately, his stare lingers on my whole body as he look at me with those plain and dull eyes ngunit panandalian lamang ang lahat lalo na nang sumilip din mula sa katabing upuan nito si Chella

"Hey guys! Nandito rin pala kayo? What a very nice coincident!"

Masayang sambit niya ngunit hindi maitatago ang pagiging plastik sa tono nito, ngiming ngumiti lamang kami dito habang pinipilit ko ang aking sarili na hindi na muli tumingin pa sa gawi ni Drew, then Eshell's phone rang, she tapped my shoulder as an excuse for herself and I just nodded as soon as Eshell left, my husband and his girl get off the car too

"You should go inside first, I need to make some phone call first"

Sambit ni Drew habang ang mga mata nito'y nakapako sa kaniyang telepono, I averted my gaze when Chella suddenly look at me

"Are you sure?"

Tanong nito habang ramdam ko pa rin ang titig nito ilang metro lamang ang layo nila sa puwesto ko

"Yeah."

Drew simply answered, a few moment of silenced napagpasiyahan ko na sanang sundan si Eshell, kinalkal ko ang dala kong bag upang sana'y hanapin ang aking cellphone nang may biglang humawak sa kaliwang siko ko, tila nagkaroon ng karera ang puso ko nang malingunan na si Drew iyon, idagdag pa rito ang mariing klase ng tingin nito sa akin na tila ako'y hinuhusgahan kaagad nito

"Nasaan ka kagabi?"

He suddenly ask and I don't know why, so he noticed?

"Overnight, at friends' house"

I honestly and casually answered him ngunit tila hindi siya makuntento dito, my bottom lips tremble when he slowly press my bare skin on my elbow, tila may nais itong sabihin na hindi niya maisa-tinig, pareho kaming nakatinig ng parating na sasakyan and I knew from afar that it's the boys, hindi ko alam kung saan ako kumuha ng lakas upang mabilis na hugutin mula kay Drew ang braso ko, naramdaman ko na bahagya itong nagulat sa aking kilos, I heard him let out a deep sigh

"Go home, Anya"

Mabilis ko itong nilingon ngunit nakatalikod na ito sa akin, hindi ko alam kung tama ako ng rinig sa sinabi nito, did he just said home? So he consider our house as home?

Dahil sa palagay na iyon ay biglang nag-init ang gilid ng aking mga mata, mabilis akong tumalikod nang huminto ang kotse sa harap ko sakto rin na bumalik si Eshell

"Let's go! We have so much to prepare!"

I heard Xavier said, humugot ako ng malalim na hininga saka sila hinarap, I saw Eshell's curious face but I manage to ignore it and just smile as if nothing happen

"Hatid ka na namin sa inyo Anya!"

"No!"

Sabay na sagot namin ni Eshell, natahimik naman ang dalawang lalaki na silang naka-upo sa unahan

"Ang defensive naman, what's with Anya's house?"

Gaze jokingly asked

"May plano na kasi kami ni Eshell, right?"

Sansala ko dito

" Yup! Sa salon niyo na kami ibaba, I'll tell you the right address"

Eshell said, sa katunayan ay wala akong ideya sa salon-salon nito ngunit nagpatangay na lamang ako sa agos ng usapan na as usual ay nauwi nanaman sa asaran

"Sure ka ba na salon ito? Baka manlalaki lang kayo ah!"

Xavier teased us nang marating namin ang address na sinasabi ni Eshell

"Private kasi, ganitong klase ng salon ang hindi mo afford!"

Paglaban dito ni Eshell saka ako hinila pababa

"Umalis na kayo! Dito niyo nalang din kami daanan mamaya!"

Pagtataboy nito sa mga lalaki, Xavier make a face while Gazel just nod and smile before driving out

"Welcome to private salon! Kagabi ko lang ito binook and fortunately may available room pa, let's go inside!"

Excited nitong sambit, we enter it happily and get mesmerized by the elegance, parang semi-hotel din ito, nasa loob ng bawat kwarto ang salon, my spa na rin and more even beds and shower, moreover you can order some food while waiting so Eshell and I decided to have lunch first inside our own room, we also hang out dresses inside the cabinet of the room.

Mabilis lumipas ang oras at dumating na ang pinaka-hihintay ng lahat, mahigpit kong ikinawit ang braso ko sa braso ni Xavier habang naglalakad kami papasok ng venue, the camera was keep flashing na tila pakiramdam ko ay makakabulag na anumang oras, nakahinga lamang ako ng naluwag nang maka-upo na kami sa aming designated seats, maingay ang paligid, lahat ay masayang nag-uusap, iginala ko ang aking mata to find him, my husband, and finally saw him shaking hands with some other businessman

Drew's not with Chella, I slowly bit my bottom lip and slowly look down at his free arm, ano kayang pakiramdam na kumapit dun? Would I feel safe if ever I get near him and touch him? But then, my fantasies shattered when Chella, wearing a black strapless ball gown wrap her arms around Drew's arm, mabilis akong napa-iwas ng tingin at inisang inom ang red wine na nasa champagne glass ko

"Easy! Wala pa nagsisimula ang program!"

Xavier teased me, I just smiled awkwardly and look at Eshell, halata sa mga mata nito na alam niya ang tumatakbo sa isip ko, marahan itong umiiling na tila sinasabing wala na akong pag-asa sa sarili kong asawa, dahil doon ay napayuko na lamang ako sa buong oras ng program, didn't even care to move and get some food that is why Xavier felt the need to feed me but I respectfully refused