Trapped with the Cactus-Lover

Chapter 31

Terry

Atleast Corinne knows her boundaries. She knows how to fix things here. Kung paano ibabalik yung gamit ko. Kung ano yung gusto at ayaw ko.

That's the exact phrase that's running on my mind habang pinapakiramdam ko si Samantha sa tabi ko. She isn't sleeping. I know.

Was she thinking about Ate Corinne? Was she thinking about the things that could had happened kung wala sa picture si Aria?

Ate Corinne is the perfect one for her. And just like I have always been, I'm still an option.

Sa lahat ng magagandang damit, papipiliin muna ako ni Mama, but at the back of my mind, I know I have to choose the simple one. Yung hindi pansinin. Yung hindi ganun kaganda. Kasi ayun lang yung babagay sa akin.

Kahit sa simpleng sagala sa barangay namin, Ate Corinne will always be chosen as Reyna Elena, at ako? Taga hawak ng laylayan ng gown nya. O di kaya taga hawak ng arko nya.

Mas nauuna laging napapansin si Ate Corinne. I'm just a sidekick. Without Corinne, no one would even notice that I still exists.

Hanggang ngayon. Kung hindi tinanggihan ni Ate Corinne si Samantha, who am I? Will I be chosen? Will I be noticed?

Ate Corinne will always have choices while I will always be the unwanted option. Parang sagot sa exams. Ako na nga yung all of the above, madalas hindi pa din pinipili. Kasi everyone will always have a doubt.

Kung sa True or False, ako lagi yung False. Kung ABCD, ako lagi yung D. Madalas hindi na pinapansin at pinag aaksayahan ng oras.

So, it's okay Sam. Hindi man ako si Ate Corinne, atleast ako pipiliin kita. Pipiliin ko na maging masaya ka. If you want me to play the role of your betrothed perfectly, then, I'll do it.

Kasabay nang pagtayo ni Samantha sa kama at paglabas ng kwarto, ang sunod sunod na suwail na luhang nag-aalpasan sa mga mata ko.

Halos isang oras din yata ang kinailangan ko para makalma yung sarili ko. I covered my tears.

Sam don't have to know. I don't need her pity.

Leigh is right. Sam is nice. Sa sobrang bait nito, mas iniisip pa din nito na magkunwari para atleast kahit papaano ay maramdaman ko na hindi sya napipilitan sa sitwasyon namin. She's playing her role. Why can't I do the same? Atleast utang na loob ko man lang sa pagpasok nya sakin sa Carriedo's Group.

Last night, I saw the real her. Masakit din pala masampal ng katotohanan. Pero mabuti nga iyon hindi ba? Atleast nagigising din ako kahit papano.

Is that also the reason kung bakit itinulak nya din ako palayo matapos nung magical kiss na akala ko totoo? Was it also part of her plan? Kaya nataranta sya nung alam niyang natatangay na ko?

I smiled sadly.

It was just a mutual agreement afterall. Consider it a bonus, Terry. Atleast nahalikan mo sya ng ganun. You're still lucky.

Paglabas ko nang pinto ay naabutan ko si Sam na katatapos lang magwork out. Pawis na pawis pa ito.

Ready, Terry? Let the camera roll.

Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Ang aga mo naman gumising." Bahagyang kinusot ko yung mata ko just to make sure na walang kahit anong bahid ng luha na natira doon.

"Good morning. I haven't prepared breakfast yet. Gutom ka na ba? Give me fifteen minutes."

That's perfect! Her acting skills is flawless.