29

Nagising siya kinabukasan na magaan ang pakiramdam. Lalo na at hindi umalis ang binata hangga't hindi pa siya nakakatulog. He stayed on her side for God knows but she woke up with no Leonardo anymore on her side.

She just took a bath and do her daily routine and just wore a backless black sando and a high waist jeans paired with a black heeled boots and a sunglasses.

Black lahat ang suot niya ngayon dahil iyon din naman ang tunay na nararamdaman ng puso niya. She's just trying her best to hide it.

Nagtatakang nilapitan niya ang lamesa pagkababa niya dahil natanaw niya na may laman ito. At hindi nga siya nagkakamali, there's a fried rice, eggs and hotdogs different plates. May notes pang nakadikit sa tabi nito.

eat your breakfast, baby. i personally prepared it for you. hope you're fine now.

- atty.

Mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti sa kanyang labi at hindi niya alam kung matatanggal pa ba niya iyon. With his simple gestures he never failed to make her heart reached the cloud nine.

NAGING banayad ang buong araw niya sa trabaho dahil na rin sa magandang bungad nito.

She's now with Cia in a bar. Bigla kasing nagyaya ang kaibigan sa hindi niya malamang dahilan, still she joined her. Kailangan rin naman niya ng distraksyon at baka kung ano-ano na naman ang isipin niya.

"Badtrip talaga 'yang Ethon na 'yan, Toni! After seeing him in your office, ang sarap niya na lang ipasok sa shredding machine!," punong-puno nang panggigil ang mukha ng kaibigan habang may hawak-hawak na kopita ng alak.

Nakadekwatrong sumisimsim naman siya ng alak habang pinapanood ang isang bandang nag-aayos ng mga instruments.

They are in a music bar, more decent than their usual bar hopping. Well, si Cia naman ang namili nito at sumama lang siya sa huli.

"You didn't told me about him," she spoke.

Aburido namang sinalinan muli nito ang sariling baso habang nakasalampak sa sofang kanilang kinauupuan, "Malay ko bang magkakilala rin pala kayo. Duh!"

"Well, he's a friend of Leo," she said in a matter of fact.

"Yeah, my loves. He's a friend of that cheater," at nagawa pa nitong umirap sa kawalan.

"Your mouth, Leticia," she reminded her, kahit naman sinasaktan siya ni Leonardo nang patago, ayaw niya pa ring isipin na masamang tao ito. He has reasons, she knew that.

"Whatever, Antoinette. Bagay lang silang magsama ni Ethon!," at nabanggit na naman po niya ang lalaki.

Hinarap naman niya ito sa kanyang tabi, "Tell me, Cia, hindi ka pa rin ba nakaka-move on kay Ethon?"

Binigyan naman siya nito ng masamang tingin, "I would rather kissed a rat, than having feelings with that bastard, dear," ismid pa nito.

She just shrugged her shoulders, giving up in their argument, "Alright, you say so," she replied at muli na lamang hinarap ang stage kung saa handa nang tumugtog ang hindi niya kilalang banda.

"Reckless Serenade by Arctic Monkeys for all the people who liked someone who never noticed them. Cheers!," baritonong panimula ng lalaking nasa gitna at kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay ito ang main vocalist, may hawak pa itong beer sa kabilang kamay.

HINDI rin sila nagtagal ng kaibigan sa bar dahil nag-aya na rin naman itong umuwi pagkatapos nilang makaubos ng limang bote ng alak.

And now she's inside a coffeeshop, drinking a hot chocolate to eased the alcohol on her body. Ayaw niyang magka-hangover kinabukasan at may pasok pa siya.

She looked on her phone when it lit up, just to see Leo's message.

From: Leo

baby can't get to see you tonight, i'm still in a court finishing this damn case. hope you're doing fine, don't stress yourself too much. i will be seeing you tomorrow. i miss you.

She smiled upon reading it. Alam naman niyang may mga ganitong araw na nagiging abala ng sobra ang binata lalo na at abogado ito. But she understand naman ang mahalaga ay hindi nito nakakalimutan kahit papaano na i-update siya. She's fine with this kind of setup, as of now.

She typed a reply.

To: Leo

alright, baby. hope that case will closed as soon as possible. don't worry about me. i miss you, too.

Upon sending her reply, she closed her phone and continue sipping her cup of hot chocolate.

"Can I join?"

Napukaw naman nito ang atensyon niya, at dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang paningin. Just to see Aishana's face wearing her doctor's suit.

Napalingon naman siya sa paligid at wala naman masyadong tao sa loob dahil na rin sa madaling-araw na. But this girl still chose to sit with her.

Alanganin naman siyang tumango at bahagyang ngumiti sa dalaga, "Of course, you can."

Nakangiti namang umupo ito sa upuang nasa harapan niya, "Thank you," pasalamat nito habang inaalis sa tray ang isang tasa ng tsaa at toasted bread, "If I'm not mistaken you're the girl in Leo's company?," she added.

"Ah, yes. That's me," sagot naman niya, tinatantiya ang mood ng kaharap at base naman sa nakikita niya ay hindi ito nagmamaldita.

"I'm sorry for being a brat that time. I was just stress and scared when we met, that's why," puno ng sinseridad ang boses ng babae, hindi man lang niya ito makitaan ng kahit anong kaplastikan.

"I understand naman. Kahit sinong girlfriend ay magiging paranoid din," she's really now facing Leonardo's girlfriend.

At hindi niya ata kayang harapin ito ng napakatagal. Knowing that this woman is the legal, and her was just the mistress, parausan kumbaga.

"We've been for years, and seeing him with another girl. I can't afford it, tho I was the one who did wrong at the very first place, but I still can't," she spoke and all she can see on her is a woman who loves her boyfriend that much.

"Don't worry. Hindi naman siya mawawala sa'yo," sana lang ay hindi siya sa impyerno mapunta nito.

"Sana nga, dear," sinimulan na nitong hatiin sa dalawa ang tinapay na inorder.

Siya naman ay muling bumalik sa pag-inom.

"You're Antoinette, right?," Aishana spoke to her again after a minute of silence.

She looked back and nodded a bit, "Yes. How did you know?"

"The front desk lady told me," she shortly answered.

Tumango-tango naman siya, "I see," ang tangi niyang nasabi.

"My name is Aishana, you can call me Ai if you want," pagpapakilala naman nito ngayon sa kanya.

"Antoinette. You can call me Toni, that's how my friends called me," if this is the way of God to fixed everything that she ruined, she'll accept it wholeheartedly.

"Alright, Toni, because of that when you are planning to visit my hospital, I'll give you discount," she even laughed a bit while blowing her green tea.

"Fine with me, basta ba hindi funeral discount," she joked, trying to fit in Ai's mood.

"Silly you, dear. That's the last thing I wanted to offer."

While looking at her, she might be a brat sometimes but her heart was pure. She might hurt Leo on the process, but she still love him at the end of the day.

"You're like Leo, you love serving the people," she said suddenly.

"I'm a doctor, he's a lawyer. Perfect match, right?"

Marahan naman siyang tumango, "Yeah."