"JESSICA!" My spirit was awakened by the loud shout of my three friends here at the dinner table. Their eyebrows met in the middle of their foreheads and their eyes were full of questions.
"You're saying?" I ran out of ideas to answer them while eating bacon and drinking orange juice because I'm really clueless about what they were talking about. Now I have noticed that even the housemaids were paying attention to me because of their loudness.
"We said, are you going camping tomorrow? Why are you so stunned by your cellphone anyway?" Marz's eyebrows were raised now as the twins continued to eat but still didn't remove their teasing eyes. How long did I space out? It was all his fault, for three nights I wondered what he meant when he told me at our stop by at Alalum Falls the words that kept playing in my mind. After he said that he didn't talk to me during the whole trip. Even text or updates on social media, I haven't heard from him since then.
"Maybe there's something or someone-" Jia's words were interrupted when a familiar voice greeted from behind.
"How early in the morning, Captain! Do you miss me?" I immediately fixed my seat in the chair and stared at the grape that Manay served when my heart suddenly started beating faster, still hesitating whether to turn around or not. I think my feet were glued to the floor while Marz who was adjacent to me stood and turned around the dining to welcome Marc.
"Good morning, Captain." Jia greeted then her brows moved up and down teasing me while Hazel just replied with a quick smile.
I didn't know what to do so instead of turning around and greeting him I didn't finish the food on my plate and ran to the music room. When I finally arrived at the music room, I held my chest as if it was about to explode with the force of the pulse. I muttered a curse under my breath.
When my elevated blood pressure went back to normal, I decided to play Yiruma's playlist to calm me, the one he gave me as promised. I pressed the open button on the player and placed the CD on the disc drive motor and it took a few minutes to finally hear the music after the spinning process inside the player. Eventually, the heavenly music wafted through the lonely air of the room. I opened the windows and allow the fresh air from the outside to add a vibrancy that I missed doing ever since I left the mansion. I closed my eyes and smiled as music in the air slowly enveloped me before...
"I miss that from you."
My eyes automatically opened when I heard his voice and with a wave of my hand, my strong heartbeat returned and now it got worse because I was having trouble breathing. I didn't look at him a second time and just stared outside. I felt him approach in my direction and the footsteps stopped in front of the piano. He started pressing connecting keys and stopped to ask me.
"Why are you avoiding me?" I gulped my saliva at what he asked and still did not lay a glance at him. No one spoke and only sad music mediated the two of us. Despite the loud music, I could still hear his heavy sighs as if he was having a hard time seeing me up close but not looking back or talking.
"Here's the flash drive you've asked for last night. I wonder why you still need this though." I huffed in disgust and finally turned to face him, my arms crossed in front of my abdomen and my eyes darted against his.
"So you came here just for the flash drive? And if I didn't text you last night you wouldn't come here." I arched my brow when he grinned annoyingly.
"Now I get it. So you missed me?" He confidently stood and walked fast going in my direction.
"Hell no! Of course not! And why should I?" He grinned again completely annoying me, then moved his brows up and down.
I stepped back when he was about to step further toward me still wearing his goofy grin that I want to rip out from his mouth. He continued stepping forward while I keep stepping back until I lose my footing when my back bumped into the open window. I panicked when my back continued to arch out from the window, leaving me no choice but to close my eyes bracing for my fall.
But... I didn't feel my back on the ground or the roof instead, an arm pulled my waist and the other cupped my head back inside before I would fall from the window. The next thing that happened was as fast as the wind embracing me. The last thing I knew was my safe landing on his chest. Consequently, I was on top of him, my face on his chest while his arms wrapped me carefully like I'm a fragile doll.
"My gas! Gus Abelgas!" Marz covered her mouth, eyes forming a big O, and next to her were the twins who pushed Marz who was blocking the door to witness the scene as well.
"If you missed each other, you should do it in the bedroom and not here in the music room." My jaw dropped with what Hazel advised and I automatically stood away from that awkward position and didn't even help Marc to stand.
"The music here is romantic so let's not disturb them," Jia added. Can the ground just devour me, please? Like right now?!
"That's not what you think." Finally, Marc spoke, but before he could explain to them the whole story, I immediately answered my phone without looking at who's the caller. I knitted my brows when I heard Jacob's voice on the line calling my name.
"Yes, Jacob?" I saw how Marc's reaction changed and looked outside the window avoiding my eyes.
"Jess, are you free tonight?" What does he need again?
"Yes, I'm free. Why?" Even my noisy friends went silent when they heard his name except for Marz, who immediately approached me for chika.
"Mom asked you to join us for dinner if it's okay with you." There was a hint of nervousness when he talked to me on the phone and I could imagine his face. And I, on the other hand, lacking sleep, agreed without even thinking.
"Just pick me up here at home at 5 pm." I saw how quickly Marc turned around to protest but I already decided. I'm not yet ready to talk to him.
"So it's a yes?"
'Why bother asking? Maybe he wants me to take it back.' My mind fired again.
"Yeah, see you." I lazily dropped the call and grabbed the flash drive above the piano frame and left them without looking at him and the twins followed.
The whole morning, I faced my laptop selecting the best pictures that I will use to completely break Ivy and Jacob's world apart once and for all. For Jacob, I chose the most painful scene from Dad's apartment where Ivy and her lover secretly met doing a sinful scene. On the other hand, I chose the best among the stolen pictures from my meeting with Jacob in the cafe, during the opening in public, and the trump card is the painful revelation scene where Jacob hugged and kissed me in the grand hotel. Let's see how Ivy will react once she saw this.
How does it feel that cheaters have been cheated all along?
After sending the pictures on their mobile phones anonymously, I decided to get some rest in the afternoon to save energy for later. My stupid alarm woke me up, but I kept snoozing it not until 15 minutes had passed and so I pushed myself to get ready. After taking a bath, I randomly picked an emerald green dress that falls below the knee. It's made of pure silk exposing my flawless back with an H neckline.
Simple yet sophisticated.
I partnered it with a black aloeffler randall tassel sandals because my fashionista mood is not active. I didn't wear any jewelry or style my hair. I just let my silver hair flow down and I applied minimal makeup, then I'm ready to go. I buzzed my lips when I watched myself in the vanity mirror. I smiled bitterly when my finger reached the scar on my undereye, though I covered it completely with concealer. But still, in my eyes, I can see the mark of my past. No one can't blame me if I can't forgive and forget everything easily because this scar will remain carved forever.
I was disturbed by a loud knock on the door, I grabbed my black clutch after checking myself for the last time in the mirror and then open the door to check who was knocking. I raised a brow when Amy handed me a brown envelope because as far as I remember, I don't have any orders online this month.
"What's this?" I asked, confused.
"It was addressed to your father Miss." I immediately get the envelope from her hand and raised my hand, dismissing her then went back inside the room to safely place the envelope inside my secret drawer since Dad will arrive tomorrow. After securing the envelope, I exited the room and directly go downstairs to the front porch of the house where Jacob was leaning on his BMW, tossing his keys in the air while waiting for me. He's wearing a crimson red polo shirt and tan jeans paired with black Adidas pump shoes. He dropped the keys when he sensed my presence. Now his mouth formed an O as he scanned me.
"Sorry for making you wait." I smiled when I reached his proximity and leaned to give him a quick peck on the cheek. He stiffened when I distanced myself and traverse my hand from his shoulder down to his back to open the shotgun seat. He stepped back and tried to open the door for me, but he was already too late since I quickly entered the car.
We were quiet during the whole trip and earlier he had been stealing glances at me. To counter the silence, I asked permission to turn on the radio and he smiled at me as a yes. At first, the slow rock music lightened up the awkward atmosphere between us and he continued smiling, stealing glances at me like a madman. However, when our favorite song entitled 'Could I Love You Anymore' wafted in the air, we were caught in traffic because it was already a rush hour. I pursed my lips while listening to the song because I learned to hate that song, I refused to play it on the piano and even deleted it from my playlist ever since that horrible day.
I shifted in my seat getting uncomfortable by the song and accidentally caught his sad eyes. Everything went slow when a tear left his eyes and as it fell, my heart ached. An urge to reach his face and wipe his tears lived up inside me but I remembered... Marc.
Instead of reaching his face, I looked away and turned off the radio before the song ended, and focused on the road until we reached their mansion. He exhaled heavily before getting out of the car and open the door for me. He offered his hand and I held on to it with a slight doubt. We quietly entered the mansion and his Mom greeted us in the living room gently instructing the housemates where to move the other picture frame but what I was wondering was the absence of Mr. Fuentes. At the opening, I can feel that he disliked my presence and he was avoiding me but the shock in his eyes when he saw me gave me an inexplicable feeling that we are somehow connected.
"Good evening Ms. Fuentes." I made a courtesy greeting and Ms. Fuentes clapped her hands to dismiss the remaining maids before turning her attention to us.
"It's nice to see you again, dear." Ms. Fuentes accepted me with open arms and gave me a beso. Since it was still early to have dinner, Ms. Fuentes decided to give us time to tour the mansion, and obviously, I need to stick with Jacob the whole time whether I like it or not. He's still holding my hand even though it's not necessary since no one was watching us. I tried to let go, but he held my hand tighter. I didn't attempt to fight him so I let him be.
I admit that their mansion is bigger compared to ours. Jacob was talking a lot, but I was not paying attention. My mind was flying somewhere else, thinking of him. I keep on nodding as if I was listening to what he was saying not until he appeared in front of me in a pavilion full of fireflies and around us were colorful flowers.
"Until now, you're still the one I think of every night." If I'm drinking something right now, I might have choked to death.
"I wonder if you're okay, if you're taking care of yourself, if you're healthy." Once again, I was curious and I want to know the answers to all the unanswered whys left in my mind. He carefully made me sit on the bench of the pavilion and stood beside me to observe the fireflies.
Now I also found out that we had already walked quite a distance from the main mansion. I blinked twice before meeting his lonely eyes again, waiting for him to say more but he didn't.
"Why? Why are you still thinking about me?" I curled my toes on the ground when he intertwined our fingers and locked them carefully as if he never wants me to run away again. I looked at him straight in the eye and I can't count the number of times my chest ached every time I was with him. I was surprised when he touched my cheek, then lifted my face, estimating how deep the sadness my eyes were hiding. I can't figure it out, but every time our eyes meet, I know he's hurting and I'm hurting too.
"I have no other reason. I just really love you and I can't stop loving you until now." He smiled painfully and leaned his forehead against mine. I felt his hand cupping my neck, then slowly, I felt his warm tears pricking my cheeks. The boulder that caused pain inside me is not just an ordinary heartache anymore. I became numb as his tears melted me and now my heartache... became a remorseful grimace consuming me.
I want to run away from him, but this time, I became attenuated. He fumbled in his pocket a small brown envelope and opened my hand to place the letter on my palm.
"Here's the letter I want to give you ever since you came back, but I don't have the courage." I hesitated to open the letter, afraid to find out the content. He stood and left me in the pavilion to give me time to read the letter and after my brain cells battled shortly whether I should open it or not. I closed my eyes and exhaled forcefully before finally opening the envelope. I stopped when the familiar handwriting greeted me.
It's... Kuya Zion.
Dear Jacob,
Bro! I'm sorry if I didn't have the chance to say goodbye personally and this is all I left you. I know you love Jessica so much. I also know how much you regretted when you saw her struggling because of a mistake you also kept secret from me for a long time. You are my best bro, my best friend and I thought we won't keep any secrets from each other but I was wrong. As your cousin and older brother, I'm sorry if I hurt you when I found out what you did to Jessica. I did not mean to punch you and say those bad things to you.
I was watching you from afar with a heavy heart. I saw you slowly losing yourself because as the months go by, you will become a father and you don't even know how to be one. I want to make you feel better, and I want to help you, but I have to leave you behind for now. Whatever the consequences of my departure, I want you to give your beloved the part she needs to live. And my last piece of advice to you, do everything for the one you love.
~ Zion
Along with the letter was another folded piece of paper that I hurriedly open. Unexpectedly, I covered my mouth when I read its contents. It's an organ donation form that Kuya Zion signed 3 years ago. I dropped the letter with the envelope on the floor and I could no longer stop the rushing river flowing from my eyes. I covered my eyes in frustration and silently screamed in my head. Jacob was telling the truth. But why am I too late? Why now when I have already taken my revenge?
WHY?
WHY HIM?
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE HIM?!