Charm's POV
As advised by our legal team, we agreed to meet Patrick para malaman namin what he really want. I can feel the coldness of the car aircon but I am sweating as RJ and I are on our way to the place we exclusively reserved where Patrick and I will talk. I never thought that the man I once adore would have an encounter such as this. The man that I thought would take care of me is the same man who is giving me tremendous fright now. The man who gave me happiness then is the same man who is beginning to shatter the happiness I now have in my heart.
"Are you alright? We can move this some other time if you are not yet ready" RJ asked
"Ok lang ako, ayoko na i-move ito some other time, gusto ko nang matapos 'to ngayon." I replied. "Thank you for coming with me Love." I sincerely added.
"Hindi naman ako papayag na mag-isa kang makikipag-usap sa kanya, mahirap na baka kung ano pa ang gawin nun sa yo, mukha pa naman in-love na in-love pa sa yo." RJ said and I laughed.
"What did you say? Ano bang in-love pa ang sinasabi mo? Will you stop thinking nonsense things Faulkerson, Jr." I said.
"With all honestly Mendoza Girl, I don't believe that this battle is all about Celestine. He is just using the kid to get you back." RJ straightly said.
"If you think na ganon ang intention nya, then why are you allowing me on this talk?" I asked.
"Because we have to know what he is up to, kung hindi ka makikipag-usap nang maayos sa kanya, hindi natin malalaman ang gusto ng mokong na yun. Sabi mo nga di ba, you should have treated him nicely during the contract signing event, and since you and Tatay had been a little rude on him, eto ang napala natin. Diplomatic approach muna tayo." RJ said.
"Alright I understand, basta make sure na babantayan mo ako." I said.
"Tell me, why are so afraid tonight? Kanina ka pa uneasy." RJ asked.
"Because Patrick and I haven't seen each other for years. Pakiramdam ko stranger na sya. I do not know what is he capable of doing now." I replied.
"Don't worry, I promise na hindi ko aalisin ang tingin ko sa inyong dalawa para makita ko agad kung may hindi sya magandang gawin sa iyo." RJ sweetly uttered.
"I love you Faulkerson, Jr." I said.
"And I love you more Mendoza Girl. I love you to the moon and back, at pabalik-balik pa." He replied and kisses my temple.
When we reach the place of the meeting, Patrick is already there … with … a bouquet of flowers?
"Bakit may flowers na dala yang kakausapin ko? Na-inform ba sya sa kung anong klaseng meeting 'to?" I asked RJ.
"Malay ko sa luko-lukong yan, siraulo talaga. Nakakainis, pakiramdam ko tuloy nag-set-up ako ng date para sa asawa ko at sa ibang lalaki. Aga nya akong pinipikon ha." RJ said.
"Ano itutuloy pa ba natin 'to? Pwede naman na umalis na tayo, mas gusto kong ikaw ang ka-date ko kesa sa kanya." I said.
"It's too late to back-out now. Nakita na nya tayo kaya ituloy na natin 'to. Anyway, I have a specific instruction na hindi dapat lumagpas ng ten minutes ang pag-uusap na 'to and he agreed to it." RJ said.
"Noted Mr. Faulkerson, Jr." I said and cupped his face a quick smack. "I love you." I then said.
"I love you more Mrs. Faulkerson, Jr." He said and planted another kiss on my lips. "Now get inside and make that meeting quick." He ordered.
I make sure that he comfortably sits outside the restaurant and ensures that he can see me and Patrick from where is now before I went inside. Patrick is all smile standing at the table holding a bouquet of flowers. Hindi ko na nga sya kilala, I don't remember receiving flowers from him when we were still together.
"Hi." He greeted with a huge grin.
"Hello Patrick." I greeted back and he handed me the flowers and attempted to kiss me but I quickly move back to avoid it. He helped me on my seat then immediately occupied his.
"You haven't change, maganda ka pa rin." He said.
"Thank you." I coldly replied.
"How are you Menggay?" He asked.
"I'm good, masaya ako Patrick." I replied. "Ikaw Patrick, kamusta ka na?" I asked back not to lengthen the conversation but to make him feel at ease.
I see how his hands are shaking, nakikita ko lang ito sa kanya nuon kapag may competition, and I concluded that he is nervous, very nervous as if he will be hitting a difficult obstacle track. Hindi ko makukuha ang gusto kong malaman if he is on this state.
"I'm good, thank you for asking." He replied smiling. "Nag-order na ako para sa yo, steak and pasta, mabuti na lang meron silang marinara pasta dito, yun ang favorite mo right?" He said.
"Actually, I'm into carbonara pasta now, but marinara is fine. Nakasanayan ko na ang carbonara, sa bahay kasi yun ang favorite ni RJ and Celestine." I said.
"I'll take note of that." He said.
"Hindi naman na kailangan na umorder ka pa, pineapple juice is fine with me." I said.
"Pineapple juice? You are into grape juice back then." He said.
"That was before, medyo health buff si RJ, kaya mas gusto nya na pineapple juice and I like it, too." I replied.
"Mukhang ang dami nang nabago sa yo ah" He said.
"Yes." I briefly replied because I don't want to lengthen the conversation anymore.
For a couple of minutes that we are talking, I've never heard him mentioned about Celestine where infact, my daughter is the reason why we agreed on this talk. Seems like RJ is right, Patrick is just using Celestine para makalapit sya sa akin na hindi na mahaharang ni RJ. I have to be very careful now, kasi hindi ko na sya talaga kilala.
"You look happy now Menggay." He said
"I am happy, Patrick." I said.
"But you will be happier if you are with me. Yun naman ang pangarap natin nuon di ba, to be with each other forever." He replied.
"That was your dream Patrick, iyon ang pangarap mo noon habang kinakain ako ng guilt because we are cheating on my best friend." I said. "Now is different, I am much happier with RJ and I was never been this happy even when we were still together." I added.
"Sinasabi mo lang yan kasi si RJ ang nandyan, I was away for years kaya akala mo masaya kang kasama si RJ. After the annulment makakalimutan mo rin yang pinagkasundo ng parent mo sa iyo. You can come with me sa U.S., kahit naman na in the process pa ang annulment nyo, let's just wait for the result there para dun na rin tayo makapagpakasal." Patrick said.
"What annulment are you saying?" I asked him.
"See honey, your husband is misleading you. Do you know that he has been sourcing about annulment? What are the grounds of it and how it is being processed? You don't deserved to be deceived." Patrick said.
"I'm sorry … what did you just call me? I remember cutting the ties between you and me long time ago and that includes addressing me such. And for your information, my husband is not misleading me. The annulment plan was our mutual decision. I am aware that you know about the marriage arrangement but that was before Patrick. The annulment is not pushing through. RJ and I love each other and we don't see any reason why we have to be separated." I straightly said.
"Akala mo lang yun, kasi si RJ ang nandyan but deep inside you, alam ko nandyan pa rin ako sa puso mo." Patrick said.
"I admire the confidence Patrick but who are you to tell me kung ano o sino ang nasa puso ko. You have been gone for years and so many things have change. That includes the feelings I had for you." I said.
"I was gone because I want to be worthy of your love. Gusto kong maipagmalaki mo ako at ng pamilya mo." Patrick replied.
"Spare my family on this, walang ipinakitang pangit ang pamilya ko sa iyo noon." I said.
"That's what you know, alam ko namang ayaw sa akin ng mga magulang mo?" Patrick said.
"Can you blame them? Magpinsan kaming tinuhog mo." I said.
"What can I do, I fall out of love with Olga because I fell in love with you. Mas minahal kita kesa kay Olga." Patrick said.
"At mas mahal ko si Olga kesa sa yo, I won't break-up with you if I don't. After Olga broke-up with you, nakita ko Patrick kung gaano ka kasaya, na parang wala lang ang ilang taong pinagsamahan nyo ng pinsan ko. Frankly, natakot akong gawin mo sa akin ang ginawa mo kay Olga." I straightly said.
"I will not do that to you, mahal na mahal kita noon Menggay at hanggang ngayon mahal na mahal pa rin kita." Patrick said.
"I'm sorry Patrick, I cannot reciprocate that love. Again, mahal ko ang asawa ko at alam kong mahal din nya ko. At higit sa lahat wala akong pakialaman, kung ako ang mas nagmamahal between sa aming dalawa. Ang importante kung ano ang nasa sa puso ko ngayon, at hindi ikaw yun Patrick sigurado ako dyan." I fiercely said.
"Same goes with me." I heard RJ said. "Your time is up Patrick, we agreed that this talk will last only for ten minutes. Please excuse us as we have more important things to do." RJ added and gently pulls me out of the restaurant.
Inside the car, I was not able to suppress myself to grab RJ's lapel and kissed him.
"Sarap nun ah, what was that for?" He asked.
"Thank you for staying with me, thank you kasi mahal mo ko. I love you RJ, at wala akong pakialam kung hindi mo ako mahal, basta ako mahal kita talaga. And if ever you decide on pursuing the annulment, I'm sorry because I will not cooperate." I said.
"And I love you more Meng, same with me, if ever you decide on pursuing the annulment, I'm sorry because I will not cooperate, too." RJ said. "Malapit lang yung condo natin dito, I think end of contract na yung tenant last week. Would you like to check on it?" He asked.
"I love that." I flirtly replied.