I never imagined that we'll meet again.
But here I am, standing, staring at him while he sits on the couch. He looks different now. He looks more mature. Gone was the boy I once new. I look at him more intently and realize that gone were the days where I used to know him. The warmth I always see in his eyes are long gone now. What happened to him?
A familiar wave of emotion crash on to me.
No! This is not right! I am just sad on how we become like this. We were friends before but I feel like we're both two strangers now.
I looked away, afraid he might notice the sudden emotion I am feeling right now. Remember Lia you are not here to feel sad. You are here to party!
I smiled at my friends as we greet each other. We are sitting on the couch as we catch up with the past years that I went MIA on them. Some of my friends got married already. Some like me manage their family business too.
Anne was passing our drinks.
"Here's yours Lia!"
I shook my head, refusing her offer. I am not allowed to drink any alcoholic drinks. Because it might trigger something inside my head.
"What?! Oh, come on! Just one glass please." she said as she looked at me with pleaded eyes. I sighed. I just accepted the glass to avoid anymore rants about me still not drinking. I could just put this aside when no one is watching.
"Lia! You've been very busy with work. You even forgot to attend my wedding," Trish said in a sad way.
I know...I know...But work made me forget about things and that time I was avoiding someone.
"I'm sorry. But I sent you my gifts though"
"Yeah but---"
"Don't be so dramatic Trish. At least she's here now with us. Finally showing up!"
We were interrupted by a tipsy friend Maurish. She then giggled. She sat between me and Anne then she finished her glass in one chug. I looked at her intently. She's not this alcoholic before. I looked at Anne who was also looking at Maurish.
"Slow down Maurish!"
"I am slowing down. Don't be such a mama on me now Anne!"
Anne shook her head in disappointment.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked.
"You know her she'll be a bitch when her day is ruined."
We continued talking about things like their married life...work stuffs and other girly things.
"I thought we'll meet at my cousin's concert Lia. I was disappointed when I didn't." Charlotte said.
"Oh that! I was in Caticlan. I was to go but my flight got delayed. I already texted Dean that I'll make it up to him."
I remember it clearly. My schedule was supposed to be clear for that day. I purposely cleared it for Dean's concert but then there was an emergency call on one of the projects in Caticlan. I texted Dean about. He called me then said he'll accompany me and I laughed at what he said.
"You have a concert idiot! You can't just accompany me or your manager will kill me!"
I did try myself to go and see his concert but then my flight got delayed that I had to talk to him on the phone for hours just to ask for his forgiveness. Thank goodness he forgave me for not attending his concert. Then the next week, he visited me on my office, in disguise. He stayed there the whole day just watching me do all my stuffs. Then that night we ate our dinner together.
"I guess he forgave you that easily huh?" she teasingly said.
"Wait, you and Dean, Lia?" Agnese butted in who I thought was not listening to our conversation.
"What?! No!" I hissed.
Agnese looked at me suspiciously. I rolled my eyes at her. She's insane if she thinks that Dean and I are a thing. Dean and I are just friends. I was just being supportive to him that's all.
It took a minute before the topic was change. Some of our classmates are now dancing and swaying with each other on the dance floor. The guys at the other couch are busy talking with each other. I was busy looking on the dance floor when Trisha asked me.
"How about you?"
"What about me Trish?"
"When are you going to get married?"
Oh, they're still on that topic. Never. I don't have enough time for that. I so wanted to tell her that but instead I just shrugged my shoulders.
"Come on Lia! We're at the right age now"
"Still too young for that Mau."
I grab my glass filled with an apple juice that I asked on the waiter a while ago then drink it to avoid further questions about me. I don't want that topic. It will only remind me that I can't..or let's just put it this way that I will never get to experience being married with someone.
The whole night...I avoided being in contact with him. I only stayed and talked with my friends. It was over midnight when we decided to go home. It still early but I guess life has already changed for us.
Driving back home...I let myself wander on the forbidden thoughts. My mind was brought back to the time that we were still ok. We were one of those high school sweethearts not until we somehow lost our connection when we were in 2nd year college.
I heard rumors about him having someone else. I was bothered by it but still I trusted him. He calls me every night and assures me that I was the only one. But....Maybe distance and hectic schedules were the contributing factors why our relationship was slowly sinking.
I believed in him. Heck! I was even so damn proud at him every time he achieved something. But we cannot always keep something we so want and love forever. We cannot always have our way. I was devastated. But I'm ok now.
Even without proper closure...I guess time healed me and maybe forgave him for all of it. I don't believe in revenge and such. I was never the type of girl to hold some grudge maybe a little bit of bitterness but never in my wildest dreams had I thought that Ishould get him one day.
See?! I was a good girl! I was hurt! And then the heavens decided to give me this. What can I do? I am not someone who has mighty powers to change my fate. If this is my destiny then....so be it.
That night instead of going home I decided to visit my studio. I sat on my chair and scribble some ideas on how my story would flow. I think I passed out due to exhaustion that when I woke up the next day I still found myself inside my studio.
I looked at my phone and saw a lot of missed calls from my mama. I called her immediately.
"Ma! I'm fine. Don't worry okay? I was up late not because of partying but because I stayed here at my studio."
I assured her that I'll be home later.
After that call, I decided to just change in here rather on driving home. I'm already late and I don't want to waste a second.
Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!
It gets louder everyday.
Time. It never fails to amuse me. Its ticking is faster than I could ever imagine. Days have gone and more stamps are painted on my calendar now.
And my migraines are more frequent than ever. One time when I was at my office preparing for a board meeting when suddenly..the pain attacked me.
Bullets of cold sweats are dripping from my neck to my body. I hold on to my desk with my left hand while my right hand was trying to locate my medicine.
It was after our reunion when the migraines are frequently kicking in..And at first I thought that just like any other attacks before that it won't last for long but I was wrong.
The longest attack was a minute and a half.
As the days go by...I couldn't deny it that I'm starting to feel the anxiety and...I'm scared right now.
I was supposed to have my check up today but it's a working day. And I still have my medicines so I'm not that worried. Maybe I'll reschedule it this Saturday.
"Claire..what's my schedule after this board meeting?" I asked my secretary for my schedules.
Scrolling through her tablet...she tells me my schedules for the day.
"You're invited by Mr. Cruz for the turn over of the hospital that was just recently constructed. And also Miss..uh..you are highly requested to attend a party later tonight."
I stopped on my tracks. Party?... Claire noticed me and before I could ask her about the party.
"It's..uh-- the annual party Miss."
Oh...I thought it was one of my mama's tricks for me to mingle and socialize with "the people within our circle"
It's the time of the year now hmmm.....
There is this tradition..that every first of December all the prominent families will gather and meet and mingle to strengthen the relationship.
I call it bullshit! But whatever! I cannot just say no to it. My mama will just nag at me.
As I open the door going to the conference room.....I noticed that there is a huge crowd in here.
They all stood up as I enter, then they sat down after I sat down first. When I was still very young, my papa will bring me with him every time he has a meeting....I was fascinated with how much power he has. My papa is a very respectable man and I ought to be one too. The board members are all too quiet. This is the same atmosphere every time we have a board meeting. It will only get loud if some do not agree with what has been discussed. When I first officially attended a board meeting, I was nervous and I was shaking the whole time. I was intimidated by these board members. But now, I'm getting used to this.
With poker face and serious eyes...I give a signal to my secretary telling her to start the meeting.
I already reviewed this proposal. It's the renovation of the airport at Caticlan. They want the runway to be expanded in length to be able to accept domestic flights and maybe some international flights.
"We can expand the runway but the residents living there are hesitant and will not evacuate if we don't pay their demand."
I see Mr. Hernandez raised his hand.
"Well how much is their demand?"
"Five hundred thousand to One million pesos Sir."
"We cannot give them what they want. It's too much for us. We may not get profit if it'll happen."
More concern murmurs can be heard in the board. One by one they all looked at me. Waiting for me to say something.
If I wasn't taught how to handle this kind of situation....maybe I fainted already.
"Miss Yanez what shall we do?"
I glanced at the hard copy in front of me one more time before telling them my decision.
"We cannot give in to their whims. I already assigned people who will survey the households affected. They will be paid by the cost of their property to be fair"
"But--"
"Don't worry Mr. Hernandez...it'll not cost as much. I've already calculated the estimated cost and it's just around two percent of the total cost of this project."
"What if they still don't accept it miss?" Mrs. Guadalupe asked me a bit hesitantly.
"Well they can't say no since the government has the final say to this."
"I'll schedule another meeting for the final approval of this project. Meeting adjourn."
One by one they all went out. Once all of the members of the meeting were out...I rested my back on my swivel chair and massaged my temple. The throbbing of my head is starting and if I will not relax myself it will start to get hurt again.
Calm down! Belia! Inhale! Exhale!
Don't stress yourself out! I was in the middle of calming myself when I heard a knock on the door. I try my best to composed myself and looked calm. I wiped the seat on my forehead.
"Come in!"
"Miss, your driver is waiting for you at the basement. You'll go straight to the salon and also your gown is already there too."
"Okay, thank you Claire."
"It's my pleasure Miss Belia."