Meliza's POV
My alarm snoozed, and I groaned as I groped my phone from the bed. I felt it in my hand, but it slipped. I heard a thud and realized my phone had fallen on the floor. I felt disoriented as I adjusted to the darkness and had almost forgotten I was at Adriana's farm.
I rolled onto my right side, stretched my arm, and picked up my phone. I quickly stood up when I saw the time on my phone screen, and it was almost time for dinner. But I knew even if I tripled my movement and took a bath in a flash, I still couldn't make it on time.
I got up and hit the shower, and I had to turn on the heater since the water was freezing cold. I quickly finished my bath. I don't want to be the center of attention, but now that I will be late, I am sure I will have everyone's attention, and I hate that I need to attend dinner.
But I couldn't disappoint my best friend; I needed to do this to make her happy. I chose the first dress I could find in my suitcase, and I realized I had only brought a little clothing, and none of it would look presentable.
I am sure their guests mostly came from elite society, and I don't want to look pathetic in my ex's eyes. I have to be the best version of myself in front of Ethan.
"How on earth did he become the son of Isagani Almendraz?" I asked myself and shook my head. I should stop thinking about him. Ethan is not the man he used to be, and no wonder he told me I can't play him with my fingers anymore.
I didn't mean to hurt him in any way because I loved him so much, and one mistake led to another, and I couldn't stop thinking about the past.
I snapped back to the present and smiled as I picked up my favorite knee-length, off-the-shoulder sky-blue dress. It has a slide slit that is enough to showcase my beautiful long legs. I don't care what Ethan would say, but I don't want to embarrass Ruby because of me.
I was on my way to the dining hall when I came across someone wearing a maid's uniform. I smiled at her, and she weakly smiled back at me.
"Are you Miss Iza?" she softly asked, shyly looking at me.
"Yes, it's me," I responded as I ceased walking.
"Miss Ruby and her fiancee, Señorito Ethan, and your friends are waiting for you at the back of the house; you are having dinner in the backyard." She said, and I kept my eyebrows from raising.
I wondered why she was calling Ethan that way, and it dawned on me that he must have announced his actual status in society now to make everyone bow their heads at him. But I will never give him that kind of respect; he doesn't deserve such admiration from me. I will never forget what he did to me.
"Okay, thank you," I responded, and she led me the way to the backyard. I could walk through this house even with my eyes closed. I spent my last summer in high school here, and there are so many memories I tried not to look back.
I could tell the maid was new, and I wished I had never met the old staff who worked here during our stay, for I didn't want them talking behind my back. I admit I don't have the kind of reputation I could be proud of when I was here.
Just thinking about those days made me want to go back to my room and hide. But I don't want to upset Ruby more, and I don't want her to get stressed with me.
The evening breeze lightly caressed my skin as I walked to the pathway leading to the backyard where the Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool of the mansion was located, surrounded by a beautiful garden that would always take my breath away.
The ornamental light poles brightened the pathway and brought me back to the old time when Ethan and I used to hang out together in the garden.
I could hear soft music and laughter coming from the pool area, and the lights around the area made the place look so magical. I suddenly felt sick when I saw them gathered inside the pavilion, sitting on the patio chairs in front of a long white table, talking and having so much fun.
"Are you okay, Miss?" The maid asked.
"Yes, I am fine; thank you for taking me here," I replied.
"You are welcome; enjoy your dinner, Miss Iza," she responded before turning her heels and walking away from me.
I walked slower and tried to make no sound. My heart was pounding so hard as I neared them, and all eyes were on me the moment Ruby turned her head and greeted me with a beautiful smile on her face.
"Iza! I thought you were still sleeping. I asked one of the household staff to fetch you. It is nice to see you in that beautiful dress! You are stunning!" My best friend said it with too much enthusiasm as she stood up from her seat and kissed my cheeks. I hated that she emphasized my dress.
Vince stood up and embraced me as if he missed me so much. I still couldn't stop feeling guilty for hurting his feelings, but I am glad that he looked so happy right now with my best friend.
"Iza, these are my parents, Dad, and Mom; this is Meliza, my fiancee's best friend." Vince introduced me to his parents after he released me from his hold, and I smiled at them, but Vince's mom stood up and warmly took me into her arms, and his father shook my hand.
I quickly turned my head away when I could feel someone snapping a picture of us as I talked with Vince's parents. I didn't want anyone to capture my face; the last thing I needed was for Eli to know my whereabouts.
I felt so conscious as everyone around the table said hi to me, and I am sure only one person wasn't happy to see me, and it was Ethan. When our eyes met, he looked daggers at me, and if only looks could kill, I am sure I was dead by now.
I could see the disgust all over his face, and I didn't want to end my night wishing to pull all his hair on his head. It was too bad that the only remaining seat available was the chair across from him. Jonathan, one of our friends, pulled out the dining chair for me.
"Thank you, Jonathan," I said as I sat down.
"You are welcome, Iza," he responded, blushing as he offered me the vegetable platter, and I smiled at him.
"You remember I love veggies," I said.
"Of course, no one would forget what you like to eat, Iza," he responded as I took the platter from him and got a portion of vegetables for myself. Then, he helped me get the rest of the food.
I started eating in silence since they were now enjoying their dessert. I tried to keep my head down to avoid talking to anyone and eat my meal in peace.
"As always, you like being the center of attention, Ms. Lizondra," Ethan said with mockery. The girls around the table, except Ruby, laughed at what he said, and I had to control myself not to buy his insult.
"I was tired from my flight," I answered in almost a whisper without raising my head. I didn't want to look at him, for I knew what I would feel.
I wanted to tell him I hadn't had sleep since after my shift; I went straight to the airport, but we were now enemies. I can't tell him all about my life.
"You weren't the only one who came today and had a long hour of flight," Ethan countered. My blood was boiling with anger. When I raised my head, he looked straight into my eyes, and I wanted to disappear from his sight in an instant.
But I don't want to give him the satisfaction of winning. Instead of talking back to him with bitterness of yesterday, I sweetly smiled and stared at him without blinking my eyes.
It felt like we were participants in a staring contest, and I admit, he still has the same eyes—the eyes that captured and haunted me for years. I felt triumphant when he looked away first, but my triumph was cut short when my eyes turned to the beautiful woman sitting beside him.
I hadn't noticed her; she was the only one I didn't recognize, and I was sure she wasn't Ruby's friend. When Ethan took her hand over the table and whispered something into her ear, my heart bled with too much pain as I realized he came with a date while I was dateless and penniless as always.
I could feel the excruciating pain in my heart as I watched her smile and look at him with those pretty eyes; they almost kissed, and I looked down at my plate, trying to keep my tears at bay. It would be a disaster if I would cry now in front of everyone.
It dawned on me Ethan came with a girlfriend to humiliate me or to show to my face that we could never be together, and it was clear to me now that he had finally moved on with me.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jonathan asked, and I nodded my head as I looked at him sideways. I smiled at him, and I could tell he was the only single person in this room who cared about how I felt at the moment since Ruby was busy talking with her future in-laws.
Ruby and Vince were talking, and I tried my best to listen to their funny stories, but my mind and heart were having a big fight. My heart was asking me to get up and walk away while my mind told me to stay since I came for Ruby and not Ethan.
My mind won, but whenever someone took a picture, I tried my best to look down or on the other side. They were drinking wine, and how many times I said no to Jonathan as he offered me a drink, but when I saw Ethan kissing the head of his date, I picked up the glass in front of me and drank the red wine in one gulp.
I asked the server to pour some, and from one shot, I don't remember how many more glasses I drank. Then, I started laughing with them and talking with our friends.
Before I joined them in the garden, I promised to keep my distance, but Ethan shattered my heart again by bringing his girlfriend, or worse, his wife. I didn't ask Ruby, not even Vince or Jonathan, who the woman Ethan was flirting with, but obviously, they were a couple since the girl was holding Ethan's arm the entire night after dinner.
She was like a leech, and when Ethan put his arms around her waist, I had to stand up and excuse myself. I had had enough. I don't need this kind of scenario. I felt like dying inside. I hated Ethan, but it doesn't mean I had forgotten about him, and I admit I never stopped loving him.
I came here for my best friend's wedding, and since the dinner is over, I don't think I need to stay with them. I wanted to go back to my room and deal with my broken heart all over again.
"I hate you, Ethan!!!!" I screamed in my mind as I stood up from my seat with composure, even if my world was spinning.
I can't bear to see him with another woman. I could feel the pain that enfolded my heart as I walked away from them, trying to fight back my tears.