Reaching The Brightest Star

CHAPTER SEVEN

Chloe

Trip To Jerusalem

Bitterness filled all over me. It feels like I just swam in the bitter flavored water.

I want to be lured tonight. 

The truth is that I'm so jealous of her. I really envy her. It's like she doesn't need to find anything for herself. She's already complete. I realized that there's a kind of person like that in this world. The first moment you see them, you will know, you can't compete with them because you will still lose. 

Who won't envy her? She got everything! Looks, wealth, class, and him.

All my life, all I did was to be the best. If not the best, at least be the second best. I don't want to settle down. I want to be at least in the middle, highest average. There's a better view up there. There's a better opportunity for those who did everything they could. That's why I leave, I don't want to settle on things that are inside my comfort zone. I want to explore. I want to challenge myself even more. I know the purpose of my living. It's to be happy or make other people happy. 

I want Marco to be happy. And I love him, that's why I want to make him happy. And that woman, I think he found his true happiness. Because all I can give him is pain.

I do not want to go back to that party. I just want to go home. I saw a bar near the hotel I was staying at. I want to just go and get drunk. Drown myself. Waste my time. I would like to indulge in alcohol until I lose consciousness.

Images of my friends filled my mind. Anger and disappointment was evident to their faces. And if I thought of going home, what about them? I don't need to be selfish this time. I'm pretty sure that they will be furious. This was the only chance we got to meet together again and yet I plan to destroy it. I can now hear their voices inside my head, saying things that are full of disappointments and curiosity.

"Don't be like that. You didn't inform us about your plan of leaving before, and you will still not inform us? Don't make it your habit." In the tone of Everly. 

"Give us your time. It's once in a lifetime. It's a very rare situation for us to be complete." In the tone of Isabella. 

"Give us your little time. After this, we'll not see each other again more often." In the tone of Monica.

"Stay, Chloe." In the tone of Lauren.

They are right. After all of these, nothing more. We have our own separate lives now. And the days will be numbered for us to be complete again.

I went back while walking lazily. Worried faces of my friends immediately greeted me. I sat down in my chair and saw that dessert had been served.

"What took you so long? They already took your meal." I heard Bethany's voice as I approached our table.

Buko pandan, leche flan and macaroni salad are already served at our table. Typical Filipino dessert which I love the most and it's hard to choose. There were small plates and spoons one by one served in front of us. Suddenly I was so obsessed with food. I want to consume them all.  I first tasted the Leche Flan. I immediately ate it as if I was very hungry.

"Hey! Eat slowly, you won't run out of it." Lauren told me. I no longer care who sees the way I eat. I desperately need a diversion. And food was the only way I could think of just so I couldn’t look at them.

"Who made this? The sweetness was perfect!" I emptied the whole plate of Leche Flan. My next target is the fruit salad. I get about five big scoops of it and put it in my platter. I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna regret this later. And just now, I feel bloated.

"Are you really that hungry?" Isabella asked. I couldn't speak because my mouth was full of food. I just gave her a smile and continued to eat. I didn't even bother listening to their voices. Food is what's more important to me now. Food as a diversion of my attention.

"She probably missed the food here," Monica said. I turned to her direction and couldn't agree more of what she said. I nodded my head as I swallowed the salad.

"Definitely," I agreed. 

My tummy feels like cement. I was so full that I could hardly stand. I feel like I need to puke or something. I missed the food here. It’s different from the foods I ate when I was still in Norway. Even though Aunt Mercy sometimes cooks Filipino food, I still can't help but crave for it.

"What was that? You act so strange lately." Bethany hissed. I finished my meal and they barely even move. They were busy looking at me. Different dishes were served on the table but they did not touch any of them.

"The way you ate earlier. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? You lost your poise! You're not a child anymore." Isabella looked at me with disappointment. She's definitely a nag. I totally agreed with Bethany this time.

I ignored whatever they preached to me. I know what I did was really embarrassing. Who will not feel ashamed? Is that how a woman should eat? With a formal event like this, I should be prim and proper.  Especially when Marco saw that for sure. There were waiters passing by to put away our meals.

"Excuse me, waiter." I called. He approached me and bowed slightly.

"Is there any hard liquor that you serve aside from wine and champagne?" I asked.

"What the! You have the guts to get drunk?" Bethany hissed again. I turned to her and glared at her.

"Water, Ma'am." The man answered me. I just rolled my eyes when I heard his sarcastic answer.

"Aside from water, wine and champagne," I repeated. 

"I am not sure, Ma'am. I'll check in the back if we have." He smiled at me before turning his back.

"The night is still young, Chloe." Lauren said. This is my only chance to drink, and yet they couldn't allow me. 

"Just let me, it's been a long time since I got drunk." I laughed so they wouldn’t notice the bitterness in my voice.  Some starred and others were shocked. They are very supportive!

"Hard headed doctor," Bethany whispered. I just smiled at her when I heard her say that. Lauren is on her phone typing something. When she finished she drank wine from her goblet.

"How many years have you lived in Norway? Can you speak their language?" Everly asked me to divert the conversation.

"I know some but not fluently," I replied. I waited for the waiter to return. I just hope he has something with him. Just a few minutes later, the waiter approached me but when I saw that he was not carrying a bottle, my face immediately frowned.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry, all the drinks that we're delivering to you are from the principal's permission." The waiter apologized.  My face frowned even more at what I found out. Why do liquors even need the principal's approval? Come on! We're adults! 

"Vodka? Tequila? Cocktails? Margarita?" I still insisted, hoping that he might give in. 

"We really do not have what you wanted, Ma'am. I'm sorry. If you want I'll bring you champagne here." Even better!  Go ahead and I'll stick to that.

"Okay," I took a deep breath and drank my water.

My friends were constantly staring at me. Seems to be waiting for what I have to say. They have always been like this to me. Even though I am not the youngest, I am the one who is always preached to. Treated like a child.

"Oh c'mon! I'm a hard drinker! I can handle champagne!" I didn’t expect my tone to increase. I immediately saw Marco turn his gaze to me. The forehead was furrowed. I turned my gaze to the others as our eyes met.

Only one goblet was delivered to me by the waiter. He said he would give it to me again when I ran out of this one. What is that? I expected a bottle of champagne not a glass of it. I immediately tasted it because it was just a small gulp for me. I missed being drunk. We just turned our attention when the MC spoke.

"Good evening everyone. So to spice up the party, we're having a game." The men immediately shouted along with the husbands of my friends. Our table was separated from the men's but we were opposite to them and we were the only ones different among all the tables in this gymnasium.

"Looks like guys will love it, partner. Especially since this game is for single people!"

Stereotyping. 

"We need five men and six ladies. Just the single first." My friends immediately pushed me. Forced me to go to the middle of the hall even though I constantly rejected their requests.

"No boyfriend. No husband." Strong reminder from the MC.

"Chloe here! She's still single!" I heard Isabella yell and she even pointed at me.

"Hey you're single, go there!"  Bethany pushed me to get up from my seat.

"I do not want to!" I insisted. My friends almost betrayed me. The MC noticed that so he immediately approached our table. I wanted the ground to immediately swallow me when they approached me. Even the people here have turned their attention to us.

"I hear you're still single Ms. Madrigal. And why?" Am I supposed to really answer that? The audience suddenly fell silent and seemed to be waiting for me to answer.

"I don't have any comments for that," I said. Bethany was still pushing me but I just waved her hand away.

"Feel like a celebrity. Come to the middle."  I didn't do anything when the MC pulled me over, Bethany and Monica even helped get me to the center of the hall. There were already four boys and four girls. I came and it became five.  People shouted, I wish the ground would eat me now.  But I realized something, I was stepping on cement.

Cemnet! Swallow me now! 

"Chloe! He is also single!" The crowd were referring to the man beside me. I turned to him and just smiled.

"There you go! She smiled!" The men to my right shouted. I accompanied their laughter and I accidentally took a look at Marco's direction. His dagger eyes were different. It seems like he didn't like what was happening right now.

"We're still missing a man and a woman, Partner. Find more, quick!"  The MC are excited about the game. My other colleagues were also thrilled with what was happening.

"I assumed that Engr. Gomez is still single. What if we include him here?" The MC is filled with excitement.

Did I hear it right? I thought she had a girlfriend? Are my friends telling me lies?

"He has a girlfriend! She's beside him!" A man next to them at their table shouted.

Marco intentionally stood up and walked to the center. My hands are sweating as he approaches. His eyes were fixed on me and he didn't even look at the other people around us. I cut it and just bowed. I wiped my palm on my gown aggressively. He stood in front of me and his gaze was still there. I bowed slightly and changed position. Anywhere as long as he is not in front of me. But when I walk away he follows. He insists that I should be in front of him.

"Engineer has a voluntary action!" The laughter of the people came to life at what the MC said.

"He admits that he's still single, Partner. But the women are not yet complete." My face lit up at the thought. It’s my way of revenge. I looked at Monica and sneered at her. She widened her eyes at me because she knew what I was going to do.

"There is Monica! She's still single! She's not yet married!" I shouted at my highest pitch as possible to make sure that she heard it. She widened her glare and she couldn't do anything when the MC pulled her to her chair. I couldn't hide my smirk when she arrived in the middle.

"What kind of revenge is this?" Monica hissed.

I just laughed and closed my eyes. When I opened up, I was suddenly facing Marco. I stiffen my body, his dagger eyes says he's not happy that I'm here. I just turned to the MC and listened to the mechanics of the game. This is just a game.  Nothing's a big deal. I told myself. 

"This game is called Trip to Jerusalem but with a twist. You won't need chairs. You will all turn around and when the music stops and whoever is in front of you, ladies… the gentlemen will lift you up in a bridal style." I frowned at that thought. While the boys were still excited. Monica squeezed my hand.

"Francis will be mad at me if he finds out. I wanna back down!" I pulled Monica closer to me so she couldn’t escape. I can't just suffer alone here.

"That's okay, he will never know." I reassured her. I shouldn't have forced her. I immediately repented. I don’t want them to fight. But it's just a game.

"Well, how sure are you?" She asks. I just shrugged my shoulders.

The game has begun. We women revolve around men. I speed up the walk so that I can be removed immediately. The music stops and I’m sure no one will lift me up. I am not familiar with other men here so I'm sure they will not lift me.

I walked away when the music stopped. I will escape this, obviously. I only took two steps away when a hand grabbed my arm and without a second thought, I was lifted in the air. I didn't know who the man was but I just closed my eyes. My dress is slippery because of its fabric that I clung onto his shoulder for extra support. I am scared to fall down. I looked at the man who lifted me in bridal style and he already had the biggest smile he could give. This is the man next to me earlier who was being teased by the group of men on our side. I struggled a bit to get myself down and the MC immediately spoke up.

"Wait a minute, don't let your partners down." The MC ordered when he saw me struggling.

I turned in Marco's direction. She was lifted by him and they are talking. I didn’t know what it was because they were far away and I couldn’t read the motion of their lips. They are both serious. What could that be?

Stop being curious! It will serve you no good!

I waited another ten seconds before the man finally let me down. He touched the small of my back and I immediately gasped. He guided me back to the center to continue the game. The first to be eliminated was my classmate in grade eleven, and when I looked at it a wide smile was bestowed on us. Indicates that she succeeded because no one lifted her. 

Whoa! 

"I wanna back down," I said to the man who lifted me earlier.

"You can't," he replied to me. My face immediately frowned and immediately showed disgust.

"Please," I pleaded.

"No one will replace you," he said and again guided me to the center. I just frowned.

I saw Marco looking in my direction. His piercing eyes told me that he is furious and disgusted.

The crowd roared again and we began to spin. I made small movements so I was left behind by other women in front of me. My fast-paced tactic didn’t work so I tried a different idea. I just bowed my head until Marco and I were on opposite sides. I just kept walking until the music stopped again. I closed my eyes to the squeal of the women and the sudden cessation of the music. I suddenly floated and realized that someone had lifted me up again. The familiar scent permeated in my nose. I don't want to open my eyes because I'm sure that's him.

He didn't change his perfume.

With the loss of my balance, my eyes widened and gasped. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck. He adjusted his arms for me to be comfortable. I buried my face in his shoulder and suddenly his scent prevailed on my body. It sent shivers down my spine. Even his smell has the extraordinary ability for me to be swayed.

I am so addicted to his smell. 

It's still my favorite.

"Five more seconds to go!" The MC declared. Those five seconds seemed to be slow. I can hear the crowd counting. 

My head lifted and our eyes immediately met. I stiffened at that moment. Two seconds left seemed to be two more minutes. He changed a lot. He looked more mature and muscular. If he was handsome before, he's more than gorgeous now. But I can still see the Marco I first met. The Marco I loved, who until now I love dearly.

"I want to go out now," my own mouth stated. I didn’t expect that but I didn’t do anything either. We stared at each other and he didn't even speak or even reply to what I said.

"You've changed," he whispered. I couldn’t get rid of my entanglement with him. I feel like I was glued and I don't want to remove it. He doesn't let me go down either.

My grip tightened on his nape. My hand touched his hair. Its softness reminds me that I have once caressed it. This is the part of his body that I always want to touch. Very soft. Very fragrant. Thick. I once had him fall asleep while I massaged his head as he lay on my thigh.

"Is your course difficult?" I asked him as I played with his hair.

We are surrounded by green grass here in the park. There are children running. There are vendors selling ice cream, cotton candy, and toys.

"Yes, it's hard. But when I hug you, I don't think about that anymore." He was lying on my thigh and his eyes closed.

"You really are a playboy," I pinched his sharp nose.

"When did I play with you?" He asked.

"Many times already," I hissed. He got up from lying down and faced me. He looks as if my face is being measured. Soon he touched my lips with a kiss. To my shock I slapped his arm.

"There are a lot of people here, Marco." He just smirked and lay down on my thighs again.

I massaged his head as I played with his hair. I am looking at a man who never gave up on me even though I was at my worst. With all that happened, he never left my side and chose to stay. He opened his eyes and stared for a moment, he then closed his eyes when he was satisfied. 

I love this man so much.

Seeing those eyes nearer than ever makes me feel safe. It seemed like I had nothing to worry about because I was close to him. My tears welled up, fortunately he didn't see because he took me down immediately as the counting reached ten.