OWNED by a POSSESSIVE GREEK

Ika Apatnapu’t Pito- Forgiven

Kuya Evans will arrive the next day, that’s why they set a night out the day after tomorrow. May mga work sila kinabukasan kaya di na sila nagpagabi. While Azalea has cleared her schedule para mag ka time with us, hindi sya nag accept ng kahit anong modeling stint. She will come back tomorrow morning and will sleep here in my condo for a week para makapag bonding kami. Ate Saf wanted to join but baby Ezekiel has a monthly check up appointment kaya baka humabol nalang sya on the last night ba mag i stay si Azalea sa condo ko.

The following day, I woke up late because of jet lag. Azalea arrived around 4pm, she had to go to her agency first before going to my condo kaya hinapon na sya. Yckos also arrived at around six pm, katulad ng promised nya he will really spend his time with me kaya we ordered korean chicken and beer for dinner.

“So ano na yung sasabihin mo samin na secret mo?” Azalea asked after munching her chicken, cheat day daw nya today.

“Secret? You have a secret?” Napataas ang kilay nito saakin.

I think he is wondering if he knows that secret since palagi kami nag kukwentuhan sa mga pangyayari sa buhay namin.

I nervously laughed. Kahit kay Yckos never ko sinabi ang tungkol kay Paris!

“Wait! Don’t tell me may boyfriend ka na?!” Azalea beamed. Her eyes are twinkling in excitement.

Muntik ko ng mabuga ang beer mula sa bibig ko, na ikinahalakhak ni Azalea..

“I knew it!” tawang tawa na sabi nya.

“You have a boyfriend and I didn’t know?” kunot noo na tanong ni Yckos.

Inabot ko ang bottled water sa harap ko at ininom bago ako tumikhim para magsalita.

“He is not my boyfriend yet!”

“Omg!!” Azalea screamed in happiness. Dumukwang ito saakin at niyakap ako. “ I’m so happy for you!”

Natawa na din ako.

“Well..I’m not surprised that you have a suitor, that’s normal since you are a very attractive girl, bulag lang siguro nakapaligid sayo if di ka magustuhan.” Yckos said before he gulped his beer.

“Awww…you’re so sweet! I’m flattered!”

Ngumisi lang ito st umiling.

“So yun na yun? Akala ko naman kung ano.” ismid ni Azalea.

Napaayos ako ng upo.. I pursed my lips as I looked at Yckos.

“Uhhh.. di nyo na itatanong kung sino?”

Nabitin sa ere ang akmang pag inom ni Yckos at tiningnan nya ako mabuti. Samantalang biglang naalerto si Azalea.

“Kilala namin?”

Napasinghap ako.

“Is he a celebrity?” Hula ni Azalea. “Anak ng politician?” she paused. “Schoolmate natin? or Kilalang angkan??”

Sunod sunod na iling ang ginawa ko, bumaling ako kay Yckos. Nakakunot noo na sya.

“Who is it Cassiopeia?” He asked in a very serious tone that made me gulp.

Of all my cousins, sya ang pinska galit kay Paris, kaya kahit palagi kaming mag kausap ay never kong binanggit ito.

I pursed my lips and closed my eyes.

When I got the courage that I needed, I opened my eyes and with a pounding heart,I told them who.

“Paris Nicolai Alcatara.”

Azalea gaped while Yckos’ face darkened.

“Holy cow! Are you for real Cassi?!” Si Azalea ang unang nakabawi.

Dahan dahan akong tumango habang pinag mamasdan si Yckos.

Yckos looks pissed pero wala syang sinabi instead he drank his beer straight.

“How did it happen?! So..wait nagkita kayo sa Spain?! Meron ba syang business meeting doon tapos nagkakita kayo? Tell us!” hindi mapakaling sabi ni Azalea.

And Yckos just stared at me. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong kabahan sa pananahimik nya o matuwa at di sya nag react ng matindi.

“We were..” I cleared my throat.”We were schoolmates..and..I’m working at his Company right now.”

Napasinghap si Azalea habang napapikit si Yckos sa frustration. I know Yckos will not accept this lightly, with everything that happened to me because of Paris, he buried a grudge since then kahit pa nag public apology si Paris at kahit pa nilinis nito ang pangalan ko ay hindi pa din iyon sapat kay Yckos.i'

“What the! Cassi! You never told us about it!” Azalea said in accusing tone. He doesn’t like The Alcantara siblings, from Milan and Paris, up to the eldest Alcantara sibling Rome that I happened to meet twice at Spain.

I don’t know why Azalea hates them though, one thing is for sure, it is not just because of what happened to me and Paris.. there’s mire to it that she doesn’t want to share to us.

“Because I know that you guys will react like this.” I shrugged.

Inirapan ako ni Azalea sabay humalukipkip ito

“Do you like him?”Yckos asked coldly, napatingin ako sakanya.

I paused. Do I like Paris? The guy who brought sunshine to my life.

Confidently I answered h

“I do.” Yckos looked away.

“But Cassi there are a lot of guys out there! Wag lang si Paris! Let’s not associate our clan with their family!” Mariin nyang sabi. “No one likes Paris! All of our cousins are mad at him!”

My lips parted. How can I tell our other cousins about Paris if silang dalawa palang ay ganito na ang reaction? But then, if we plan to level up our relationship, kailangan ngayon palang matanggap ba sya ng mga pinsan ko. Not that I needed their approval but..I want my boyfriend to have a good relationship with my cousins for they are very important to me.

There was a defeaning silence. Nagpakiramdaman lang kami. At ng hindi sila bagsalita., I took the opportunity to voice out my thoughts.

“Can’t you just both be happy for me?” mahina kong sabi. Azalea looks surprised while Yckos’ face softened.

I swallowed hard. I must tell them my thoughts hangang malakas pa ang loob ko.

“I was able to moved on because of him.” I gave them a sad smile. “He was there for me when I needed someone..he pulled me up and made me stand again.. he showed me life in a different perspective.” I paused and grabbed my beer before I took asip. “If not because of him.. I don’t think I will be here in front of you..” naiiling kong sabi.

Paris has been a great help in my healing process. He was a very supportive friend and a very caring suitor. Because of him, I learned to smile and be happy again.

”What I am trying to say is..Paris is now a very important person in my life. And I hope that you all can give him a chance to prove himself. Yes, he did something wrong in the past but..I have already forgiven him..so please forgive him too..let us be happy.” pakiusap ko.

I bit my lip as I looked down.

”How about Kuya Silas?”

Napasinghap ako at mabilis na napatingin kay Azalea.

”Lei!” Yckos viice thundered.

But Azalea didn’t show any regret.

”What?” balewalang tanong nya kay Yckos. “Cassi said she has already moved on, and she’s talking about forgiveness so I just want to know if she has forgiven Kuya Silas already?” she said while looking straight to my eyes.

”Don’t mention that guy!” Yckos said coldly while glaring at Azalea.

”Oh come on, it’s been what? Five years!”

”He left Cassie without saying anything!”

”But Cassi had already moved on-“

”Stop it.” saway ko sakanila, ayokong mag away sila kaya pinigil ko na bago mag kainitan.

Sabay sikang napatingin saakin, parehong lukot ang mukha.

”To feed your curiosity..Yes, I have already forgiven him.” I said confidently.