My Destiny (Completed)

k8

"So when is your wedding going to take place?" Karlo asked.

They were having a family dinner with Francis and Alex. Kanina pa nagkukwento si Alex about her recent trip to New York. Close to perfection na raw ang wedding gown nito.

"No date yet, Papa." Si Francis ang sumagot.

"What are you saying?" Kunwa'y hindi mapakaniwala si Alex. "He's kidding, Papa... "

"So?" Naghihintay ang kanilang ama.

KC wished it wouldn't be very soon.

"By the end of the month-" Alex was unsure though na kumapit sa braso ng binata. "right, babe?"

Pilit na ngiti ang sagot ni Francis.

"That's too soon. Did you even start the preparation already?" Singit ni Cassey.

"She already had her gown made," sarcastic na sabi ni Katrina.

KC remained silent... Malapit nang hindi maging available si Francis. The hard part was she needed to be happy for her sister.

"Excuse us everyone, Alex and I needs to talk," magalang pero matigas na sabi ni Francis, grabbing his girlfriend's arm.

"Alex is so funny," ani Katrina nang makalayo ang dalawa. "She's so scared Francis might not play along."

"Katrina, stop that," saway ni Karlo.

"She's so assuming," Katrina pouted pero tumahimik na rin.

*****

"Alex!" Tawag niya sa kapatid, inabangan niya talagang matapos ang usapan nito at ni Francis.

"What?!" Had Alex been crying? Namumula mga mata nito, pati na ilong.

"I just want to tell you-" nilapitan niya ito kasi mukha namang hindi papalag si Alex. "that I'm happy that you're getting married."

"KC!" Bigla itong yumakap sa kanya. "Thank you."

"Are we okay now?" Mahigpit niya rin itong niyakap.

"But promise me one thing," tumango-tango ito.

"Anything, Alex."

"Please stay away from Francis until we're married." Kumalas ito sa kanya at ginagap ang dalawang kamay niya with pleading eyes.

"I promise." Bahala na, besides at that point, when all it takes is that promise to gain Alex back, she'd not think twice to give her word.

"Thank you, KC!" Alex hugged her again.

*****

"Charlize, may I talk to you please?"

KC and Ivan were already entering the lift when Francis came.

"Francis?" Atubili niya itong nilingon, ano ang sasabihin nito?

"Just a minute."

"We are in a hurry." Gusto niyang sabihing 'okay, let's talk' but she couldn't do that now after promising Alex na iiwasan niya si Francis. "Right Ivan?" Kumapit siya sa polo ng kasama.

"Yeah, but if it's really important-" sumang-ayon naman si Ivan pero dahil seryoso ang mukha ni Francis, he was willing to give way to the CEO.

"No, no - we'll come back after lunch. It's lunch break naman, 'di ba? I'm in your office at 1pm sharp. I promise." If it's work-related, perhaps it can wait til work resumes that afternoon.

"Okay then." He backed off.

KC sighed. She didn't want to be so obvious that she was avoiding Francis. But she just almost said it aloud just the same.

"I don't want to think that you're into Francis," sabi ni Ivan habang naghihintay sila ng order, he remained silent after Francis left them.

"What are you talking about?" Painosente niyang tanong, 'even Ivan noticed!'

"You are avoiding him because he is your sister's boyfriend."

"Ivan, no. It's just that, I didn't want you to wait while we talk," kaila niya trying to look straight into her company's eyes.

"Don't worry, Charlize. I promise you, you will forget him," he smiled. "Just give me the chance." Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya sa ibabaw ng mesa.

Ivan sure knows how to charm a lady. It's just unfortunate for him that her heart already belongs to someone else.

But he said to give him a chance - can one chance change her heart?

"Ivan, I don't need to forget him, okay? Francis is my friend."

"Okay." He shrugged. "By the way, did you meet Mr Chan?" Iniba na ng binata ang usapan.

*****

"True to your promise, huh?" Bungad ni Francis sa kanya nang pumunta siya sa opisina nito eksaktong ala una ng hapon.

Nakatayo ito at nakapamulsa habang nakatanaw sa labas ng glass wall.

"What are we going to talk about?" She asked. "If it's business you should have given me a heads up."

"Nothing really." Tumingin ito ng diretso sa mga mata niya. KC found it hard to focus dahil aaminin niya na kahit ang pinakawalang meaning nitong tingin sa kanya ay nakakaapekto nang sobra sa puso niya.

"What do you mean nothing?" Kunot noo niyang tanong.

"I just wanted to know if you'd choose me over Ivan." Francis said with a hard to define smile on his lips, that kind of sarcastic way.

"What?!" Hindi siya makapaniwala at the same time ay nayayamot siya sa nakikitang reaksyon ng binata. "Why would you do that Francis? Why would I even need to choose you?"

"Because you've known me longer than Ivan. And yet you chose to go with him wherever he wants!"

"He invited me. I couldn't be rude. Besides, we just went out for lunch. And it's not where ever!" Nag-iinit ang pisngi niya at gusto niyang magalit, ano ba ang gustong palabasin ni Francis? Sana nagkakamali lang siya ng interpretasyon. "You know, I don't even owe you an explanation. So if that's all you want to say, I'd better get going!"

"Wait." Pinigilan siya nito sa braso. "I also wanted to ask you this-"

"W-what?" She stammered at their sudden closeness.

"Are you avoiding me?"

"W-what?" Hinawakan niya ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa braso niya para sana tanggalin iyon but he stopped her by holding her hand with his other free hand. Tuloy she ended up neutralized by Francis. Pareho na nitong hawak ang mga kamay niya. "Let me go!" Hindi niya kailangang sagutin ang tanong nito, the answer was evident. Hindi na nga iyon kelangang tanungin pa.

"I wish you stayed as the simple KC that I used to know," sabi nito. A hint of hurt flashed in his eyes pero saglit lang iyon. "I missed her you know- the old KC."

"I never wanted this life!"

"You are near but yet you seem so far."

"You are being ridiculous!"

"I am."

"Please let me go!" Nagpumiglas siya, umatras but her back was already pressing against his desk.

"Why do I have this feeling of not wanting to see you around other men?" He stepped forward to get real close.

"Francis! You're crowding me!" She protested, her heart beats frantically inside her chest "What are you doing? Let go!"

Anong sinasabi ni Francis? Is he telling her that he's jealous?

"I don't want to watch you get hurt. I wanted to protect you -" halos magdikit na ang mga mukha nila. "I wanted you all -"

"What's the meaning of this?!!" Alex interrupted from the door. "Francis?!"

"Alex!" Panabay na sambit nina Francis at KC.

Mabilis siyang binitawan ng binata and it almost hurt KC.

"What are you still doing here?" Alex lips broke into a smile. Something maybe both she and Francis did not expect. "I've been calling you, babe. The photoshoot is beginning in an hour." Lumapit ito para humalik sa kasintahan, Alex totally ignored her.

"What photoshoot?" Francis frowned.

"Prenup?" Alex sounded like Francis just forgot their schedule. "Yup... And KC, please, can you reschedule your meeting with my fiance? We are in real hurry." Baling sa kanya ng kapatid niya.

"Y-yeah... Tapos na kami... Excuse me." Dali-dali siyang umalis without looking back.

Anong nangyari? Alex couldn't be so calm like that. After catching her break her promise, totoo bang hindi ito galit?

Pero bukod doon, before Alex came, Francis was about to tell her something... -

"Charlize!"

Muntik na siyang mapatalon sa gulat nang biglang magsalita si Katrina.

"Kat!" She exclaimed.

"What are you doing here, huh?" Katrina teased, there's no way na madeny niyang kay Francis siya galing dahil halos kakalabas lang niya ng pinto.

"W-we just talked."

"About?" Patuloy siyang tinutukso ng kapatid niya.

"Kat- stop."

"Okay. Okay." Itinaas pa nito ang dalawang kamay. "You go ahead- i'll just have to say something to the CEO - " natigilan ito nang makarinig sila ng nagsisigawan. "oopppss..."

"Alex is inside," nag-aalalang sabi niya. Mukhang nag-aaway sina Francis at Alex.

"Really?!" Parang nagningning pa ang mga mata ni Katrina. "They must be fighting." Idinikit nito ang tenga sa dingding.

"Katrina, let's go..." Hinila niya ang kapatid. "That's not right."

"I'll bet my one month salary, there is no wedding by month end!" Tuwang-tuwa ito pero nagpahila naman sa kanya palayo.

Bakit nag-aaway ang dalawa? Dahil ba sa kanya? She felt guilt flooded her... Everything was wrong and she had to take the blame. Hindi na dapat siya nagpunta kay Francis.

*****

That night, Ivan invited her out for dinner. Pinaunlakan niya ito hindi dahil gusto niya, ang totoo nagpasya siyang subukang ibaling sa iba ang atensyon.

"Take chance with me," Ivan told her.

"But I couldn't promise you anything."

"It's okay. Truth is I really like you, Charlize." Ginagap nito ang mga kamay niya. "And I am willing to wait. Andami ko ng nakarelasyon, it's not a secret. But I never felt this way before so I am also taking chances here. Maybe, in time, you'll learn to unlove him," he added pertaining to Francis.

"He's getting married with my sister," malungkot niyang saad. There's no use denying how she feels for Francis, Ivan knew and he wasn't judging her for it.

"That's why I'm here."

"But aren't you afraid, I might not learn to love you."

"That's what I really like about you, Charlize. You are very honest." He smiled assuringly. "Don't worry, I won't take it against you."

"Thanks, Ivan."

"Always, Charlize." He kissed her hand.

'Sparks please', she thought pero nabigo siya, bakit kay Francis, tingin pa lang nito hulog na hulog na siya?

Nang ihatid siya ni Ivan, inabutan nila ang kotse ni Francis sa harapan ng bahay nila. Nitong mga nakaraan nga ay lagi ito sa kanila pero hindi siya nagpapakita rito. Hindi rin naman siya nito hinahanap but Cassey would always joke him na bumalik na lang ito roon since mas madalas nga naman ito sa bahay nila kaysa sa condo nito.

"The CEO is here," ani Ivan.

"Would you like to come inside?"

"No, just say hi to Tito Karlo for me... Tumawag kasi si mama, son duties," he said. "Thanks for the wonderful night, Charlize."

"Thank you rin." She watched him drove away.

"Charlize," nakaabang pala talaga sa kanya si Francis. Hindi pa siya nakakapasok ng bahay ay hinarang na siya nito. "Can we talk?"

"Francis I'm tired. If that's about business, maybe it can wait til tomorrow." Dapat lalampasan niya ito pero pinigilan na siya nito sa braso.

"No. Please, just a few minutes," pakiusap ng binata.

"What are we going to talk about?" She sighed in defeat.

"Two things..." He said. "First, I'd like to apologize for misbehaving kanina."

"Forgiven," she tried to turn to go. Iyon lang naman pala, eh.

"Wait!" Pigil ulit nito. "Second - Alex and I broke up."

"What?!" Totoong nagulat siya, nagjojoke ba ito? "Why?"

Bigla siyang nag-alala para kay Alex. Paano iyon tatanggapin ng kapatid niya. They were getting married!

"I don't know. I just woke up one day realizing that our relationship is going nowhere," sabi nito trying to lock his gaze on hers dahil umiiwas siya.

"Why are you telling me this?" Mixed emotions ang nararamdaman niya. Pero nangingibabaw na hindi siya pwedeng maging masaya. Dahil kung totoo ang sinasabi nito, her sister was surely broken at that very moment.

"Charlize," he held her both hands to force her to look at him. "Because I think I'm in love with someone else," dagdag nito.

"Francis, bakit mo 'to sinasabi sa akin? You know that I will not take your excuses. Alex is my sister! What do you want me to feel?" Binawi niya ang kamay, he's in love with someone else? Kelangan ba niya ang impormasyon na iyon gayong pati siya masasaktan? But above her own feelings, she's angry for Alex. "I don't care if you fell for someone else, my concern is you hurt my sister! How could you do that to her?!"

"I'd hurt her more if I will let her believe that I still love her."

"Francis, you're impossible! My sister has been planning your wedding ever since -I couldn't remember when she started. So How could you -?" She reached for her phone to call Alex. "What??!" Angil niyang tanong nang agawin ng binata ang cellphone niya.

"Charlize, listen to me first."

"What is it with you?!"

"I still have something to tell you-"

"What?!" Hinawakan siya nito sa magkabilang balikat para siguraduhing nandito ang atensyon niya. "Francis -"

"Don't you wanna know who i fell in love with?" Kinuha nito ang isang kamay niya para ilagay sa tapat ng puso nito.

"I'd rather not. It's not my business, Francis" bakit niya gugustuhing malaman? Para dalawa na sila ni Alex na iiyak? "Please - let me go." Hindi niya mabawi ang kamay niya rito.

"When I met her, I was certain I only wanted her as a friend- " Francis started looking straight into her eyes. "I have my own plans with somebody else."

"What makes you think I want to know?" Tanong niya.

"Just listen okay---" naputol ang sasabihin nito nang biglang dumating si Katrina.

"Hi guys! Why are you here outside!" Mataas ang energy na sabi nito.

"Katrina!!!" Francis exclaimed dahil nagkaroon si KC ng pagkakataong bawiin ang kamay at pumasok sa loob ng bahay.