Beautiful Scars

The Invitation

"Ang sama mo, ginawa mo iyon?" natatawang komento ni Selene.

"She was too pathetic, in a month? Magpapasakal na sya in a month, ba't sobrang atat syang masaktan" paingos nya.

Nasa mall sila at kasalukuyang nasa isang kilalang cofee shop.

" Esh you dont have to be sound so bitter okay. Let Cathy decide besides she knew what's she's doing. She can take care of herself. "

Inis nya itong tiningnan at sumimsim ng kape.

"Selene si Cathy yon, madaling mainlab madaling maloko. She was heartbroken recently and now she was getting married. What the f**k was that."

"Maybe it's different this time".

"Tsk... Dela Torre ang mapapangasawa nya. De la to rre" pag diin nya.

"Esh hindi lahat ng lalaki gaya ni fire".

Agad syang natigilan ng marinig ang pangalan na iyon. Fire....! What a name. Pero agad nyang pinalis iyong pamilyar na bilis na kabog ng dibdib nya.

"H-Huh, why did you have to bring him up?" Nakatikwas ang kilay na wika nya rito.

"Because that is what this conversation is leading, Dela Torre si Fire. Pinsan nya si Albert. " Patuloy nito na matiim syang pinag mamasdan at tila inaarok ang katotohanan.

Nag iwas sya ng tingin. Ayaw nyang may mabasa ito sa mga mata nya.

"Are you ready to see him" kumabog ang puso nya sa tanong nito.

"Yes. I was over him. " She tried to sound calm kahit na naginginig ang mga tuhod nya.

Tinaasan lng sya ng kilay ng kaibigan. Selene and Cathy knows her too well. But she won't let them know what was she really felt from the inside.

Agad syang dumiretso pauwi sa condo nya ng maghiway sila ni Selene. She was greeted by the feeling of loneliness as she entered her unit.

Nagtuloy sya sa kusina at nagsalin ng wine sa baso. Kaya na ba nyang makita si Fire?

Eight years ago Fire and her fell inlove with each other. They were both in highschool when they started their relationship. They were inseparable. Soo inlove and both were hopelessly romantic believing that date brought them together.

They were happy, very happy. Their relationship seem perfect. The were both inlove with each other.

But one day everything fell apart. The fairytale she once believe to last slowly fading away.

He became cold and distant. Fire was her world, everything in her life was spinning into him. She hold on to him. She hold on into his promises. But one day she felt so drained. Tila wala na syang lakas ng loob na lumaban pa. Her love for him was consuming her whole sanity. She saw how fire changes from being a man who loves every bit of her, from a man who easily get pest from the sight of her.

She witnessed how Fire slowly falling out of love from her and look other woman with tenderness in his eyes. Iba na ang nakikita nya sa mga mata nito. Gumuho ang mundo nya ng makitang ang lambing sa mga mata nito kay Aina.

Ka klase umano nito ang babae, Fire was taking Engineering course. While she was enrolled in Fashion Designing.

Tuluyan na syang lumayo at sumuko ng masaksihan ang isang tagpo sa pagitan nito at ni Aina. It was their second anniversary when he broke her heart and she left him.

Now it was five years ago, and the scars he made into her heart still ache. But unlike before she knew she can handle herself well, which includes her feelings.

Whatever left in her heart she knew it was anger and pain. There's no room for love in it.

Matapos maubos ang isang bote agad syang pumasok sa silid nya at pabagsak na inihiga ang pagal na katawan. Hanggang sa tuluyan na syang makatulog.

Maaga syang nagising. At agad pumasok sa opisina. She runs craft and designs. Isa ang kumpanya nya sa kilalang top couterier ng bansa.

She was the famous Eshee Marqueza. The cold and terror CEO of crafts and designs.

Nandito na si Miss.

Narinig nyang bulungan ng mga empleyado nya at dali daling bumalik sa kanya kanyang work place.

Sinalubong sya ng sekretarya nya. Agad na huminto sya sa harap nito.

"Good morning miss" bati nito sa kanya.

"Morning. Have the conference ready in five minutes. " Turan nya saka tinalikuran ito at dumiretso sa office nya.

Agad tumikwas ang kilay nya ng mapansin ang bouquet na nasa mesa nya.

Hindi na nya inabala ang sariling tingnan ang card na kasama ng bulaklak, she already have someone in mind.

Maya maya lng tumunog ang cellphone nya.

"Did you like the flowers?" Malambing na wika nito ng sagutin nya ang tawag nito.

"Yeah they were beautiful" sagot nya habang pinag aaralan ang mga orders na nasa mesa nya.

"Nice to hear that. I'll pick you up after work. My friend is throwing a party and we are invited. "

"Okay" maikling sagot nya at tinapos na ang tawag, tumayo at dumiretso ng conference room.

After an hour lumabas na sya ng conference room. She texted Homer, sa bahay na nalang sya magpapasundo dito. She need a quick shower masyadong naubos ang pasensya nya sa mga empleyado nya. Bakit lahat puro lutang. Tsk2.

Nang marating ang condo nya ay agad syang nagtuloy sa banyo at naligo.

She felt relieved after that cold shower. Mabilis ang kilos na nagbihis sya at maya maya lng ay rinig na nya ang malakas na busina sa labas.

Naiiling na agad syang lumabas ng kwarto at pinagbukasan ang pinto.

"Your scarring my neighbors" komento nya na pinaymaywangan ito. Tatawa tawang lumapit ito sa kanya at humalik sa kanyang pisngi. Nasa beywang nya ang kamay nito ng igiya sya nito patungo sa elevator, maya maya lng ay nasa sasakyan na sila at inalalayan sya papasok.

"You look great" komento ni homer saka binuhay ang sasakyan.

"Matagal ko ng alam yan" walang anumang sabi nya.

"Mayabang talaga." Tatawa tawang sagot nito.

"Ginawa mong flower shop ang opisina ko" inis nyang sabi rito.

"Haha, alam ko kasing magugustuhan mo iyon".

"Whatever" .

"Mainit na naman ang ulo mo, ilang empleyado mo na naman ang pinaiyak mo? Seriously Esh hinay hinay lang."

"Focus on the wheel homer, wag mo na akong pangaralan, okay!" Iritado nyang sabi.

"Fire just arrived" kapag kuwan ay imporma nito ng hindi man lng lumilingon sa kanya .

Biglang nanlamig ang pakiramdam nya. Gaya ng dati marinig lng nya ang pangalan nito ay tila nag ririgodon na sa bilis ang puso nya. Bwisittt talaga.

Tame your emotions Esh, remind yourself that. Anang isip nya.

"Really. Do I look like I care?" Nakatutok pa rin sa daan ang paningin nya.

"He will be at the party." Sa halip na sagutin sya ay iyon ang sinagot nito.

Mas lalo yatang bumilis ang t***k ng puso nya. Bakit hindi nito sinabi iyon kanina. Di sin sanay hindi na lng sya sumama. Pero bakit naman hindi sya sasama?

You already get over him Esh. Don't get tensed just because you might see him there. Be yourself.

"Oh, really? That was nice to hear. It's been 5 years anyway". Kaysarap palakpakan ng sarili nya. Ang galing mo girl best actress.

"Prepare yourself then. " Makahulugang sabi nito bago tuluyang nanahimik.

Ipinarada nito ang sasakyan sa loob ng isang magarang mansion. The house was really amazing.

It was a modern 3 storey mansion. It features striking materials such as glass, steel and concrete over the more common brick and the wood gives it an amazing look. Natural lighting was seen through a large floor to ceiling windows. The combination creates an almost industrial look that has minimalist undertones.

"Nice house" wala sa sariling sabi nya.

"Fire owns this" gulat nya itong nilingon subalit hinaklit lang nito ang beywang nya at hinatak sya sa loob.

"You didn't told me" inis nyang baling dito habang naglalakad papasok sa mansion.

"You never asked" nakangiting sagot ni Homer.

"You brute" inis nyang singhal dito. God baka anong isipin nito sa kanya at nandito sya ngayon. Napapikit sya sa inis.

"Don't worry he told me to bring my date, so don't look tensed". Naiiling na wika nito.

"I'm not tensed" nakakunot ang noong hinarap nya ito.

"Then stop acting like one, your shaking. You've told me you already get over him. This is your best shot to prove it to me. "

"I don't have to prove anything to you" naiinis na sya rito.

"You do. " Matiim ang matang nakatitig ito sa kanya inaasisa ang totoong nararamdaman nya. Sinalubong nya ito ng tingin, ayaw nyang mabasa nito ang totoong nararamdaman nya.

Kapagkuway ito na ang naunang nag bawi ng tingin at patuloy na inakay sya sa likod. Isang malawak na lawn iyon habang nasa kaliwang gilid nito ay ang isang infinity pool at sa kabila naman ay isang napaka gandang hardin. What a relaxing place.

Maraming bisita ang naroon lahat ay pawang galing sa may kayang pamilya. What are you expecting Esh, Dela Torre sila.

She saw familiar faces at nakangiting bumabati sa kanila.

"You look good together". Bati ni Mia isa sa mga naging client nya at nakipag beso sa kanya.

"Thanks Mia you look gorgeous" anya sa babae.

"Gowns made by one and only Esh Marquesa" anito na umikot pa SA harap nya.

"Thanks for always choosing to wear my designs, see you around" paalam nya rito.

Muling iginiya sya ni Homer palapit sa isang mesa. Nagulat sya ng makita ang mga kaibigan nya.

"I didn't know your here" tikwas ang kilay na bati nya kina Selene and Cathy.

"Uhmm.... Albert told us to come" tila kabadong sagot ni Cathy.

"What's up with that voice? Are you okay? " Maang nyang tanong kay Cathy, mukhang kabado kasi ito.

"A-ahh yeah" sagot ni Cathy.

"Do you have any idea what's this party is all about?" nag aalalang baling ni Selene sa kanya.

Inalalayan sya ni Homer namaupo sa isa sa nga bakanteng silya.

"Yeah .. bwisit na Homer na ito ngayon lng sinabi sakin" naiinis nyang sagot sa mga ito na ikinatawa lng ng binata.

"Believe me Esh, you need this. You don't have to run away from him forever". Walang gatol na sabi nito.

"I'm not running away from him Homer, besides I told you, I'm fine but you should have at least told me before coming here". Pinandidilatan nya ito at tila balewala lamang ito sa kanya.

She turned her gazed to Selene and Cathy, she smiled at them.

"I'm okay girls don't worry".

Pareho namang nagbitiw ng buntong hininga ang dalawa.

"Relax girls, will you? Besides andito naman kayo, it's as if bibitayin ako rito" nakatikwas ang kilay na saad nya sa mga ito.

"Yeah right, were here for you" kalmante ng tugon ni Selene.

Bigla ay nag sitayuan ang mga bisitang naroon. Nanatiling syang nakaupo hindi dahil wala syang pakialam sa paligid kundi tila nawawalan ng lakas ang mga tuhod nya.

Naging mabagal sa pandinig nya ang malakas na hiyawan at palakpakan batid nyang naroroon na ang may ari ng bahay na iyon.

Magka krus ang mga braso na naisandal nya ang sarili sa upuan bago nag angat ng paningin patungo sa bungad ng pinagmumulan ng hiwayan at palakpakan.

Her strength seemed to have escaped all over her body, when their eyes met, with the man she had long buried in oblivion.

Fire.

Fire.....

Fire......

Paulit ulit na naririnig nya ang pangalan nito sa isip nya habang mag kahinang ang kanilang nga mata.