CHAPTER 10
2010 Words
[Grand Opening Day]
(Hera's POV)
D-DAY!!
It is the day we've been preparing for. Tita and mom work so hard for this business. And I am here supporting them wholeheartedly.
The grand opening of our jewelry shop. We named it 'Le Empire'. Of course, I was able to choose and made that name for our shop.
Halos sina mama at tita ang nagprepare lahat ng kailangan. Isa lang naman akong dakilang taga bantay ng shop.
"Hera!" Napalingon ako nung tinawag ako ni mom. Marami na kasing tao dito sa labas, puro mukhang mga mayayaman, at may mga press.
Patakbo naman akong pumunta kung nasaan si ni mom at tita, sa unahan. I'm holding a camera to take photos of the event.
"Here." Tita gave me a scissor. I hold it while waiting for the signal of when to cut it.
I smiled when a flash came at me eyes. Tita invited a press in this event. Montenegro family are very influential, kaya lahat ng bigating tao ay ininvite nina Tito dito sa grand opening.
Tita compress me more hanggang sa gumitna ako sa kanila. I touch the arm of the person next to me. Napabitaw ako ng maramdaman kong malaking biceps ang nahawakan ko. I look at my right and saw Zach. I thought si mom ang katabi ko. Hinanap ko si mom but nasa tabi siya ni Zach.
Gusto kong mag change kami ni tita ng position but I'm the one who will cut the ribbon, kaya hinayaan ko nalang. This is work, so I should focus. Just focus, Hera!
After he apologized at me that day, we never talk again, for 4 days. I just... Stay away from him. To conceal my feelings towards him. Ayokong mas lumalim pa ito dahil alam kong walang patutunguhan itong nararamdaman ko.
He's not serious. He's taking me a joke. I should not act like an idiot. And forget him. Forget the Paris, the club, the kiss, everything that is related to him.
He is not worth it, so I should not waste my time to him.
When tita give me a signal. I cut the ribbon. They all clap. We headed inside while father is giving a blessing inside.
I stay at the back to take pictures of over all guest. We needed photos to post in our website.
Medyo maraming guest sina tita. Complete ang Montenegro family and relatives, friends ni Zach, there's politics too, big names, yung iba is hindi taga rito sa Makati. I guess, Montenegro family is very influential.
Someone touches my shoulder. I turn around and look at that person, it's Zion.
"Hey!" I hug him. I didn't see him earlier.
"Hi." He let go and gave me a smile. "Am I late?" He glance at my back.
"Nah, kakaumpisa pa lang. Wala naman masyadong ginagawa sa grand opening, so okay lang na ma-late" I smiled at him.
"Oh.. okay." He shyly smile and look down.
"What are you doing here?" Napalingon ako nang magsalita si Zach sa likod ko.
Kunot noo siyang lumapit sa amin ni Zion. Is he angry? Of what?
"Ahmm... I invited him...?" Since I know him at mayaman siya, I grab the chance para humakot ng customer (◠‿◕).
"Why?" May diin niyang sabi sa akin habang masamang nakatingin kay Zion. Problema niya? Akala ko ba magkaibigan sila.
"Because he's my friend and... your friend"
"Sino may sabing kaibigan ko yan?" Ano bang problema niya. Kung may isyu silang dalawa, wag niya idamay yung pagiging magkaibigan namin.
Lumapit siya kay Zion. "You really have the guts, huh." May diin niyang sabi sa Zion habang si Zion ay kalamado lang na nakatingin sa kanya.
Pumagitna ako sa kanila at hinawakan si Zach sa beywang para ilayo siya ng kaunti kay Zion. Tumingin ako sa harapan. Sana walang makapansin sa sitwasyong ito.
"Zach, please. I invited him kasi tinulungan niya ako the other day. I should return the favor. Kaya pwede ba huwag kang gumawa ng gulo. Basi diyan sa pagmumukha mo, kulang nalang may boxing na magaganap dito." I whisper at him and glared at his firing eyes.
"Hindi ako ang gumagawa ng gulo, siya ang pumunta dito where in fact na hindi dapat siya nandito." He glared back at me. He look at Zion. "Get out! You don't have the rights to show your face here." Medyo tumataas na ang boses niya.
Kinakabahan na ako.
"Hera, I should g--"
"No, don't go." I stopped him as he was about to leave.
I face Zach. "Can you just respect mom and tita, they prepared so much for this day. Please lang, Zach." I glared at him while saying that. Ginagalit niya ako eh. "At bisita ko si Zion, and this is my event. So you don't have the rights para bastusin ang bisita ko." I shot him a fiery eyes. To warn him that he's getting on my nerves.
"Then I'll leave." Hindi ko na siya napigilan ng naglakad siya palabas ng shop.
I sighed. "I'm sorry about that." I apologetically smiled at him.
"No, I'm sorry. I ruined your day." He looks down.
"No, you did not. Yun..." Ngumuso ako sa pintuan kung saan kakalabas lang ni Zach. "He ruined my day." While making face.
He awkwardly laugh. Maybe they have issues that I did not know. I should not jump into my conclusion.
(Zachary's POV)
It's the grand opening day of jewelry build by mom and tita under Hera's name. They put a lot of effort for this business, so I should support them, support Hera.
My parents invited a lot of influential people. They really used their connection to gained more customers and clients. Well... that's where mom good at.
Someone touched my arm. It's Hera. She let go and look at me. Did she not know na kanina pa ako sa tabi niya? Is she still angry.
For four days, we did not talk.
I don't have the courage to talk to her first. I'm scared that she might angry again of my words.
Actually, she is avoiding getting in touched with me. So, I just let her be. This must be okay, we should avoid each other.
After she cut the ribbon, we headed inside. I did invite my co-workers in the company. Also my friends because they are filthy rich, especially Nicole and Lianne who's addicted in jewelries. I'm helping Hera too right?
I search for Hera when I spotted her at the back. She's talking to someone.
I can't see who is it but I know that it's a guy because of his shoes. Natatabunan kasi siya ng isang stall kaya hindi ko makita pagmumukha niya.
I excused myself to them and headed to Hera. Babantayan ko lang naman baka kung sino-sino na naman itong kinakausap niya.
I stopped.
What is he doing here? Doesn't he feel ashamed?
"What are you doing here?" Napalingon sila sa akin. Lumapit ako sa kanila while glaring at him.
"Ahmm... I invited him...?"
"Why?" Diin kong sabi sa kanya while glaring at her.
"Because he's my friend and... your friend" one time lang silang nagkita, magkaibigan na?
"Sino may sabing kaibigan ko yan?" I buried him in my mind.
"You really have the guts, huh." I glared at him with angry eyes.
Pumagitna si Hera and she grab my waist pushed me lightly away from him.
"Zach, please. I invited him kasi tinulungan niya ako the other day. I should return the favor. Kaya pwede ba huwag kang gumawa ng gulo. Basi diyan sa pagmumukha mo, kulang nalang may boxing na magaganap dito." She whisper at me. Gulo? Ako pa ngayon ang nanggugulo?
"Hindi ako ang gumagawa ng gulo, siya ang pumunta dito where in fact na hindi dapat siya nandito." I glared at Hera because I don't like it na inaakusahan ako.
"Get out! You don't have the rights to show your face here." I shot him an angry look to warn him na konting konti na lang ay may boxing talagang magaganap dito. Hindi ba siya maka intindi?
"Hera, I should g--"
"No, don't go." Hera stopped him as he was about to say something.
Hera look at me with angry eyes "Can you just respect mom and tita, they prepared so much for this day. Please lang, Zach." She glared at me. "At bisita ko si Zion, and this is my event. So you don't have the rights para bastusin ang bisita ko." They both getting on my nerves.
"Then I'll leave." I don't like it on how Hera look at me. He choose that guy he met once over me. I walk towards the door and about to leave.
Sumakay ako sa sasakyan at pinaharurot ito nang takbo. Wala na akong paki kung matikitan ako.
Alam kong maaga pa pero may alam akong bar na buksan kahit maaga and I headed there.
Minsan lang akong uminom. Tuwing may problema o may okasiyon. At sa puntong ito, I'm frustrated, angry, dismayed.
I park my car and headed inside the bar, owned by my cousin, Liam. Dumiretso ako sa VIP room dahil nanduon ang mga paborito kong mga alak.
I sat down and shot a glass of beer. It's always Hera. She's I've been thinking until now. Why? Why am I always bothered by her?
Yeah! Who am I to her. Who am I para guluhin ang event niya.
Ginugulo ko pati buhay niya. Sana diretso niyang sinabi sa akin, hindi yung gagamitin niya ang shop para lang paalisin ako sa buhay niya.
Sino ba naman ako? Isang hamak na walang kwenta sa buhay niya.
Sana hindi ko nalang nakilala si Hera.
Sana hindi nalang ako sumipot sa meeting ko nuon sa Paris.
Sana hindi ako pumunta sa club.
Sana hindi ako pumunta sa birthday ni mom.
Sana hindi nalang kami nagkakilala.
Sana hindi nalang ako napalapit sa kanya.
Sana...
Sana...
Sana...
Hindi sana ganito ka gulo ang utak ko ngayon.
(Hera's POV)
We headed sa vacant sofa. I saw Nicole and smile but she awkwardly smile and look at Zion. Zion just wave his hand to them. They look awkward.
"Where's Zach?" Ken asks.
"He just left. I don't know if he will be back." They just nodded and get back to their business. They didn't even say hi to Zion.
That's pretty obvious. May issue between them.
I excuse myself kay Zion para kumuha ng wine. People are just chatting, browsing and having a tour inside the shop.
I bought a brochure ng pabalik na ako sa sofa. I gave brochure to Zach's friends baka may magustuhan sila, and to Zion too.
Zion open the brochure and his browsing for his taste. We just talk about jewelry stuff. Hindi ako nag abalang magtanonh tungkol sa history nila Zach and friends.
Baka sabihin pa niya na marites ako XD.
After a couple of hours, Zach's friends bid farewell to me. Busy kasi si tita kaya they didn't get a chance say goodbye to her.
"I know your curious." Zion said as he sips his wine without looking at me.
I give him a 'what ' look.
"Zach and I." Ohhh... Open forum na.
"Ahmmm... Not really, hehe." And look away from him. Butt... i faced him. "I thought, you all are friends? Ang saya-saya niyo nga sa beach doon sa picture na pinakita mo."
He look down. His thumb is playing with his wine glass.
"If Zach bullied you, just tell me. May kilala akong lawyer to handle your case." He laugh lightly.
Yeah... Magaling na lawyer itong kakilala ko, she's a korean. Her name is Woo Young Woo ᕙ(͡°‿ ͡°)ᕗ
"I messed everything." Huh? In what way?
He bitterly laugh. May halong lungkot ang pag ngiti niya. Malungkot siya.
Parang siyang batang ine-intorregate, na alam niyang may mali siyang nagawa pero wala siyang magagawa dahil nangyari na.
I just stare at him while he is smiling like he really is guilty.
"He saw us."
.
.
"Zach saw us"
.
.
.
"Having s*x with his girlfriend."
- Writer
