Falling in Love with You

Gertrude POV.... Everything began with lingerie and lipstick. The happiness in one's life is when you share laughter with the people you love. Victoria's Secret dropped a fifty percent discount on all of its products just tonight. Jessica and I love Victoria's Secret. When we are in deep s**t we shop, we eat anything our eyes catch and we pretended stress can be drowned by luxury goods. Excitement filled our lungs and our arms wrapped with every beautiful lingerie and the bold shades of lipstick but even though I bought bold colors, I always wear the earthy ones. Jessica is the one who is bolder and wilder. It's her personality. Many envied us so much that they always compared their lives. They say we were beautiful, had a perfect figure, good friendship and most a perfect lives. We are the kind of people who don't need anything because everything is already given. But if we just knew perfection could rot. “Oh my Jesus, Gertrude! I told you right, see, we came at the right day. It wasn't a jinx!" Jessica exclaimed almost dropping the red lace bra giggling. She already ran towards the mannequin like a child who saw fireworks before I could respond. I just laughed and followed her but if I knew that would be the last time I would laugh happily and excitedly, then I should have stayed in that shop longer or forever. Jessica froze when her phone rang. Her excitement changed into something inexplicably beautiful. Looking at her screen again, she screamed almost breaking the glass and restraining herself not to jump then everything in her hands dropped on the floor. "Gertrude!!!! Oh my god!!!" She burst out grabbing my arm while I stood there confused but I maintained a smile. She is my friend and whatever her happiness is mine too. “Hi…” She answered breathless while smoothing her hair and biting her lip excited. For some reason I watched her with a strange pain in my chest. This never happened before. We both shared happiness and craziness. “Right now? You want me to go there?” Her eyes widened still biting her lip before looking at me and smiling brightly almost blinding. “But I am with my best friend at the mall.” She paused and continued, "Can she come with me?" A strange cold like ice poured on me making me shiver. Then for a second we were running in a hurry towards the plaza. Though my hands were shaking and sweating, I didn't mind but the feeling of my lungs draining and running out of air made me anxious. Arriving at the park bombarded us by an unexpected huge crowd, some couples lined up and holding a piece of roses in their hands and a sweet serenade filled the evening as Jessica walked forward full of smiles. I gasped stumbling on my feet, surprised when I heard his voice. The moment he sang, I already knew who he was. When I see your face… "No!" I muttered in disbelief, shaking my head. Trying to tell myslef I am just imagining things but then he stepped out from the crowd, dress in black suit perfectly complemented his gorgeous look and holing aboquet of roses singing to her his favorite song. My body turns cold, colder like ice staring at them dumbfounded. "Jessica!" I muttered but it's audible and I am just an unrecognizable silhouette at the crowd When he sang the lyrics becomes a betrayal while the note is like a blade slicing my heart. They stabbed me secretly. I remained standing as he walked closer to my best friend, while my heart stopped beating becoming numb. Jonathan wasn't just some random man in my eyes. He was my chosen one, my almost and the man who wrote me promising and sweet letters. He is also the man who snuck and wrote in my sketchbook and even drew flowers until it became a bouquet at the end of the month. He was also the man who wrote me: Wait for me! He is the man I loved and now he is on one knee for my best friend. Smiling he said, “I really don't know how to please a woman but I know I like you." His smiles were full of love and excitement. Barely hanging behind the crowd almost collapsing when Jessica looked at me. She was my best friend, my sister not by blood but heart and she knew this could hurt me but still she said yes to him. The crowd celebrated, clapping, laughing and congratulating them as Jonathan put on a diamond necklace around her neck. I still stood there smiling even though inside me was beyond repair. The shattering pain is overwhelming enough to suffocate me. Before anyone could notice me slowly fading in pain, I left. When she called, I was already halfway home. “Gertrude!” She squealed. “I said yes!” my grip on the stirring wheel tightened, turning my knuckles white. I congratulate her happily lying to myself. "I want to introduce him to you." She said sadly but in my mind it was a bold 'lie'. I almost laughed and screamed instead I just said, "There is always a next time!" Ending the call immediately before I would hear Jonathan's voice and drove off the cliff. When I thought it was over, I was wrong because heartbreaks were just the beginning. My hands didn't touch the knob when the door opened shoving my handsome brother. "Hello my little swan." The tears I am holding exploded, throwing my petite body into his arms as he held me like a fragile gem. "Come with me!" He said. "Okay!" He was surprised breaking off our hug. I never said yes immediately because of Jonathan and Jessica. I gave up my Paris dream for them but tonight the woman who went to the mall is gone. He looks at me contemplating what to say. "Little swan!" He gasped. "What!" His face darkened. "There's something else!" My body staggered. He handed me an envelope with my name written. Don’t trust Jessica. My feet weakens staggering under his grip. "What is this?" I barely said almost a whisper. His fist tightened. " I found in Paris."