Napahinto ako sa aking tinatatayuan at napatitig sa madilim na kalangitan. A smile slowly crept in my mouth when I saw the stars dominating the whole skies.

Humalukipkip ako at nanatiling nakatitig sa kalangitan. I suddenly moved out of surprise when someone snatched my arm.

Napasinghap ako nang makita ang pamilyar na bulto ni Hoax.

"Let me go," Mariing sambit ko.

He tilted his head as his hand landed on my back. "Let's talk first."

"Wala tayong dapat pagusapan." I thought he'll just let me go because I already signed the papers yet he's here.

He gently pulled my back, urging me to come with him. "Just this once, Astrid. Listen to me."

I heaved a deep sighed. "What else do you want? I already s-signed the papers--fuck," I whispered a curse when my voice trembled. "I don't want to hear anything from you."

"Just a minute, Strid," Namumungay ang mga matang sambit niya.

"I said no!" I shrieked. My chest heaved up and down as I tilted my head. "Can't you understand? Leave me alone! Give me space!"

Mariin siyang pumikit bago ako tinitigan. Sa huli ay napabuntong hinunga at napatango. "Alright, I won't bother you. I'll wait until you're ready to listen. You know where to find me. I'll wait, Astrid."

"Astrid!" Agad akong napalingon sa kausap dahil sa tawag na iyon.

"Huh?" Baling ko kay Archer. Then I realized I'm too preoccupied. I remember it again. That was our last talk. Even until now, it still feels the same. But I won't let him fool me again.

He tsked as he sipped on his coffee. "You're not listening."

"Sorry, what is it?" I attentively asked.

"As I was saying, there's still no progress. I'm sorry."

I drew an audible breath and whispered. "Damn it."

Mariin akong napapikit at pilit na ikinalma ang sarili. "My parents' divorce was approved three months after they filed it. I filed my divorce exactly a year and a half from now yet--" I heaved a deep sighed, as if it'll calm me down. "You'll tell me there's still no progress in it?"

Mukha ngang magkakabalikan na sila Mommy, tapos 'yung divorce ko hindi pa rin maaprubahan. They got divorce because of what my father did. He sent Kuya to an orphanage. Habang ang alam ni Mommy at ni Tito Julius ay namatay ang anak nila. Ang hindi alam ni Daddy ay kinuha ni Tita Amira si Kuya at iyon ang pinalabas na anak nilang dalawa.

At first, I can't look at my mother directly on her eyes because I thought she cheated. But Daddy explained that Mom didn't cheat on her. Mommy's already pregnant with Kuya when she met my Dad.

A few months after their divorce, I saw them in a restaurant. I can still remember how shocked they are when I appeared in front of them. Then last week, Mommy gave me a hint about them getting married again.

I still don't get why they got divorced when it's obvious that they still have feelings for each other. Maybe Mom's too furious about what Dad did. Sana pinahupa na lang niya 'yung galit niya. Anyway, I have nothing against them if they got back together.

"It'll be fast if your husband will cooperate." Iyon ang ilang ulit ng sinasabi sa akin ni Archer.

That means I have to talk to him, I can't do that. Hoax saying he'll wait for me, was the last time we talk. I can still remember when Mirae and Vynz had their church wedding, hindi ako mapakali dahil alam kong naroon si Hoax. I thought he'll talk to me and I don't want that to happen. I don't want anything about him and Mia. Wala akong balita sa relasyon nila. One thing is for sure, they're still not married and I can imagine Mia's frustration because of that.

On Mirae's wedding day, I thought Hoax will approach me but I was wrong. Our eyes met not only once but a lot of times that day. And Hoax will just nod at me, followed with his smile, like everything is okay but his eyes won't cooperate. I can see something in his eyes and I don't know if I'll believe it.

Sa ilang beses na nagtama ang tingin namin sa araw na iyon, kahit isang beses ay hindi ko nagawang suklian ang kanyang mga ngiti. I just can't 'cause I'm sure my lips will immediately falter, and my heart ramming my ribcage is not a big help.

"That's not on my option."

He sarcastically looked at me as he drew an audible breath. "Yeah, it means you have to wait-"

"For how long? Another year or two?"  Paano pala kung hindi lang dalawang taon ang abutin noon? Hindi ko na kaya pang hintayin iyon!

I decided to leave the country after our divorce. But one and a half year had passed already yet there's no progress in it. I can't wait for it any longer. I need to leave, away from all of Hoax's shits.

"I'm sorry, Astrid. I can't do anything about it."

I nodded. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang tagal ng proseso ng divorce namin ni Hoax. But with his help, alam kong mapapabilis ang lahat.

Archer already pulled some strings for my divorce. Sobra-sobra na ang nagawa ni Archer para sa divorce na 'yan. Wala pa ring nangyayari.

"Alright, I'll go ahead," Paalam ko at tumayo na sa aking kinauupuan.

"You'll leave?" He asked.

"Hmm, gabi na. I have a family dinner. You know, Mom and Dad," I knowingly muttered.

He chuckled. "I mean, the country."

"Yeah," Natatawang sambit ko. I already booked a flight. I'll leave first thing in the morning tomorrow.

Archer's gaze darted at my back. Napalingon ako at pabirong tumaas ang kilay nang makita ang asawa niyang nakatingin sa amin.

Her smile widened as a smile formed on my lips.

Archer immediately went near her. I rolled my eyes when he gave his wife a peck on her lips. Agad namang natawa ang asawa niya nang makita ang reaksyon ko.

"You two are--" Hindi ko itinuloy ang sasabihin habang sarkastiko ng napatingin sa dalawa at napaikot ang mga mata.

They laughed at my reaction.

"Balikan mo na kasi si Devaughne. 'Wag na magdivorce."

I scowled at Archer's statement.

"The dinner's ready, dito ka na kumain," Anyaya ng asawa niya na agad kong tinanggihan.

"How about next time?" I chuckled. "My parents' waiting for me."

She shrugged. "Next time then, I won't take no for an answer."

"Mukhang matatagalan ang next time, Babe," Sambit ni Archer sa kanyang asawa.

"I have a flight first thing in the morning tomorrow."

"And that's because of Devaughne," She concluded.

Napangisi na lamang ako roon.

I heard her tsked. Bahagya siyang lumayo kay Archer. "Sa dami kasi ng pwedeng pakasalan Devaughne pa talaga ang napili mo."

Mapangasar akong ngumisi sa kanya. "Sa dami ng pwedeng pakasalan Fonacier pa ang napili mo."

"Hey!" Angal ni Arch.

"What?" Natatawang sambit ko matapos ay tuluyan ng nagpaalam. "I'll go ahead, lovebirds!"

I smiled as I turned my back on them. Who would have thought that they'll marry each other.

In a span of one year and a half, a lot of things had happened. I've attended four marriages and that's all a blasts.

Maybe after all those things, I can finally leave.

I immediately found my family's reserved private room. Agad akong pumasok doon at naabutan si Mommy na kababalik lang sa kanyang kinauupuan. Nagtataka akong tumingin sa aking mga magulang.

My Mom cleared her throat. Si Daddy naman ay agad na tumayo para salubingin ako. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Mommy.

I kissed Dad's cheek as I turned to my Mom. Siya ang lumapit sa akin at agad akong humalik sa kanyang pisngi.

"Si Kuya?" Tanong ko nang matantong apat ang upuang naroon.

"He's on his way," Daddy answered and a smile immediately crept on my face.

Isa sa magandang nangyari sa loob ng isa't kalahating taon ay ang pagkakaayos ni Kuya at Daddy. I don't know what happened. I just woke up one day and they're okay. They were okay even before my parents' divorce was approved. Clyde is really my Mom's son and not Dad's.

Mommy sat beside Dad. Habang ako ay sa upuang katapat ng kay Mommy.

"So, what's the real reason behind this?" I asked while waiting for Kuya. Alam kong hindi lang ito basta dinner. I know there's something behind this. I have a hunch but I don't want to conclude yet.

Nahuli ko ang pagtitinginan ni Mommy at Daddy.

Bago pa sila makasagot ay muling bumukas ang pinto ng private room. Kuya entered as he greeted us. He sat down across Dad's seat as he faced us. Para bang alam niya na may naputol kaming paguusap.

"So?" I asked.

"Clyde, Astrid, I want to ask for your permission." Napamaang ako sa sinabi ni Daddy. I turned to Kuya and saw him smirked as me. I looked at him and let our eyes talk. Sa huli ay palihim akong napatango sa kanya at pilit na sinupil ang ngiti. "I want to marry you mother-"

"No."

"No, Dad."

I bit my lower lip when I saw my father grimaced after hearing our answers. Si Mommy naman ay may multong ngisi sa kanyang mga labi habang nakikinig, para bang alam ang kung anong naiisip namin ni Kuya.

"I won't do anything to hurt your mother," Dad desperately muttered.

"No. No one's getting married." I almost smirk after hearing Kuya's words.

"Hmm, you already filed a divorce. Why don't you two just stay that way?" I gave Daddy a smile as I took the glass of water in front of me and sipped on it.

Dad drew a sarcastic, audible breath and tsked. "You two can't do anything about it. I already married her."

I felt like the water got stuck on my throat and I started coughing. Itinaas ni Mommy ang kanyang kamay at ipinakita ang singsing doon kaya naman lalo akong napaubo.

Agad naman akong inabot ni Kuya at dinaluhan. I gestured him I'm okay. Kaya naman kahit nagaalangan ay bumalik siya sa pagkakaupo.

A smirk slowly crept on our father's face when he saw our reaction. "I'll marry her again, in front of everyone," Daddy declared.

Sa ginagawa nila ay para silang mga teenagers. I can't help but smile.

"Congratulations, then?" I muttered, smirking.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas ay nagpaalam ako sa mga kasama. I went out of the private room.

Bumungad sa akin ang matinis na tili ng isang babae kaya naman agad akong napalingon sa direksyon na iyon.

My heart immediately pounded when I saw a familiar man standing in the middle of the restaurant. Seating in front of him is a familiar woman, literally soaking wet.

She immediately rose up as she looked at the other woman in red, holding an empty wine glass. "How dare you!"

Parehas na matalim ang tingin ng dalawa.

Napalabi ako nang makilala ang babaeng may hawak ng wine glass. She's Nathalia Hemingway, a model and was once linked with Hoax. Agad naman iyong tinanggi ni Hoax sa isang interview.

Napangisi ako nang matantong si Mia ang babaeng basang-basa dahil sa wine.

I slowly shook my head as a smirk formed on my lips. Tumalikod ako at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa powder room.

Nang makapasok doon ay agad kong isinara ang pinto. Walang tao roon maliban sa akin.

I looked at the mirror. Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili at natanong pigil ang aking hininga. My chest heaved up and down as my heart's ramming my ribcage.

Hindi ko namalayan kung ilang minuto na akong nasa loob noon at pilit na ikinakalma ang sarili. Sa huli ay napabuntong hininga ako at napagpasyahang bumalik sa private room.

I pulled the door of the powder room but I immediately stopped when I heard a voice.

"I told you, Hoax!" Mia shrieked.

"What the hell was that?" It was Hoax in his cold tone.

I opened the door and rolled my eyes when I saw Mia and Hoax. Sigurado na mapapansin nila ako dahil naroon sila sa pathway palabas ng powder room.

"I'm jealous, I said!"

I shook my head. So bold of her to admit she's jealous.

I saw Hoax frowned as his jaw clenched. "You what?" Nahihiwagaang sambit ni Hoax.

"I said-" She stopped maybe when she saw Hoax's eyes darted at her back.

"Astrid," Hoax called. Kasabay noon ang paglingon ni Mia sa aking direksyon. Agad na tumalim ang kanyang mga mata. She hastily walked towards my direction and Hoax immediately followed her. Habang bumagal naman ang aking paglalakad.

"Isa ka pa!" She pushed my shoulder using her finger. Bahagya iyong napaatras at agad akong napangisi.

"Mia!" Hoax immediately held her arm and pulled her away from me.

Bumaba ang aking tingin sa kanyang mga daliri at lumaki ang aking ngisi nang hindi makita ang singsing doon.

"I see, you're not wearing the ring."

Namilog ang kanyang mga mata at natigilan sa pagpupumiglas sa hawak ni Hoax.

I glanced at them as I muttered. "But I won't be sorry if your wedding is delayed," I smirked.

"What wedding?"

"You bitch!"

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong ng dalawa at agad silang nilagpasan.

"Miss." I went back to reality when someone gently held my arm.

I turned and immediately met a man's ocean like eyes. He smiled and I realized I'm blocking his way. Napalingon ako sa likod niya at nakita na nakapila na roon ang ibang pasahero at hindi makaraan ang mga ito dahil nakaharang ang lalaking nasa aking harapan.

I took a step backwards when I realized that I'm blocking his seat.

"Sorry," I apologized as I sat on my seat, beside him. I heard the flight attendant's voice from the background.

Umupo siya sa aking tabi at ngumiti. "Apoly accepted, Miss..."

"Astrid." I smiled.

"Niccolo DelaCerde," He said as he offered his hand for a handshake.

"Astrid Deva-Dela Vega," I muttered as I shook his hand.

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