Sallie's POV
       
"You've been quiet since we board the plane.  Papunta na tayo sa island tahimik ka pa din. May problema ba?"

            Kahit nakasuot ako ng shades ay kita kong worried ang hitsura ni Chris. Naghihintay sa sagot ko.

            Umiling lang ako at muling tumingin sa asul na asul na dagat.  Nasa  biyahe na kami papunta sa isla ng Boracay para dumalo sa anniversary ng Hotel Jasmine.

            I haven't slept the whole night last night.  I was thinking of what happened to Armel and me.  Nakaramdam na naman ako ng kurot sa dibdib kasi naalala ko na naman ang nangyari.  What happened yesterday was perfect.  Armel and I made love.  Even if it just for a short period, naramdaman ko na naman ang pagmamahal niya sa akin.  But, that was the end.  And I wanted to remain that memory in my head and in my heart forever.

            "I want to talk to Nancy.  I want to go back to Toronto after this anniversary," sabi ko.

            Nakita kong nagtataka ang tingin sa akin ni Chris.

            "What?  Do you want Nancy to curse you?  You were asked to be the Country Manager here but you don't want to stay so she only gave you one month.  Tapos hindi mo pa tatapusin?" alam kong naiinis na si Chris sa akin.

            Oo.  Ayoko na talaga.  I am that desperate.  I can't stay here.  Kailangan kong umalis dahil lahat nagpapaalala sa akin kay Armel.

            "I just can't stay here anymore," sagot ko.

            Napailing si Chris.  "Dahil na naman kay Mr. Fernandez 'no?" nakita kong para na siyang nairita.  "You know, nakakasawa na.  Everytime I see you, everytime I talk to you, it is always that guy.  Why don't you just talk to him and end everything if that's what you want."

            "That's what I did, Chris.  Because he was asking me to runaway with him." At napaiyak na ako.  Hinubad ko ang suot kong sunglasses at nakita kong napailing siya sa itsura ko.  Magang – maga ang mata ko dahil sa magdamag na kakaiyak.

            "He told me he still loves me.  And he was asking me if I will choose him over my job.  And I wanted to choose him. But I can't. If I am a selfish person, I would do that right away," pero napailing ako.  "But if I do that, someone will be miserable.  Someone will be hurt at hindi ko kaya iyon."

            "So you will sacrifice your own happiness because of other people." Narinig kong napabuntong – hininga si Chris.  "That's a fucking stupid reason."

            Hindi ako kumibo.  Alam kong magsesermon lang si Chris.

            "You both love one another.  So what's the problem with that?"

            "It's too complicated.  Parang hindi mo naman alam.  He is getting married in less than two weeks.  Nine days to be exact.  Sa tingin mo ba, kakayanin kong guluhin ang lahat?  If I have known that Bianca is a bitch, then sige.  Talagang aagawin ko sa kanya si Armel.  But that woman is too nice.  All she ever did is to love Armel.  And I cannot forgive myself if I am going to hurt her." Umiiyak na sabi ko.

            Napahinga ng malalim si Chris at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. Sumubsob ako sa dibdib niya at dokng humagulgol.

            "Sallie, if I have known that your life here is that complicated, I would advice you to never come back here." Malungkot na sabi ni Chris.

            Wala na akong masabi.  Oo nga.  Maling – mali talaga na bumalik ako dito.

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Armel's POV

            "Bakit ang tahi – tahimik mo?"

            Napatingin ako kay Bianca.  Nakita kong nakatingin lang siya sa akin and she looks worried.

            Nandito kami sa airport at papunta kami ng Boracay para sa anniversary ng Hotel Jasmine.  Naghihintay na lang kaming mag – board eroplano. Kung ako ang masusunod, ayoko ng pumunta.  I already talked to dad kung puwedeng siya na lang.  But hindi na daw niya kayang magbiyahe dahil masakit ang likod niya and he will have his executive check up. 

            Umiling lang ako.

            "I am just tired," walang siglang sagot ko at sumandal sa upuan. 

            Yes.  I am fucking tired of thinking about Sallie.  I am fucking tired of thinking what happened between us.  I can't forget it.  Her face.  Her kiss.  Her fucking everything.  Putang ina.  Ganitong – ganito iyong dati.  Nung umalis siya.  Ilang buwan akong wasak at parang ganito na naman ang nangyayari sa akin ngayon.

            Sallie made a point that she will never choose me.  Even if she loves me, I will never be her priority.  I wanted to be mad at her.  She is so unfair.  Bakit laging ganoon?  Bakit lagi na lang niya akong iniiwan?

            "Armel, are you not excited for our wedding?"

            I looked at Bianca and I saw her face is serious.  Maybe she sensed that something is changed.

            Pinilit kong ngumiti.  "Of course I am excited."

            Napailing lang siya.  "Liar.  You are not a good actor."

            Kumunot lang ang noo ko sa kanya.

            "You changed these past few weeks.  Lagi kang nag – iisip.  Lagi kang irritable.  You became that person three years ago.  When that woman left you." Seryosong sabi ni Bianca.

            Saglit akong napatitig sa kanya.  Does she know everything?  I haven't told her about Sallie.  Walang nakakaalam ng tungkol sa relasyon namin ni Sallie kundi si daddy, Suzanne at si Rex lang and I know they will never tell Bianca about that.

            "You never told me about her." sabi pa nito.

            "Because she is not important," tanging sagot ko.

            "I don't think so.  If she is not important to you, why did I see this in your office?" at inilabas ni Bianca ang diamond ring na ibinigay ko noon kay Sallie.

            Kaya pala hindi ko makita nang hanapin ko sa bahay ko.  Naiwan ko pala sa office.  Matagal ko ng itinago ang singsing na iyon.  I even gave a different ring to Bianca kasi para kay Sallie lang ang singsing na ito.

            "I forgot to give it back to the jeweler.  Binenta ko na 'yan kaya nakita mo siguro sa office," pagsisinungaling ko. Ang totoo maghapon ko lang tinitigan ang singsing na iyon sa opisina ko. Nag-iisip ng mga what if's tungkol sa amin ni Sallie.

            "After three years ngayon mo lang naisip na ibenta?" Halata kong nagpo-probe na si Bianca.

            "Are we going to argue about that stupid ring?" ipinakita kong nairita na ako kasi ayoko ng pag – usapan namin iyon.  "Itapon mo kung gusto mo."

            Nakita kong napahinga ng malalim si Bianca at hindi na lang nagsalita.  Ibinalik nito sa bag ang singsing at hindi na kumibo.

            Na – guilty naman ako.  Sallie was right.  Kahit ako, parang hindi rin kaya ng konsensiya ko na saktan si Bianca.  She doesn't deserve it.  All she ever did is to love me unconditionally but still I made the biggest mistake of making her my rebound. I reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly.

            "Sorry for being an ass," sabi ko at napahinga ng malalim.  "Marami lang talagang problema sa office."

            Ngumiti siya sa akin at humilig sa balikat ko.  "It's okay, love.  I understand."

            When we reached Hotel Jasmine, agad akong sinalubong ni Rex at nakangiti ring humalik sa pisngi ni Bianca.

            "So, everything is set to your wedding?  Lapit na," sabi ni Rex.

            "Yes.  And I am so excited," sagot pa ni Bianca at kumapit sa braso ko.

            Nakita kong may ibig sabihin ang tingin sa akin ni Rex.

            "Kakarating lang din nila Chris and Sallie," parang anunsiyo niya sa akin. Alam kong ipinapaalam iyon sa akin ni Rex.

            "Really?  She is here?  Wow!  That is so nice.  At least hindi ako mabo – bored dito with this guy.  Sungit – sungit," parang nagtatampo pa ang itsura ni Bianca tapos ay bumaling kay Rex.  "Where is she?"

            "I think they are on the beach. Kasama niya ang boyfriend niya," sagot ni Rex.

            Napangiti si Bianca.  "I'll go ahead, love.  I'll change then punta ako kina Sallie.  Love you," at mabilis siyang humalik sa pisngi ko at pumunta sa room namin.

            Pareho lang kaming nakatingin ni Rex sa papalayong si Bianca.

            "You haven't told her about Sallie?  She doesn't have any idea who Sallie is?"

            Umiling lang ako.

            "That is so fucked up, man.  Bakit hindi mo pa sabihin sa kanya ang totoo?"

            "Hindi naman na importante 'yon," malamig na sagot ko.

            "You think it's not important that you missed telling your fiancée that Sallie was your ex-fiancée?"

            Naiinis na tumingin ako kay Rex.  "Please stop nagging me.  Mas nagger ka pa kay Bianca."

            "Gago ka kasi," natatawang sagot niya sa akin.

            "Yeah.  I know.  I am too fucked up.  Inom tayo," sabi ko sa kanya at nagpauna na papasok sa loob ng hotel.

I needed to loosen up.