Tanya's POV

Matagal na mula nang huling beses akong nakaapak sa Pilipinas. Ilang taon na ang nakalipas. Holding a glass of champange in one hand, I looked outside the window. Nagniningning ang mga ilaw sa siyudad, parang mga tala sa lupa.

He crossed my mind again. I took in a deep breath when I felt the growing pressure in my chest. Kumusta na kaya siya? Minsan kaya sumasagip pa rin ako sa isip niya?  Maraming taon na ang lumipas pero hindi ko pa rin siya makalimutan. Some would say it was just a teenage love but to me, it was more than that. Wayne was more than a teenage love. He was the love of my life.

I wondered how he was doing now. May girlfriend na ba siya? Asawa? Anak? Masaya na kaya siya? Kung magkikita ba kami makikilala niya pa rin ako?

"Tanya, darling." Narinig ko ang boses ni George at agad akong napalingon.

I smiled at him.

He wrapped his arms around the small of my back and pressed a gentle kiss on the side of my head. "You've been standing there for almost an hour now. What are you thinking about?"

"Wala." I shook my head, keeping my smile intact. "Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na nasa Pilipinas na ulit ako."

"Then believe it now." Nakangiting sabi niya.

"Ang tagal na kasi mula nang nakauwi ako dito." Bumuntong-hininga ako.

He looked at me. Inipit niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko sa likod ng tainga ko. He took something out from his inside coat pocket. A black rectangular box. He opened it and showed me a beautiful diamond necklace.

"George, it's beautiful." I said, looking at it.

"It'll look even more beautiful once you wear it." He said.

I shook my head. "No, no, I can't accept that."

"Please, darling, I insist. I had this made especially for you. Ngayon na nga lang ako bumabawi. We hadn't seen each other for quite awhile."

"Naiintindihan ko naman. May pamilya ka."

"But that doesn't give me a free pass for neglecting you." He said. "Turn around, I want to put this on you."

"George." I hesitated.

"Turn around."

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ako tumalikod sa kanya at isinuot niya sa akin ang kuwintas.

"Let me see." Narinig kong sabi niya at umikot ulit ako para humarap sa kanya. "It's beautiful. It would look perfect with the evening dress I bought for you."

"Evening dress?" Kumunot ang noo ko. "Saan ko naman susuotin iyon?"

"For the charity event this evening." He answered.

"You're taking me to the charity event?" My eyes widened.

"Yes."

"There'll be people there."

He let out a low chuckle. "Of course, you silly goose. It's an event."

"Dito na lang ako." I shrugged.

"Tanya, sasama ka sa akin." He said with thick accent. Nakakaintindi si naman si George nang tagalog pero hindi siya gaano nakakapagsalita. "I want you to come with me."

"I just don't want to cause any trouble. Hindi matutuwa si Eleanor kapag nalaman niya iyon. I know where I stand."

"Darling, don't mind Eleanor. She's my problem, not yours."

"Ayaw kong mag-away kayo dahil sa akin."

"I don't care if we get into a fight. I want to spend time with you. I'm trying to make up for the times we've missed together."

"You don't have to. I understand your situation."

He pulled me closer to him and kissed the top of my head. "Why does it always have to be you who has to understand?" Bumuntong-hininga siya at tinitigan ako sa mga mata. "Don't think you're not special to me because darling, you are. I'm sorry you had to go through this."

Wayne's POV

"Shit." I uttered under my breath when I saw the time on my phone. It was already three in the afternoon. My eyes were still heavy but I willed myself to wash off my sleepiness. It was time to go. I had to get ready for the charity event dinner this evening.

"Wayne." The woman next to me wrapped her arms around my waist and burying her face into my neck.

"I need to go." I moved her arm away from me.

"Do you really?" She mumbled lazily.

"Yeah." I sat on the edge of the bed, picking my boxer up from the bedside table and putting it on. I found my jeans on the floor along with my shirt. After getting dress, I stood up and headed towards the exit.

"Wayne, are you going to call me?" The woman asked.

"Sure." I answered, apathetically.

I hurriedly left and went back to my condo. I had three hours to get ready. The charity event was important for my business. That's where I find potential investors. I was planning to expand my business and open up a new club lounge.

I took a shower and got dressed. I wore a classic black tuxedo. Standing in front of the full length mirror, I fixed my bowtie and my hair. I stood up straight. I looked professional. Slick and confident.

I'd cut ties with my father the moment I got out of college. I started my own business with the money I saved and not once had I asked for my father's help. I didn't want anything to do with him and I was sure he felt the same way for me. He never even checked on me to see if I was still alive. It was better this way. We didn't have a good relationship to begin with so why bother? I was a thorn in his flesh and he had no love for me.

Enough with the sob stories. I slid into my tuxedo coat and opened the cabinet. That was where I put my expensive watches and jewelries. I was planning to wear my Vacheron Constantin watch I'd bought during my trip in Switzerland. I found the box but something else caught my attention. A small silver ring. I couldn't resist the temptation to pick it up.

Why did I put it here? This doesn't even cost shit. I rolled the ring between my two fingers. Those distant memories felt like a flickering match stick. The warmth fades yet the sentiments linger on. I felt heaviness in my chest.

I couldn't help but think of her. She still crosses my mind every now and then. I still wonder how she was doing? I still think of the what ifs from time to time. Yes, I was angry with her for leaving but I do hope wherever she was, she was doing fine. No woman had ever made me feel even as close to how she made me feel. I dated a few women but none of them really lasted.

I was devastated when Tanya left me. I felt lost. You know how they say that you have to go through the five stages of grief. I went through it all. All five of it. Over and over. What they really don't tell you is that it doesn't end on the fifth stage. You go back to the first and go through it all over again. It's like being stuck in a loop. You can't heal your way back to blissful ignorance. You can't will innocence back into existence. The pain will always be there, you just learn to deal with it.

I'd thought of throwing this ring away but I just couldn't get myself to do it. I couldn't. I put it back to its place and got my watch.

The party was filled with men in tuxedos and women in evening dresses. It was a high end charity event. I spent my time talking to number of businessmen. Some had shown interest in investing in my business. How couldn't they? My clubs, lounges, and bars were the hottest thing around.

"Is that her?" I heard two women whispering in front of me while I was walking around.

"Who?" The other woman asked.

"George Sullivan's rumored mistress." The first woman whispered.

"Oh." Woman number one said. "In all fairness, she's very beautiful."

"But why did he have to bring her with him?" The woman made a face. "Hindi niya ba naisip na mga kilalang tao ang nandito. If he had any shame in him, he wouldn't be blantantly parading his mistress around."

I looked up and directed my eyes to where they were looking. They were looking at a caucasian man that looked like he was in his late 50s. Clinging onto his arm was a young woman in a red satin evening dress. I suddenly paused when I looked at the woman's face. My whole body felt as though it had been struck a blow. My heart started beating erratically.

Tanya

I blinked, trying to focus on what I'd just seen. But she was still Tanya. I wasn't imagining it. The woman with the older man was her. She was still beautiful. Time had only enhanced her beauty. She looked more refined now and delicate as ever. She had a beauty that was fully concious and aware of itself. She walked confidently with her chin up. Everyone were turning their heads to her direction. It was as if a spotlight had landed on her.

Tanya and the older man were laughing and talking as they walked. She looked happy now. It did cause a knot of anger in my chest. It looked like happy with another guy now. An older rich guy. The guy she was with was George Sullivan, an owner of a big brokerage firm.

I turned around, not wanting to see her again. That part of my life was over now. She was just a part of my past. I shouldn't feel anything for her anymore. She wasn't worth my emotions. I headed to the bar to get myself something to drink.

The pain was still there. Seeing her felt like I'd open a healing wound and sprinkled it with salt. Ten years and she still had this effect on me. I tried to shake the feeling away. We were adults now. I shouldn't be feeling this way.

She means nothing to me anymore. Absolutely nothing.

My fingers tightened around the glass I was holding. I couldn't keep still in my sit. My eyes started wandering around, trying to find her again. I saw her by herself, looking at the paintings and sculptures that will be auctioned later.

I downed a glass of whiskey to calm my nerves. I got out of my seat and headed towards her. I didn't know how to approach her so I stayed a few feet away from her and watched her. She was so much more beautiful than she had been before. Her face still gave off an air of innocence. She still had that vivid glow. It had been many years ago but the softness of her skin was still imprinted on my senses, the sound of her voice still rung in my soul.

She lifted her gaze up, probably feeling the weight of me staring at her. Our eyes met and it was as if everything stood still. We couldn't hear the outside world anymore. It was just me and her, in our little world. Just like before...

"Hi." I spoke.

She blinked as though coming out of a daze. "Wayne..."

I smiled at her. "Nice to see you again."