Chapter 26
We're already eating, but I just don't have the energy to eat.
My eyes were fixed on the food in front of me, mindlessly pushing it around with my fork.
The aroma of the dishes filled the air, the sound of utensils clinking against plates echoing around me, but none of it sparked any appetite in me.
"Why aren't you eating?" my mom asked, her voice breaking through my thoughts. She had noticed that I was just staring at my plate, not taking a single bite. Her brows were slightly furrowed, concern evident in her eyes.
"I'm not hungry, Mom," I answered, forcing a small smile as if that would make her drop the subject.
"Eat, even just a little. You need it, Sylvia," she insisted, her tone firmer this time. I could tell she wasn't going to let me off that easily.
But kahit anong pilit ko, wala talaga akong ganang isubo 'yung pagkain. My stomach felt heavy, like there was an invisible weight pressing down on it.
"Don't be stubborn, Sylvia," she repeated, this time with a slight warning in her voice.
I sighed deeply, knowing she wouldn't stop unless I gave in. "Okay, fine. I'll eat... I'll just get some drinks," I said, pushing back my chair and standing up. It was an excuse-nothing more. I just needed to get away from the table, kahit saglit lang.
They nodded in response, and I took that as my chance to slip away. As I walked toward the beverage station, I let out another breath, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest.
Ang daming pagpipilian, kaya medyo natagalan ako sa pagpili. The cold glass bottles and colorful drinks lined up in front of me, pero wala akong gana kahit sa inumin. Still, I decided to grab a strawberry-flavored. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko iyon pinili.
But just as I was reaching for it, napansin kong hindi ako nag-iisa.
Saktong kasabay ko pa silang dalawa.
Ms. Sanchez and him.
The moment Ms. Sanchez saw me, our eyes met-just for a second. Pero agad siyang umiwas, as if she wanted to pretend she didn't see me at all. She shifted slightly closer to him, her hand brushing against his arm as they both looked over the drink selections.
"I'd like to have that one, but can you just get rid of the lemon? My wife doesn't like it, right?" he said, his voice gentle as he turned to look at Ms. Sanchez.
She smiled and nodded.
Wife my ass.
"Bagay po talaga kayong dalawa. Kailan po ang kasal?" tanong ng staff na nag-aayos ng drinks, his tone lighthearted, teasing.
"We haven't thought about it yet, but for sure, this year," he answered casually while taking his drink. "Thank you."
The words echoed in my mind, like a sharp needle piercing through my thoughts. I felt my chest tighten, my grip unconsciously squeezing my pouch.
"Miss Gomez?"
The guy handling the drinks snapped me out of my trance. I blinked, realizing I had completely zoned out.
"Sorry, and thank you," I muttered, taking my drink from him. He smiled politely, but I barely registered it.
As I turned to leave, narinig ko siyang bumulong, "Ang ganda niya talaga."
Hindi ko masyadong nadinig nang buo, pero hindi rin naman 'yun ang naglalaro sa isip ko ngayon.
Pero them getting married this year? Dinig na dinig ko 'yun kanina.
I walked back to the table, my hands cold despite the warmth of the room. I sat down, picking up my utensils, trying to act normal.
"You okay?" Ate asked, her gaze sharp as she studied me.
"Mhm," I hummed in response, pretending like I wasn't affected. I took a small bite of my food, but it tasted like nothing.
"You're not," she said bluntly, setting down her fork. "I told you, you will be the one who will get hurt in this." she added, she really knows why I'm being like this.
"I know, Ate," I muttered, poking at my rice. "And I'm okay with it."
"Because why, of all the people out there, why her? Why her who has a boyfriend?" she asked, frustration clear in her voice.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Bakit nga ba siya?
I also don't know the answer to that question. I just woke up one day, and the feelings were already there. Hindi ko naman 'to ginusto. Hindi ko hiningi. But no matter how much I tried to push it away, it stayed. It grew. It consumed me.
But does love really need a reason? Do I have to explain why I love someone?
For me, no. You love someone just because you do. You choose them not because of logic or reason but because your heart wants them-despite everything, despite knowing it might break you in the end.
"Bakit hindi?" sagot ko kay Ate, meeting her gaze.
She sighed, shaking her head. "Stupid. Bear with it then."
I sat there, frozen, my fingers gripping the hem of my dress tightly. My eyes were glued to her, even though every second I kept looking was torture. Alam ko namang masasaktan lang ako, but I still kept watching. I couldn't help it.
She was laughing, smiling in a way I had never seen before.
Parang siya na ang pinakamasayang babae sa mundo, and the reason behind it was him-Theo.
They were holding hands, whispering things to each other like they were the only people in the room.
And then, as if that wasn't enough, Theo pulled her into a hug.
Mabilis akong lumunok, forcing myself to look away. But my eyes betrayed me. I still looked.
Wala naman silang ginawa kundi maglandian, but why was I still watching?
Then, something caught my attention. Ms. Sanchez wasn't sitting with the Sanchez family. Instead, she was with the Ramero family. That was odd.
"Ate, where's Ms. Sanchez's family?" I asked, scanning the room.
My sister turned to me, looking a bit surprised. "You didn't know?"
I frowned. "Know what?"
"She's the only one left in the Sanchez family."
Napakunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"They've been gone for a long time now, Via," she said softly.
My heart clenched. "Gone? How?"
Ate shook her head. "That's not something I can answer, Via."
Hindi na ako nagtanong pa. If it was something painful, something too personal, then maybe it wasn't my place to know. But the thought of Ms. Sanchez being alone all this time... it made my chest feel tight.
I swallowed hard. Now I understood. Now I knew why she looked at him the way she did-why she felt safe with him. Theo had always been there for her. And I should be happy for her, right? I should be glad she had someone.
Kasi hindi siya iniwan ni Theo.
And I should be happy for her, right? I should be glad she had someone who never left her side. Someone who made her feel safe.
But my heart wasn't glad at all.
Because deep inside, I wished it was me.
I wished I was the one standing beside her, the one holding her hand, the one she felt safe with. But I wasn't. And I never would be.
Still, even if I wasn't her lover, even if I was just a student to her or just someone in the background, I would stay.
Because I wanted to remind her that she wasn't alone.
I looked at her again, just admiring her from afar while she admired the love of her life. And then, for just a second, she looked at me.
Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin.
My heart stopped.
And then it started beating so fast I thought it might burst out of my chest.
Mabilis akong umiwas ng tingin, feeling my face heat up.
"Okay, any volunteers to sing on stage for this wonderful night?" the MC's voice filled the room, making everyone turn their attention to the stage.
I barely had time to react before Theo stood up.
"Alright, let's give a round of applause to Sir Theo from the Ramero family!" the MC announced, and the crowd clapped as Theo bowed.
He confidently walked up to the stage, grabbing the mic in his hand.
"This song is for my one and only, Cynthia," he said, smiling at her.
I felt my stomach twist.
The moment he started singing, the crowd got even louder, cheering for him.
"They say
You know when you know
So let's face it, you had me at hello
Hesitation never helps
How could this be anything, anything else?"
His voice was okay, I guess. But I wasn't really listening. Mas nakatutok ako sa reaksyon ni Ms. Sanchez. She was watching him with so much admiration, her smile reaching her eyes. She was happy.
"When
All I dream of is your eyes
All I long for is your touch
And darling, something tells me that's enough, mmm
You can say that I'm a fool
And I don't know very much, but
I Think They Call This Love"
Theo stretched out his hand, inviting her to the stage.
The crowd erupted in cheers as she stood up and walked toward him. He held her hand, guiding her up the steps.
My chest felt even tighter.
I clenched my fists under the table, forcing myself to stay still.
He kept singing, his eyes locked on hers. Then he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
"One smile, one kiss, two lonely hearts is all that it takes
Now baby, you're on my mind, every night, every day
Good vibrations getting loud
How could this be anything, anything else?"
I bit my lip, trying to keep my emotions in check.
And then, the worst part happened.
Theo cupped Ms. Sanchez's face, slowly leaning in.
The crowd went wild, cheering for them.
Before I could see them kiss, I stood up, my body moving on its own. I walked away as fast as I could, my heart pounding painfully in my chest.
I didn't say goodbye to anyone. I didn't even know where I was going.
I just needed to get out.
I just needed to breathe.
I pushed open the door and stepped outside, feeling the cold air hit my skin. I took a deep breath, pero hindi pa rin nawala 'yung sakit.
I let out a shaky sigh, closing my eyes.
Ang sakit pala, 'no?
To love someone with whom you have no chance.
I didn't even realize I had already arrived at the bar. Napailing na lang ako habang naupo sa dulo ng counter, letting out a deep sigh. Of all the places I could've gone to, why is it always here? Maybe because the comfort that I have been always looking was always here.
I stared at the drink in front of me, swirling the amber liquid before taking a slow sip. I should stop, but it hurts. Why does it have to be like this?
"I'm known as a playgirl, but I didn't expect you to change me so much, Miss," I thought to myself, the words bitter on my tongue.
It's funny. I like making people fall for me-it's a game. It's exciting. I make them want me, only to leave them hanging. It's what I do. But now, why does it feel like I'm the one who lost? Why am I the one suffering?
I chuckled bitterly, shaking my head. How ironic. Before, one shot was enough to forget everything. But tonight, no amount of alcohol seems to drown the pain of wanting someone I can't have.
She's the first person I truly liked. She's the one who made me feel what it's really like to love someone in the deepest way possible. She taught me how love works and how it can change everything. But I realized that love isn't just about happiness, sparks, and good things-it's also about the pain you experience along the way. That not everyone you like or admire will reciprocate the way you feel about them. And sometimes, you just have to learn to accept it.
I downed another shot, feeling the burn in my throat. This isn't working.
And then-just as I was about to order another drink-she appeared.
I froze.
My breath hitched the moment I saw her. Standing there, looking effortlessly gorgeous, as if the universe was mocking me. Is this a coincidence? A dream? Or just another cruel joke?
"Gomez, that's enough. Let's go home. Your sister sent me," she said, her voice cutting through the noise of the bar like a melody I could never forget.
I scoffed, forcing out a smirk even though my chest felt like it was caving in. "Stop pretending you care. Let me go," I snapped, trying to act tough, even though deep down, all I wanted was to believe she really did.
"Gomez, don't make me repeat myself."
I raised a brow, leaning back slightly. "And what if I don't want to? What will you do, Miss? Hmm?"
She sighed, obviously frustrated. But somehow, she still looked stunning even when she was annoyed.
"Let's go. Stop being stubborn," she said, reaching for my hand.
I let out a dry chuckle before shaking my head. She really doesn't get it, does she?
"I'm going crazy because of you," I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
Her brows furrowed. "You're talking nonsense. Please, let's go," she urged gently, her voice softer this time.
But I just smirked, trying to mask the desperation clawing at my chest. "I don't want to, Miss," I said, testing her, pushing her-like I always do.
She sighed, exasperated. "Fine. Go home by yourself. I don't care."
She turned to leave, but before she could walk away, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. Our faces were inches apart, my breath mingling with hers.
"What the-" she began, but I cut her off with a kiss. Her lips tasted like strawberries, sweet and intoxicating.
She struggled, her hands pushing against my chest. "G-Gomez, s-stop, p-please," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
But I held on, deepening the kiss, wanting-needing-just this one moment.
Then-SLAP.
Pain exploded on my cheek, but it wasn't enough to snap me out of my haze.
"I-i hate you! You know I have a boyfriend, Gomez. I won't forgive you!" she shouted, her voice raw with anger.
Another slap. This time, harder.
And then she was gone, storming out of the bar, leaving me standing there like a complete idiot.
I let out a bitter chuckle, touching my stinging cheek.
"You are indeed making me crazy, Professor," I muttered under my breath, the taste of strawberries and the sting of her slap a haunting reminder of what I could never have.