I walked out after I heard that. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta pero pinili ko munang umalis.

I chose to see Damon.

"What brought you here?" he creased his brows, ngunit hindi niya maitatago ang pagaalala sa mukha niya.

I hugged him too tight. Wala akong pakialam kung malaman niya. I just want a hug from him and I know magiging okay din ako.

"Dimmy..."

"Why do we have to love someone who can't even love us back? Who can't even make us feel worthy of love, who can't even take care of us, who can't treat us best? " My voice cracked.

"Is he hurting you?" madilim ang boses niya ng sabihin iyon kaya umiling ako.

"No, no. Don't mind me." shit! Baka madulas ako.

"I'll be in Singapore for two days." I nod my head in response. Gusto ko sana sumama kaso ay may pasok at trabaho ako kaya huwag na lang.

Sinulit ko lang ang mga oras na iyon na kausap siya at pinili ko na ring bumalik sa opisina. Good thing hindi ko naabutan si Hunter, because he's probably in a meeting right now.

I choose to work overtime, wala akong ganang umuwi kaya noong uuwi na siya ay mas pinili kong ituon ang sarili sa trabaho. Hindi naman siya nagsalita o kahit ang kausapin ako tungkol sa trabaho. Umalis siya ng tila wala lang ako. Na wala siyang pakialam kung doon man ako matulog.

I was so busy that I didn't notice the time. Tumayo ako to stretch my neck and arms. Minasahe ko rin ang parteng balikat at likod ng leeg ko bago tumungo sa mini kitchen to make myself a coffee. Matapos magtimpla ay bumalik ako sa table at tinuon muli ang attention sa trabaho.

Nang makaramdam ng pangangalay ay sumandal muna ako saglit at pumikit. I gasp for air and cage it inside my mouth before breathing it out. I opened my eyes and blinked twice. Bumalik ako sa harap ng PC bago napatingin sa oras, only to see that it was already ten. Kumakalam na rin ang tiyan ko dahil hindi pa ako nag d-dinner.

Pinili ko na lang na umuwi na ng mga oras na 'yon, I stood up and fix my things. Naihulog ko pa ang pen ko kaya kaagad kong pinulot ngunit nahinto ako ng sa tabi ng pen ay pares ng sapatos ang nakita ko. Kaagad akong nag-angat ng tingin only to see Hunter standing beside my table.

He was simply wearing a plain gray shirt, a cap, and black jeans paired with his white shoes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. Bumaling akong muli sa gamit at pinagpatuloy muli ang pag-aayos.

"Because my wife wasn't home yet." I want to laugh. He's playing again. Alam kong tanga ako, pero alam ko namang laro nanaman ito. Humarap ako sa kaniya matapos isakbat sa balikat ko ang shoulder bag ko.

"Oh, I thought you were with Amari right now? Bakit hindi siya ang pinuntahan mo?"

He didn't show any emotion or reaction. He just took my bag and held my wrist. Nang magsimula siyang maglakad palabas ay napasunod na lang ako ng tahimik. He's really doing his best to hurt me. Habang ako handang tiisin 'yon kung ang kapalit ay ganito.

I want to stay close, even if it means shattering myself.

I want to feel him, even if it means losing my own self.

I want to continue because I still feel happy being able to see and touch him like this.

It comes to the point where even though it hurts to stay, I keep holding on because I can always let the pain go but never the little happiness that I get from being with him.

"What do you want for dinner?" he asked in a monotone voice when we got inside his car.

"Anything." I won't mind. I lost my appetite anyway. I just want to sleep.

"Do you want me to cook?"

"Didn't you intend to make me suffer? Go on, do it. You can leave me in the middle of the road now. Don't treat me like this because we both know what's on your mind. I know, Hunter, you're making me fall deeply. As I told you, talo na ako. Panalo ka na. I already fell deep. Ano pa bang dapat para huminto ka na sa pagpapanggap?" nakita kong humigpit ang kapit niya sa manibela, and he continued driving.

Dito naman ako magaling, to provoke him. Pero kapag andoon na, kapag nahihirapan at nasasaktan na ako... tumitiklop na ako.

Hindi siya nagsalita hanggang sa huminto kami sa drive thru. He ordered food, and then we were back on the road. He told me not to eat first because he'd drive us somewhere. Nang huminto ay sinabihan niya akong bumaba. He opened the trunk, and I was surprised when he held me by my waist and made me sit on it after he cleaned the space. Noon ko lang napansin na nasa bouleavard kami malapit sa dagat. It was steps away from the seashore.

May nga taong naglalakad at tumatambay sa mga oras na ito pero malayo kami sa kanila, hindi na rin masama.

"Eat, malilipasan ka na." pinalampas ko lang sa tainga dahil alam kong hindi naman talaga siya sincere.

I almost laughed unconsciously. Pathetic. I am so pathetic. Kahit alam ko na ang buong katotohanan heto pa rin ako sa tabi niya. Hindi ko siya maiwan. Damn.

Siguro kung ibang babae ako? Una pa lang tumakas na ako sa kaniya. Kung iba ako, pipiliin kong mapatay niya kaysa makasama siya.

He wiped the side of my lips and broke my reverie.

"You're really messy when eating." His eyes glistened. Natulala ako roon. It feels like I can see the moon on it. His gray eyes remind me of the moon right now. It was clear, and illuminating, with its silver rays touching my skin.

Lihim akong umiling at lumunok.

"We'll have to fly to Singapore tomorrow." napatingin ako sa kaniya. Nakasandal na siya at nakatingin sa malayo.

"Bakit kasama ako?"

"We'll have to attend my dad's birthday." namilog ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

"D-Dad? Hindi na ako kailangan doon."

"He wants to meet you. You're my wife."

No way!

"It was his wish," mahina niyang sabi. Kaya natahimik ako at hindi na lang umangal. Nang sandaling iyon naalala ko si daddy. I blink twice, to hold back my tears.

After eating ay nagpahinga lang kami ng ilang oras doon bago nagpagpasyahang umuwi na. Kinahukasan ay wala akong ginawa kundi mag-pack ng ilang gamit na dadalahin sa Singapore. We will be using Hunter's private plane.

It took hours bago lumapag ang private plane namin sa helipad ng isang building, which I found out was his father's company.

Pagkababa namin sa ground floor, ay may naghihintay na sa amin na kotse to pick us up, and we were delivered to a hotel.

Wala akong ibang ginawa kundi ang sundan si Hunter hanggang sa makapasok kami sa suite na pina-reserve niya for us. Habang abala ako sa pag unpack ng gamit ay lumapit siya at may inilapag na box.

"Suotin mo 'yan mamaya. Mauuna ako sa 'yo roon, ipapahatid na lang kita sa driver." I didn't argue with him anymore. Wala akong idea kung bakit, kailangang hindi kami sabay pero hindi na ako nagreklamo.

I just unpack my things and rest for a while.

Tulad ng sabi ni Hunter, nauna siyang umalis at naiwan ako sa suite. I showered first before I decided to fix myself. Sinuot ko ang velvet satin dress above the knee. It's a body-hugging dress. Revealing ang likod at parteng dibdib nito.

Since I have short hair, I just braided one side of it and put maroon lipstick that complemented my face and dress. I am a fierce-looking woman. Hindi mukhang fragile. I have these strong, intimidating eyes, tulad ng mga mata ni Lucifer. I have bow-shaped pouty lips and an aristocratic nose. Natural na nakaarko ang kilay ko na nakapagpadagdag ng matapang kong mukha. Kung sana ay ganoon din ang ugali ko.

I wore high-silver heels and grabbed my red clutch. Pinasadahan mo muna ng tingin ang sarili bago tuluyang bumaba sa ground floor kung saan naroroon na ang maghahatid sa akin sa event.

I thought it was just a simple party, na kokonti ang guest, pero nagulat ako sa dami ng dumalo. Flashes from the camera beamed. It hurts my eyes a little.

"Mrs. Dimaria D. Martinez." the guy at the entrance announced, after asking for my name. Tuloy-tuloy akong pumasok, at narinig ko pa ang pag-announce ng pangalan ng sumunod sa akin.

The place was perfectly elegant. Halatang hindi biro ang may event. Well, Hunter Martinez wasn't a joke. Mas mayaman pa siya sa amin. At alam kong marami siyang connection. He has connection to police, meron din siyang uncle na heneral, at meron din siyang kaalyansa na parte ng Government. He also has a lawyer, na kilala at magaling.

He has a lot on his back.

I looked around to find Hunter, pero sa dami ng tao hindi ko siya mahanap. Pinili kong tumayo lamang sa isang sulok, trying to search for him, pero hindi ako nagtatagumpay. I messaged him, kasama na rin kung nasaan ako pero walang Hunter na lumalapit sa akin.

I used to be a star. Madaling mapansin ng mga tao. Madaling makaagaw ng attention. Pero sa mga oras na 'to, I feel like I was that fading star in the midst of the stars shining brigthly.

Music played.

Slow. Romantic.

People started to dance with the partners. And I was just there, standing like a fool, waiting for Hunter to get me. Sabi niya ay gusto akong makilala ng dad niya. Imposible na hindi niya alam na andito na ako. My name was announced a while ago.

Mahigpit akong napakapit sa clutch ko, biting my own lip. May ilan na napapatingin sa akin, 'yong ibang naroroon na hindi pa sumasayaw. And I feel like they are talking about me, and I hate that feeling.

Sa dagat ng mga tao, kaagad na umahon ang kaba sa dibdib ko nang makita ang pamilyar na mukha, nakatayo, nakaharap sa direksyon ko at nakatingin sa akin. Unti-unti siyang naglakad palapit and my heart was beating so fast.

He smiled at me, so I smiled back.

Nagsialisan ang mga tao, kaya naiwan siya roon. He was now the center of attention at kahit gusto ko nang lumubog dahil pakiramdam ko'y pati ako ay pinagtitinginan na ngayon, pero sa kabila noon ay nangibabaw ang malakas na tibok ng puso konat saya.

I secretly giggled. Malapit na siya at halos mapangiti na ako. No... nakangiti na ako. Nakangiti na ako habang may namumuong luha sa mga mata ko.

Because at the moment I was so ready to offer my hand, he walked past me, and the next thing I knew, he was already with Amari, dancing so sweetly like a newly wed couple in the middle of the crowd, looking, smiling, watching, and admiring them, without knowing that there's me here, hurting and wishing I was her.

Wishing to have her privilege, wishing I had the right to feel his love and care, to be treated right by him.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Habang tumatagal akong nakatayo roon, I am becoming invisible.

What's the reason why I'm here if he already has someone to introduce as his wife?

Mas mukha pang si Amari ang asawa niya at hindi ako.

With a heavy breath and tears in my eyes, I walk away.

Dahil napagtanto kong, hindi ako kailangan sa lugar na 'yon.

"Bakit kasi pumunta ka pa?" napahinto ako ng may magsalita. It was a woman, mukhang kaedad ko lang. Malamig ang tingin nito sa akin habang may hawak siyang colorless liquor on her wine glass.

Napalingon ako 'di kalayuan kung nasaan ako kanina bago siya hinarap muli.

"He will never love you." sino ba 'to?

"He loves the woman he's dancing with."

"I don't care." lalakad na sana ako ulit ng muli siyang magsalita.

"She was the one he introduced to his dad as his wife. Dad likes her."

Pakiramdam ko matutumba na ako sa mga sinasabi niya, pero tinanggap ko lang 'yon, kasi wala naman akong magagawa. So she's Hunter's sister?

"Hunter loves her... you know why?"

I didn't want to hear it, so I started to walk. ngunit hindi pa rin nakaligtas sa pandinig ko ang sinabi niyang huli...

"She's his ex-fiancé's twin sister. Who died because of your brother."