"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it." -J.K. Rowling

A little earlier in the Villa...

"What do you think about them, Amore?" I asked the beautiful woman beside me.

She turned her attention to me. "About whom?"

I pointed through my lips to the two women busy discussing something.

"Impossible!" She exclaimed in bewilderment upon seeing the two women near the entrance.

"We have the exact same reaction. I'm now interested in their reunion." I told her.

"Maybe they've mend their rift." she replied.

I puffed a small sound. "Nah! I don't think so. Sarah is fuming angry with her. I remember her saying that she hates Tanchellie to death and that she regrets meeting her."

She smiled a little. "Absolutely, I remember how many times my cousin would cry herself to sleep because of her constant rejection. But that was before, it seems that she had finally moved on."

"Do you believe that she's not into Sarah anymore?" I questioned because of sudden curiosity.

"I don't really know."

"Why don't we test my suspicion? What do you think, Amore?" I suggested it to my favorite person. I am really grateful that finally I can call her mine.

"What are you thinking this time Alesso?" She asked with a worried face.

"Good thing that my brother is coming. We'll find out if Tanchellie is finally done with Sarah." I announced.

"What will you do?"

"I will ask Loukas to make Tanchellie jealous to death."

She shook her head in disbelief. "You're really crazy! I can't imagine that I fell in love with such a man."

"Ssshhh. I'm doing them a favor, you know. I am in great debt to Sarah. If it wasn't for her, you won't be here by my side right now." I told her with so much affection.

"Remind me again. You're really sneaky, playing along with my jealousy so I would finally take you as a boyfriend."

I silenced her with a quick peck in her lips. "It's called dirty tactics. Enough of that, I'll go talk to Loukas and you, watch over them and don't try to blink.

"You're corrigible!" I heard her say this before I dialed my mobile to call Loukas.

Pity. I mouthed at myself. I can't help but to feel sorry for my cousin. Although she tried to conceal it, I know she still cares for Sarah. There was an apparent frown in her face, really she's not pleased that someone had kissed Sarah right in front of her.

"Want to add some peanut butter to that jelly?" I started to get her attention.

"Cuzzy! What are you doing here?" She briefly said with a surprised look.

"I am with someone. I just saw Sarah and it looks like someone had already won her heart. Too bad for you!" I said while a grin reached through my eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a thing anymore for Sarah." She answered without any emotion.

I laughed in delightment. "Really Tanchellie? Deny it to the world but not to me. They served fruit jelly here, you should try it sometime so you'll admit that you're jiggling in jealousy." I said before I left her in peace.

Even if she denied it but with the way she looks right now, no one would believe her.

|

After teasing my cousin, I immediately went to our table to join Loukas and Sarah. I just can't believe that I was so involved with Alesso's game.

"Where's Alex, Iesha?" Sarah inquiried.

"I don't know. He said he will talk to Loukas but it appears not. Wait, I'll give him a call. Excuse me." I said before I dialed something on my mobile.

After several rings, the other line answered.

"Where are you?" I asked without a preamble.

"I'm doing something Amore. I guess it's payback time for my best friend who likes to drop bombs about our relationship to my brother. I wanna see what will be the reaction of Sarah with this news that I've learned just now." He answered from the other line. I just can't with this man, he can be cunning and manipulative if he wants to.

"What did you learn?"

"Matthew Valderrama's return." He said.

"Sarah's former fiance? I asked in great surprise.

"Yes. I just heard from the other guest."

"Eavesdropping is really your talent." I reprimanded him.

"Enough of that, Amore. I'll hang up now. I hope you all enjoy my little show. Say Sorry to Sarah for me."

"Sarah will have your head at the end of the night." I warned him.

"I'm only doing them a favor. I wonder what would be the reaction of the two stubborn women with my show. If I have to play as the cunning matchmaker here then I would. Goodbye my Iesha." And with that he dropped the call.

Now I'm a little worried about what he might do. I was about to return to my seat when someone sounded from my side.

"Do you mind if we join you here?" It was my cousin with her date who just asked me if they could join.

"No we don't. Have a seat please." Loukas answered on my behalf.

Great! Just great it seems that Alesso's plan is falling in the right place.

"What did my brother say, Iesha?"

I forced a smile. "He said he's talking with a possible manufacturer for his new business venture."

They only nodded as a response. We talk about business and among other things. While we're busy talking, our attention is caught when someone speaks from the microphone.

"I hope you are all enjoying the party tonight.

I want to serenade everyone but I offer this song to our lovely host tonight."

Agad kaming nagkatinginan nila Sarah at Loukas. And then the lights on the stage went off. Wala kaming makita. Until the spotlight is turned on but only focusing on the waiting piano. A man in his midnight blue tuxedo suddenly appears at dagliang nilingon kami but hindi namin nakilala ang mukha because he's wearing a mask as if this a masquerade party. But then I saw the wicked smile on his face and I just knew it! I knew it!

We are enjoying the night by sharing business experiences and insight when suddenly someone offered a song for the host, which is me. Biglang dumilim ang stage and then biglang lumiwanag ang spotlight focusing to the piano. Then, may biglang lumapit na isang lalaki, before he settle himself sa piano ay lumingon muna siya sa amin but hindi ko siya mamukhaan dahil nakasuot ito ng masquerade mask. Then... The projector screen came to life...

"What the hell!" I cursed to myself.

Then he starts playing King and Queen of Hearts. "Matthew!" I uttered almost like a whisper in disbelief.

And then the picture on the widescreen was our photo. How will I forget! A silhouette of us against the dimming sky in Kingston upon River Thames. Chicken Shit!

Hindi ako makagalaw. I don't what to feel all I know is I can't think straight right now. Gulong gulo ako. I just can't believe.

"Sarah, Is that on Kingston upon Thames?" Loukas asked me out of nowhere.

"I guess so." Pagkukunwari ko kahit alam ko naman na talaga na sa Kingston talaga yun.

"It can't be!" He exclaimed. "Is that Valderrama?" He asked looking straight in my eyes.

"Valderrama who?" Iesha added.

"Matthew Valderrama, Sarah's former fiance." Loukas answered on my behalf.

"Your former fiance?"I was astounded by a madding voice which is very familiar to me. I turn my head to the direction of the voice only to find the a small scowl on the face of Tanchellie with a hell fire eyes that look like daggers. What's wrong with this woman? The voice in my head questioned.

"He's got a very smoothing voice no wonder you were so inlove with him before." I heard an annoying comment from Loukas.

I didn't know how but I can't stop the pink stains on my cheeks. "Stop it." I said while blushing.

"You've got a really handsome set of men, Sarah." Tanchellie said out of nowhere with a force smile that is lace with acid.

"What is he doing here, Sarah? Winning you again?" asked, Iesha.

"Aren't he married?" Tanchellie answered.

"Well, maybe. They got divorced and he's here for Sarah. To give their love a try again, after all their lovestory is still an open book." Iesha suggested. No wonder that she and Alesso made a very perfect pair, pareho silang advance magisip at chismoso.

"Enough!" I said because of a threatening headache. If ever it's really him, are you ready to face him again, Sarah?

Nagalalang tanong ng utak ko. I don't know.

I am smiling like an idiot right now, I'm very pleased with the result of our plans. "Now you tell me, that you're not jealous." I whispered to my cousin who is about to murder someone.

"Shut up, will you! I'm not jealous." She fiercely denied. Stubborn din tong pinsan kong to ah.

"Keep telling that to yourself so you'll believe eventually that you are." I said while grinning.

"Iesha!" She warned.

I was about to reply to her when my mobile phone ranged. "Excuse me."

.

.

.

I meet with Alesso in the Garden, it was his secretary who called me to meet him in the garden. After waiting for about 3 minutes or so. He showed up with a wicked smile.

"If looks could kill, you're dead right now." I started. "You'll be satisfied with the result. Sarah was very uneasy with what you did, she's really bothered if indeed Matthew is here and back for good. And as with my cousin, I didn't see her like that before, I tell you she's ready to murder anyone at her current state it seems that she's out of blood. Your blood exactly." I added.

"Great job, Amore!" He answered as he pulled me in an embrace.

"No! Great job to us. I can't believe we are doing this, Amore." I smiled brightly at him.

"Well, I can't help it, they're so stubborn so we really need to play matchmaker here."

"Cheers!" we said in unison...

*This is a bonus chapter.

Characters.

Iesha Alfasid - Tanchellie's Cousin/Alesso's GF (which is hindi pa alam ni Tanch na si Alesso pala ang lalaking hinahabol ng pinsan niya.)

Loukas Castelleni - Alesso's Brother.

Sila ang mga totoong matchmaker ng storyang ito.

The original chapter will be posted tonight.

Mahal ko kayo.