Nakarating kami sa company niya at halos pagtinginan kami ng mga naroroon. Mabilis na umugong ang usapan tungkol sa amin na pinili ko na lang na huwag nang pansinin. I'm sure may mga pictures and rumours tungkol sa amin ang kakalat sa social media, pero dahil wala akong hilig sa pagkakaroon ng IG, Twitter at Facebook, ay hindi ko rin iyon makikita, if Kimmy won't tell me.

"Don't mind them." naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Hunter sa kamay ko kaya agad niyang naagaw ang attention ko.

"They are spreading rumors..."

"Which is true." he cut me off.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at nagpadala na lang sa kaniya hanggang sa opisina niya. After we get there, he and I talk about the contract and my photoshoot. Marami kaming napag-usapan about sa trabaho and during lunch, nagpadala na lang siya ng kakainin namin sa loob ng office niya. Nakahinga pa ako ng maluwag ng makitang meat iyon. Hindi pa naman ako naka dala ng doses of epinephrine.

"Magana ka namang kumain ngayon, hindi ko ba nagustuhan ang luto ko kagabi?" Nahinto ako sa panguya sa sinabi niya.

It wasn't my intention to make him feel that way, I was about to tell him the truth when we heard footsteps. Hindi na namin napansin na bumukas na pala ang pinto ng opisina niya at pumasok doon si, Amarinth?

I swallowed hard when I felt a lump in my throat, seeing Amari walking confidently towards my husband.

Walang pag d-dalawang isip na tinawid niya ang distansya nila ni Hunter at hinalikan ito sa labi, which made Hunter flinch and push her away a little. Mukhang hindi siya galit pero mukha ring hindi niya nagustuhan ang ginawa ng babae. Nangilid bigla ang luha ko sa nakita but I try to hold it back.

"Amari, I have a wife."

Kung wala, okay lang?

Gusto ko matawa. Baka na-misinterpret ko lang ang sinabi niya.

"Oh c'mon hon! Kailan mo ba siya sineryoso? She's just the highest paid model in the world and I am sure naman na hindi lang ikaw ang naging lalaki sa buhay niya so why bother?" What?!

Okay, I have flirted with guys before. Pero kakaibang tono at kahulugan ang nabakas ko sa sinabi niya.

"Amari..." nagbabantang suway ni Hunter sa babae. Amari rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest.

"I need us to talk right now, Hunter."

Nagalangan pa si Hunter at napalingon sa akin, I wanted to shake my head and tell him to finish our lunch without leaving me, but he didn't see it through my eyes and stood.

Huli na ng ma-realize kong, nakalabas na sila ng opisina patungo sa kung saan para mag-usap. Nawalan ako ng ganang kumain at tinabi na lang ang mga iyon.

I waited for them to come back, especially Hunter, but ended up seeing Vincyl enter the office, shocked to see me.

"Divecca? I thought..." he trailed off.

"Where's Hunter?" malumanay na tanong ko at halatang nagaalangan siyang sabihin.

"He left with Amari. I didn't know you were still here. I thought you had already left before them." nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang sakit, bumigat ang pakiramdam at paghinga ko bago tumayo ay nagpasyang umuwi na.

"Do you know where they are going?"

"Uh, maybe in Amari's penthouse. It was their usual place—" natigil siya ulit at natutop ang sariling labi.

"I didn't mean to sound like... uh... sorry."

"I-it's okay." kahit nahihirapan ay nagawa ko pa ring sabihin iyon at kaagad na umalis.

Pinaglalaruan mo ba ako Hunter?

Masama ang loob na pinili kong umuwi ng mag-isa. On my way, Kimmy asked me to see her, so I did. Time to say goodbye to her too. The earlier the better. Halos mapasinghap ako ng may sumapak sa mukha ko. And when I looked at who it was, I found Kimmy.

"You're spacing out..."

"Sorry, ano nga ulit?" magsasalita na sana siya ng may biglang yumakap sa akin. Nanlaki ang mata ko at agad na napalayo, I heard the deep chuckle of a guy, and when I looked at him, I instantly recognized him.

"Tremor," Tremor is Kimmy's older brother. A part-time model and a known chef. Marami rin siyang pag-aaring hotel and restaurants, which made him one of the richest bachelors. Naka-trabaho ko na siya and somehow we became close. Lumapit ito sa akin at niyakap ulit ako.

"I miss you, Dimmy." I smiled. He really reminds me of Damon, my brother.

"Namiss din kita Tremor." We heard groans from Kimmy.

"Kuya, I am talking to her." pagsusungit ni Kimmy sa nakakatandang kapatid kaya kaagad naman na sumimangot si Tremor at tumabi sa akin, resting his arm on the backrest of my chair.

"She's always with you Kimberlyn, don't be so greedy of her, hindi lang ikaw ang kaibigan."

"Oh, so you're jealous again? C'mon brother, it's a serious matter, so leave us alone please?"

"You wretch, go on. I will just listen here."

"We'll finish your shoot, and then in the afternoon, you have to attend the coronation. You'll be one of the judges. Kapalit ni Miss Lacsamana."

"Sure."

"Good... oh nakausap mo na ba si Hunter Martinez?"

"Kanina..." sumikip ang dibdib ko.

"Kailan daw ang photoshoot mo?"

"As soon as possible."

"Really? That's good! May kumukuha nanaman sa 'yo for endorseme—"

"I won't accept any more projects, Kimmy." I cut her off. Pareho sila ni Tremor na napalingon sa akin.

"Why?"

"I am going back to the Philippines."

"What?!" halos lumuwa ang mata ni Kimmy sa gulat.

"You're joking, right?" Tremor nervously laughed, but I didn't show them the expression they wanted for them to breathe in relief.

"I am not. And I am really scheduled to go back this coming Saturday. I will just go ahead and finish the remaining projects I have here." Kimmy started to cry. Namilog ang mga mata ko at kaagad na nangilid ang mga luha sa sa nakita.

"Iiwan mo na ako? Paano na trabaho ko? Sa 'yo pa naman ako kumikita ng malaki." I chuckled with tears in my eyes.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kaniya to hug her.

"Thank you so much for everything, Kimmy."

"W-Why? A-Ang daya mo naman Dim. Iiwan mo ako rito?" sinubukan ko siyang patahanin pero ayaw niya.

"We will always communicate through video calls. Huwag ka nang umiyak please?"

"Why do you have to leave when your life was here?" You're wrong, Kimmy.

My life wasn't here.

"My brother, he needs me there, Kimmy." Partly true. Medyo humina na ang pag-iyak niya at unti-unti nang tumahan.

"Fine! 'P-Pag free ako, I will visit you there... and... and promise me you'll really contact me often, okay?"

"Yes Ma'am!" We hugged each other after that.

"Thank you for everything, Kimmy."

"Yeah, thank you so much, din Dim."

We were about to talk again when Tremor pulled me away from her sister. Seryoso na ang mukha nito at halos nakalimutan ko na siya kanina.

"Kuya?"

"I need to talk to her." malamig na sabi nito at hinila na ako palabas. He made me ride in his car. Huminto kami sa gilid ng kalsada sa tulay. Malapit na lumubog ang araw. Bumaba siya sa kotse at sumunod ako. He leaned closer to the rails of the bridge and stared nowhere.

"It's because of him, right?" I was stunned for a moment.

"W-What?"

"It wasn't just about your brother... but him... your husband." nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. Mahigpit kong nahawakan ang singsing ko na nakasuot sa aking daliri.

"Y-You know?"

"Yes."

"H-How? W-When?"

"I was there when you married each other."

"A-Ano?" I'd never seen him there.

"Nagkataon na uncle ko ang judge na nagkasal sa inyong dalawa. I was there. Muntik na nga akong lumabas kung hindi ko lang agad naagapan na ma-realize na may kinakasal pala si Tito." wala akong masabi. We've been friends for three years, siya ang una kong nakatrabaho simula ng pasukin ko ulit ang pagmomodelo. Silang dalawa ni Kimmy ang pinakanaging ka-close ko and Tremor was the aid to my longing. Sabi ko nga, nakikita ko sa kaniya ang kapatid ko.

"Bakit hindi ka nagtanong? Or sinabi sa 'kin na alam mo na pala umpisa pa lang?" naramdaman ko ang pagbuntong hininga niya.

"Kasi alam kong ayaw mong ipaalam. Ayoko rin naman na makialam sa iyo at sa desisyon mo. Hinintay ko lang na baka sabihin mo rin sa amin, pero naisip ko na baka 'yong asawa mo ang may ayaw." natahimik ako. Wala naman ding sense kung sasabihin ko pa. O ipaalam sa lahat.

Noong mga panahon na 'yon, ay hindi naman kami mag-asawa kung magturingan.

"Mahal mo ba siya?" he asked, na mas lalong naging dahilan kung bakit wala akong masabi.

"I don't know..."

I saw him smile, malungkot at mapait na ngiti na ayokong pagisipan.

"Hindi ka tatagal ng 3 years kung hindi." Maybe it's because we had a deal? ... or...

"Mahal ka ba niya? Inaalagaan ka ba niyang mabuti?" parang may humampas sa dibdib ko sa tanong na 'yon. Dahil hindi ako nakasagot ay nilingon niya ako at marahang kinuha ang mga kamay ko.

"Dimmy, I wish you were happy."

"Tremor."

"I wasn't the first to come, and yeah, I can accept that. I just hope I came in first and earlier in your heart so I can be the one who has the right to take care of you and to call you mine." No... no way!

"T-Tremor..." sinubukan kong hilahin ang kamay ko palayo.

Gusto kong maramdaman 'yong nga bagay na nararamdaman ko kapag si Hunter 'yong kasama ko, pero wala... wala akong maramdaman na gano'n.

"Susunod ako roon Dimmy." His eyes glistened.

"Tremor, please..." 'wag mo ituloy.

"Sabihin mo lang sa akin kung sinasaktan at pinababayaan ka niya...I can be your temporary shelter until he realizes how precious you are." umiling ako. I don't want to see him in pain because of me. Hindi siya dapat...

"M-Maayos naman ang turing sa akin ni Hunter, inaalagaan niya ako... no need to worry, Tremor. But I really, really appreciate that... I appreciate you." hindi ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako ng sabihin ko 'yon.

"No, he's not treating you right, because if yes, I won't be able to see you cry. I won't be able to see the pain in your eyes every time. I saw your pain. Within 3 years, he never made you happy. He's just that fucked-up douche bag who likes fooling around and hooking up with different women... he doesn't deserve you... you deserve a better man. I can be that, but since when... I guess I don't have a chance... I will still respect your feelings... magpapaubaya ako, pero once na saktan ka niya. I promise Dimmy, ayaw mo man o sa gusto aagawin kita sa kaniya."

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Those are the lines I wanted to hear from Hunter. Pero bakit kailangang sa iba ko pa marinig?

The same time that the new set of tears came out of my eyes was the same time I saw a car pass by, at nakita ko kung sino ang nasa loob noon.

Hunter and Amari talk like couples, laughing and enjoying each other's company.

And it makes me weep even more.

At that moment, sa harap ng papalubog na araw, habang yakap ako ni Tremor.

Napangalanan ko ang nararamdamang pilit kong itinatago.

I am falling in love with Hunter Martinez.