Chapter 2

“You’re so over the top, Asher! Your wife is crying because she saw Manang and Tatang,” Sofia said, her brows furrowed in mild irritation.

She glared at Asher, who was embracing his wife, Cassia, tightly. Sofia couldn’t help but feel annoyed at what she was witnessing. She thought to herself that Asher could’ve just asked Cassia what was wrong. There was no need to hug her so sweetly in front of her.

“Sofia is right, honey. Manang and Tatang are here now. You know it’s been so long since I last saw them. Don’t worry, I’m just really happy because all the important people in my life are here today,” Cassia replied.

Cassia gave her husband a sweet kiss on the lips before excusing herself to greet Manang and Tatang.

“Stay with your wife for now. I have something to attend to. Just enjoy the moment and be ready for the gender reveal later,” Sofia said with a forced smile.

She left the couple, unable to stomach their sweetness. She headed toward the event organizers she had hired for the party. As she walked, her brows lifted upon spotting a stunning woman in a sexy red dress. She immediately recognized her true friend Zella.

“Sorry, I’m late, Paloma,” Zella greeted.

As Sofia approached her friend, she gave her an obviously fake cheek kiss. One look at Sofia’s face, and Zella could tell she was in a bad mood. She quickly tried to lighten the mood by asking how she was.

“Stop calling me Paloma,” Sofia whispered.

Sofia hated being called Paloma, especially when she was in Asher’s presence. For her, the name Paloma sounded villainous. She preferred being called Sofia, a name that made her feel like an innocent princess.

“Oh, come on, Paloma Sofia Santos. Stop acting so prim and proper. Anyway, how’s your party going? Honestly, it looks fancy and high-class,” Zella teased with a smirk.

Zella found it amusing to call her friend Paloma, knowing Sofia despised the name. But she shifted the topic immediately.

The venue was challenging to reach as it was nestled in the mountains. Zella thought there were plenty of hotels closer to Angeles, where they lived. But Sofia explained that Asher and Cassia were nature lovers and had chosen a mountaintop venue, surrounded by tall trees and fresh air.

“I’m still a virgin, Zenaida Bugnot. All this effort was worth it for them,” Sofia said with a sly grin.

Her grin widened when Zella nodded in agreement.

They had been best friends since childhood, with Sofia treating Zella like a sister. From elementary school to college, they were inseparable.

Unfortunately, both of them dropped out of school due to financial struggles. Even if they wanted scholarships, they admitted they weren’t academically gifted. Despite this, they were resourceful and managed to make ends meet.

Sofia invited Zella to eat, knowing her friend must be hungry. They both laughed when Zella admitted she hadn’t eaten yet.

“You can even take some food home when the party’s over. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of leftovers,” Sofia joked.

“Of course, bestie. We’re not rich enough to waste food. Oh, and your mom reminded me to take some food home for her,” Zella said, laughing.

Before leaving their home in Sapang Bato Compound, Paloma’s mother, Magda, had asked Zella to bring some food back so she wouldn’t have to cook. Zella jokingly assured her that the party would be extravagant.

“Oh, my mom! Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it later,” Sofia said with a smile.

Earlier, Sofia had received a text from her mom reminding her to bring food home. She didn’t bother replying since she was busy helping with the organizer.

At 24 years old, Paloma Sofia Santos had already gone through many hardships. One of these was her mother falling ill. She had also worked various jobs over the years.

Growing up in poverty, Paloma Sofia was determined to escape it. She didn’t want her and her mother to suffer for the rest of their lives. She did everything to ensure their survival.

She was grateful to have found a decent job. She took pride in being a casino dealer at a well-known hotel in Angeles City, where she had also met her friend, Cassia Lopez.

She vividly remembered the first time she met Cassia. Sofia was rushing to work when she accidentally bumped into a woman in the hotel lobby.

Sofia’s white polo uniform and black slacks were part of her casino attire. She wore two-inch heels that clicked against the floor. The collision spilled liquid onto her chest.

She cursed under her breath, frustrated that her uniform was stained. The woman immediately apologized for the accident.

Sofia’s flashback was cut short when Zella called her. Apparently, Zella had been talking, but Sofia was lost in her thoughts.

“Paloma, there you go again, daydreaming,” Zella said in annoyance.

Zella had been speaking for a while, only to realize her friend wasn’t paying attention. Sofia sheepishly asked what she had said, forcing Zella to repeat herself.

“I brought Amir with me. I asked him to come because I couldn’t find a ride. The venue you chose is ridiculously far,” Zella complained.

Zella had been stressing for days about how to get to the venue Sofia had chosen. She even asked Sofia if she could help out at the party so they could ride together. Sofia refused, saying she wouldn’t be able to focus on her “plans” with Asher if Zella tagged along.

For a moment, Zella considered not attending the party, but she didn’t want to miss the chance to meet someone who could be her future husband.

At the last minute, she decided to ask Amir, Sofia’s boyfriend, if she could ride with him. Amir, who owned a motorcycle, agreed to take her.

“You’re unbelievable, Zenaida Bugnot! Why did you bring Amir? Don’t you know my situation?” Sofia hissed in irritation.

Sofia spoke through gritted teeth, careful not to draw attention from Asher and Cassia’s guests. She discreetly pulled Zella to a corner, away from the crowd, and demanded to know where Amir was.

Zella pointed out Amir’s location, and Sofia swallowed nervously as she saw a tall, handsome man walking toward them. He was wearing a dark blue polo shirt that highlighted his fair complexion and well-built physique. His faded jeans and worn-out rubber shoes completed his rugged charm.

“Well, what do you think of Amir? Doesn’t he look rich and dashing?” Zella teased with a grin.

Zella subtly distanced herself from her two friends, Paloma and Amir. She was sure this was going to be a long conversation.

“I know you don’t like me being here. But Zella just asked for my help, so please bear with me. And don’t worry, after I eat, I’ll just wait for your friend in the parking lot,” Amir said with a smile.

Amir scratched his head awkwardly while explaining to his girlfriend, Paloma. He knew she didn’t like him interfering with her side hustles.

To ease her annoyance, he gave her a sweet kiss on the lips. He even saw her let out a deep sigh.

“I’ll let this slide for now, Amir. But I hope this doesn’t happen again,” Sofia responded seriously.