C1 - Betrayed.

Nanginginig ang buong katawan ni Arianna habang nakasilip sa bahagyang nakaawang na pinto ng silid ng fiance niyang si Dominic. 

Mariing nakatakip ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang bibig habang tahimik siyang tumatangis sanhi ng tanawin sa loob ng silid. Si Dominic ay may kaniig na babae sa ibabaw ng kama nito. And the woman with him was not just some random girl. 

It was Bianca… Arianna’s best friend!

She never once thought that two important people in her life would betray her. But nonetheless, kinalma niya ang sarili. She was taught not to react in the height of her emotion. Kaya sa halip na sugurin at komprontahin ang dalawa, pinili niyang tumalikod at maglakad palayo.

Arianna had come in the middle of the night to surprise him because it was their third year anniversary of being in a relationship. Ayaw niyang maunahan siya nitong bumati kaya bago pa lang sumapit ang alas dose ng gabi, lumabas na siya ng silid para puntahan sa silid nito si Dominic. 

At siya ang nasorpresa sa dinatnan niyang eksena. 

Arianna’s calm walk slowly became frantic and desperate. She wanted to go out and have a breather. Pakiramdam niya nasu-suffocate siya at hindi siya makahinga sa labis na sama ng loob at galit na nararamdaman niya.

Kaya sa labas ng mansyon niya sunod na natagpuan ang kanyang sarili, sakay ng kanyang kotse, paalis, palayo sa mga taksil. That night, she decided to keep whatever she discovered to herself.

The next morning, she pretended that everything was fine.

“Happy anniversary, hon.” 

Mahigpit na yakap at halik sa kanyang pisngi ang ibinigay ni Dominic sa kanya maliban sa bouquet ng red roses at box of chocolates. 

Ngumiti lang siya sa binata at pasimpleng pinunasan ng likod ng kanyang palad ang pisnging nadampian ng halik nito. If pulling out a tissue to wipe it away wouldn’t be too obvious, she would have done so. Gano’n siya nandidiri sa kasintahang kagabi lang ay ibang babae ang hinahalikan.

“Happy anniversary, you guys!” sabi naman ni Bianca na may dala pang pa-cake. “You turned three today!” 

Gusto niyang burahin ng sampal ang ngiti nito. Kung hindi niya nakitang kaulayaw ito ni Dominic kagabi, she would believe her seemingly genuine happiness for her and her fiance. But she already knew that behind her smile was a snake she allowed to stay and live in her house. 

Right. Sa bahay nila ng kanyang ama nakatira ang dalawa. Dominic because he was an orphan and her dad’s protegee. And Bianca because she was her best friend who led an unfortunate life. They have been friends for so long. Long before there was Dominic. 

Kaya masakit sa kanya ang panloloko nito sa kanya. 

“Thanks,” she replied and forced a smile. 

“Are you okay, hon? Are you not feeling well?” pansin ni Dominic sa kawalan niya ng saya. 

“My head hurts,” Arianna answered. “I want to be alone.”

Kumunot ang noo ng binata pero mabilis din itong pumayag na iwan siya matapos makipagpalitan ng tingin kay Bianca. 

“Then we’ll leave you alone. But let’s dine out tonight. I made us a reservation,” Dominic said, planting a kiss on her head. “Let’s go, Bianca.”

“Bi, bring the cake,” pahabol ni Arianna bago makalayo ang dalawa. The cake was an eyesore anyway.

“Of course. I’ll give you a slice later.”

Pagkaalis ng dalawa ay pumasok siya sa banyo ng kanyang silid at itinapat ang sarili sa shower kahit nakadamit pa siya. She was desperate to remove the traces of Dominic’s touch and kisses. 

Hindi niya mapapatawad ang mga ito. But for the sake of the three years and their engagement, Arianna would give everything a careful thought. Hindi siya pwedeng magpadalos-dalos dahil bukod sa kanya, mayroon pang isang relasyon siyang masisira kapag nagreact siya ngayon—her dad’s and Dom’s relationship. 

Sinasanay na ng kanyang ama si Dominic bilang magiging kahalili nito dahil wala siyang interes sa kanilang negosyo. Samuel trusted Dominic. Hindi lang siya na anak nito ang ipinagkakatiwala nito sa binata, kundi ang kanilang kabuhayan. 

If Ariana told her dad about Dominic’s cheating, masasayang ang lahat ng effort nito. Then again, did she want to keep silent just so Samuel wouldn’t be disappointed? But really, would he believe her when he trusted Dominic so much?

Bago sumapit ang gabi, pasekretong umalis si Arianna. Syempre, hindi siya magce-celebrate kasama ang isang taksil. There’s nothing to celebrate anyway. On the other hand, mayroon siyang ipagluluksa—the end of her three-year relationship with Dominic and her eighteen-year friendship with Bianca.

And that’s how she found herself in an unfamiliar place—the bar. 

Arianna was in deep pain. Paano niya tatanggapin ang pagtataksil ng dalawa sa pinaka-importanteng tao sa buhay niya? 

“Another glass for the lady, please…” The man who sat beside her told the bartender. She knew she was the only lady in that particular spot, but Arianna was too consumed with her own thoughts to pay attention. “Are you alone?”

Nang kunin nito mula sa kamay niya ang empty glass niya ay saka lang siya nag-react. She reacted with the contact of his fingers deliberately touching hers. She pulled her hand away and shot him a glare.

“Whoah!” The man laughed. “Look at you…” bla bla bla, Arianna couldn’t understand a thing he said after that. 

Napahawak siya sa kanyang ulo nang biglang kumirot iyon. When she looked at the man again, nagdodoble na ang paningin niya. Lasing na siguro siya. Heck, she’d only been two and a half hours there. 

“Drunk? I know exactly what to do to make you sober, lady…” 

She then felt the man’s arms around her. Pumiksi siya and attempted to break free from him.

“Let me go!” she demanded.

“I will, after I’m done with you…” Imbes pakawalan siya, mahigpit siya nitong akbay-akbay habang inilalabas siya ng bar. 

Ariana continued to struggle. “Let me goooo!”

“Did you not hear her?” A voice interrupted them. Arianna tried to look at the person who blocked their way to no avail. “Let her go.” 

“Mr—” In almost an instant, the man released her.

Arianna’s world was spinning now. But before she fell, she felt strong arms around her once more. Strangely though, she didn’t feel the need to pull away.