Saving My Pride

Candy wasn't sure if her sheer amazement had gotten her to hide or not. Nor was she sure how she remained standing there. She heard Stella's voice again.

“Oh, I know you had this thing going when you were teenagers. But Richard said it was just some sort of calf love and it’s over a long time ago.”

"R-really?" That one word almost came out. The shock had done something to her vocal cords. Richard and Stella are lovers! And already told the Thomas to get married!

Those words echoed in her mind as if a bell was ringing and deafening her.

Stella was in B Province just last summer and she knew about Richard and her. Although she could not deny the strange look and tenderness it gives to Richard every time the two meet in their house.

"Hey," Stella whispered to her. "Won't you greet us?"

“O-of course…” She belatedly congratulated them. She wondered if her voice was still intact.

"Stella's a commercial model now, Candy," Richard said as if to make her look like he had traded her for a superior. "You must have seen her first commercial on TV…" He said in the TV commercial that Stella released.

Like a robot, she nodded, smiling. But the commercial Richard says doesn’t even come to mind. Only one thing registered in her mind --- that the two were in love and about to get married.

"What about you, Candy?" What do you plan to do now that you have graduated?” and Stella. “Don’t tell me you’d still play housemaid to your father now that Tito Gabriel’s married? Oh, well. Even when we were little, you were really a homebody. You just want to stay home. How boring.”

Candy sighed slightly at his unabashed criticism of her. The sudden outburst of anger overshadowed the bitterness she felt at that moment. She opened her mouth to say something but someone beat her to it.

“But Candy’s a certified accountant…” said that very male and pleasant voice from behind them. "Richard probably didn't tell his parents and forgot to tell you."

Kenneth gently bowed to Candy and put his arm around her. It almost made her jump. But the tightness of his hand on her waist prevented her from holding back.

"Darling, I don't want to rush you, but we have to leave," Kenneth said.

"Leave?" She turned to him sharply. What he said only added to her confusion.

Kenneth didn't answer and looked at Richard instead. “You are Richard if I am not mistaken. I heard you tell your parents that you and… Stella is in love, right?”

Kenneth didn't wait for either of the two to answer. He held out her hand to Richard who hesitantly accepted.

“Congratulations to you both. When is the big day?”

"Thank you," Richard whispered and let out a deep breath. Kenneth and Candy looked around. “We are just starting to plan so we are going home now for two reasons. The first was to attend Candy's daddy's wedding and the second was to talk to my parents. You didn't say your name?”

“Kenneth… Kenneth Ruiz. My cousin married Candy's daddy.”

"Kenneth Ruiz?" Stella said without denying the excitement in her voice. “The Kenneth Ruiz? Of course!” It turned Richard into accusing eyes. “You did not clarify to me who Ruiz was married to Tito Gabriel. I would never have imagined that my uncle married one of the Ruiz.”

“I-I don’t know either, Stella,” Richard said defensively.

It ignored what the boyfriend said. Abruptly, she turned to Kenneth, held out her hand, smiled tenderly.

“How are you, Mr. Ruiz? Although we never had a chance to get to know each other, I saw you at a party. You were leaving when I arrived. Remember Sam’s birthday party six months ago?”

Kenneth reached out his hand and shook it tightly. And in Candy’s eyes, it didn’t seem like both wanted to let go of each other.

"Of course," Kenneth smiled politely.

"And I'm upset with you, Candy," Stella turned to her. “You didn't tell me that you and… Mr. Kenneth Ruiz.”

“But we’ve met now,” said Kenneth, laughing huskily. “Nice meeting you both. I wish we could stay a little longer. But I promised Candy that we would attend Valerie Blair’s painting exhibit at the Serenity Hotel tomorrow afternoon. And if we would leave tomorrow, we'll probably both be tired and unable to watch it.”

Candy gaped at him. She does not understand what it says. But the way it stared at her warned that she just agreed with what it was saying.

"Valerie Blair?" Stella parroted. “Isn’t she the wife of socialite and jet-setter Christian Blair? She was tagged by the press as one of the modern Cinderella!”

Stella turned to the boyfriend who remained unsure of what to say. “I’ve read their love story somewhere, Richard. And Sam has one of her paintings! Oh! I’d love to be at her exhibit…” Her voice trailed off. “But it’s always exclusive. For the rich and famous… with expensive tickets,” she said petulantly. She glanced at Candy.

And if Candy wasn't mistaken it was jealousy she saw in its eyes. Good, she thought. Somehow her ego was slightly raised.

“Yes, Valerie’s painting exhibits have tickets, Stella. But only because the proceeds of her sales are sent to the orphanage for the charity fund. But if you want to go, I have extra tickets at the office. I will give it to you,” Kenneth suggested.

"But, Stella, we can't impose…" Richard rebuked when he saw the excitement on his girlfriend's face, the look given to her warned her not to accept Kenneth's offer.

"Common, Richard," Stella said in a voice that was more commanding than pleading. “Kenneth won't invite if he doesn't invite us wholeheartedly. And I know him from what I've heard --- from Sam's storytelling. He is a very generous man.”

Sam was a well-known ramp and commercial model and belongs to a well-known clan. And the way Stella mentions it here seems to be the socialite is her friend.

Candy also did not escape the emphasis on the word "generous."

Stella turned to Kenneth and said tenderly, "You're serious about inviting us, aren't you, Kenneth?"

“Like I said, Stella, I have two extra tickets to Valerie Blair’s painting exhibit. And we’d love to have you as our guests.” Candy nodded. “Wouldn’t we, darling?”

Darling? She shook her head mentally. Now she was starting to hate the word. Kenneth then snatched his wallet from the back of his pants and from there took a calling card and handed it to Richard.

“This is my office address. You can pick up your tickets from my secretary.” Before Candy could find anything to say, Kenneth's hand wrapped around her waist and led her to the house.

“Candy…” Richard's confused voice chased Candy's hearing.

"Don't look back," Kenneth whispered violently.

He doesn’t have to say that anymore. Because she just had no intention of turning around and she almost stumbled in a hurry to get away from the two. Richard’s confused and sad look while next to his girlfriend will remain in her mind for a long time.

He knew her too much not to know she did it on the rebound. And it hurts her to see him not happy. Especially since she was sure Richard's parents would not accept Stella willingly.

Kenneth continued to lead her inside the house. And a few steps after the door it stopped and face her. When he touched her chin and looked up, she couldn’t see his face clearly because of the tears in her eyes.

“Let the tears drop and I’ll strangle you!” he warned.

“You unfeeling beast… Let me go!” she hissed. She frees herself from him. But Kenneth tightened his grip on her waist and grabbed her violently.

He bent down and violently claimed her lips.