Chapter 2

(Annessa)

Her friend Jill is talking to her  but her mind seemed to have shut off.

Hmm.. so he is really back… She told herself bago humugot ng malalim na hininga and removed her eyes from him.

That Logan Contrero doesn’t deserve her attention. Masyado na siyang maraming luha na nasayang dahil dito. She can’t waste anything anymore for that cunning man.

“Goodness Anne! Look at him! Grabe! Hindi naman ako na-inform na andito ang lecheng yummy pero mahilig sa babae   na ex mo! Did you know that he is going to be here?!” Jill asked na nanlalaki ang mga mata habang nakatingin dito.

“Oh please naman Jill! Palagay mo kung alam ko na nandito siya pupunta ako?” nailing na sabi niya while she looks for  Heidi, ang may birthday.

“Bes! He is looking this way! Shocks! Mas lalong naging yummy si papa Logan  aka as hot Contrero!!” kilig na sabi ng kaibigan.

Naningkit nang bahagya ang mga mata niya nang maalala na naman niya ang ibinyag ng mga ito na bansag sa ex niya which reminded  her of things that she would rather forget.

“Will you stop that Jill?! Stop looking at him! Oh there’s Heidi!” masiglang sabi niya while she walks to the direction of the celebrant.

 “Annessa! You are here! Thank goodness! Akala ko mang-iindian ka eh!” sabi nito as they kiss each other’s cheek.  Bumati din si Jill at nagbeso  din ang mga ito.

“Heids, 'di mo naman sinabi na andito si hot Contrero! Surprise ba kay Anne 'yan? “ tukso ni Jill which made Heidi grin pero nagpakunot naman ng noo niya.

“Nope! Nagulat din ako. Akala ko sa makalawa pa ang dating niya. Baka itinaon sa birthday ko para  makita ka? “ may himig biro na sabi nito sa kanya  but she knows better.

Alam niya na may crush ito kay Logan dati pa but for her, hindi na niya ginawang big deal 'yon. Mas importante ang friendship nila kesa sa mahilig sa  mga pokpok na ex niya. Heidi is nice to her naman. At hindi naman niya masisi ito na magka-crush sa ex niya dahil tanggap naman niya na saksakan ito ng sarap. Pamatay ang katawan at napakaguwapo pa. Bad boy  pero  masarap ang dating  kaya nabibighani ang mga babae.

And since she made it clear to Heidi na wala na siyang pakialam kay Logan after ng lahat, okay na okay na ulit sila nito. Besides naka-get over na ito kahit papaano dahil may nobyo na ito. Crush pa din nito si Logan but hindi na gano'n katindi kagaya ng dati.

“Hmm...palagay ko he can’t wait to see you up-close. Brace yourself…” warning ni Heidi bago ngumiti ng matamis.

She has a pretty good idea kung sino ang nasa likod niya  that’s why she didn’t even turn. Naramdaman lang niya ang pagkalabit sa kanya ni Jill.

Then she heard a man cleared his throat which made her smile a little.

“Hi gorgeous women!” bati ni Simon sa kanila.

Bumati si Jill and Heidi waved at them. She on the other hand,  slowly turned na may matamis na ngiti sa labi. She raised her left brow a little when their eyes met.

Seeing him again face to face brought her back to the past when she had the misfortune to meet him…

(Flashback)

“Mommy, ayaw ko please!  I really don’t want to. Papasok na ako.” She  said as they approach  her mother’s new friend na pinakilala ng tita Ola niya,  ang bading na  kaibigan ng  kanyang mommy.

Kakapasok  pa lang nila sa isang kilalang café na malapit sa university na pinapasukan niya.

“Anak ano ka ba? No boyfriend since birth  ka samantalang ang ganda-ganda mo! It’s time na ipakilala kita sa anak ni Belle na binata. I saw his pictures and I think bagay na bagay kayo. For sure if magiging kayo, ilalabas mo na 'yang pagka-diyosa mo!  “ sabi ni Lexi Quintero.

Annessa just rolled her eyes. Madaming nagsasabi na kasingganda siya ng ina but she chose to be simple. Ang mommy niya hanggang ngayon fashionista pa rin at napakaswerte nito na kahit may idad na, na-maintain ang kaseksihan.  Kahit na madami silang cosmetic surgery clinic, dahil  sikat na cosmetic surgeon ang daddy niya, her mom doesn’t need any operation para lang imaintain ang ganda nito. It just runs in  the family. She is so lucky na maganda ang lahi nila.  Pero mas gusto niyang hindi ibalandra ang good looks niya. Alam niya na madaming lalake ang after lang sa panlabas na anyo so ayaw niyang makahanap ng gano'ng tipo. 

Shallow.

She wants to be liked  or admired hindi lang dahil maganda at sexy siya.

Hindi na siya nakaprotesta nang makalapit sila sa magandang babae na halos kasing-idad ng mommy niya. Tumayo ito and smiled at them.

“Lexi!” bati nito sa mommy niya and nagbeso ang mga ito.

“Bell, my daughter...Dianne Alessandara or Annessa for short...” 

Mas lumapad ang ngiti ni Isabelle Contrero and she opened her arms to her.

“Wow! Coincidence lang ba ito or what? Do you know na Dianne ang name ng hipag ko? Ate ng asawa ko! Well nice to mee you iha! Finally! Mukhang may makakapagpatino na sa anak ko!” sabi nito bago siya yakapin at halikan sa pisngi.Hindi na namalayan ni Annessa kung ano-ano na ang napagusapan nila after that.

Ang tila nakapagpagising  lang sa kanya ay  nang makita niya ang anak ni Mrs. Contrero….

(End of flashback)

She blinked. Someone said something or is it her ex who called her name and murmured some words  that she didn’t catch?

She almost scolded herself. Dahil sa pagbabalik tanaw niya, she didn't know that she  spaced  out. She looked around and napansin niya na palayo sila Jill, Simon at Heidi.

Sa malas, she is alone with him and he is talking to her.

“You look.. different…” Logan said as he runs his eyes on her face and now on what she is wearing. He is slightly frowning.

She can say the same about him. May nagbago dito but she almost grunted in disgust.

Ang unfair ng earth!

Mas okay sana if ang nagbago dito lahat puro negative! Ang nakaka-inis ay tila mas naging guwapo ito.

May stubble at goatie  na ito ngayon which added to his sexiness. At sa tingin niya,  mas lumapad ang balikat nito at mas maumbok ang dibdib. She can’t get over how short and delicate she is when she is next to him. He is well over six feet samantalang nasa 5’3 lang siya.

She stepped back from him a little dahil nangangalay siyang tumingala dito but he moved forward at hinawakan ang braso niya to stop her.

“Baby…” anas nito habang lumamlam ang mga mata nito while looking with longing at her.

She threw a glare on his hand na nasa braso niya bago niya ibalik ang matalim na titig sa mukha nito.

She gritted her teeth.

“Alisin mo yan!” mahina but may diin na sabi niya while she refers to his hand.

She saw his Adam’s apple moved but he didn’’t let go.

“Logan…hmp!”

Ang  guwapong impakto! Hinalikan siya sa labi!