Prologue

PRONUNCIATION

Louis Ezekiel Sorreño

lu-wi eh-si-ki-yel so-ren-nyo

Allison Kye Gomez

a-li-son kay go-mes

---

"Ms. Allison! Oh my goodness, you look even more gorgeous!" shouted one from the crowd, and I turned to them, smiled, and waved my hand. Flashes of different cameras and noises and commotions of the people here will be heard. 

"Thank you so much for gathering here for this special event to me!" sigaw ko bago lagpasan ang mga taong kung sinuman ang nagsabi sa akin no'n. Patuloy lang ang pagkaway ko sa mga tao at ngiti sa mga cameras, habang naglalakad ako sa red carpet na narito at ngayong araw ang grand opening ng sarili ko na talagang brand. Nasa harapan na ako ng boutique ko at tumingin ako sa itaas.

"Ali." Basa ko sa pangalan ng aking brand. Hindi ko maiwasan na mapangiti dahil sa pangalan na 'yon, nagmula iyon sa pangalan ko at in Arabic, it means, high, elevated, and champion. Kaya ayon ang napili kong pangalan. Mula ito sa kakayahan at kagustuhan ko, at dito ako masaya. Ngayong masasaksihan ko na ang pagbubuo ng sarili kong pangalan.

Humarap ako sa crowd, naging sikat din talaga ako dahil sa huli kong pinagtrabahuhan na brand. It's in Dior, I have a lot of memories there. I am also thankful for them because that signifies my steppingstone in becoming and making my own brand. I also had some collaborations with different brands so I can really make my own, ang tagal ng process at hindi naging madali sa akin ang lahat.

Pero dahil sa pagpapatuloy at determinasyon kong magkaroon ng sariling akin, ay talagang pinaghusayan ko 'to. Ito na rin ang isa sa masasabi kong biggest achievement ko sa buhay. Nagkaroon ng ribbon cutting at narito rin ang iba't ibang brands para suportahan ako. Sobrang laki talaga ng pasasalamat ko sa mga 'to dahil naging sobrang bait nila sa akin, at sinusuportahan nila ako rito.

"Congratulations, Ms. Allison, you really are a big hit here in Paris. Do you ever cross in your mind to go back home? In The Philippines? And also build your own brand there?" Natigilan ako mula sa nagi-interview sa akin dito, Pilipino rin ito, isang journalist. Inaasahan ko na ring itatanong ito sa akin, at handa akong sagutin ito. Pero sa mga sandaling ito, parang nawala ako sa 'king sarili.

Betrayal. Heartaches. Traumas. And cheated on, are the words that automatically flashed in my mind when I heard The Philippines. Sa bansang 'yon na hindi ako nababagay. Narito na ang buhay ko, dito ko nakikita ang tunay na ako, kaya ano at sino pa ba ang uuwian ko sa bansang 'yon? Si Valentine na lang, at iba ko pang kaibigan. Ganunpaman, ngumiti ako sa nangi-interview sa akin.

"No, I don't have plans... yet. I just established my very own brand here, so I'm just going to focus here first before anything else," I answered straightly, then smiled.

"Is it? Or otherwise?" Nanlaki naman ang mata ko sa tinanong niya sa akin na 'yon. That was so sensitive. Of course, she must know. Kalat na kalat naman 'yon dati, eh. Hindi ko naman itatanggi 'yon, may alam sila. Pangalan pa lang ng lalaking 'yon, iyong lalaking pinagkatiwalaan ko pero ganoon talaga, what to expect from men? Playing women and cheating were their favorite hobbies. Wala na akong magagawa pa. Ano pa nga ba ang inaasahan ko? After all, that's his hobby.

"I'm sorry? Was that necessary?"

"Oh, no. Sorry..." Umalis na ako kung saan ako nakapuwesto at pumunta ako sa iba pang dumalo rito, at kahit papaano ay sa mga nakakausap ko ay nawala ang init ng aking ulo. Wala dapat makakasira ng kasiyahan ko ngayon.

"We would like to call on Ms. Allison to officially announce her brand, Ali!" the host announced and with that, I already know what I am going to do. I stood up, smiled, and waved my hand as I walked gracefully toward the small stage. I grabbed the microphone, and I'm about to say my speech.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! First, I would like to lend my sincerest gratitude to you all for making it here despite your busy schedules. I really appreciate it. I, Allison Gomez, would enthusiastically announce that finally, I have my brand; Ali!" I heard claps and cheers, and I smiled sweetly at them, even if the lights were too strong to handle. I still managed to see them clearly.

I proceeded to my speech; I gave my motivation to them. On how I started from scratch and making it this far now. I also thanked those people who have helped me to get this through and to step in where I am.

"Especially to my best friend, from The Philippines, Valentine Gravani, to Amiel, and to others. I wished you were all here, my girls! I can't wait to finally see you soon enough! I missed you all and I know you are all watching me now." I even winked at the camera where we are live through social media platforms. "Finally, lift your head, heels, and standards, and you will be able to conquer anything. So, continue marching.," I said confidently, then gave them my sweetest smile as I heard their applause.

Bumaba na ako mula sa stage at papunta sana ako sa banyo rito para mag-retouch pero natigilan ako nang mayroon akong naramdaman na pamilyar na presensya. Alam ko na kaagad kung sino 'yon, bumilis kaagad ang tibok ng puso ko dahil lang sa dating lang niyang 'yon iba pa rin ang epekto no'n sa akin.

"Congratulations, you did so well," he said, in a manly voice. I am still shocked because why is he here? But I remained to compose myself and I breathe in and out. I wasn't prepared for this. But I had mastered the faking so it could easily be applied to this one. I smirked at what he said. Muli siyang nagsalita.

"You deserved this, I'm proud of you."

"Well, who wouldn't?" pagtataray ko. At saka ano ba talagang agenda niya rito? Hindi ko na dapat siya kilala. Also, why would I even care? I rolled my eyes and looked at him. "So... you're here? Why?" I asked and crossed my arms because I'm curious. Nothing more, nothing less.

"You still care? But yeah, I guess... I got invited?"

Napairap naman ako sa sinabi. Ano at sino? Wala akong naalala na may sinabi akong i-invite siya, at ayaw ko naman talaga siyang narito. Pero wala pa rin talaga akong panama sa connections niya, mas malawak na iyon kaya siguro nakakuha pa rin siya ng imbitasyon mula rito. Some say that it's a privilege to have him, but for me? Not really.

"I don't care, you may leave." I gestured to where the exit was.

"Why would I? I'm not the one who leaves without saying anything," he said, having a double meaning. I rolled my eyes, how pathetic. Pa-victim, ah.

"Whose fault? Not me." I saw how he loosened up a bit, I laughed sarcastically.

"If only you were—"

"—Stop it, I don't wanna hear it. 4 years have passed, and we should have moved on. Ang tagal na rin, we already have different responsibilities in life. And we should be focusing on what we have and what we have become now. That's the best we can do."

He talked so fine. So am I.

He didn't seem to have done anything to me four years ago. But those years have allowed me to become the best version of myself.

I don't want to go through that trauma and betrayal again. But through it all, I've grown wiser and stronger.

However, it continues to haunt me day by day. But now I know what to do and how to deal with such situations. I don't want to live and go back there again, in his arms?

Never again and never will be.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:>