Chapter 5

"So, you're in good terms with Baste again?" I asked Thrante as she told me she's living with Baste again.

I have no work today so I decided to meet Thrante. It's her day off too so I decided to visit her here in the penthouse.

"He offered me a 30 days of marriage. I just thought his offer sounds good and he promised to rewrite his statement once this agreement ends."

"Then what? What if you will your mind?"

She bit her lower lip. I can see how hard this was for her. But she looks like she's just go-with-the-flow set up and she has no back up plans.

"Look," I folded my arms. "if this agreement works, I hope you guys will get back together."

"What for? We will be annulled after this."

"So, it's fine with you that Baste will love someone else?" I asked, incredulous.

"If he wants to, who am I to restrain him?"

"You sound so confident. Did you find a better man already?" I accused.

"Me?" She chuckled with distinct mockery. "I am busy with my work. Besides, if my marriage with Baste didn't work, how much more with the others?"

"You got a point," I brushed off the topic.

I went home straight after chitchatting with Thrante. I saw Mommy busy painting.

"I'm home," I announced. I went to Mommy and kissed her cheeks. "Where is Dad?"

"Work, Etincelle. Do you need something?"

"None, Mommy. I was with Thrante."

"How is she?"

"She's doing good."

I got myself a seat and sat next to my mother. I clung my arms around her waist and rested my chin on her shoulder.

"Mommy," I called.

"Yes, baby?"

"I love you, Mommy." I smiled at her.

"Hmm," she suspiciously squinted her eyes at me. "Did something come up?"

"None, Mommy. I just thought I haven't made you proud of me."

"What?"

She brought down her paint brush and held my arms. She made me face her. I frowned.

"What made you think you haven't made me proud of you?" She asked.

"Look at Thrante, Mommy. She has two master's degrees and now working under the Arcas. While me? I still don't have a work."

This was why I was so proud of my cousin. She strived hard to get her wants. She pursued and fought for her dreams. I wanted all the people to know how precious Thrante was.

Mama just smiled at me, tucking the lose strands of my hair.

"Whatever happens and whoever you are, you are always and forever my baby."

Tears welled up in my eyes. Until now she's treating me like a baby. minit ang sulok ng mata ko. She sheltered and nurtured me which help me boost my confidence.  While Thrante, my cousin, built herself on her own self, her title and her life.

"Mommy," I frowned.

"It's okay, baby. You're still young."

"I'm just one year younger than Thrante but look at her... she has her own title already. She's one of the most prestigious engineers today."

"Baby, life is not a race. Your path is different from Thrante's. You should not compare yourself to others."

Still, it didn't make me feel better. People thought I was better than Thrante but the truth was she's far better than me. My name is powerful and influencial but Thrante's beyond that. She made her own title.

"I still don't have work," I folded my arms.

"I thought you're working with Joshua? Isn't it you've been offered by a different company?"

"Yeah but I don't like any of them. I'm starting to think I took the wrong field."

"What do you really want to pursue?"

I fell silent. I don't know either. All I wanted was fun and adventure.

"Why don't you travel again so you can find the real thing?"

"What real thing?"

"Something that you haven't figured out that you actually like to work on."

I mulled over her statement. I remembered after my travel I got a lot of inspiration. I used my learnings to become a better architect and I tried different things I never thought were part of me; things that I started to like after my travel.

That night, I went to a club alone. I didn't tell anyone. I wanted to be alone. I was not the usual life of the party. Clubs suddenly felt like a lonely place.

"I'll have tequila please," I told the bartender.

When the bartender left, my phone vibrated. checked who was calling. It was Joshua Lopenac.

"Hey!" I welcomed joyfully.

"Where are you? Your background is too loud." 

"Just having fun somewhere!" I shouted so he can hear me.

"Alone?"

"Uh-huh."

"You're gonna drink? Who will take you home?""

"I can drive. I'm not gonna get too drunk tonight."

"You should have called me, Etincelle." His tone was disappointed.

"It's okay,"

"Here, Ma'am," the bartender said politely and placed my shot glass on the counter.

"Thank you," I replied.

"You call me when you wanna go home, okay?"

"Sure. What made you call, by the way?"

"It's about work, Etincelle. I shall call you tomorrow when you're free."

"Thanks, Josh."

I placed my phone on the counter. Joshua ended the call. I swilled my shot and quickly sipped the citrus fruit. I scorned as bitterness and sour taste touched my tongue. I felt like my throat was in a lake of fire—it was burning.

"One more please," I told the bartender. He nodded and got me another shot glass.

I was alone 'till I felt someone's presence beside me. He smelled like a fabric conditioner. I peered at his side. I wasn't wrong with my guess.

Jonas Martin is here.

"Hi," I greeted him.

"Hi," he forced a smile. "Alone?"

"Kind of,"

The bartender presented me my order so I turned away from Jonas. I haven't seen him for couple of weeks now.

"Are you here for fun?" He asked me.

"Sort of," I quaffed the tequila and sipped my citrus fruit. "How about you?" I peered at his side.

"Sort of," he replied coldly.

I brushed off the topic, tearing off my gaze from him. My body was heating up. Two shots made me dizzy already.