CHAPTER 15

I woke up with no Ryder beside me.Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakaramdam ako ng disappointment at lungkot pero isinawalang bahala ko nalang iyon.I need to prepaie for my surprise.I wanted to see him smile.

I thought ryder was on his room but i didn't saw him.I would be happy if he cooked me breakfast but I didn't expect that i saw an old lady preparing the breakfast.

"Ayy,maam scarlett!Ako po yung itinalaga ni sir Ryder na magbantay sa inyo.Pasensya na po at nabigla ko po ata kayo."She shyly smile at bahagya pang yumukod. "Ako po si Lota."

"Ayos lang."I smiled before I sat down.Hindi siya umalis at binantayan lang ako at sobrang nakakailang ang ginagawa niya. "Join me for breakfast,manang lota."

"Wag na maam!Okay na ako dito."She bowed down before leaving me alone in our kitchen.I feel comfortable with manang lota.I feel that I have another mother now.

Hindi ko na nabibisita sila mommy but I would someday.Hindi ko alam kung anong magiging reaksyon nila kapag nalaman nila na ganito ang nangyayari sa akin.I don't know if they will be mad or they just ignored it for our business.

Ryder bithday suddenly popped on my mind.I'm not sure if I can do the surprise alone so i'm thankful that manang Lota was there.I'm going to ask her to help me with the balloons.

My phone suddenly beeped and it was Zaire who texted me.He said he will wait for me on his birthday.I don't know if I will attend the party but I promised him.I don't want to break my promise.I need to prepare first for the surprise before I go to Zaire's party.

I called Manang Lota and asked her to help me.She agreed at mas mukhang excited siya kaysa sa akin.I'm excited,too pero hindi ko naman masyadong ineexpress ang nararamdaman ko.We decided to put the balloons and the banner inside of Ryder's room.

As we entered Ryder's room,I started to put the balloons on the wall  while Manang Lota was cleaning the whole room.Nang matapos ako sa lobo ay ang banner naman na ginawa ko ang sunod.Manang lota helped me to pinned the banner on the wall.

I'm sweating very badly after that.It was tiring but I know it will worth it when I saw Ryder's expression.I'm excited at the same time nervous too.There's so many 'what if' on my mind.What if he didn't like it?What if he will be mad because we messed his room?I shouldn't think negative thoughts.I should pray that it will be successful!

I heard the doorbell outside and i'm sure it was the ingredients I ordered.I'm excited to bake a cake for Ryder!I will try my best to do the best cake for him!

My first try was so sweet.And it was fail.The second try was tasteless.Hindi ko alam na mahirap pala ang gumawa ng cake but I shouldn't give up.I should try again and again.The third one was not perfect but it was delicious.

My lips formed a smile when I finished designing the cake.I put some chocolate chips and some icing around it to make it fabulous.I hope Ryder will like it because it was hard to prepare a cake in a rush time.I looked at the clock and it's seven o'clock in the evening.The party was going to start 7:30 so I need to prepare myself.

Wala paring Ryder na nagpapakita sa akin but i'm sure anumang oras ay darating na iyon.Uuwi na lang ako ng maaga para maabutan ko ang pagdating niya.I can't wait to surprise him!

Lumabas ako ng bahay and I saw Zaire patiently waiting for me.He smiled when he saw me before he open the door for me to enter his house.He was gentleman at iyon ang nagustuhan ko sa kanya.I sighed and just looked at the window when the car moved.

Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa regalo ko para kay zaire ng huminto ang sasakyan sa harap ng venue.Alam kong sikat na tao si Zaire dahil bukod sa pagiging owner niya ng CGHM ay isa rin siyang model sa kilalang magazine.He also owned a restaurant and a publishing company in canada.

Nagsimula ang pagclick ng mga camera ng lumabas kami sa loob ng sasakyan.The guard was on our side trying to stopped the media.I smiled fakely ng ako naman ang picture-an ng mga reporter.I'm sure my name will be the headline tomorrow.

The venue was beautiful and it was standout.Marami ang bumabati kay Zaire at ang iba ay kilala ko.The president son was also here but they just greeted Zaire a happy birthday and keep quiet.I'm not belong here because i'm just a simple employee while they was fame and rich people.

Some girls was glaring at me and some was whispering while looking at me.I know i'm just a nobody and I don't have a right to be with Zaire but when I didn't come i'm sure,Zaire will be mad at me.And I don't want that to happen.

May mga imbitado naman na mga employees but they entered using the backdoor.Ako lang ang empleyado na dumaan sa red carpet with Zaire.Nakita kong kumaway sa akin sabrina,kasama niya ang ibang staff ng hotel na harap harapan kung taasan ako ng kilay.They hate me because I'm closed to our boss which is Zaire.

The party started at marami na rin ang natanggap na speech ni Zaire mula sa iba't ibang tao.I'm sitting beside him while his arms was on my waist.Nakakailang dahil parang lahat ng tao ay pinapanood ang galaw ko.

"They just greeting me but they talked bad in my back."I heard Zaire whispered.I looked at him and I saw him looking at me.I smiled but he just faked his smile.

I understand him.Because in times of business talagang plastikan ang mga tao.Anghel sila sa harap mo pero demonyo kapag nasa likod mo.They was just good at you because they wanted to be on top.Mabait lang sila sa iyo kapag nasa tuktok ka pero kapag nahila ka na nila pababa,wala ka ng matatakbuhan dahil nalugi ka na.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto o oras bago natapos ang speech ng bawat isa pero hindi ako mapakali sa inuupuan ko.Para akong bulate na binudburan ng asin dahil sa takot na baka dumating na si Ryder sa bahay.

"Zaire,I want to go home."I said on him ng tanging kami na lamang ang nasa mesa.Lahat ng tao ay abala sa pagkain at pag-uusap tungkol sa iba't ibang bagay.

He looked at me before he sighed and nodded.I'm thankful that he didn't argue because it will just eat time.I wanted to go home at paghandaan ang surpresa ko para kay Ryder.When we are in the parking lot,I stopped before facing him.

"I'm sorry kung ito lang ang nakayanan kong regalo but I hope you will like it."I looked away before I handed him my gift.It was a simple silver necklace with his name embroided on it.

He unwrapped the gift before his hand touch the box of the necklace.Nakatitig lang siya roon at walang sinabi.Hindi niya ba nagustuhan?Nagulat na lang ako ng bigla niya akong yakapin.I felt his warm breath on my neck and his hands that caressing my back.

"I love it.I love you."He said.Kinalas niya ang pagkakayakap sa akin bago bumaba ang mukha niya at amabng hahalikan ako.I stopped him because I promised myself that my lips was only for Ryder.I wanted to reserve myself to him.I don't want anyone to kiss or make love to me.

"I'm sorry."I apologize before I looked on my feet. "I like you but I love Ryder very much.This is wrong.All of my feelings for you was wrong but I hope you understand it."

He held my chin causing me to face him.I saw some admiration and pain on his eyes while he was staring at me.I tried to looked down but he stopped me when he cupped my cheeks.

"I understand and I admire your faithfulness.I will always understand you because you are the girl that special to me."He said before he opened the door of his car and motioned me to enter.I smiled weakly before I akwardly entered.

He drove the car quietly.Walang nagsalita sa amin at tanging musika lang na nagmumula sa player ng sasakyan ang bumabasag sa katahimikan.Nilingon ko muli ang parking lot but I saw a familiar man standing there while looking at us.I closed my eyes and opened it pero wala na ang pamilyar na tao doon.I'm sure I was just hallucinating things.

Imposibleng si Ryder iyon.My mind filled with so many questions.Nagising lang ako sa reyalidad ng huminto ang sasakyan sa harap ng bahay namin.I thanked Zaire but he smiled before he fastly drove the car away.I sighed before I entered our house.Walang nagbago simula nung umalis ako kanina.

"Ayy maam scarlett!Ikaw pala iyan!"Manang lota suddenly went out in the kitchen. "Hindi pa po dumadating si Sir Ryder."

I nodded before I went upstairs and changed my clothes into a decent one.Maya maya ay uuwi na si Manang Lota dahil hindi naman siya stay-in.Sa Pasig pa siya nakatira at pahirapan magcommute.I said that it's fine if she stay here but she insist.May pamangkin pa daw siyang kailangan alagaan.

It was 10:36 in the evening at wala pading senyales na darating si Ryder.Even text or call.Nagpaalam na rin kanina pa si Manang Lota dahil baka wala na daw taxi na dumaan.I understand her.I wait for Ryder to came home pero alas-tres na ng madaling araw ay wala padin siya.

My eyes watered dahil nagsimila ng pumutok ang mga lobo sa kaniyang kuwarto.The heater was opened kaya marahil ay ganon.Tanging mga ingay lang ng hayop sa labas ang naririnig kong ingay.

Marahil siguro sa pagod ay nakaidlip ako.I just wake up when someone was stapping my shoulder.I thought that it was Ryder but I saw Manang Lota's face.She had an expression that tells me how pitiful I am.I wait for him but he never come.I prepare a surprise but he didn't saw that.

I hugged Manang lota tight at nagsimulang bumuhos ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan.I'm physically and emotionally tired.Masakit isipin na ang taong pinaghandaan mong dumating ay hindi nakarating.Siguro ay nagcelebrate iyon kasama ng iba.Ganon siguro niya ako kaayaw makita para hindi siya umuwi magdamag.

"Ayos ka lang ba,maam scarlett?"She asked with full of sadness on her voice.I don't want others to see how I fragile Iam.Ayaw kong may nakakakita sa akin kung gaano ako kahina pero sa panahon ngayon,gusto ko lang umiyak ng umiyak dahil sa sakit na lumulukob sa buong puso ko.I wanted to shout because of the pain.

"Iam fine."I said but my action telling otherwise.I hope she didn'tnotice it.Tumayo nalamang ako at sinimulang iligpit lahat ng dekorasyong nagamit at nasira.The balloons,The banner and the cake.I wanted to blame Ryder because he didn't come but I blame myself because I hoping that he wants to come back in my arms.

I placed the balloons,banner and the cake in a trashbag before I carry it to throw outside.That was my first cake I ever made but it seems it also the last.Ayaw ko ng gumawa dahil baka masayang lang din sa wala.

Kahit pagod ay pumasok pa din ako sa trabaho.Sabrina was quiet but she always glanced at my direction.Si Zaire naman ay ganon parin ang trato niya sa akin ngunit may akwardness parin akong nararamdaman.

I love Ryder but it's killing me.

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