“ACCEPTANCE”
"I'm happy for you, Lara. That's the truth, believe it or not,” it was Ramil.
Actually, as Ramil said, she is having a hard time believing what the young man said. That’s because she still hasn't forgotten how he tried to win her before. So maybe no one can blame her if she feels this way now.
"Thank you," was all she could reply.
Ramil just smiled and then he bent down to give her a simple kiss on the cheek. And because she knew it was just a friendly gesture, Lara didn't refuse.
"Looks like someone has changed your mind," she said when she helped Ramil to look for a nice dress.
The young man looked at her and then smiled. When Ramil did that, she could say that he no longer needed to answer her question.
Because the answer to that is also obvious in the strange sparkle of his eyes.
"Well, obviously you don't have to answer that question verbally. I can see the evidence in the twinkle in your eyes," she said.
"I'm not sure about my feelings yet," Ramil said to her then he returned his gaze to the beautiful beige dress he was looking at.
"Then you're not the only one who should be happy for me. The truth is that I am happy for you too," she said. "And I think, whoever she is, that dress will suit her. So, buy it because it's the only stock we’ve got left," she added.
Ramil laughed softly at what she said. "Sales talk, huh," he said. "All right, I'll take this," the young man finally said.
Ramil didn't stay there for long after that. He kissed her cheek again before saying goodbye and leaving.
Lara's gaze just followed the departing bulk of her former suitor.
While in her mind, she was really happy because Ramil finally seems to have found the woman he will truly love, for the rest of his life.
*****
"HEY," Tessa happily greeted Ramil when he got out of the car.
Ramil's kiss immediately pressed her lips to which she responded quickly. Eventually, that kiss will last for a while.
"I have something for you," said Ramil when he released her lips.
Tessa's heart quickly filled with excitement when Ramil handed her the paper bag from a well-known boutique.
"What is the occasion by the way?" she asked with a smile.
Ramil shrugged his shoulders first, and then bent down again, and pressed her lips with a strong kiss.
"No, I just want to give you a gift because you are kind and beautiful," he told her.
Tessa's eyebrows raised after hearing that. And then she gently wrapped her arms around the young man's neck.
"Really?" she asked in a seductive tone.
Ramil nodded in succession and then moved his lips again to speak.
"Yes, and I like you, very much," he continued.
An inexplicable thrill once again caressed Tessa's heart because of that. That's why she moved to kiss Ramil's lips that time.
"What's for dinner?" Ramil asked her as they enter the house.
"Chicken Tinola," she answered then pulled Ramil's hand into the house.
"That's right, I am so starving," said the young man to her.
Tessa only let out a soft laugh when Ramil in response to what the young man told her. Then they finally went inside.
*****
CRYING, Selena threw the glass of wine she was holding. It hit the wall of her unit and shattered into pieces.
“No! No!” she shouted starting in hysterics.
Every corner of her condominium unit is full of memories, of the warm moments she and Ramil shared. Moments full of lust and savages between the two of them. And all that she will never forget.
"Why did you love her? Why is it not me?" she asked, still crying, then buried her face in her palms.
It's like she can still see that girl's face. Her beautiful smile on Ramil and the man's response was the same.
She will never accept in her heart what Ramil wants to happen. She loved the man very much and knew that she would never feel this way about anyone else.
"I will get him back!" that's what she said emphatically then quickly wiped away her tears.
*****
"I JUST love your cooking," Ramil said when he lay next to her on the big bed in his room.
Ramil had just come out of the bathroom, and she can smell the fragrant soap he used.
"Thank you," she replied, looking at the man's broad chest.
"You know what? I want to confess something to you," said Ramil when he was next to her.
Tessa looked at the young man with questions in her eyes. Then she nodded and smiled at him. Before she opened her mouth to answer what he said.
"Yeah?" that was what Tessa said.
Ramil let out a heavy sigh. Because of that, Tessa thought that whatever he wanted to confess to her seemed too serious. So, she better prepare herself for that.
"You know before I met you there was a woman I courted for a long time?" Ramil started.
Tessa raised her eyebrows because of what she heard.
"Really? I thought you never had a serious relationship?” she asked.
It seems that even if that is all that Ramil tells her, it seems that she wants to be jealous of the woman that the young man is referring to and whom he used to woo. But even before that happened, she decided to put that thing out of her mind.
"That's true. But even when I was courting her, I didn't behave as I do now, with you," the young man answered.
Tessa was stunned by what she heard.
She didn't know if she would believe Ramil in what he was saying. Because the truth is that if she follows her mind, she seems to prefer to just nod at what he said. But deep inside she has no plans to take it seriously.
While her heart seems to motivate her to believe everything his lips say. Because it all seems so true.
"What do you mean?" in the end, Tessa thought about it and chose to be in between.
She is aware of everything that happens to her. She already has feelings for Ramil. Maybe that's why she didn't take what Patrick told her earlier too seriously.
"Her name is Lara. I courted her for a long time. But despite everything, I didn't get her."
Tessa's memory immediately registered the name of the woman Patrick mentioned to her earlier.
The name of the woman according to Patrick is married and is now Joaquin's wife.
"L-Lara?" she asked in a tone that seemed to want to make sure if the name she heard from Ramil was correct.
