“VENGEFUL MARIUS”

"I don't know how I will react to what I found out. Will I be happy or annoyed? What do you think? Or maybe I should be angry?" These were the consecutive questions Marius asked his friend Patrick that evening. He felt upset, and until now, he couldn't move on from the birthday invitation. Even though it's been two days since he received it.

He looked at Patrick with a confused expression. "Why don't you choose to be happy?" was Patrick's simple response question to him as he reached for the cup of coffee in front of him and finished it.

They were finalizing a new project. Ideally, his full attention should be on it. But because what happened the past day wasn't simple, he couldn't get it out of his mind.

"I tried. But it's difficult. I'm really upset with her. The truth is, I'm angry with her," he confessed.

Aside from Lana, Patrick is the longtime close friend Marius considers. Lena, who ruined everything, is no longer on his list. However, after what happened between them, he didn't contact her anymore. But that didn't stop the girl from trying to get his attention.

Many times, several months have passed since their incident, and Lena has made her presence felt by him. It wasn't just once that she reached out to him. And he understood that. She also called him several times, which led him to block her number.

Marius had already mentioned this to Lena. He gave her the number he uses for his bed partners. Because of that, she was no longer allowed to call his personal cellphone number. Thinking about it made Marius grin.

"Oh, why are you grinning?" Patrick asked him, not realizing that he was being observed.

"I was just thinking, what if Sam found out how much of a player I was with women before I met her and before she left me? Would she believe that she was the only one I truly loved?" he pondered.

Patrick shrugged and continued with their work on the plans laid out on the table for the condominium project they would build next week.

"Maybe? But I can't say for sure. I didn't get close to Sam. You were the one who became closer to her, right? Because from the very beginning, you planned to use her as revenge against her sister!" he emphasized the last statement.

"You're such an asshole, bro!" he said, following it with a weak laugh.

Patrick chuckled at that. "Oh, why, isn't it true? You know, karma also happened to you with everything that occurred. Just accept it. And you know what, try to win her back again. Maybe you forget, but she's the one who had the most difficult time of all. She raised your child alone. Did you see how Lana struggled back then? What about Sam? Was her pregnancy delicate? Or how was she when she gave birth? Was her delivery normal? Did she get enough sleep?"

"All that Patrick said was true and correct, so Marius simply listened.

"So, does that mean even though she took our child away from me, I have no right to be angry with her or even feel a bit resentful because I was the one who hurt her first, is that it?" Marius asked in a tone tinged with a hint of pride.

"In the way you're speaking, it sounds like you're the one being arrogant," Patrick replied.

"It's not like that. But I really feel bad about it. That's all there is to it. Nothing more," Marius clarified.

Patrick shrugged again. "Well, there's nothing else to do but to talk to her. Maybe Lana can help you. It's impossible that Sam didn't contact them; Lana is her sister-in-law, and Andrew is her only family in the Philippines.”

Marius sighed heavily at his friend's suggestion. "I've done that already. Lana told me to just wait for my son's birthday. I don't want to think that they're ganging up on me. You know what I mean? It's really frustrating!" he ended up cursing again out of frustration.

"They're not ganging up on you. I think that's what your child's mother wants!" Patrick emphasized his last statement once again.

"You're such a bully, aren't you? Instead of taking my side, it seems like you're leaning towards the other camp! Have you forgotten? We've been friends since college," he reminded his friend.

"I know! That's why I know you so well. I know you really love Sam. But I also find it amusing how karma keeps catching up with you because of what you've been doing!" Patrick responded again, laughing before picking up his cup and finishing his coffee.

"You're such a fool! You should be thankful that we share this company because if not, I would have fired you already!" he said, laughing later on.

Patrick's loud laughter filled the room. "You're crazy! Look at your temper," he continued laughing. "Do you think getting angry will help with your problem? Oh, thank Sam for sending you the invitation. It means she really wants to introduce you to the child. But what was that other thing that annoyed you?"

During those moments, Marius felt extreme irritation. Not only because of Patrick's blatant bullying but also because of the invitation without a picture of his child.

Patrick laughed loudly again. Honestly, if he were someone else, Marius might have punched him by now. He was just too good at teasing. Despite opening up about his problems, all Patrick did was correct and tease him.

"Wow, I wonder if you get this annoying over other things too?" he said once he caught his breath from laughing so hard.

"Of course not! Are you kidding me? Don't you get it? She deliberately sent an invitation without a picture just for me? Because she doesn't want me to see what my child looks like? Any father would be annoyed by what that woman is doing!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his emotions.

Patrick spoke again with a smile. "Poor you," he said, shaking his head.

"Poor me?!" Marius retorted with frustration in his voice.

"You're pitiful because you have no defense against that 'woman.' Honestly, I'm glad you found your match, Marius. Imagine, how many women did you make cry before Sam came into your life? And when you broke up, there you were, back to your old ways, right? You didn't even spare your childhood friend!" Patrick said, shaking his head.

"That was what Lena deserved. She ruined my life. Look at her now, she got a taste of her own medicine, but did I love her? Not really, did I?" he replied, followed by a bitter chuckle.

"So you're saying you feel no remorse at all for what happened? None at all?" Patrick's tone showed disbelief at Marius's admission.

"Why should I regret it? I talked to her about it. She agreed, so I have nothing to feel guilty about. If anything, it wasn't enough. That's why I'm still angry at her because she ruined my life. And I'll never accept her again as a friend," Marius stated firmly.