Chapter 49

It’s been a couple of months since the Academy Awards and Ellie has not heard from Ryo. For each day she has received no message or phone call from him, the heavier her heart felt. But then, didn’t she give him a choice? His non-response must be him telling her his choice. She’s fine either way but she hoped to at least spend one more day with him. One more day to look at him, talk to him, and engrave his presence in her memory. Because that day is all she’d have.

It’s hard to believe that Ryo was her “the one that got away” because for the life of her, she wanted him to be the one. That one person whom she’d share her morning coffees with. But then, her pride and fear pushed him out of her life. She’s been through many breakups, but none felt as painful as Ryo’s. She loved him dearly, and she loves him still. It’s hard losing somebody when you do not see it coming. They did not have any fights. Only that one argument that broke it all.

Ellie looked at herself in front of her mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Her moroseness buried the sunny personality she’d known for. She could scare a child by standing in front of it. “Bounce back, Ellie!” she told her reflection. “You can do this. One day at a time.” A day at a time. One happy thought per day.

It’s Sunday and her family demanded she be home. She had missed several Sunday lunches because she’s too lazy to lift her butt off the bed. Her parents were having none of it anymore and gave her an ultimatum to go to the old house for their family lunch.

Since she and Ryo had been on the rocks, she avoided going home. Her family were so into him, all they asked about was Ryo. What his projects were, any scoop about him, et cetera, et cetera. It’s tiring and gut wrenching to talk about somebody you terribly miss. Besides, she hated answering “what happened?” questions. This was the main reason she did not let her family know about her past boyfriends. She did not want to answer questions about why the relationship did not work. Because sometimes, it’s the same question that plagued her mind.

Instead of wearing her usual garb of hoodie, leggings, and sneakers, Ellie picked up a pink sundress. It’s an off-shoulder, mid-thigh dress. She put on a light makeup and curled the ends of her hair. She wished her physical transformation would also bring her emotional transformation.

The drive to the old house took a little longer than it should. The roads were not congested but Ellie had to take a few stops to take in deep breaths. She’s been feeling jittery since this morning, and she did not know what it meant. Her heart pounded in her chest like crazy. It scared her. Ellie frowned as she turned to the road leading up to their house. Naya stood waiting at the entrance.

“What are you doing there, Naya?” she asked after rolling down her window.

“Waiting for you, what else?” her friend rolled her eyes and took on the front passenger seat.

“Why were you waiting here? Why didn’t you go inside?” She looked at her friend like she’s the dumbest person on earth. Then she noticed Naya’s fully made-up appearance. Her hair and makeup looked professionally done. “What’s with the whole getup?” she asked, circling her index finger in front of her friend’s face.

“What’s wrong with my getup? You look different yourself.”

“Well, I’ve been sulking for a couple of months now, and today, I decided to pick myself up.” Ellie jutted her chin up and gave Naya a wink.

“You mean, you’ve moved on from Ryo? You don’t love him anymore?” If not for her round eyes, Ellie would say her hitched voice was tad exaggerated. But she knew Naya rooted for her and Ryo. She’s his fan, and having her best friend as her idol’s girlfriend had its perks.

“Those are mutually exclusive, Naya. I love him. It hasn’t stopped. I don’t think it ever will. But Naya, it’s been so long, don’t you think it’s time for me to move on?” Ellie felt her eyes begin to water, so she bit her lips.

“Did you try to connect to him? I mean after the Oscars?’ Naya asked, looking concerned.

“I sent him a congratulations message in his messaging app. Seen zoned.” She gave a pained smile and shrugged her shoulders.

“Nobody’s home.” Naya blurted when she re-started her car.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nobody’s home. Why do you think I’m standing outside, you dummy?”

“Where are they?”

“That’s what I’m here for. Get out, I’m driving.”

Naya was not the best driver around, but she had no choice. She did not want to give her the address, so she transferred to the passenger seat. Ellie kept looking at Naya because she’s driving further out of the city. The pine trees were getting dense as they moved forward. But she kept her mouth shut. Her life depended on it since Naya could not talk and drive.

She had fallen asleep from the snail speed her friend had been driving. Her confusion was unmistakable when she woke up. Her eyes looked for something familiar but found nothing but pine trees.

“You’re not trying to kill me, Naomi, are you?” Ellie looked at her friend, her brows scrunched together.

“Stop watching those serial killer documentaries, Ellie. If I were to kill you, I would trouble myself and drive you to the middle of nowhere.” She rolled her eyes and urged her friend to get out.

They walked a short distance from where they parked. They reached the log cabin at the top of the hill. Ellie followed Naya in. She was acting weird today; it gave Ellie the creeps.

“OK, that’s it. What the fuck is going on, Naomi?” Ellie snapped when Naya asked her to have her hair and makeup done.

“I need your help. Today’s my client’s wedding and her maid of honor is not around. So, please, Ellie?” she said in a pleading tone, her hands clasped together in front of her.

“Then you should have said that from the start instead of acting creepy.”

Ellie sat before a vanity table and let a team of makeup artists do their magic. This isn’t the first time she became part of a wedding entourage as a stand in. But it’s her first time to be a stand in maid of honor.

She furrowed her brows when she saw the gown she’s supposed to wear. She could not believe that it was for the maid of honor. It’s a delicate lace gown with a deep neckline and a scooped back. The train of the gown is also longer than most gowns for the bridal entourage. If she did not know that she’d be standing in as the maid of honor, she’d think Naya was asking her to be the bride.

She slipped into the gown as soon as her hair and makeup were done. She could not believe her eyes when she saw her reflection in the mirror. Her makeup was light, but it highlighted her features. The dark circles under her eyes vanished. Like her makeup, her hair was also simple. It’s combed back into a low ponytail with soft curls at the ends. This is exactly how she wanted to look when she becomes a bride if she becomes a bride.

She walked out of the room and went in the direction the make-up artists gave. “Oh, a garden wedding,” she thought because when she got out of the cabin, tall pine trees on either side welcomed her. The stone path led to what looked like a chapel at the lower part of the hill. Various flowers adored the path.

The tiny hair on her body stood at its ends when she saw her father at the end of the path. Looking dapper on his tailored barong.

“What the fuck is going on?” her eyes squinted as she looked around her. This could be an elaborate prank or yet again, a reality show. Her father’s glistening eyes followed her every move until she finally stood in front of him.

“Dad, what’s going on?” Once again, Ellie looked like the wide-eyed child who looked up to her father for answers. Her crystal eyes trained on him, waiting for his response.

“It’s all up to you, darling,” he said in a soft voice, his warm hand touching his daughter’s cheek.

“What?” Instead of making things clear, her father’s answer only made her confused.

“It’s up to you, darling. Will you choose a lifetime of certainty or you’d rather live one uncertain day at a time?” He smiled at his daughter. “One step back, and you’re back in your comfort zone, assured of what each day would bring you. One step forward and take a gamble taking a path full of uncertainties. Not knowing if it would give you pain or happiness.”