Chapter 7 Claire’s version 2.0

Her POV

It's been a month already since he broke my heart, since the last time I saw him, since we broke up, since we canceled our wedding, since I felt this pain in my chest and since I started to regain myself again.

After I was discharged from the hospital I went straight to a parlor, pinagupitan ko at pinakulayan ko ang napakahaba kong buhok. He used to compliment me that he liked it and I looked more beautiful with my natural long black hair.

After having a haircut, I went to a mall to buy branded cosmetics. He loved my natural looks that was why I never got used to wearing makeups.

I also enrolled myself to a fitness gym. I have thin waist and big butts but I wanted to improve my curves pero mukhang matatagalan dahil lagi na akong laman ng mga bar at present sa inuman.

I also got myself a tattoo on the upper side of my rib cage. It's a not too small butterfly which symbolizes rebirth and change. I also got my left ear pierced at the upper part of it. I was slowly picking up every piece of myself one by one that has been scattered into pieces by knowing and loving myself more.

It wasn't easy at first, many times I found myself crying in pain, depressed and questioning myself. I kept on doubting myself , asking if I am not worthy to be loved back. I started to get a life, I started making memories of my own. I went on a trip with my friends! I went clubbing! Got drunk and got wasted!

I already lost five years of my life , five years which I thought were the happiest years of my existence but turned out to be the biggest lie! To be my greatest nightmare! For that whole five years I always considered what Mikael wanted, what Mikael liked , what he didn't like, but this time my life, my rules!

Before, I always ditched my friends when they invited me for a drink because Mikael didn't allow me to drink ngayon ako na yong nagaaya. I always went home drunk and wasted not because I wanted to forget the pain but to celebrate my freedom! to experience the things I've missed.

Ang saya sa loob ng bar! Who thought that it would be this fun! That for a moment I forgot about the pain I was carrying in my chest. Oo, nandoon pa rin ang sakit hindi naman basta basta mawawala iyon, ika nga it takes time.

It has already been a month and here I am enjoying my life to the fullest.

"Happy monthsary self! Let's give it a toast guys!" I stood up, I raised my nth bottle of beer in the air. I was with my closest friends again, we were inside A'choholic. "Cheers to a month of Claira Leigh Salvador version 2. 0!" They all stood up at pinagpingki ang mga dalang bote sa hawak kong beer.

"Cheers to Claire 2. 0." Ely happily raised her bottle of beer.

Hindi ako manhid pero nag mahidmanhiran ako, nagmanhidmanhiran ako na di ko halata ang totoong nararamdaman nila, na di ko alintana ang pag aalala nila para sa akin. They were all busy with their lives but here they are wasting their precious time for me, just to make sure that I wasn't alone, na nandyan lang sila para sa akin.

Alam kong masaya sila I was getting better everyday ngunit ramdam ko parin na naaawa at nagaalala sila sa sitwasyon ko. Siguro dahil ramdam nilang pinipilit ko lang maging masaya ngunit ang totoo tinatago ko lang ang sakit na nararamdaman ng puso ko sa mga pekeng ngiti ko. I couldn't lie to them , kilala nila ako, alam kong sinasabayan lang nila ang mga trip ko.

I straightly drank my whole bottle of beer. Inubos ko kaagad sa isang lagok lang. Marami na akong nainom pero alam kong di pa ako lasing dahil ramdam ko pa rin ang sakit sa puso ko! Tangina!

Inaya ko silang sumayaw ngunit si Ely at Kyle lang yong naaya ko. Nicco refused dahil pagod, he just came from work and of course expected ayaw din ni Cindy.

We were dancing and enjoying the music. I was screaming at the top of my lungs everytime I knew the lyrics of the song. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na nailalabas ko yong bigat na dala-dala ko sa loob ng puso. There were times na gusto kong umiyak ngunit pinipigilan ko lang ang sarili dahil kinukumbinsi ko ang sariling tapos na ako sa stage na iyon.

I wasn't minding my surrounding. Sa rami ng tao, nahiwalay na ako sa dalawa , nagpatuloy ako sa pagsayaw, inienjoy ko lang ang sarili para bang walang paki sa mundo.

Hindi ko alam kong pano basta nakita ko na lamang ang sariling sinasayawan ang lalaking nasa likuran ko. He was holding my waist but I didn't bother. I turned to face him, nakaramdam na ako ng hilo kaya napapikit ako but when I opened my eyes I saw a very familiar face, he was intently staring at me so I smiled at him, hmm he was quiet handsome.

Napapikit ako ng marahan nyang haplusin ang aking pisngi. Kay gaan ng haplos, just like how Mikael used to caress my cheeks every time he told me how much he loved me, how much he cared for me, na di nya ako i-iwan at ako lang ang mamahalin niya and after saying those words he would kiss me…

Naramdaman ko na lamang ang paglapat ng labi niya sa labi ko. I responded with his kisses, tumugon ako dahil gusto kong maramdaman ulit ang mga halik nya, ang pagmamahal nya, ang mga pangakong kailan man ay di na matutupad... Di ko napigilan ang pagkawala ng luhang pilit kong pinipigilan.

But then Ely came, hinila nya ako mula sa hawak ng lalaking hinalikan ako. I looked back at him but I couldn't find him in the crowd anymore.

His POV

Sumapit na ang tag-araw.

Here we are again in Hernandez Paradise! Justin and Jazlyn's family own the resort. It's our second time visiting the place. Kumpleto ulit ang barkada, may nadagdag lang dahil may kasamang jowa ulit si Kevin at Adrianne.

Kakarating lang namin sa resort. Matagal na noong una naming punta dito. May mga pinabago sa bahay na magsisilbing tahanan namin sa loob ng tatlong araw. Iba na ang kulay ng pintura nito, may naiba rin sa arrangement ng mga gamit at may nadagdag na ilang kagamitan.

Inukyupa nina Adrianne at jowa nitong si Mitch ang pangalan ang silid sa ibaba. Sa itaas naman magkasama ang mag bestfriend na si Gabby at Nathan at si Jazlyn sa i-isang silid. Ang isa pang silid ay sa magkasintahang Kevin at Cheska. Ang kasama ko sa isa pang silid ay si Justine at ang napaka kulit na si Miggy.

Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos ng kagamitan sa loob ng built-in cabinet ay bumaba ako upang maglibot sana ngunit pagkababa ko'y inabutan agad ako ng bote ng beer ni Justine na agad ko namang tinanggap.

Sabay kaming napalingon na dalawa sa pintuan ng kwarto nina Adrianne ng makarinig ng ungol mula dito, ang harot talaga ng gago! Kakarating lang namin, bininyagan agad yong kama, napapailing na natatawa na lamang kami ni Justine.

Maya-maya'y bumaba na rin ang iba, agad naman namin silang inabutan ng tig isang bote ng beer. Nagaya agad ang mga babaeng maligo sa dagat ngunit napasarap na ang inuman naming mga lalaki kaya tumanggi muna kami. Ilang saglit lang lumabas na rin sina Adrianne at Mitch sa loob ng kwarto. Sumama si Mitch kina Gabby habang si Adrianne mas piniling makipag inuman sa amin.

Nasa living room kami ng resort nag inuman.

"Kumusta na kayo ni Glyden?" Tanong si Adrianne.

"Wa pa ring improvement sa relasyon namin ni Glyden, hindi nya pa rin ako kinakausap ngunit patuloy ko pa rin siyang inaamo, tangina! Nakakapagod na." ngumiti ako ng mapakla sabay tungga ng dala kong beer.

"Tumikim ka na lang ng iba kung wala na talagang pag-asa look at me?" mayabang nya pang saad.

"Bumalik na ba yung chinitang nang iwan sayo?" Ngumisi ako, nawala ang ngiti nito sa labi. Iba kasi ang tama nito doon sa naka one night stand nyang kakadebut lang ngunit pagkagising nya wala na ito sa tabi nya, natapakan yata ang ego ng isang Cale Adrianne Montefalco!

"Tangina mo pare! Pinaalala mo na naman sa akin." Tinungga nito ang bitbit na beer. "Yaan mo maliit lang ang mundo magku-krus ulit ang landas naming dalawa!”

"Mga pare, iwan ko muna kayo sanadali, I invited some of my friends to come over. Nandito rin pala sila ngayon sa resort, papuntahin ko dito." Nalipat ang tingin namin kay Justine, tumayo ito at lumabas ng bahay.

Di nga nagtagal si Justine, pagbalik niya kasama na niya ang sinasabi nitong mga kaibigan.

I was seated at the long couch alone kasalukuyang tinutungga ko ang ikatlong bote ko ng beer. Pagilid kong tiningnan isa-isa ang kakapasok lamang na mga kaibigan ni Justine but my eyes pierced to this very familiar short blond hair mestiza girl. She looked gorgeous in her floral with a shade of yellow two piece bikini and a white shorts nakabukas ang botones nito. She has big boobs, a flat stomach and big butts. Fuck! I was lowkey checking her out! Damn that curves!

Isa-isang pinakilala ni Justine ang mga kaibigan sa amin. I waited for my turn patiently but my eyes were still glued to her.

"Claire, this is Jerick " Finally! When Justine introduced me to her.

"Jerick..." I extended my hand to her, tila parang ngayon lang nya ako napansin. Her forehead creased and gave me that ‘Oh we've met again look.’

"Hi!” She smiled. “Nice to see you again Damon Salvatore, I'm Elena Gilbert by the way..." I was familiar with that series ngunit konti lang yong napanood ko, parang may dahilan na akong taupsin iyon. She chuckled a bit. A seductive one. "I was just Kidding, I'm Claire..." She bit her lower lip, she pressed my hand gently, I pressed hers, while staring intently to each other, na para bang nagkakaintindihan kami agad.

She let go of my hand first and again she seductively smiled at me, tila may pinapahiwatig. I drank my bottle of beer again upang itago ang pagtaas ng gilid ng aking labi. Mamaya ka sa akin…