CHAPTER 22: High School Reunion

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

Today is the day of our reunion. I should be excited and amused at the same time, but I wasn’t. For I’ve read a news. A news that ruined everything, including my plan to get Claire. She’s married now, and I don’t know how did that happened. I mean, does fate brought me here just to find out about that? How cruel... It was like what Erevell told me exactly eight years ago.

“Someone woke up in the wrong side of the bed,” Dad greeted me with a confused expression plastered upon his face.

“Dad... Do you know Mr. Herrera?” I asked, out of nowhere.

“Uhm... Personally, nope. But I often heard his name. He’s very familiar and popular in business industry, son. Why do you ask?”

“I mean... His son. Darren, Darren Herrera.” I’m not sure if that’s the name of Claire’s husband.

“Oh. I thought you’re talking about the father, and not the son. Well, the name of that guy was pretty much popular on girls. He is one of the most respectful bachelors here in the Philippines. But I heard that he was already married to someone.”

That conversation just confirmed what I’ve always wanted to know. Why? Just why do I need to compete with that kind of a man? I mean, does Claire really love him? Why all of the sudden, my plan was already ruined by pieces?

I can’t help but to think about that thought until the night of our reunion. It wasn’t that much but, it was definitely the most awaited night for me and for my fellow batch mates as well for this event would gave us a chance to meet with our old friends and acquaintances.

Besides Claire, I’m also hoping to see Kate, wondering if the two of them already reconciled after of what happened to us way back in high school. I hope they are fine now, for my conscience is often reminding me of what I did before to their poor friendship.

As I arrived at the venue, I instantly saw Claire, sitting by the table with the man I often seen in the magazine. Her husband, I guess. And that Elijah guy... The guy whom often stays with Kate before. I the two of them is sitting in one table, then they must have been already reconciled with each other. I’m glad to know about that. Though I wanted to remove her husband from the picture.

“Mr. Elizar? You’re already here! Come, let us introduce you as your batch mates’ class valedictorian,” our old principal stated.

I smiled at him, before greeting him with all of my heart. He assisted me to go near our stage for the program was about to begin. I wonder what Claire’s reaction is going to be when she saw me. Until the moment that I’ve been waiting for finally happened.

“Please welcome, our guest of honor and speaker tonight, our class valedictorian, Gabriel Elizar! A round of applause, please,” the emcee announced.

The crowd gone wild after hearing my name. Claire looked shocked, as I fixed my eyes on her direction. The man beside her... Or should I say her husband, Darren. He look mad, but I tried to fight his arrogance by flashing a sweet smile on my face to his wife’s direction. But Claire completely ignored me.

Until I finally started my speech, not bothering to look at their direction again for I was beginning to get hurt by the fact that the girl that I like ever since high school is now married, and I can’t do anything about it either way.

After a few minutes, the staffs and faculty members of the school finally let me go and enjoy the night myself. I saw Claire taking a strawberry punch from the buffet. She took a sip into it before raising her gaze to the crowd to look for some of our classmates, I guess. Her face is still the same after eight years. She doesn’t even look old nor her face changed even just a little bit. She’s still beautiful, and I’m still amused by her presence.

I was about to make my first move and talk to her when her bestfriend, Kate, came over towards her direction with a bored expression plastered upon her face. By her looks and how Claire looked at her with a surprised expression on her face, I instantly knew that maybe I was wrong. Maybe the two of them haven’t reconciled yet, after all these years.

“Kate...” Claire started, and I was amused to hear her angelic voice once more.

“So, have you already talked to Gab?” Kate suddenly asked, making me looked surprised while she’s raising one of her brows to her old friend.

“What do you mean?” Claire asked, confused.

“Oh come on, Claire. I know you. As if you weren’t planning to see him tonight.”

“I’m really not looking forward for that, Kate.”

“Really? Of course you would deny it, because you are with your husband, right?”

“I don’t have time for this. I need to go.”

Claire tried to passed her by but she couldn’t, because Kate already grabbed her arm, not allowing her to escape from these nonsense rants.

“I’m still talking to you, bitch,” Kate madly stated, making me want to come over there and help Claire. But I know this isn’t the right time yet.

“Please get your hands off of me. It’s too tight,” Claire almost pleaded as she winced in pain. “Stop it!” she shouted.

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do, Claire!” Kate shouted back on her face.

That’s it. I wouldn’t allow Kate to hurt the girl that I love... The girl I’ve been loving from afar ever since high school. I decided to step out and cut their conversation off.

“What’s going on here?” I asked.

They both averted their eyes towards my direction, both looking shocked and surprised. Maybe stunned by my presence.

“Gab...” Kate finally let go of Claire’s arm.

“Hi, Kate,” I greeted her.

“I can’t believe it. After all these years, you still have a guts to talk to me like that,” Kate said unbelievably.

“Come on. That was a long time ago. Don’t you think that maybe it’s time for all of us to move on?”

“I’ll never forget what you two have done to me.”

“Claire didn’t do anything. So please don’t blame her. It was all my fault.”

Kate shook her head before looking at Claire from my head to toe. Now I’m really sure that she still hold grudges to Claire and I.

“You are unbelievable.”

She walked out of our sight, leaving us both shocked and dumbfounded. I sighed, maybe thinking the same thing as what Claire currently have in mind now. How can we start a normal conversation after all that drama that happened earlier?

“Hey, Claire...” I started, trailing off.

“Gab.”

“It’s nice to see you.”

“Me too, but I need to go.”

She tried to excuse herself, but of course I didn’t let her. I still wanted to talk to her even though I don’t know what to say.

“Too soon? Don’t you want to catch up with me first?” I asked.

“I’m sorry, Gab. I need to see my–”

“Your husband,” I finished her sentence.

“How did you know?” she curiously asked.

“Of course I knew it. Darren Herrera is one of the most successful businessman on our country. Everyone is waiting for his next move. Don’t you think it is too insane for people like me to not know your civil status?”

“Claire!” a voice shouted from behind.

I turned my gaze on the angry man and there, I saw Claire’s husband glaring at us. Behind him is Kate, smirking towards our direction. Looks like she told Darren false accusations about his wife.

“D-Darren...” Claire murmured nervously.

“Why are you talking to this man?!” her husband asked, looking furious as ever.

“Wow, such a possessive husband,” I stated.

“We’re just...” Claire trailed off, so I decided to help her.

“Dude, we were just catching up before you came.”

“Don’t give me an endearment. We are not close and we will never be. And you...” Darren look at his wife’s direction. “We’re going home, wife.”

“But we’ve just arrived!” she complained.

He didn’t mind those words as he started pulling her arms away from me. I just watched them from afar, shaking my head as I witnessed the way how her husband treated her. I should be in his place. I mean, I know I can treat her better than that guy. The only problem was, she doesn’t like me, and they are married now. I couldn’t even do anything about it.

I secretly followed them, overhearing their conversation as they bumped into that Elijah guy before they reached the exit of the venue. The event was just starting, but it looks like I’ve just ruined everything again. I blew up my chances for how many times now.

“Wait! Bro! Where are you going? The party was just starting,” Elijah stopped them midway from the exit hall.

“Get out of the way if you don’t wanna be dragged onto this, Elij,” Darren seriously stated before he continued pulling Claire away from the place.

They leave from the party, and that Elijah guy is still looking very stunned. He then averted his eyes towards Kate, maybe finally realizing who have caused that scenario.

“What?” she asked him nonchalantly.

I hid behind them, not wanting to get noticed for I wanted to hear what they are going to talk about.

“You did that, am I right?” Elijah asked her.

“No, I didn’t. I just told Darren the truth, Elijah. That’s what I did.”

Elijah shook his head before sending death raging glares towards her direction.

“You’re not the same person I once knew before. You changed, Kate. You changed a lot. And what I mean by that is you changed for bad. You became worst than before.”

After he said those words, he walked away, leaving Kate dumbfounded. She looked hurt, and I saw how she secretly wiped her tears away. I wanted to comfort her, but I don’t want to cause another conflict to our story. I couldn’t also blame Elijah for telling those words to her, for I knew that he’s right. Kate became worst, and I couldn’t see a valid reason why.

That night ended with my mind full of chaos, debating whether or not to believe in the fact that the girl that I like has already have a husband. But I swear, from that moment on, I’m going to find out the real truth. Maybe one way, or another.