“So who is she?”
A question that has stuck in my head even after a week since I met David and his so-called girlfriend at the cafe. I’m honestly getting tired of thinking why he didn’t formally introduce her that day. But as far as I remember, it was Tanya who reminded him about his schedules, so that means she is his assistant. So… Tanya is his assistant slash girlfriend.
“Are you still thinking of them?”
I turned around to see Jack walking in my direction. I was preparing dinner when she came into the kitchen.
“Hmm… sort of. I can’t help it,” I replied with a loud sigh before turning my attention back to the pan.
“She’s pretty, isn’t she?” She handed me a glass of orange juice.
“Yup, and mind you— she’s soft-spoken too.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be insecure about her! You are beautiful — you are gorgeous! You are what you are! And remember, that beauty of yours was one of the reasons David Garcia was attracted to you back then, duh!”
“Yeah, the exact words came right from you… back then.” I said making a sad face as I underlined the last two words.
“But I told you, you always have an option!”
“And what option are you talking about again?” I couldn’t help but frown upon seeing the naughty smile curl up against her lips. Why do I feel like I already knew what she was going to say next?
“Haist! Come on, Sam… I know you know what I’m talking about! You’ve done this before—”
“Argh! Okay, stop!”
I immediately interrupted her with my hand in the air before she could even continue her next words. See? I knew it!
“I won’t do it! Once is enough and I won’t make the same mistake twice! I don’t want to ruin their relationship, especially their lives, okay? So please, Jackeline, stop it!”
“Hmmp! Okay,” she just gave me a shrug. “Then let’s see how long you can take to be jealous every time you see them—”
“Hey! I’m not jealous! Why would I be jealous? Apart from the fact that he’s not my boyfriend, what right do I have to feel that way?”
She remained in silence for a moment and when I turned to her again, she started giving me a hilarious or should I say, sarcastic laugh.
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Fine, as you say so— you’re not jealous! You’re just dying inside of bitterness!”
“What the heck—”
“Hep! You don’t have to say anything, I understand you, I promise!” She winked. “I have to go, just call me when the dinner is ready,” And just like that, she walked out of my sight leaving an annoying laughter that echoed throughout the four corners of the kitchen including my eardrums.
~~~~~~`~~~~~~`~~~~~~`~~~~~~
I returned to that cafe after a week, hoping to see David there once again, but of course with a silent prayer that Tanya wasn’t with him. But to my dismay, he didn’t show up. I didn’t catch a glimpse of him, so to ease my disappointment, I decided to go to the mall and think about buying a new dress to wear at the opening of our soon-to-open coffee shop near the park.
But instead of dissipating my frustration, it seemed to only increase because of all the places, times, and days, I happened to be in place… in the same boutique and the same dressing area with none other than… Tanya.
“Ohh… wow! What a coincidence! You’re here too— Sam, right?”
I just responded with a nod and a forced smile, but deep inside my head, I screamed… -‘Oh, yeah, of all people I will have to come across in this mall, it’s you— it’s really you?’-
“Who’s with you?”
I wanted to raise an eyebrow at her question because that’s the same thing I had in mind, I just didn’t dare to ask.
“I’m with David,”
And that’s the time my eyebrow found its way up. I was just actually going to answer her question but she didn’t let me speak. At that time I wasn’t sure what she meant by telling me who was with her.
“Hmm…” Was the only thing I replied… with a nod. Not even a word.
“Actually, he’s the one who will pay for everything I bought today.” She grinned. That kind of grin that irritated me to the core and almost made me knock her off in front of me.
“Really? Well, that’s… good…” I intentionally hung the last word and focused my attention on the dress in my hand so at least I could send her the message in my head… -‘I don’t care! Whatever!’-
She was about to say something but since the lady who I was waiting for had finally come out of the fitting room, I immediately excused myself and walked into the door without even waiting for her next annoying words.
-‘Jesus Christ! What is wrong with her? Why does she have to brag that David is with her and that he’s the one going to pay for all her dresses?’- I asked myself in the mirror, annoyed as I started to undress to try on the dress I had chosen.
“She’s started to get on my nerves! Argh!” I whispered-yelled at my reflection.
It only took me almost two minutes to try on the new emerald off-the-shoulder dress and decided to take it already because I like its fit on me. Opening the door, I was silently hoping not to encounter her again when I walked out, and thank God, she was still in her cubicle.
I hurriedly walked to the counter, casually looking at the customer’s lounge area because maybe David was there, but I didn’t see him. I even looked around because maybe he was just looking at something, but there was no sign of David Garcia inside the boutique.
-‘What was that mean— was she just bluffing earlier? But what for? It’s not as if I’m going to take David from her or ruin their relationship, duh!’-
After getting my card back and the paper bag with the dress, I thanked the cashier and decided to leave the boutique. Meeting Tanya earlier gave me an invisible headache, but I don’t know when I see her again, that invisible headache will suddenly turn into real or maybe even worse.
-‘Huh! She’s just lucky you’re no longer the naive and stubborn Samantha you once were or else, she will definitely say goodbye to her dream of becoming Mrs. Garcia!’-
I bit my lower lip when I heard the naughty side of my brain scream.
~~~~~~`~~~~~~`~~~~~~`~~~~~~
“What the hell did she mean by saying those nonsense things?” Jack also felt the same annoyance I felt earlier when I told her I met Tanya at the same boutique in the mall.
“Well, that’s the same question I had in mind already!” I shrugged. “Maybe she thinks I’ll take her boyfriend away from her! Haha… I’m not out of my mind to do that!”
She suddenly went quiet to my surprise and when I turned to her, she flashed me a wicked smile that made me raise an eyebrow.
“Then why don’t you make it real?”
“Jack!”
“Why don’t you try to steal her boyfriend? In the end, it’s up to David if he lets himself be stolen, right? If he does, then that’s good! You will no longer have to make efforts to get his attention, plus, you will finally remove Tanya from your way!”
“Whoa! Jesus Christ— seriously?”
“Uhuh! You will finally experience a happy ending… the thing you never had with your ex-husband.”
“Tss!” I snorted. “Why don’t you become a writer? I think your book will become a bestseller!”
“Ohh… don’t worry, I will someday! And I promise to make you the female lead character in my first book,” she winked before bursting into laughter.
“Haha… I don’t get why you always suggest this thing! What is wrong with you?”
“Because I just want you to be happy,”
“Happy? By ruining someone else’s relationship… again?”
But instead of answering my question, she just stood up grinning , and walked over to the fridge. I waited for her response only to hear the same thing she told me earlier.
“You won’t ruin anything, unless he lets you ruin what he had,”
“Haist! You know what?”
“What?”
“I promise not to tell you anything again, especially when it’s about him!”
“Hey! That’s unfair! ai’m your best friend!” her face looked horrified.
“Whatever!”