Deanara Samaniego’s POV
“Have you seen the news?” Lyuna asked as soon as she entered my room.
She was holding a bucket of popcorn and a cup of milk tea at her other hand. Lyuna sat on the couch while I still laid in my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, trying to figure out what to do in my life.
“If that’s about Mattel, please…” I shut my eyes and sighed.
I have not yet slept peacefully since Mattel told the world my name, my whole existence, and how he loves me. Honestly, if this was before when I was so in love with him, I’d probably be the happiest girl on earth. But, this is in different circumstances where I have already moved on from him. I already stopped hoping for him to come back and he’s making it hard for me now to move on. I did move on. But, a piece of my heart betrayed me for it knows that there are moments where I still longed for him.
Why does he need to do that? It was overwhelming and there is a part of me that’s happy...but the whole part of me is dying inside. Not because I still have feelings for him, but because I know how Gray would feel. Imagine, your girlfriend was just declared to be the greatest love of a famous singer and that was announced to the whole world.
I haven’t seen Gray since yesterday and he was trying to call me, but it was me who avoided him. I am not sure if he knew about it, but words flew. People would tell him and the social media will tell him about us...about Mattel.
I even had to deactivate all my social media accounts, so people would not have time to stalk me or follow me or even bring out the past about me and Mattel. I haven’t checked the social media but I’ve received calls from my friends abroad, asking me the real deal between Mattel and I.
I am terrified to even check their messages because I might not like what the social media or the people around the world are telling me. Damn! They better make sure I am freaking beautiful in all the articles that they are posting.
“Don’t you want to check it?” Lyuna asked as sipped her milk tea. “And, also…” She paused.
“Are you mad?” I directly asked. “Of course, Mattel announcing my existence to the whole world means you already know who I am.”
“I already know that.”
“What?” I opened my eyes and looked at her.
She shrugged. “And, why would I be mad about it?”
“I lied about me.” I said and stood up. “I am sorry about not telling--”
“You just lied about your family’s background, but I know you never lied about who you are.” She smiled. “You are still my best friend.”
“Hey, I am sorry. But, if you knew…” I bowed down. “Why didn’t you tell me and how did you know about it?”
Lyuna chuckled. “It never bothered me and it doesn’t even matter. I don’t really care about it. But, I noticed it from the things you have, and the travels you do whenever we’re on vacation or just simple things. Even if you clothed yourself with the cheapest clothes, it’s still evident how you grew up with a silver spoon.”
“I didn’t mean to hide it. I just don’t want people to be my friend because I am rich or somehow blessed with a lot of things.” I sighed. “I had a lot of experience about that and I really thank you because you’re here.”
Lyuna sat beside me and hugged me.
“You know what, I just confirmed it when you bought me a car because even if you say you saved it, an average or a simple girl you are trying to be wouldn’t be able to afford it.” She explained. “That’s when I know I have to search about you.”
“Sorry!” I scratched my head. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Aww. You’re so cute!” She hugged me again. “I will always be your best friend.”
“Thank you.” I hugged her back.
“And, as your best friend, I deserved to know the truth between you and Mattel.”
“Yeah. And…” I brushed my hair in frustration. “It isn’t going well, especially that I was arranged to marry him.”
“WHAT!?” Lyuna stood up and unbelievably faced me. “What do you mean arranged? Is that really what billionaire families do to their children? Fixed their marriage to someone else? How about Gray? What will happen to him? Did you tell him-”
I held Lyuna in her arms and tried to calm her as she continued to bombard me with questions.
“Look, don’t tell him yet. I don’t know how to say it and I am really trying my best to stop my mother from doing so.” I sighed and laid my back onto the bed.
Lyuna joined me as we both stared at the ceiling.
“I can’t believe that’s how you’re feeling right now. Is that the reason why you’ve been out of your mind lately?” Lyuna held my hand. “I am here. You should have told me about it.”
“I don’t want to bother you. This is my own problem.” I replied.
“Yeah. I might not help you but at least you felt that I am here.” Lyuna sadly said as we both fell into silence.
“I might run away with Gray.”
“Are you sure about it?”
I stopped and started thinking again. Yeah. I am sure. I want to be with Gray, but I am not sure if I can bear all the consequences that will come next after running away with him. My mother is such an influential person, so it will not end there.
“What’s your plan?” Lyuna asked. “You can’t just lay here and avoid the problem. You need to solve it.”
“I am trying.” I scowled. “It’s really hard.”
“It is not, Deanara.” Lyuna seriously told me. She stood up and faced me as I was still lying in bed.
“You just have to choose.” She added. “You need to choose and it’s easy. The only reason why it’s hard for you to choose now is the fact that you are torn between Gray and Mattel, right?”
“I love Gray.” I swore. I do love Gray and he’s really who I want to be with and I don’t know what will happen if we broke up.
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
“You don’t want to hurt him, means there is a possibility that you are going to choose Mattel. You are not sure yet.”
The reality hit me. Lyuna shoved it in my face, a fact that I have been trying to avoid. I don’t know. I am mixed up. Why is this happening? Ugh! Why now? I am already happy with Gray.
“I don’t want to hurt both of them.” I told Lyuna the truth. “I really don’t know what to do.”
“Choose.” Lyuna urged me. “Choose the man you want to be with forever and choose him because you know and feel that he is indeed the man you’ll never regret to have forever.”
“It’s Gray.” I firmly said. “It’s him.”
Lyuna smiled at me. “Then, what are you waiting for? Settle your issues with Mattel and go runaway with Gray. He has a private airline, he can take you anywhere.”
Lyuna laughed and I giggled.
She was right about it. And, so I prepared and went to see Mattel in the hotel where they were staying with his band. There’s only a week before my birthday and their concert.
I had to disguise myself into someone that would not catch the attention of the media secretly lurking around for scoop. Although, our hotel is really best when it comes to security.
The staff told me they were in the hall practicing for their concert, so I went directly to it. But, unfortunately he wasn’t there with his band.
“Did they leave?” I asked one of the staff. “Where is Mattel and his band?”
“Oh. They’re in the audio room.” The staff pointed at the room at the end of the hallway.
I walked towards the hallway. The door was ajar and I was about to knock when I heard one of his bandmates speak.
“Aren’t you gonna tell Deanara about it?”
That caught my attention. I tried to hide my presence and carefully stood there waiting for Mattel to speak. What is this all about? What is he telling me?
“She doesn’t want to listen to me.” He replied.
“And, so you are going to make her hate you by forcing her into an arranged marriage?”
“I am not forcing her. I love her.” Mattel’s voice broke and I somehow felt it, too.
I gulped the lump on my throat as my heart was beating so fast. Why do I feel like I will not like the words I will hear next. What is this feeling? I am getting goosebumps and my palms are starting to sweat.
“Her mother is forcing her to marry you.” Another voice I couldn’t recognize spoke.
“I don’t want her to marry me because she pitied me. I want her to agree because she loves me.” Mattel replied.
What? I blinked. Pity? What’s with him?
“I know she moved on. I could see that. Although, there’s part of her that loves me, I feel that she does love her boyfriend now and I don’t want to keep her from his boyfriend. All I want is to be with her until my very last breath.”
I cupped my mouth. Damn! Am I hearing this? What is this? Am I right to assume that something bad is going to happen to him?
“You know, I should have quit the band a year ago to be with her. I should have done that, and maybe we’re together and I would die happily.”
I bit my lower lip and tried to calm myself. I slowly moved backward as tears fell in my eyes. He was sick.
“I was supposed to come back to her, but I didn't. I decided to just leave her because I don’t want to burden her with my illness. Now, I have realized how naive and dumb I am. I should have gone to her...I regret not spending my days with her and choosing to continue my career instead of being with her. It’s too late now.” Mattel broke into tears.
I couldn’t see his face, yet I knew he was crying and I hate to see him cry. I hate that I know now the reason, that I already have a hint as to why he left me. And, I hate myself for hating him all these years when he has a valid reason. However, no matter how valid it is, he still didn’t tell me. He should have. Ugh! Why is this happening to us?
“What if she didn’t say yes to the marriage? What if she refuses your proposal? You know she will if she does love her boyfriend.” One of them spoke again.
“Then, that’s the consequence I have to bear for the rest of my life for leaving her.” Mattel said.
And, I wished I never learned the truth.