Deanara Samaniego’s POV
“Where are we going?” Lyuna kept on asking while I was guiding her as we walked. “Oh my gosh! What is this surprise?” She curiously asked and I felt the excitement in her voice.
I could feel the nervousness and at the same time happiness in her voice as she doesn’t know what she will be seeing. I giggled at the thought.
Lyuna has been with me since then and I felt guilty for lying to her all these times. Yes, it doesn’t matter to him, but still...I am so grateful for her existence that she deserves to be given things she wanted. And, before I leave, at least I made her happy as she made me so much happy during my years with her.
“Don’t worry, you’ll like this better than The Script concert.” I told her with a smile on my face. I have already given her the concert ticket for The Script.
It made her cry. Well, I would definitely cry if I saw my favorite band perform for me. Yes. It was indeed a concert dedicated to her. It took a lot of effort for me to arrange it and with the help of my friends from Spain, I was able to schedule it. What made it more meaningful is that Dio will propose to her on the day of the concert. How sad that I won’t be able to witness it, but I’ll bet the world will know about it.
“Oh. What is this? You are spoiling me!” I felt her voice break a little. I tried my best to be calm and not be drawn to tears because I don’t want to be sad in front of her. I want to show her that I am happy. That there’s nothing wrong with me even though I am breaking inside.
“Yes, of course.” I faked a chuckle before removing the handkerchief in her eyes. I almost cried upon remembering all the memories we have shared. As much as possible, I don’t want to cry. I am tired of crying, but I just couldn’t help it. I want to tell Lyuna everything, but I decided to just keep it for now.
“Welcome to Lyuna’s Boutique!”
The staff all clapped and expressed their happiness as soon as I said that.
Lyuna’s jaw dropped upon the shop that I have created for her. She looked at me and blinked.
“What do you mean by this?” She widened her eyes. “These are all…” She turned around to observe the whole place and realized that all the designs that she had created are now displayed inside the shop. I actually get her designs without her knowledge and ask the help of one of my designer friends to do it. Mikee also helped me with all the business-related stuff.
This will be part of our company for now as Lyuna studied about business and how to manage it. Mikee will help me run this until she can do it alone.
“You owned this shop.” I happily told her. “This is my gift for you and you don’t have any right to say no because everything was already arranged. Also, I will build a company for you.” I pointed at her staff. “They are all my trusted persons who will help you run the company.”
She cried happily as she hugged me. “I hate you.”
I caressed her back. “You deserve this, so do me a favor. Make this company the biggest company when I come back.”
“Why do I feel like you are not coming back?” She sniffed and continued crying.
Honestly, I don’t know if I will come back. I no longer have any reason to go back.
“Hey, don’t cry!” I wiped her tears. “I’ll be in Spain, but it doesn’t mean that we are not going to talk, okay?” I assured her. “I am always one call away. And, if you need something or about your business, you can call my brother, Mikee.” I said and introduced her to Mikee who was standing at the counter.
“Hi.” He greeted Lyuna. “Don’t worry, you’ll be in good hands.”
I hugged Lyuna once again. “Now, I believe you need to run your company. So, go on.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at me. “For being my best friend.”
“It’s my pleasure. By the way, I will leave you to Mikee. I need to run some errands for our company. He will guide you.”
I turned to Mikee and he smiled at me.
“Yes, if you want, you can look around the shop first.”
Lyuna widened her eyes as she turned around and giggled. I could see and feel the happiness in her. Well, I am her fairy godmother.
“Thank you. I love you.” She smiled at me as she walked around looking at her designs.
“I’ll go ahead.” I told her.
I was already outside the shop when Mikee stopped me.
“You did not tell her?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to ruin her day.”
Mikee sighed. “Do you want me to punch Gray?”
I smiled a bit. “I’ll do it myself.”
Mikee tapped my back and hugged me. “I am here if you need me.”
“I know that.” I whispered. “I’ll go ahead.”
“Gray is waiting outside the building. My staff told me.” Mikee said as he looked at me with concern in his eyes. “Do you want me to accompany you outside?”
I shook my head. “I will handle this.”
He nodded and let me go. My footsteps were heavy as I went out of the building knowing that Gray was waiting for me. Of course, I cannot forever hide from him. I am mad at him, but he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t need to know that. I just need to vanish in his life forever and not see him anymore. I no longer want to hear his explanation or any lies because I might believe it and I don’t want to believe in him anymore. I am tired. I just want to leave this place.
“Hey!” Gray smiled at me. How can he smile like that?
I tried my best to smile as I approached him.
“How did you find me?”
“I asked Mikee. Are you still mad at me?” He pouted. He’s using his charm to hide his sin. Ugh! I hate him. Why is he like that?
“Why would I be mad at you?” I asked hoping that he would tell me the truth, yet he didn’t.
I should applaud myself for being a good actor.
“I’m sorry about Mattel.”
“That was really inappropriate for you to punch Mattel,” I glared at him. “He’s not doing anything. He doesn’t deserve that.”
Gray deserves to be punched by Mattel. Luckily, Mattel didn’t do anything. He let Gray punch him which made me realize how different they are. Mattel still knows how to respect anyone even though they don’t deserve Gray. How could he do this to me?
“He’s an asshole for leaving you and hurting you.” He concluded.
“Are you not an asshole?” I couldn’t help but ask him. How dare he say that Mattel is an asshole when clearly it was him that’s an asshole.
I cannot believe this. The nerve of him to show his face in front of me like nothing had happened between him and Vivian. Vivian must be making fun of me now considering that they thought I still don’t have any idea about what they are doing.
Honestly, I want to confront Gray. I want to throw all my evidence and to punch him in the face. But, all I could do was stare at him and watch his every move. I still want to give him the benefit of doubt. I want him to tell me the truth. I deserve to know the truth from him because we promised each other that we are not going to lie. He’s lying and I hate how good an actor he is.
“Of course not.” He held my hand and kissed it before handing me a bouquet of roses. “I’m sorry, babe. Mattel and I already reconciled and it’s really my fault.”
Why do I feel like he was sorry for something else and not just because of Mattel? Who wouldn’t overthink after hearing those words?
“Are you busy now?” He asked.
“Why?”
“I know you hate plans or surprises on your birthday, but will you do me a favor?” He titled his head and smiled at me shyly. “Can you spend the eve of your birthday with me? Tomorrow is your birthday. Would you give me the pleasure of spending it with me?”
My heart still skipped a beat. I love Gray. I really do, but I could no longer bear the lies. It needs to stop. I need to find myself first and he needs to be sure of himself, too. This will not work as long as Vivian is around. It seems like he doesn’t want Vivian away from his life, so I’ll be the one to leave.
“Sure. Where are we going, Engr. Elizalde?”
He raised his brow. “Why are we so formal now?”
I chuckled and hoped he wouldn’t feel the anger and sadness in my voice.
“Well, I just like calling you Engineer. You are my engineer.”
He smiled at me and clung his arms around my shoulder as we walked. “You are my architect.”
“Now, where are we going?”
He grinned as he held my hand going to the parking lot. It was really awkward for me to sit beside him. I am really trying my best not to talk, so I pretended to be asleep the whole time as he held my hand and played the songs I recorded for him. I heard him tell me I love you while I was pretending I was asleep. He even sang the song for me and I tried my best not to cry when my heart was already breaking.
I am already tired of all these lies. Even in my dream, I could see and feel the pain. Ugh!
It was already sunset when I woke up. Gray was staring at me as I opened my eyes and he gently caressed my face as he kissed my forehead.
“Let’s go.”
I looked outside the place and realized we are in an airport. Oh, no, it’s not an airport.
“Wait, is this the aviation school that you owned?” I widened my eyes as I observed the whole place. I have heard of this aviation company before and I never thought Gray was the one who owns it.
He’s not the face of this airline and I don’t hear his name relating to this company, so it was really a shock for me.
“You owned this and you …” I smiled a bit. What I like about him is that he doesn't brag about all the things about him. He still stays humble even after achieving a lot.
“I am showing this to you because starting from now on, I’ll manage this company.”
“What do you mean by that?” I raised my brow. “You’re no longer going to work in your family’s company?”
He shook his head as he held my hand and kissed the back of its palm.
“Yeah.” He smiled at me. “I no longer want Vivian to ruin us. And, you’ve been very patient with me. I believe it's very unfair for me that I want you to stay away from Mattel, but I am not doing it.”
My jaw dropped and I was speechless. Damn! I cursed in my mind. Why now? Why does he have to do it now when I already made my decision and his mere act of leaving the company will never be enough to make me believe something didn’t happen to them. The damage has been done.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Uh…” I shook my head. “I was just speechless…” My voice broke a little. “And, touch?”
I fake a laugh hoping he wouldn’t realize it. He hugged me and kissed my forehead.
“I love you.” He whispered.
I bit my lower lip and tried my best not to cry even though I am already dying inside. How could he tell me he loves me when he’s doing something behind my back. Ugh! This is killing me.
“I...love you.” I told him. It was real and I think it would be the last time I will tell him how much I love him. After this, I am going to disappear in his life forever.
“Where are we going?” I changed the topic. “And, what’s your surprise?”
He smiled as he pointed me to the helicopter. A pilot approached us and talked to Gray for a moment before he guided us inside.
“You are going to fly.”
He nodded. “Why? You don’t like it.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” He glanced at me for a moment before he turned in front and started to press some buttons.
I looked the other way so he wouldn’t notice the sadness in my face.
“Thank you for making me happy.” I sincerely told him.
For a short period of time, he made me feel loved. It wasn’t a perfect love, but it was something I would cherish forever. Gray will always be the one that made my love colorful. I am always grateful for his existence in my life. But for now, I am choosing my peace of mind. I am choosing my happiness. I deserve to leave from the things that’s not keeping me sane at night.
“Thank you for existing in my life,” he replied. “And, I will forever be grateful to have you. Don’t leave, okay?”
I closed my fist and gulped the lump on my throat as I watched the clouds surrounding us. The sunsets were of different hues. It was an amazing sight to say only that it will be the last time I will be seeing it with Gray. I have never been fond of sunset as I am a sunrise person yet with Gray, he made me realize the magic of sunset. It was fulfilling to see it one last time with him.
There was silence between us. It wasn’t awkward. It was a silence that didn't crept me out, making me realize that Gray is indeed my rest from chaos. Although, it’s ironic how my rest will also be the reason why I am tired right now.
“Wait up! We’re out of the country?” I blinked as I observed the place after almost an hour of being up. “Where are we going?”
“Someone told me you love historical things and even structure. And, Cambodia is the closest place where I can bring you tonight.”
My heart was overwhelmed and for a moment it had forgotten the pain that Gray brought me. I was smiling all the way until we reached the airport. Let me be happy with Gray for today. Let me think that there’s no problem at all. I want to be happy with him as this will be the last.
“Are you ready?” He smiled at me as he held my hand.
I stared at him and nodded
For one last time, let me make him feel how much I love him even though it hurts.