It's been a week since then. Thes invited me to go out. She told me that I shouldn't be sulking in my room and thinking about what happened between Rozzean and me. But what can I do? Even though I was hurt so much, I still hope that things will be okay between us.
I miss Rozzean so much, really miss him. I dream of him because of how much I miss him. I still cry at night whenever I remember what happened. How his eyes looked at me with hatred. I still feel the pain of seeing them together with Klari.
The extreme happiness we had a few days at his house is now replaced, and I have no one else to blame but myself.
"Are you sure you don't need a guard?" Mommy asked me.
I'm just waiting for Thes to arrive. She'll be driving, as I can't drive alone since the accident. My parents and brothers were so worried that they took away my car keys. I can't use both of my cars, and if I want to go somewhere special, our family driver will have to drive me.
"No need, Mom. Thes will be with me. We're just going to roam around the mall," I replied.
Mom nodded and then brushed my hair aside.
"Dear... do you really love Rozzean?"
Out of nowhere, Mommy suddenly brought up Rozzean and my love for him. I was surprised that she entered the conversation about my feelings for Rozzean.
"I noticed that you were always spacing out, anak. I'm worried. I thought it has something to do with Rozzean Cyron and your engagement. Are we pressuring you to marry Luther?"
I didn't realize that all their attention was on me.
"I... don't love Luther, Mommy... he's just a friend. Luther knows who I love. He knows that I love Rozzean so much that I am willing to do everything for his forgiveness. I just paused because I saw a girl who likes him at his house, taking care of him. I thought maybe he doesn't love me anymore, and maybe his feelings for me aren't that deep. It hurts me. Until now, it hurts so much, Mommy... but I still love him deeply."
Mom held my hands tightly. She wiped away the tears that fell from my eyes.
"I know... I feel it, sweety, Mommy feels how much you're hurting."
"But your father is angry; I tried talking to him if he could help you and Rozzean patch things up, but every time I bring it up, he changes the subject."
I smiled at Mommy. Dad was so difficult to please once he had made up his mind. He told me to stop, and I agreed with him. Before I agreed, I told him that I would stop trying to find a way for Rozzean to forgive me if he could promise not to involve the company he worked so hard for. I also spoke to my siblings about work. I didn't want them to treat Rozzean badly because of me.
I am the one who made a mistake and why I am feeling the pain right now. I fooled Rozzean because of my selfishness.
"I will be okay soon, Mommy. For now, I'll follow Thes' advice. I'll go out to somehow forget the pain. I am just thankful that I have a friend like her."
Mommy kissed my forehead and then smiled. When she looked behind me, I turned to see.
"Tangi! Let's go!"
Thes was entering our house. I raised my eyebrows when I saw that her hair was pink now.
"Hello, aunt! Tangi and I will be leaving, okay? She'll undergo a beauty transformation! You know, when you're heartbroken, you shouldn't look shabby and stay at home! You need to look better so that when the ex sees you, they'll say, 'Hi, I'm the one you wasted.' Right, aunt?!"
Mommy just nodded and smiled at what Thes was saying. I touched my forehead while shaking my head.
"Thank you for making her happy, Therese. But Where are you going?" Mommy asked.
"To the mall, to my newly opened salon, Aunty."
My eyebrows shot up when I heard what she said. A salon?
"You have a salon now?"
She nodded at me, "Yes, it's only been three weeks. I opened a salon in DM Mall. Let's go there!"
It seems like Thes doesn't know where to put her money anymore. She has so many businesses! She owns a pet house, a clothing store with numerous branches. She also has restaurants named Catalina's. She has a bar in BGC, and now she has a newly opened salon.
"Okay, take care, okay? And Tangi, dear, don't forget to call me so I won't worry, and neither will your Daddy."
"Yes, Mommy."
After saying our goodbyes, Thes and I headed outside our house.
"I'm sorry, Tangi, I was late. Mommy asked me to go to their house to bring some clothes from my store. I had to choose five outfits for Caitlin's one-week stay in Paris."
Caitlin is her sister, a famous model.
"It's okay, but until when will your sister keep getting clothes from you? She needs to pay for it. Also, why do you have to pick her clothes? Doesn't Caitlin know how to choose outfits that suit her? Doesn't she have any knowledge about fashion?"
Thes started her car and we headed to the mall where her salon is located.
"I need to do that, Tangi... it's just the only way for my Mom to notice me."
Her tone changed. This is how she is when we talk about her family.
Caitlin is a model, internationally renowned, also famous in the Philippines.
One thing that irritates me about her sister is when Thes told me that she gave up modeling for her. Caitlin asked their mother to make Thes quit. Thes' mother requested her to stop modeling so that Caitlin could have the spotlight. It's frustrating because that was Thes' dream, and she could have achieved it by now.
Thes' name was widely recognized in the runway world back then. At the age of fifteen, she had achieved so much because of modeling. But it's just frustrating that because she's a good daughter and sister, she let go of that dream.
It's still really annoying.
You can tell that her sister is very envious, and she wants everything Thes has.
Thes has a sexy body, and she has the height. Many brands were fighting over her back then, and she was also famous both locally and internationally. She loves modeling; it was her dream, but she gave it up because of her mother's request. Because of her love for her mother and her sister.
"Tangi, come on, what's with your face? It's Good Friday, you know?"
"Thes, are you still following everything that Aunt Lana and Caitlin want? Isn't it enough that you stopped modeling for Caitlin to get people's attention? So that the offers that used to be for you are now going to her? Your mother talked to them, right? And indeed, all the brands that wanted to get you before are now choosing Caitlin."
"Your sister is enjoying the spotlight she wanted, and now they are getting things from you without paying. It's still business, Thes. Occasionally, I might understand, but when it happens frequently, it's different. And they're not treating you right. I've noticed that they only call you when they need something."
Thes gave me a restrained smile. I sighed. This is how she always is when I confront her. What she talks about others' lives is what silences her when it comes to her own.
"I am just doing what I think will help my mother, even if it's always about Caitlin, Tangi. Maybe Mommy might not forget that she has another child."
I didn't say anything more after hearing Thes. I feel sad whenever her family is discussed. Thes is a jolly person, and she can stand on her own. She's so independent.
Sometimes, I think that maybe she keeps adding to her businesses to occupy her time. So that, in some way, she can forget the pain she feels because of her sister and mother.
"We are here! Welcome to Catalina's!"
I looked around Thes' entire salon at DM Mall. There were five customers getting their hair done.
"Ma'am Therese! Good afternoon!"
Three staff members approached us. Thes placed her hands on my shoulders and introduced me to them.
"My best friend needs a makeover because she's heartbroken. I need you guys to dye her hair vanilla blonde! Make her look beautiful, okay?!"
I quickly turned to Thes and slapped her on her arm, "H-Hey! Just a haircut. I'll just get a short haircut."
Thes shook her head at me.
"No, the short haircut is outdated for heartbreaks. You'll get a new one now."
"When you're heartbroken, you should get your hair dyed!" Thes pushed me into a room, and we entered.
"W-Wait!"
"You take care of my BFF, okay?"