Chapter 1: He Lied To Me
Meliza's POV
I was running late going to the airport terminal after I got out of the taxi, and I couldn't stop my heart from pounding as I tried to conceal my face with the oversized sunglasses that the black round rim almost covered my entire face. I adjusted the floral scarf over my head, which I bought yesterday after Ruby yelled at me.
Yes! I am going to attend my best friend's wedding even if I knew I would put my life on the line, but how can I tell her that my life is a big mess? How could I ruin her childhood dream, a fairy-like wedding?
I was low on the budget as always, and Ruby was the only one who got my contact number after I made that stupid decision because of the young man I fell in love with and I thought who loved me.
I was so stupid enough to follow my heart, and my innocent heart was too weak that I disobeyed my mother's order, and here I am, paying for the price of my heart's stupidity.
I was brokenhearted for five years, yearning for the love that I lost, and was in hiding for five years. Ruby would make me come out of my hiding place, but I made a promise to her that I would be there on her wedding day.
We hadn't seen each other for so long, and I owed her a lot because she was the only one who was there for me. And I couldn't believe I almost missed my flight.
For the first time, I boarded a plane with business class accommodation, thanks to the complimentary ticket. Ruby bought it, so I can't make any more excuses. I enjoyed the wine so much that when we landed, I felt a little tipsy and smiling like an idiot as I waited in the baggage reclaim area to get my luggage.
"Iza!!!!" I heard Ruby's voice screaming after I got out of the terminal, and I couldn't stop smiling when I saw her running in my direction. I let go of my belongings and ran to meet her halfway, but too bad I drank too much wine; I slipped and fell to the ground hard.
I was groaning in pain, and my world was spinning like I was going to pass out.
"Oh, no, are you okay, Meliza?" Ruby asked me with concern in her voice, and I shook my head.
"No, I think I broke my leg, and I am going to die," I responded, and she laughed.
"You silly girl, I never expected you to miss me that much and made quite a show here in the airport pick-up area," Ruby replied, and I giggled but couldn't move my body. I knew it was because of the wine I drank.
"I missed you so much," she whispered as she tried to help me to get up.
"I am sorry, Ruby, I just wanted to hug you badly," I replied as I attempted to get up but ended up falling back into the ground.
"I don't think I can carry you to the car," she said.
"Leave it to me, Ruby," someone said, and my entire body froze. I don't need to look up to know it was him. His beautiful voice always comforted me in a way I couldn't explain.
God knows how much I missed his sexy voice, and it has become more mature and sexier now. I wished the ground would swallow me whole and forget about this total nightmare, or did I just die and come to heaven and meet my sweet angel?
How can I be so clumsy? Why did Ruby tell me he couldn't make it? I came knowing Ethan wouldn't be here in San Fernando.
I looked at Ruby with a quizzical look, and she mouthed I am sorry as she got up. I tried to hold her hand, but I was too slow because the wine was taking control of my entire frame.
"Still clumsy, huh?" He said as he kneeled down, and when I looked up and saw his face, I could tell my face turned redder.
I wanted to look away, but he became more handsome, and his features became finer as he matured over some years; five years was more than enough for him to develop this god-like perfection.
His medium-thick eyebrows and thick eyelashes made his eyes more hypnotizing, and his perfectly straight, slim nose, square jawline, and full, kissable lips made him more stunning. His deep dimples are still one of his greatest assets that made girls crazy over him.
I wanted to caress his face and run my fingers through his sleek hair; my eyes turned bigger as I realized how I could still admire this man who was the reason for my misery.
"Stop right there. I can stand up and walk on my own; I don't need your help." I quickly said and got up, but my body betrayed me as I almost fell back to the hard ground, but his reflexes were still the same: fast and accurate.
I was in his strong arms instantly and wanted to fight him, but I knew he was well belt, and I didn't want to come to that road and imagine what was beneath his white shirt and faded jeans.
I should stop myself from feeling this way before I find myself drowning in him once again. He was the reason why I was on the run and needed to hide from those men who were hunting me. Ethan will always be the forbidden fruit that I always wanted to have, and I should stop before I fall into his trap again.
"I guess your body betrayed you, or this is one of your tricks, but I am telling you, I am no longer that young man you toyed with your fingers, Iza." He declared, and his words took me off guard.
"Come on, Ethan, put me down. Don't forget I turned you down; what made you think I would drool over with you again? I was naive back then and followed my stupid heart." I responded, and he smirked and continued to walk towards the car without putting me down as if I weighed nothing.
As much as I wanted to get down, my body hurt, and the wine was making me dizzier than I expected; or was it because of his intoxicated scent that I was trying to ignore?
I hated myself that I couldn't stop staring at his handsome face. What is wrong with me? I hated him for the past five years, and I should stop ogling him, but I can't; I had to close my eyes before he found out I was gaping at him like my young self when I was eighteen.
I glared at him when he put me down on the passenger's seat, but when he buckled my seatbelt, I had to hold my breath and hold on to my seat before I made a big mistake I would regret later on.
"How could you lie to me, Ruby? You told me he wasn't coming at all." I asked my best friend the moment we were alone in my assigned room after Ethan brought me, and Ruby was looking at me with puppy eyes.
"I wasn't lying; he arrived this morning; what can I do? He was Vince's best friend and his cousin." He responded, and my eyes widened in shock.
"Cousin?" I asked.
"Yeah, they were cousins, as in the first cousin," she replied, and I could read some guilt on her face.
"How come he became his cousin after five years? Ethan was twenty-three that time and couldn't be adopted." I asked in disbelief.
"It was a long story, Iza, and I don't think this is the right time we should discuss the family tree of my husband-to-be." She answered.
"I didn't come all the way here for your upcoming wedding to look like a fool of myself, and you didn't tell me I should stay here for more than one week. I have my life back there in the capital, Ruby." I said, feeling disappointed with her.
"I know. I am sorry," Ruby replied.
"Spill the beans, or I will walk away," I replied, and she sighed heavily as she continued applying a cold compress on my strained ankle.
"What? I have all the right to know what is happening here, Ruby. You knew I came back for him. I waited almost twenty-four hours in the train station, but he didn't come." I said as I looked back and felt the pain of his betrayal five years ago.
"Ethan has his reasons, but believe me, Iza, I knew he wanted to be there with you," Ruby responded.
"What was the reason that he made me feel like a fool waiting for him until the last train departed? I waited and waited, but he didn't come," I said and twitched when I felt the pain in my leg as she pressed the hot compressed bag.
"I think we should bring you to the ER," she stated.
"No need, I will be fine by tomorrow. Don't worry, and I will be there on your wedding day, even if you lied to me." I declared, and her face fell.
"I didn't lie to you, Iza; your ex told Vince he couldn't make it since he will be attending a conference in Europe, but Ethan showed up this morning, and it was too late to tell you that he was coming." She responded.
"Besides, I don't want my best friend to miss the most important event in my life; I want you to be here with me when I say I do," Ruby added, and I smiled at her.
"I am sorry; I should stop blaming you. It was history now, and I should move on with my life. I am happy that Ethan has a nice job now. I didn't expect he would be traveling around the world to attend some conferences; he must be lucky to find a nice job. Did he even finish college?" I asked, and her face blushed as she nodded her head.
"Meliza, there is something you should know," Ruby said in a serious tone, and I could tell right away it would be something that would blow my mind.
"About what? Are you pregnant?" I excitedly asked, but she shook her head.
"It is about Ethan," she said, and I suddenly got nervous. I hated my ex-boyfriend so much, but I didn't want to know if he got married already. I don't know if I could deal with that kind of news.
"He is now the CEO of Almendraz Group of companies," she said, and I laughed, but she didn't laugh with me, and I realized my best friend wasn't lying.
"He was the eldest and only son of Don Isagani Almendraz," Ruby added, and I collapsed into the bed as the effect of her news sank in, and it was worse than he was being married.
Their family owned the largest hospital and pharmaceutical company in the country and even owned beauty products and so many more.
I didn't even know his real family name because he told me he was Ethan Vasquez, and it hit me like a bomb: he lied to me.
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