Chapter Two

Before the taxi that her friend and her rode in has completely stopped, Cassandra immediately got out. Fast walking she made in the Bo's Coffee garage in Alabang.

"Cassandra, wait for me." Her friend who was struggling and having difficulty getting a large purse into the bag, paid for their taxi.

"I can't wait any longer Marga. I'm especially nervous I want this conversation to end." She resounded with much abridge tone. She was in the middle of nervousness and longing to see Julius again. Her friend took steps to get them to walk.

"Tell me. Are you really determined to move on from that shrimp or do you still not want to?"

"I wanted to, that's why I'm here okay and agreed to meet so we can have a formal closure." She frowned suddenly but it was only a joke. Her friend slap her in the back and closed the handbag she was carrying.

"Margarita that hurts ..."

"Why are you moaning now. Just make sure you are really looking for closure because if you turn your tongue later I will really tie that from Ortigas to here." She did not answer but fix her white tee and a pair of tight jeans. She didn't want to look like a rag while facing Julius, because he might even think that she was careless with herself after the break-up.

"Cassandra, that’s enough with your jeans there, that's okay. Don't act too much, we won't come here to impress that prick. Were here for closure ... Even if it is not necessary!” Her friend raised her eyes and simply stared.

Sometimes, Cassandra really wonders if her friend is really biased towards her, because she always has negative comments about her, especially in her love life, her delusions do not put Cassandra to sleep, especially about Julius. Marga’s comments were unlimited, as well as her posts and status on FB were made into a chat box so that she could preach there.

"Hey Cassandra, treat me some coffee! I accompanied you here and I paid dearly for the taxi earlier, it looks like the driver made Rotunda the highway earlier." Her friend opened the door as they approached Bo's Coffee.

Upon Entering they immediately look around. Her eyes stumbled over Julius who was sitting at the far end of the row of tables. He is busy typing on the cellphone.

"Cas, let me order first. I’ll have your wallet." She handed the purse to her friend but her eyes were bound to Julius. At the back of her mind, she was thinking who else could that wasp was texting or chatting with his cellphone.

Moments later her friend was next to her, holding one cup of Cappuccino Krema and Strawberry Mocha.

"Take a deep breath ..." Her friend. She took a deep breath and scathed tries to compose herself with a burst of intense miss for Julius. Even though she was annoyed with it, her soft side still told her to hug him.

"Let's go." Then Cassandra walked poised while her an inch Macopa heel made a sleek noise. When Julius noticed their presence, he looked up, stood up and son of a lamb, his smile is wider than the drainage system of Manila.

So it was just like that, he just smiled as if nothing had happened like that. What did this man think of her- numb! For the nth time the man reminisces to her his undying love for it which she has forced to kill. That smile is one of those things that attracted Cassandra towards Julius back then. And unfortunately it's the same old smile the man gave to her, does it indicate to him that it has moved on to her. Because it 's easy, a week is still fresh, she is not progressing yet ... Maybe she is still in the stage of finding reasons why Julius broke up with her before she could finally accept it.

"Cassandra ..." Her friend simply kicked her to get back to reality. She kicked her again so that she could accept Julius' outstretched hand.

"Hi, thank you for coming." Wow. It even managed to smile and shake her hand as if nothing had happened. Come on, this man is testing her composure; she will soon be hanging it on the flagpole this Christmas. She gave him a fake smile. Her friend sat down first.

"Have a seat." He offered her a chair, and as if she was not noticeably bitter, she generously accepted it even though she really wanted to strangle someone.

"You should not order anything. It's my treat today because I was the one who invited, look I already prepared two Cappuccino Krema's." Then her attention was drawn to the third coffee cup which was slightly reduced.

"Maybe you still pay us so we secured ourselves." Margarita's answer brings jingle into her ears. In a real situation, who is just an ex-in-a-week who will invite his ex to have coffee and have the courage to brag about to treat them. It seems awkward and odd from any angle.

"Are we waiting for someone? Because if none I have some things to do that’s why I want to finish this." Her tone was very primitive.

"So sorry, but maybe we can start talking without her." Julius proceeded. His face became serious.

Her? Cassandra is sure that whoever "her" she is referring to is no longer important to her. She came for one thing and that's to hear what Julius has to say. That's all, if he intends to get back together and apologize to her he will accept and forgive her again as long as Julius is being sincere. And if he was looking for closure, as she had previously thought she was ready, she never knew Julius wanted to court her again it would be better if they did not crack their past heartbreaks with each other.

"So I called you Cas, it's because I wanted to say sorry again. For the nth time, I am sincerely paving a sorry to you. I know I had been such a dumbass that time." Cassandra sat still in the corner of her eye examining the sincerity of what Julius was saying to her.

"Is that all of it that you wanted to say? Saying sorry for that undeniably painful moment” Tss, I may not be such a smart woman Julius but I know how pains and heartbreaks feels like. And judging from what you did, I am literally ragged up. Honestly, it will took me almost a year perhaps to forget you. “The causality of the words she said. Her composed self-eats her, she saw casual conversation with Julius. Her calm tone was more than expected. She presumably knew that it's part of her way making closure towards him.

"I know you've been such a great girlfriend for me. Over the course of the years i have seen so many sides of you that i adored. You gave me too much love, options and sweet moments to the point that I could not repay. Cas, you've been wonderful. “She was struck; tears paved thru the canals of her eyes then made its way to her face.

"If i was like the way you describe, if i was that sweet to you and wonderful towards you. Then, why do you have to do this to me?" She can't hold back anymore. The question was one of the greatest things she wanted to say and hear its answers.

"Cassandra ..." Her friend kicked her weakly.

"No Marga, I wanted to hear it from Julius. I would go crazy mentally if I did not know." She scolded angrily. "Tell me Jul, why do you have to do this then if I did everything I could to make you happy and satisfied?" Cassandra proceeded. Her tone makes it obvious that she's literally scarred from their tenure break-up. Miraculously her friend just kept quiet. The actual fact, she was mumbling words earlier while she was quiet in the taxi. She was preparing for her cut throated speech that she did not release last week.

"Cassandra listen to me closely and I hope you will understand and hopefully accept what I have to tell you." He paused for a moment. "Actually, there's nothing wrong with you. You're perfect; you're gorgeous and undeniably sweet. It isn't a lie that you've been such a good woman throughout our three-year relationship. I didn't see and feel you lacking to me. The actual situation is that I have the most loopholes and mistakes throughout.

But- "

"But ..." Cassandra can't wait and implied. She wanted to clarify things out with Julius and whatever it explained to her she wanted to know what it meant.

"But it's not you. I realized for a while now that it's not you. It is not you that I want; I just found out that I was just too passionate about your love so I decided to stay in our relationship. But for the three years we've been I didn't consider it as ... "It paused again.”I didn't consider it as a serious one. I realize our relationship was just for me to experience things out. Honestly, I didn't have any feelings for you Cas, and our relationship i considered it as a puppy love. It will end soon. "

Unexpectedly, Cassandra's palm found its way to Julius's face; she slapped it hard to the surprise of some of those sitting at the other table. Her tears made way thru and it keeps on falling. Her friend caressed her thigh under the table trying to calm her down.

"Cas, I am really sorry. But I wanted to be honest with you, I just didn't know how to tell you before. I didn't have the courage to."

Cassandra sighed. She was speechless and unable to breathe after all the things she heard. She lay down on the seat.

"After all these years Julius I thought you really loved me. You fooled me so many times and here I am whose very dumb to believe you every time you're telling me you loved me. I was dumbfounded, three years too! Three years I believe Julius, I've loved you for three years, I worshiped you for three years! " Cassandra's face was catastrophic. She was tempestous and agile to think she was strong. Unfortunately, her tears now is a proof that she was badly wrecked and damage.

"So please Cas, let's all move on from this puppy love." Cassandra cried even more.

"Puppy love? You considered our relationship as a puppy love. Do you think that was that easy Julius. Three years is a long period of time, I do not know how to forget you. I do not know how and when I will forget a stupid guy like you. You know I love you. You know I gave you everything. Eventhough, I have nothing left for myself! “She wiped the tears from her eyes. "And you are telling me to move on like nothing happened, what kind of creature are you! What kind of creature are you whore!"

She slapped her beaten ex on the chest one after another. It just bent over and was silent.

"It's all Julius, I just gave you everything. I forgot to love myself because of you. I did what I could to make you happy. All of you are my priority. You, jerk!" She could no longer hold back her pain. The friend calmed her down. She caressed her back telling her to calm down and go home. But she did not want to leave, she wanted to say every word she wanted to say to this man. She wanted to let Julius know what she wasted.

"Cas I have to be honest with you. When we were still on, I had a huge sin to you." Cassandra was especially nervous; her heart couldn't contain the deep thrust, as if it was squeezing her chest even more.

"I've bed someone." Cassandra's brain went blank at what she heard. Her mind is in complete shock; it seems that the blood flow to her body has stopped. It was as if the wind had disappeared all around and the whole planet had fallen on her. Her lips were ready to curse things but couldn't, she was stunned and her tongue seemed to be knotted.

Her hands were lifeless as Julius lifted it and pressed it to his face. The man cried there and wholeheartedly apologized to her. However, she was enraged, she was literally anguish and even if the man squatted on the floor, she could not forgive him. She had been so loyal to this fucking bullshit for three years. She gave and did everything she could; she did not listen to what Margarita was saying to her. Ultimately, she was damned fooled and blinded by her love towards the man.

Moments later someone approached them, a woman. Cassandra lock eyes with her, she was pretty, sophisticated and literally fashionable. She sat down next to Julius and removed her hand without any word. Julius' facial expression changed, she was seeing two lovebirds in front holding each other’s hands and they obviously loved each other.

Cassandra's tears dried; next to it was the glares and sarcastic stares from the interupting woman.

"It’s better for you to stay out of my boyfriend. I've heard that you're already off, so no more canoodling and hand caresses." Then to her common sense, she realized that it was the woman Julius mentioned. Is she what replaced her? She couldn't bear to wonder why of all women it was replaced with her. It was as if ten homosexuals slapped their faces with the thickness of the blush on, the lips were inappropriate and the skin seemed to be overflowing with glutathione. Yes, she admits it's fashionable at first glance but a fashion-wannabe trying hard. Lady Gaga is even more fashionable in its filth.

Cassandra's blood got hotter when she hit her. Nobody messes with Cassandra Jilonan like that, yes, she was fragile but when it comes to Julius but for some women whose attitude is worse than this one she have encountered she will be at war. Margarita thought her to be a diva and no one messes with a diva, especially a trying hard one. Her friend was about to speak when she stopped it.

"Marga let me handle this." She put aside the pain she was feeling; she wanted to teach this woman a lesson.

"And you are?" She sarcastically asked while glancing at her face.

"I'm Julius' only girlfriend. I am the one and only Nova Delgado. I think we've met before if you still remember?" The stupid was still philosophical to her.

"Oh i remember you're the woman from the bar, makes sense." She rolled her eyes.

"Huh! Did you just roll your eyes over me?" Cassandra saw the smoke on her nose, Julius stopped her. "No Julius it looks like this woman doesn't know what she's talking about." Cassandra just smiled bitterly, she was attacking the way her friend taught her, she looked at Margarita's behavior she was secretly smiling at her.

"You! Do you know me ha! I am Nova Delgado so you have no right to slap me. Or maybe you are still bitter because Julius chose me and not you."

"Oh really? That was your best damn line darling. Come on, that's not on the fingertips of what I'm going to tell you." She was literally activating her damn mode.

"You're Nova Delgado right? Do you live in the jungle?"

"What?"

"I just thought snakes live in the forest I didn’t know that some lives here. The city becomes a dangerous place now thanks to you."

"You bastard!" Cassandra immediately wiped the hand of the self-proclaimed Nova before it touched her face. She tightened her grip on it and dropped her hand hard on the table with her face wrinkled in pain. Julius is just shameful to do anything. Other customers looked at them.

"Don't worry people this will be over any minute." Her sarcastic smile. She turned her attention back to Nova who looked at her badly.

"Come on Nova will you slap me? That style is too old, so 80's is no longer exciting. You should watch and learn from experts like me." She took the half-filled cup of coffee and slowly poured it over the woman's head. She was still not satisfied and took the friend's hand and threw it away.

"Uhh!! You’re making a scene, I'll put you in jail!" Artistic release of it.

"Oops, Nova, you seem to have forgotten rule number 6 of being a bitch. It is forbidden to complain on a fight. A true diva never complains. So, you deserve that. You snake here, embarrassing. “She stared at her while pulling Margarita upright.

"You smell nice." She smiled but it was short and replaced by anger.

“the first time I saw you Nova, your personality is smelly. Smells like a snake" She turned her gaze to Julius, still she was hurt.

"And as for you Julius, you should be thankful to me because I was the one who bathed the pungent smell of your woman." She narrowed her eyes at the woman as they walked away with her friend.

"That was a good one friend you really learned from my advices to you. Bravo!" Her friend stopped when she noticed her lethargy. Then, she was crying again. Yes, she looks so strong before but deeply she was struggling and her heart is squeezed from the pain she felt while seeing Julius' handling and looking at Nova strangely. She didn't see Julius eyes sparkle like that before when they were still together. And it makes her heart scorched and sliced seeing things like that. That's why Julius broke up with her because she already loves someone else.

She burst into tears. Her friend pacified her with its tender swifts aback. She was tumultuous and weak. She didn't even know where she got her courage from earlier, all she ever knew was that Julius and her are over, and she couldn't accept it. Not now and not forever.

"It's okay ... I will do something." Her friend whispered before they boarded the taxi