Click for Part One.
The next day came, and there was no Carl Vincent Montenegro to take a blood sample on. I heard he was discharged early that morning. I felt bad about it but I was able to immediately shrug the feeling off. I continued working my butt out the whole day and I was really exhausted when it was time to go home. Kat had to go somewhere else so that means I’m going home alone for tonight.
I checked my phone for the first time today and saw a couple of messages from my highschool friends reminding me of our reunion tomorrow. The first time ever. It’s been ten years or so, the thought excites me.
I hailed a cab home and asked it to drop by a drive-thru so I wouldn’t have to worry about dinner. I felt so tired from working that I felt I need some pampering. When I arrived home, I gave the taxi driver his bill and gave him some extra bucks for the drive-thru.
I almost danced my way upstairs.
I placed my dinner on the very messy kitchen counter and went to my room to change. I caught a glimpse of my highschool yearbook beside my drawer and decided to look.
“Grace… Emma… Kristine… God how time flies.” I murmured, then I flipped the pages over and something caught my eye and made my heart jump million times in a second.
On page 39, second picture from the left, says “Carlo Vincent Santos”.
I couldn’t believe my eyes, how can I forget… Carlo Vincent Santos is Carl Vincent Montenegro. I cannot fail to notice the resemblance with the eyes and the dimples. It looked so much like him, only that he’s a lot handsome now than he was 10 years ago.
How can I forget…. I immediately dialled my highschool friend Tara’s number and waited for her to answer. It took her 3 rings.
“Tara?”
“Yeah, what’s up Ruby?” she said.
I looked at the picture again and took a deep breath. “By any chance, do you know anything about Carl from highschool?”
I called Tara coz she was the ultimate gossip girl of our batch. Ask her anything and believe me, she knows.
“Carl? As in the super silent guy who almost didn’t exist?” She asked.
“Yeah, Carl. He used to like sit at the very corner of the room and completely disregard everyone around him.”
“OH yeahhh.. I heard his father died about 3 years ago I think, his Mom remarried and the husband adopted him and gave him his surname, yeah I think that’s what happened. I heard he’s getting married next month with Lisa, you of course you know Lisa, right? She’s the winner of the supermodel search. Oh God she’s really pretty, I don’t know how Carl…”
I pressed the end call button and let the phone drop from my hands.
I spent the night thinking about what just happened. I completely forgot about the food or even the need to eat. I was still dressed in my uniform when Kat knocked at my room. I didn’t notice it was already past 12 am.
“Mind if I come in?” she said, carrying with her the food I placed on top of the counter. She placed the tray on top of my bed and looked at the yearbook in my hands.
“So you finally figured out, huh?” She asked.
I looked at her and noticed that she knew, she knew who Carl Vincent was. I felt completely stupid. I didn’t say a word, instead I grabbed some food and satisfied my now hungry stomach.
“I was supposed to take his samples, but when I saw him, I figured you should do the job. I mean, after what happened in highschool, I figured you should do it. I thought you would notice, see the resemblance. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” she said apologetically.
I let out a huge sigh and looked out to the big window. I don’t have any strength to say a word.
I buried my face in my pillow and let the tears do the job. I don’t know what time Kat left the room, I don’t know what time I was able to fall asleep.
In fact, for the first time in my life, I don’t know anything at all.
***
I saw Felisse sitting at our usual hang out place after school. We were supposed to attend the graduation practice, but she texted me and said she’s got a big problem that she wants to talk to me with.
As I approached her, I noticed she wasn’t alone. Beside her sat Carlo, and it surprised me. What’s Carlo doing in here?
“Hey,” I called to them. Felisse looked at me and then I saw her eyes, she’s been crying. Her eyes were red and fluffy and I could tell something really bad is going on. I wondered what Carlo’s got to do with this.
“Ruby, you do know Carlo, right?” she said. I looked at Carlo and nodded, “Yes, he’s my classmate in Physics.”
“Carlo, would you excuse us for a while?” Felisse said, Carlo stood up and walked away without saying a word.
Felisse waited till he was out of earshot. I looked at her again, completely unsure of what’s happening around me.
“I’m pregnant, and he thinks he’s the father.” Felisse blurted out loud. My eyes shot wide open and I couldn’t believe what I just heard. I never thought of Felisse as the type who would go out with Carlo. She disgusts that boy!
“Is he?” I asked, something tells me there’s a lot more to tell.
“He’s not. Gerry is. But we’re not ready. I tricked Carlo into sleeping with me. I gave him sleeping pills. Nothing happened. Nothing.”
“Why are you telling me this Liss?” I asked.
“I’m going away with Gerry. I’m telling Dad that Carlo’s the father. He would kill Gerry if he’d know. Please promise me you won’t tell anyone, promise me Ruby, you’re the only person I’ve ever trusted this much, please please promise me.” She was crying. I was stunned. I don’t know what to say.
“Yes. I promise.”
***
The loud ringing of my alarm woke me up.
I caught a glimpse of myself on my bedside mirror, I looked like a complete mess. My eyes were big and fluffy, swollen from crying all night. Kat left a message on my bedside and that says,
“I completely adjusted your alarm. I’m covering for you, take a rest…”
I looked at my cellphone and saw that it’s way past 11am already. I slept half a day and yet my body feels tired. I saw the dress I bought for the reunion, and somehow I couldn’t see myself in it anymore. I didn’t want to go to the party, knowing that there’s a great chance of Carl .. or Carlo being there. I dread myself.
I got up from my bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. The cold water reminds me of how cruel the world could be.. Just when I was moving on, completely moving forward and leaving bad memories behind, someone like Carl would get in the way.
Ring… Ring… Ring….
I turned off the shower faucet and rushed to get my cellphone. It was Kat.
“Hey,” I said to the receiver.
“Glad you’re up. How are you?” she asked. I was expecting Kat to take charge. She knows how to handle me at times like these.
“I’m okay. A bit of an headache and a bruised ego, but besides that, I’m completely fine.” I said. I placed the phone on speaker.
“Listen, I know it’s kind of rude of me not to tell you about Carl, I’m sorry. I know you’re having second thoughts about going to the reunion, and I honestly think that’s a bad idea. Ruby, you’ve been wanting to tell Carl all these years, right? Felisse is long dead, she’s been dead 10 years ago, because of a choice she made, and that’s not your fault, you’ve been living the past ten years of your life trying to make up for her, but the truth is, there’s nothing you could have done to make her stop. Her death, it was an accident – an accident that happened because of her actions, her decisions and you have to face it – you didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“Thanks.” I sighed. And pressed the end call button. I am completely unsure of what to do. Kat’s right in some points, and yes, I’ve been struggling ever since Felisse died.
How will I ever face Carl?
I looked at the dress I’ve bought three weeks ago and made a decision I will never forget in my entire life.
