"What?!"
"Are you serious, Sav?"
My friends were completely shocked when they found out. They knew Marvin since he was also from their batch and even became friends with them.
"Damn! I never thought Marvin could do something like that to you," Alora whispered. She's a dentist.
"Same! Imagine! He barely even talked to other girls or looked at them because he didn't want you to get jealous," said Samira, who's a teacher now. She was supposed to be a nurse or a psychologist, but she changed her mind and ended up teaching science.
That was also my second option—to become a teacher—if I hadn't been lucky with nursing. But I ended up falling in love with the course, so I continued.
"But now? He did exactly everything you didn't want," Kinzley, who's also a nurse like me, added.
"Shaira is unbelievable, but Marvin's even worse! You've been together for so long and that's what he did?!" Chloe rolled her eyes. "I honestly thought he was going to propose to you already, considering how many years you've been together. This is insane. Damn it!"
"Eleven years… gone to waste," I murmured and just sipped from my milk tea.
I left the house because I couldn't stand looking at my sister's face. Since all their classes were done, they were at home too, but I just couldn't be there. If I could, I'd live in my apartment and never go home, but Mom and Dad didn't want that. They insisted we all live under one roof.
I wanted to distance myself, but my family wouldn't allow it.
Ever since it happened, it felt like a tall wall had grown between me and my sister. We used to be close—now, we're not. I don't even know if Dad notices, but honestly, I don't care.
I'm hurt.
"I thought you two were endgame," Danilyn whispered.
"Me too!" Maria shouted.
So did I. But I guess… not. I used to imagine him as my forever, only to find out that our love story wasn't meant to last.
"Let's go to the mall, maybe it'll help ease your mind a little," Alora suggested.
"Hurt in the head and in the heart," Maria added.
It hurts, but I think I can handle it because I have to. I know it'll be hard, but I need to forget him. I still love Marvin—but not enough to beg for him to come back.
Why should I beg someone who betrayed me? What if he does it again? I don't think I could handle another relationship because of him.
"Okay," I agreed, not really wanting to go home yet. I grabbed my bag to get my wallet—but my eyes widened when I realized it wasn't inside.
Shit! Where is it? I didn't use it yesterday since I had cash in my bag.
"Is something wrong, Sav?" Kinzley asked when she noticed I was searching for something.
"I… I think I lost my wallet," I whispered.
Danilyn's eyes went wide. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"What now? I didn't bring enough money to cover what we just ate."
I looked at Chloe, and they all shook their heads. Damn it! What now? My wallet's not here, and I'm sure it's not in my room either because I only use one sling bag and that's where I always keep it.
What the hell?! Where could—Shit! I froze as I remembered that the other day, I dropped my stuff. Could I have left my wallet there? I didn't even check my things properly that time.
"Damn," I muttered.
"Why?" Maria asked.
I'm pretty sure I left it at Laurent Company.
"Why? Where'd you lose it?" Chloe asked as we stepped out of the coffee shop.
I closed my eyes. "At Laurent Company."
They all gasped at the mention of Marvin's family business.
"How are you sure your wallet is there?" Alora asked, frowning. "And why was it even there? Don't tell me you begged, you idiot?!"
"Me? Beg? No way!" Yes, I still love him, but I'm not stupid enough to beg. Why would I go back to the one who cheated on me? "Let's just go there. I bumped into someone the other day and dropped my stuff. I didn't realize it because I was in such a rush."
"So, you're going back?" Samira asked, raising an eyebrow. "And your ex is there? He'll definitely try to talk to you. Maybe you shouldn't go."
"But how about her wallet?" Kinzley interjected. "She needs it. If she doesn't go, what money is she going to use?"
"We can lend her some," Alora offered.
I shook my head. I was determined to get my wallet. I didn't care if my ex was there. "I need to get it."
"But Sav, are you working here now or are you going back abroad?" I could tell they were trying to change the subject.
"Just stay here, please," Danilyn pleaded, wrapping her arms around mine and shaking me gently. "Please?"
"Yeah, Sav. There's no reason to leave anymore. Shaun already finished school, right? And Samuel, your third sibling, is at least helping out now. Try working here in the Philippines," Kinzley said softly.
They were all trying to convince me to stay. Honestly, I don't have plans of leaving again. I really did plan to settle here after finishing my long contract abroad. I had it all laid out… with Marvin. But then he cheated. And it still hurts, like being stabbed with a thousand needles. It's still so fresh, and I don't know how I'm going to move on. We were together for 11 years. I'm not used to being without him. Especially now that I'm back to zero.
It's hard when the person you were used to having by your side suddenly disappears. We started with nothing, then we both got jobs and planned for our future together—only for all of it to disappear in a snap.
"Alora, let's go to Laurent Company."
"Eh?! Do you really want to get hurt, Aly?!" Alora yelled. She only calls me Aly when she's either mad or being clingy.
"Exactly, Bebs. Let's just go some other time. We'll lend you money," Samira said, taking out her wallet, but I stopped her.
"Sis, I'm willing to lend you money," Danilyn offered.
But I shook my head and didn't accept the money they were handing me. I turned them all down because I still had pride. I didn't want to go, but I needed to. I needed to get my wallet because all my ATM cards were there.
Everything—my savings—was in that wallet. I had saved that money for the future… our future. But it seems he wants a different future now.
He could've at least told me, right? If he just talked to me properly, I would've understood. But he didn't—and that made it hurt even more. It felt like my ego had been crushed too. Especially since he replaced me with someone younger.