The Rancher's Soulmate

CHAPTER 3: Breakup

November 14, 2017. Tuesday. Teia crowned the Miss International 2017. Her parents, Nicolas Sierra and Jacqueline Cuenco-Sierra, and his bother Troy attended the coronation night but not his fiancé, Christopher Poe. 

The coronation night coincided with one of his advertising firm’s most important ad campaigns. There last video call a few days ago went like this –   

She asked, “Babe, will you really not attend the coronation night?” 

Christopher answered, “I really cannot attend, babe. An important ad campaign was re-scheduled by the client on the same date. I will just see you when you come back here in the country. I am just really busy. I need to finish a lot of things before our wedding. We will be away for a month for our honeymoon.” 

She disputed, “Yeah, about that. You did not even consult me regarding it. I already told you about the grand reunion of Sierra Clan that Dad will be hosting this coming Christmas Break in Vizas. We do not need to be away for a month, a week will do.” 

Christopher argued, “This month long honeymoon trip would be the only time we can spend quality time, just the two of us. Ever since, we got steady, we haven’t had time just the two of us privately. This would be the only time that you can really be fully mine… no chaperones… no meddling family… no interfering friends… just the two of us as a newly-married couple.” 

She just said, “Let us just discuss this when I come back.” 

Christopher affirmed, “Okay.” 

Teia stayed a few more days in Tokyo to finish some endorsement commitments. Once she returned to Filipinas, her focus would only be on the wedding-related activities like the bridal shower, pre-nuptial photos and video shoot, wedding rehearsal, and the final fitting of her wedding gown. Every other major details of the wedding was all set already. Christopher wanted a grand church wedding which would be followed by a grand reception. She preferred just a simple one but his family wanted it to be a big event to be talked about. 

Despite her popularity as well as her parents and brothers, she had preferred a more laid back lifestyle. She got into modelling because of her mother and her mother’s friends. Such had paid well so she just decided to go on and continue saving the money for her dream animal clinic. 

As for joining a national beauty pageant, it was also a way for her to promote her advocacy on cultural understanding, education especially for the indigenous tribes, animal care and environmental conservation. She never expected to win the national title more so the international title. Because of such, she and Christopher had found it difficult to find a common time to spend together. 

Thus, she understood why Christopher wanted to have a month long honeymoon. Christopher wanted to monopolize her once and for all. In the entirety of their relationship, she hadn’t allowed to go all the way when it came to their intimacy. Also, whenever they travelled on out-of-town trips, they were usually with family or friends. 

November 18, 2017. Saturday. In the morning, Teia along with her parents and brother arrived at the country. As they reached their five-bedroom residence in an exclusive village in Palmaine City, she immediately went to her bedroom. She missed being there because she had travelled a lot in the year that passed. 

With the successful career of her parents, she and her older brother Troy enjoyed a privileged life. They weren’t very rich but their parents had provided them with all their needs. They were able to attend good schools; take dance classes, modeling classes, acting workshops, sports clinic, or martial arts classes; and travel for leisure. Their parents had supported them in their dreams and aspirations. 

After resting, Teia asked her brother to drop her off at Christopher’s place on his way to his basketball team practice that afternoon. She did not feel like driving her own car at that moment. 

Aside from being a professional basketball player at Filipinas Basketball association (FBA) for Missi Towers, her brother Troy finished a degree on business administration so he had his own several business endeavors – a sports bar providing sports fans unparalleled lounging and viewing experience   along with a variety of food and drinks as well as sports memorabilia; a sports gear and apparel store; and a sporting venue with an Olympic size swimming pool, a multi-purpose gymnasium, and an athletic oval. Her brother was already engaged to be married as well. His fiancée, Dianne Aguilar, worked as an entertainment news writereporter/anchor. 

When her brother dropped her off in front of the condominium building where Christopher lived, she went up directly to his two-bedroom condominium unit. She had keys to his place and she wanted to check the pantry and the refrigerator first before shopping for the dinner she would cook for them. She wanted to surprise him with his favorite dishes when he returned from an out of town business trip that evening. 

But she was the one surprised as she opened the main door of Christopher’s condominium unit. Pieces of clothing of a man and a woman were randomly sprawled by the floor leading to Christopher’s bedroom. Then she heard loud moans of a man and a woman. Agitatedly, she walked towards the bedroom. She was shocked to see from the open door a fully naked woman on top of her fully naked fiancé enjoying s*x together. 

Teia could not seem to bear seeing such any longer, she immediately walked away but she tripped on a piece of cloth by the floor thus knocking of a photo frame in the process. The noise crated by the impact of the glass that shattered on the floor had disturbed the couple in the bedroom from continuing. 

When Christopher saw that it was her, he immediately pushed away the woman, whom Teia recognized as Christopher’s ex-girlfriend, Louisse Barretto. Christopher covered his lower body with a towel and rushed toward her. She tried to get up as fast as she could to walk way. 

As Christopher tried to reach for her, she shouted, “Don’t you dare touch me!” 

Christopher pleaded, “Babe, please let me explain.” 

She responded teary-eyed, “What is there to explain, Christopher? I cannot fully give myself yet to you so you sought the warmth of your ex-girlfriend.” She immediately removed the diamond engagement ring from her ring finger and threw it toward Christopher, “Just resume what you and Louisse are doing. It is all over between us! I cannot marry a cheater.” She also threw the keys of his condominium unit to him and walked away. 

Christopher still tried to catch up with her but Louise spoke up. “You heard her, Christopher. She does not want to marry you anymore.” 

Christopher faced Louisse. “Shut up, Louisse. This will not happen if you did not seduce me.” 

Louisse replied disappointedly, “So it is now my fault that you still find me irresistible even if you are already engaged to be married to that frigid beauty queen.” 

Teia took such opportunity to leave. She had succeeded going out. She proceeded immediately toward the elevator. 

When she reached the lobby, she hurriedly went out to ride the cab that had just unloaded passengers. Her smartphone rang. It was a voice call from Christopher so she rejected the call and turned off the phone. 

When she reached home, her parents seemed to be so worried. 

Mommy Jacqueline stated, “Christopher called us. He said you had a misunderstanding. He is worried about you.” 

She divulged, “It was not just a simple misunderstanding, Mom. I need to go away. I am going to book the soonest flight back to Tokyo.” 

Daddy Nicolas reacted, “But you have just returned, sweetie. Tell us what really happened. Why do you want to go away? You just returned this morning.” 

She confided, “I caught him having s*x with Louisse.” The tears she had been holding back for long finally fell. “I don’t want to marry him anymore. I just want to leave.” 

Her parents were shocked and speechless. She went to her bedroom, booked the soonest flight to Tokyo, reserved a hotel accommodation and then packed her luggage. 

She was already done packing when her parents joined her in her bedroom. 

Mommy Jacqueline asked, “Are you really sure about leaving, sweetie? You can just go to our vacation home in Vizas if you want to have some time alone.” 

Daddy Nicolas added, “What will we tell the press once this mess comes out? I could really kill that man once I see him!” 

Teia tried to calm down her parents, “I will be fine, Mom, Dad. You will not say anything to the press. Let Christopher handle his own mess. And please don’t you ever try to dirty your hands just because of him, Dad. He is not worth it. Let us just be thankful that this incident happened before the wedding.” 

Mommy Jacqueline was still worried, “I will go with you, sweetie.” 

She declined, “No need to cancel your prior commitments just to go with me, Mom. You, Dad and Kuya already took time off to be with me in Japan as I stepped down from my reign. I will be fine. I just need some time alone.” 

Daddy Nicolas inquired, “When will you be back?” 

She assured her father, “I will be back in time for the clan grand reunion, Dad. I will not miss it for the world.” Then she recalled on what might her brother do once he finds out, “And please Dad, tell Kuya Troy not to do anything foul on Christopher. I got nothing to be ashamed of. My dignity is still intact. There would be no need to defend my honor. I think it would be best if we would just keep mum about this. I do not want this to be a big issue.” 

Mommy Jacqueline declared, “It will definitely be a big issue once the press discovered about it, sweetie.” 

She stated, “But it should not come from us, Mom. Christopher started this mess so let him handle it.” 

After that, her parents had sent her off to the airport. 

Teia told her parent, "Just drop me off to the airport, Dad, Mom. Do not enter anymore. I don't want to attract many people with my departure. It will be better if no one knows that I am leaving aside from the two of you and Kuya Troy."

Mommy Jacqueline replied not totally agreeing on what she wanted, "Are you really sure about going back to Tokyo, sweetie?"

Teia had already made up her mind, "This is the best way to evade the scandal, Mom. I will be fine there. I already called up Michiko. I just need to be away for a while and then I will be back in time for the Sierra Clan Grand Reunion."

Her father sided on her, "Just let our daughter be, Mommy. She has already made up her mind so there is no way that we can change her mind."

Her mother agreed, "Okay, Daddy."

When her brother discovered what happened, he was so furious.

Troy expressed upon knowing, "I really do not like that man for her. Now I know why! He's a cheater. How could he do such to Teia? And now she just opted to hide to evade the scandal."

Mommy Jacqueline said, "Your sister wanted to take a break and said she could not have such if she is being followed around here by the media. At least in Tokyo, she cannot easily be distinguished for as long as she is in disguise."

Troy asked, "What about the wedding?!"

Daddy Nicolas responded, "Your sister does not want to marry Christopher anymore. And she requested that we kept mum about it and let Christopher handle the mess he made."

Troy reacted, "I don't trust him. He might cover up for his mistake."

Mommy Jacqueline recalled, "Your sister already knew that you will be so much pissed off. She said that you must not do anything foul to Christopher, that he is not worth it for you to dirty your hands. So let us just avoid making this situation blown out of proportion just like what your sister wished."

Troy said, "I'm still not agreeing with her."    

Troy had opted to leave and blow off some steam by going to his sports bar. 

But Troy was not able to control himself anymore when Christopher came to the bar to entertain clients. 

Troy rushed forward to Christopher and punched him on his face. Christopher fell on the floor. Troy’s sports bar manager tried to stop him for further beating down Christopher. “You still have the courage to show up here after you cheated on my sister. Get out of here. You are not welcome here anymore. Guards, escort that filthy man out! From now on, he is banned from entering this place.” 

Christopher expressed, "Will you not even listen to my explanation?"

Troy said, "My sister caught you in the act having s*x with your ex-girlfriend. So what is there to explain?" And then he ordered his men again, "Escort him out, now!"

It reached the late night entertainment talk show which reported – Basketball superstar, Troy Sierra punched his sister’s fiancé. Sports fans were all shocked when their idol Troy Sierra, who also own Flash Sports Bar, suddenly punched Miss International 2016’s fiancé, Christopher Poe. The basketball player felt so enraged accusing his sister’s fiancé of cheating with his ex-girlfriend. Apparently, the beauty queen caught her fiancé  in the act with his ex-girlfriend. Here is a video of what transpired (the video was shown). We tried to reach out to both parties but they declined to give any further information. The question now is – Will there still be a wedding between Miss Teia and her fiancé? Let us ask our viewers regarding their reaction on this matter. Should Miss Teia still marry her fiancé? Give us your comments and reaction on our social media accounts flashed on the screen. We will read some of them after a few reminders from our sponsors. 

After the commercial break, some of the comments and reactions that were read – 

If he really cheated, then Miss Teia should call off the wedding.

Once a cheater, always a cheater! 

I knew it! He probably cheated with that witch Louisse Barretto. She was still so clingy to Miss Teia’s fiancé even if she is just an ex-girlfriend.

Miss Teia does not deserve a man like Christopher Poe. If he truly loves Miss Teia, he would never cheat on her even if other women are throwing themselves on him. 

Troy Sierra did the right thing. A punch is not just enough for a cheater like Christopher Poe. 

Maybe he was busy cheating on Teia that is why he was not able to attend Teia’s stepping down and passing on the crown to the next Miss International. I really do not like him for our Queen Teia anyway. 

Miss Teia is probably feeling so hurt. It is such a big blow once you found out the man you love and trust cheats on you with another woman.

So she actually caught him in the act having s*x with his ex-girlfriend, probably Louisse Barretto. Oh, what a big scandal!

I knew it! That Louisse Barretto is still so clingy to him even if she is already an ex-girlfriend. 

It serves him right to be punched by Troy Sierra. He cheated on Miss Teia!

Miss Teia must definitely call off the wedding. 

Good thing she already found out that he's a cheater before tying the knot.

I feel very sorry for her. She caught them in the act. There is really no need for an explanation, Christopher Poe. You are a cheater! That is it!

Just as the Teia arrived at the hotel way past midnight, the news about the incident on the sports bar was already trending on the internet. And the punching video of her brother had reached millions of views already.  

Some of the titles of the news articles were – 

‘Filipino Basketball Superstar, Troy Sierra knocked down his soon-to-be brother-in-law!’

‘Miss International Teia Sierra’s fiancé accused of cheating’ 

‘Beauty queen’s fiancé cheats!!! Will the wedding still be on?’ 

‘After the cheating allegation, will Miss Teia Sierra still marry her fiancé?’ 

‘Beauty queen’s fiancé – a cheater!’

'Miss International 2016 Teia Sierra's fiancé cheated on her with Louisse Barretto'

'Christopher Poe and Louisse Barretto, caught in the act by Miss Teia Sierra' 

'Louisse Barretto, caught in the act with someone else's fiancé'

'Miss Teia Sierra's fiancé cheats with Louisse Barretto'

Teia had no idea of what happened. As she approached the front desk of the hotel, another hotel guest’s had exactly turned around thus bumping into her. The passport and debit card she was holding fell of the floor. The man she bumped into, knelt down and handed them back to her. 

The man immediately apologized, “I'm very sorry…” 

She was surprised. The man seemed surprised as well. 

At the same time, they had uttered each other’s name – 

“Teia?!” 

“Iñigo?!”'