He Was My Cousin

Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Good luck!

"Good morning," malambing ngunit halatang inaantok na bati ni Jiro mula sa kabilang linya. For sure, late na naman itong naka-uwi. He's so busy these days. Kung wala sa office ay nasa site siya. 'Yan tuloy, he always gets home late, and sleeps late too.

"Morning! You just woke up?" tanong ko habang tinitignan ang sarili ko sa salamin. I have light make-up on already. Ayaw ko naman kasi nang makapal. Besides, I'm just wearing semi-formal.

"Hmm, yeah. Just want to greet you happy seventh early in the morning," sagot niya. I could almost imagine his grinning face.

"Happy seventh!" I said. Hindi ko makubli ang ngisi sa labi ko. "Sayang lang at hindi kita makakasama ngayong araw." I frowned.

"Okay lang. It's your cousin's wedding," he said. Lately, hindi nagtutugma ang mga schedule namin. He's busy with my building construction and he was busy supervising other projects too. "Besides, we still have lots of monthsaries and anniversaries to celebrate in the future. Missing one wouldn't hurt that much, right?"

I chuckled. "Of course," I said smiling to myself as the stylist was fixing my hair. Hinawi lang niya iyong taas. She let the curl ends of my hair flow on my back.

"Well, then..." Jiro said, still sounding half-asleep. "I'll see you on Monday?"

"Yup."

I bit my lip. Thursday pa lang. It's torturing me thinking I won't see Jiro for three days. Bukod kasi sa wedding ceremony mamaya ay may iba pa silang mga plano sa weekend. I committed to it already. Noong isang linggo kasi ay pumunta si Ate Shine sa bahay upang siguraduhing makakapunta kami nina Mama at Papa. It was weird actually. Hindi naman kasi importante ang presensiya ko ro'n.

Sa totoo lang ay binalak kong hindi pumunta. My last encounter with Paolo wasn't all good and I'm sure I'd see him in the wedding. Heck, it was his sister's wedding, he'd be there. Pero nang pumunta si Ate Shine ay hindi na ako naka-hindi. She wanted me to be there. It was a blessing as it was already... dahil patunay iyon na parte pa rin ako ng pamilya kahit na may nga bagay akong ginawa noon.

Actually, seeing Paolo today and the coming days wasn't really the problem. Nakita ko na siya twice, I managed. Ang hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko ay ang makita ang iba pa naming mga kamag-anak. How would they treat me?

Huminga ako nang malalim at kinalma ang sarili ko.

"Tito Jay... Tita Carissa..." bati ko sa kanila. Si Mama at Papa ay nasa likuran ko. Narito na kami sa simbahan kung saan gaganapin ang kasal.

Napahinto si Tita Carissa sa pagsesermon sa organizer upang tignan ako. Kitang-kita ko ang pamimilog ng mga mata niya. She has aged, but she's still beautiful. The kind of beauty you'd get intimidated with. Mataras kasi tumingin ang mga mata niya.

Agad lumapit sa akin si Tito Jay. "You've changed so much, Aya." Iyon ang pambungad niya.

I've been getting that a lot since the day I came back. I've changed so much, iyon ang sabi nila. Sa tuwing tinitignan ko naman ang sarili ko sa salamin, there hasn't been much of a change. Siguro iyong buhok ko lang. It used to be all straight, and usually just layered. I've never grown my hair this long. Hanggang sa gitna ito ng aking likod at medyo alon-alon ang dulo.

Nagulat ako nang yakapin ako ni Tito. "I'm glad you're here," sabi niya nang humiwalay sa akin. I gave him a small smile.

Lumapit ako kay Tita Carissa ay bumeso sa kaniya. She didn't say anything... which I understood. After all, Tita Carissa and I have said quite a mouthful of words for each other back then.