Run Away, Bride (as published by Lifebooks) - Complete

Chapter 6: Share or Dare

STOLEN GLANCES, meaningful stares, random kisses meant to make a girl feel treasured, warm touches that heat your cold soul, frequent I love yous, and warm hugs that will get you through the day. That feeling again. Iyong pakiramdam na nakikita niya lahat ng bagay na gusto niya para sa sarili niya pero alam niyang kahit kailan ay hindi niya mararanasan. Basically because it required a partner.

Bumuntong-hininga na lamang si Bride habang nakamasid sa nangyayaring fourth birthday na in-organize niya. Posy's son, Jack, turned four that day. Nasa resort padin sila. Sumunod sa kanila doon ang asawa ni Posy na si Jared at ang anak nilang si Jack. Nandun din si Giles, ang asawa ni Maji. It was a fun-filled weekend. Almost.

Noong isang araw (the morning after Slance kissed her...twice) ay nadatnan niyang namo-mroblema si Posy sa birthday ni Jack. Given that Jared was still on duty, and Jack was with his grandmother, hindi nito alam kung paano gagalaw. And she, being a self-proclaimed anal, volunteered to arrange the party. Dahil kailangan niya ng distraction. Kaya hayun, sa loob ng dalawang araw ay naayos niya ang simpleng party ni Jack.

"Bride! Salamat talaga!" buong-loob na wika ni Posy nang makita siya nito sa sulok. Yinakap siya nito ng mahigpit. "Utang ko sa'yo ang buhay ko. I will do everything for you no matter how illogical it is. Kahit an'ong kailangan mo sabihin mo lang sa akin. Kidney, bone marrow, o dugo, ibibigay ko ng buong puso. Pati matris ko, ipaparenta ko para sa anak mo."

Natawa siya ng malakas. "Loka-loka. Mas fresh pa ang matris ko sa'yo."

"At least ang sa akin, proven and tested nang gumagana. Iyong sa'yo baka underused na," she joked.

Napatirik siya ng mga mata saka uminom ng punch na hawak niya. Medyo dumaplis ang sinabi ni Posy. Hindi niya alam kung bakit dahil noon paman ay lagi na nito iyong inaasar sa kanya. Maybe because today, she was surrounded by families and couples. O baka dahil naranasan na niya kung paano ba mahalin...kahit isang gabi lang.

That was the reason why she enthusiastically offered to arranged Jack's party—para mawala si Slance sa isip niya. Pero hindi niya magawa dahil lalo lang gumulo ang isip niya. He gave her hope that he was in love with her and he showed her a part of him that she wanted so much to explore and to heal. May kahinaan itong ipinakita; takot, sakit, at sugat. And she wanted to take care of him. Pero boyfriend ito ng kapatid niya.

"He did something to awaken your hope, didn't he?" pukaw ni Posy sa iniisip niya. Hindi siya sumagot. "He's a first-class jerk."

Hindi na niya nagawa pang sumagot. Maybe because she agreed. The other night, he showed her a different man and implied that he loved her. Pero hayun ito ngayon, cosily snuggling Barbara on his right arm.

"Hindi ito para gatungan ang pag-asa mo pero wala akong makitang seriousness sa relasyon nila ni Barbie. Naku, kung pagkatapos ka niyang saktan ay si Barbara naman, pupugutan ko na siya ng ulo."

Pumeke siya ng ngiti kay Posy. "Party 'to ni Jack, Posy. Can we not spoil it by bringing up gloomy topics?"

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "I love you, Bride. Wala akong pakialam kung sino ang mamahalin mo basta masaya ka." Yinakap siya nito ng mahigpit at ginantihan niya iyon. "My hatred against Slance aside, gumwapo siya ha," anito bago siya kinindatan at umalis.

Napangiti siya at napailing-iling. Sa huling pagkakataon ay tiningnan niya ang paligid niya. Everybody was paired. Posy and Jared, Maji and Giles, Bea and Alex, Bonnie and Sven, Barbara and Slance, now she saw Knight with Anne, even Brent was talking to Moira. And of course, presenting Bride and herself.

"Cheers to that," mahinang wika niyang inangat ang kanyang baso bago inubos ang laman nito. And then, of course, she did the only thing she does when she feels trapped. Run away.