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

Chapter 8: The Start of a Chase

"WELL, ANO NA?"

Napalingon si Bride sa stern at seryosong boses na iyon ni Posy. Pinaipon sila ni Barbie sa isang silid para daw klaruhin ang lahat. Kasama niya sa loob ang triplets, si Brent, Alex, Sven, Posy, Maji, Knight, Anne, Moira at Slance. Jared and Giles were outside with Jack, preparing for their departure.

Dalawang araw na ang nakalipas mula nong gabing ayaw na niyang balikan. Sa loob ng dalawang araw na iyon ay nabalot silang lahat ng tensyon. Which is probably the reason why Barbara decided to explain everything.

Kagat-labing tumayo si Barbara saka humarap sa kanila. There were scattered around the room; Barbara was near the door, Brent was leaning backwards on it, Bea and Bonnie were seated snugly inside the arms of their husbands, Maji and Posy sat on the bed, Slance was on the fartherest part of the room, not so far away from him are his sisters Anne and Moira, and her at the other farther side of the room. Tahimik naman na nakasandal si Knight sa isang sulok.

"I-I love Ate Bride very much," simula ni Barbara. That fool really knew how to start an apology. "Mula n'ong mamatay sila Mama't Papa, siya na iyong naging magulang namin. She was never unkind to us. Walang araw na hindi niya kami tinanong kung okay lang ba kami. But the wrong thing was we never asked her how she was.

"Ate always kept a diary. Lagi ko siyang nakikita na nagsusulat sa gitna ng gabi. Sometimes, I'd see her crying and it breaks my heart. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko, kailangan kong malaman kung ano ang gusto ni Ate at kung anong magpapasaya sa kanya. And I will work hard to get it for her. No matter how impossible and hard, I will get it for her. Alam kong mali pero binasa ko iyong diary ni Ate n'ong pagod na pagod siya galing trabaho. I wanted to know her dreams so I can make them come true and make her happy. D'on ko nakilala si Slance."

Nasapo niya ang noo. "Can we just skip the content of my diary, please? Save me from complete humiliation. Pwede na ba tayong dumiretso d'on sa parte na naisipan mo akong lokohin?"

"Bride," pagbabanta ni Alex.

Tumirik lang ang mga mata niya.

"I found out you had a 'fondness' with Slance so I sought him out purposively. Two years ago ko pa nalaman kung sino si Slance pero hindi ako makagalaw dahil nasa London siya. Five months ago, nalaman kong bumalik siya ng Pilipinas kaya gumalaw na ako. Nalaman kong siya na ang may hawak ng travel agency nila. Pumunta ako d'on para kunwari ay kunin ang services nila. I kept coming back until we became friends.

"Noong una, hindi ko talaga alam kung paano ko sila pagtatagpuin ni Ate. If I would set them in a restaurant, it will only last a meeting dahil alam kong hindi na babalik si Ate."

Napatingin siya rito at tumitig ito sa kanya, as if knowing what was on her mind. Hanggang saan ang nabasa nito sa diary niya?

"Kaya kinailangan kong humanap ng sitwasyon na hindi makakatakas si Ate. I convinced Flip to pretend to be my boyfriend because I was desperate and because he was good enough to sacrifice. Nagdesisyon akong dalhin siya sa family outing natin dahil alam kong hindi basta-basta makakaalis si Ate. She values family bonding so much. Iyon din ang rason kung bakit ipinakilala ko si Flip bilang boyfriend ko, para hindi siya mapauwi. If he pretended to be my boyfriend, hindi siya paaalisin para sa akin. I thought if they saw each other again and get to know each other again, it might spark a new flame. Akala ko makakabuti iyon." Huminga ng malalim si Barbara. "Alam kong marami akong nasaktan sa ginawa kong pagpapanggap but I just really wanted to do something to make Ate Bride happy. I'm sorry, Ate."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Thank you for the thought, Barbie, but you didn't have to do it. Hindi ka dapat nagpanggap. I know you mean well pero hindi tama ang naisip mong gawin. Tingnan mo kung ano ang naging resulta."