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

Chapter 11: Meeting the Enemy

THERE SHE WAS, the girl Bride envied for years because she had the chance to hold Slance's hands, hug him, be with him, probably was his first kiss, and had the honor of being called his girlfriend. Kung titingnan ay parang tila perpektong tao ito at kapag kasama nito si Slance ay parang isang royal couple ang dalawa.

Ang ganda nito. Iyong tipo ng ganda na magpapa-isip sa'yo ng Ang pangit pangit ko. Just one look at her and she felt ugly. Dahil maputi ito at matangkad, brown ang buhok at mga mata, kumpleto at maganda ang ngipin tsaka matalino rin.

Siguro maitim ang kili-kili niyan, aniya para lang may kapintasang makita rito.

"Slance! It's been so long," ani Eli na yinakap si Slance nang tumayo ito.

Agad siyang tumutok sa kinakain.

"It's nice to see you again, Eli," pakli ni Slance na bumitaw rito.

"Sinong kasama mo—OMG! Bride! You two are together?" tila namamanghang wika nito.

"No!" agad na wika niya. "You can have him."

Ngumiti si Slance. "She really likes to give me away. Hindi pa kami. Nanliligaw palang ako."

Suminghap si Eli. "Really? Wow, Slance Aquino courting Bride Lopez. This is a real catch."

"Who would've thought, huh?" makabuluhang wika ni Slance.

"I did," ani Eli. "Would you mind if I share your table? I want to catch up with you guys!" Agad itong humila ng isang bakanteng upuan mula sa kabilang mesa at tumawag ng waiter para um-order. "So, kamusta?"

"I'm good," sagot ni Slance. "You?"

"Great. Married with two kids."

"Thank God," wala sa loob niyang naiwika. "S-Sorry."

Natawa sina Slance at Eli.

"I know, right?" ani Eli. "Nasabi na ba ni Slance sa'yo ang lahat? All those flowery poetic words he had for you?"

Saglit siyang napatingin kay Slance bago tumingin kay Eli. "An'ong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Hindi niya ba sinabi? You're the reason why we broke up. Ikaw talaga iyong mahal niya. Niligawan niya lang ako para pagselosin ka."

"Eli," ani Slance.

"Oh, pssh, Aquino. Kailangan niyang malaman."

Tumirik ang mga mata ni Slance. "Fine. For the meantime, tatawag muna ako sa mga kapatid ko habang nag-uusap kayo at naghihintay tayo ng order natin." Yumuko ito saka bumulong kay Eli. "Make her fall in love with me," sadyang malakas na wika nito para marinig niya. Kumindat ito sa kanya bago tuluyang lumayo.

Tumingin sa kanya si Eli. "He loved you so much before, you know. He hated taking photos pero n'ong naging kami, pa-picture siya nang pa-picture sa akin at pino-post niya sa friendster para makita mo. Humahawak lang siya sa kamay ko kapag nakikita mo kami. I really hated you before but now, I understand. I'm really glad you're giving him a chance."

"P-Pero ikaw iyong niligawan niya."

"Oo, pero para lang pagselosin ka. Ikaw talaga ang mahal niyan noon. I didn't realize it before because I was so flattered with his attention. Pero n'ong huli, nakita ko na hindi ako ang nakikita niya sa tuwing tumitingin siya sa mga mata ko. He was really hurt when you ran away from him. Para siyang nawalan ng kalahati ng pagkatao niya."

Habang nagsasalita si Eli ay nakikita niya ang babaeng hindi niya nakita dito noon. She turned out to be a kind and jolly woman. Siguro ay hindi naman talaga niya nagawang kilalanin si Eli noon. To her, Eli was her enemy. But right now, she was seeing a friend in her.