Almost

Wakas

This is the final chapter of Almost. This is unedited and may contain a lot of typographical and maybe, grammatical errors, too. Despite all of the loopholes mentioned, this chapter's still made with love.

To you, the one who's reading this, thank you for being with me up to this point. Thank you for the endless and timeless support. I'm really grateful for having you alongside this whole journey. Silent or not, I appreciate you still. Godbless!

• • •

I closed my eyes slightly just like what my makeup artist asked me to do. I breathed slowly as I refrain myself from moving. She's busy doing my eye makeup, which's one of the most critical part, kaya naman ayaw kong magulo siya sa kaniyang diskarte. Ako na kasi ang panghuling aayusan, gaya ng napag-usapan.

"You may open your eyes now, Raina." Gale said after a few minutes.

Tiningnan ko ang aking repleksyon sa salamin. I checked almost every part of my face, at wala naman akong napunang mali. Everything's perfectly fine. Akala ko nga'y tapos na dahil sa sobrang pagkamangha, hanggang sa naalala ko na may iilan pa siyang kailangang ilagay na makeup sa aking mukha. She's really good at these kind of things. Hindi ako nagkamali ng pagpili sa kaniya bilang head ng glam team para sa kasal na gaganapin ngayong araw.

"You look so gorgeous! With or without makeup, actually, mukha ka ng dyosa. Kahit ano yatang style ng makeup ang gawin ko sa'yo, bagay pa din!" Pag-puri niya sa akin. I just smiled shyly at her, dahil na rin sa pagka-ilang sa mga papuri niya. "I'm sure, you'll be a wonderful bride!" She was all smiles.

Unti-unti namang nabura ang ngiti sa aking mga labi matapos marinig ang sinabi niya. Ako? Magiging wonderful bride? Hindi siguro... I smiled bitterly. Kasi kung oo, bakit niya ako iniwan? Bakit hindi ako ang pinili niya at ipinaglaban? Ayaw niya ba akong pakasalan? Bakit niya ako pinagpalit?

Maybe he was right. Maybe I'm not good enough, and I will never be. Maybe he was right when he said that he'll be happier if I'm totally out of his sight, if we're totally gone from each other's life.

Agad namang nataranta si Gale matapos makita ang reaksyon ko sa mga sinabi niya. I tried my best to smile as an assurance that I'm fine, even though I'm not. Sanay na rin naman akong magpanggap na ayos lang, ngumiti kahit masakit na deep inside. Wala eh, natutunan ko lahat 'yan simula noong iwan niya ako.

I had to be fine, at least for the people who were there for me... for the people who remained by my side, especially during hard times. I had to be fine in front of my best friends Brent, Janella, and Yvan. I had to look strong, cause I never wanted them to see me, being weak. I had to fight, hindi na para sa aming dalawa, kundi para sa sarili ko... kahit para sa sarili ko man lang.

I had to fake everything, including my feelings and emotions.

She looked at me with concern eyes, asking me if I'm alright or what. Mukha siyang kabado, lalo na noong may mga patak ng luha na ang tumulo sa aking mga pisngi. I wiped it using my bare hands immediately.

"A-Are you alright? Did I say something wrong?" She was rattled. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang una niyang gagawin : ang i-retouch ako, o ang abutan ako ng tissue pampunas sa mga luha ko.

I laughed awkwardly, trying to hide the pain... again.

"N-No, it's not your fault..." I sniffed and smiled at her. Gale didn't look satisfied with my answer, because she still looks guilty and all. "I'm just being emotional kasi alam mo naman, araw ng kasal. But really, I'm perfectly fine." I let out a chuckle.