Beneath the Clouds (Beneath Series 1) - COMPLETED

Kabanata 46

Kabanata 46

Celebration

A small celebration was held at my backyard. Mga malalapit lang din na kaibigan at kapamilya namin ang imbitado. Naging busy kami pareho ni Nova, both entertaining our guests.

"So, kailan daw ang kasal?"

Napangiti ako kay Laarni. Nasa isang mesa kaming mga babae. Kasama ko sina Melody, Chloe, Dolores. Pati rin sina Ate Vern, at Everdene na kauuwi lang galing Maynila. They were invited by Nova... exclusively just for this. Pamamanhikan pa lang naman ito sa pamilya ko, and he doesn't have to invite his cousins pero ginawa niya pa rin... and I appreciate it... so much.

"We haven't talk about it. I'm not in a rush, but looking how impatient he is, baka... ngayong buwan." I bit my lips about the thought of me getting married to Nova.

"Baka hindi nga buwan ang abutin. Knowing my cousin, baka ngayong linggo pa," singit ni Ate Vern na nakangisi.

Napagmasdan ko siya ng maigi. She has become more beautiful. Maiksi na nga lang ang buhok niya, hindi na tulad ng dati. Honestly, I was intimidated when I first met her. Just like any other Escalante blood, they have this... brooding eyes. Kahit si Everdene at Veron... lahat sila.

I wet my lips. "Even if he'll ask me to marry as soon as possible, tingin ko... hindi muna. We still need to fix some things. Sa akin at... sa pamilya niya. I want to talk with his mother and grandparents. Ayoko rin naman na ikasal akong may dinidibdib. And even if Ma'am Alicia won't accept me, at least... at least we tried to talk to her."

Hindi na nakatakas ang lungkot sa akin. Just by remembering what happened, sa komprontasyon nilang mag-ina, naisip ko na baka tumaas pa ang posibilidad na hindi nga ako tanggapin ni Ma'am Alicia. I think so too... that it is entirely my fault why everything is a mess.

Hinawakan ni Ate Vern ang kamay ko who's on my right side.

"Raya... siguro nga, nagdaramdam pa si Nova kay Tita. But, rest assured na magiging maayos ang lahat." Dahan dahan siyang bumaling sa deriksyon nila Nova kasama ang mga kaibigan at pinsan. Ate Vern smiled kalaunan ay bumalik ang tingin sa akin. "Nova is such a strong and dedicated man. He knew already that you'll be affected the moment you knew about... his little grudge towards his mother. But believe me, he'll do everything for you, para hindi ka na mag-alala pa."

"Tama si Ate Vern, Raya... All of us, his cousins, we knew how much he loves you eversince then." Everdene smiled.

I smiled back. Ang usapan naman namin ay napunta sa mga kaibigan ko. They reminiscence about the past. I still remembered na nagkakilala na sila Ate Vern at Melody noong highschool kami. It such a wonderful sight, seeing the precious view in front of me. Parang bumalik lang sa dati.

Wala sa sarili akong napabaling kay Nova. He was smiling while shaking his head tila ba may narinig siyang napakainteresanteng bagay. Madalas pa nga ay naghihiyawan ang mga kasama niya sa mesa.

The whole celebration was memorable. Kahit na nasa simpleng lugar lang kami, kahit kaunti lang ang mga imbitado, masaya pa rin.

I didn't have the chance to talk to Nova dahil ayoko rin naman siyang abalahin. At habang nakikita ko ang mga mata niyang sobrang nagagalak, nasabi ko sa sarili na hindi ko muna siya iistorbohin dahil gustong gusto ko ang ekspresyong pinapakita niya. He's happy.

Nagdesisyon sila Ate Vern at ang iba ko pang mga kaibigan na mag-barbeque. As much as I want to help, agad din nila akong binawalan. They say it's my day after all.

Natanaw ko na papalapit si Kuya Tony kasama ang isang batang lalaking nasa limang taong gulang. He resembled Kuya Tony kaya nalaman ko kaagad na anak niya. But the way he stared was opposite of his father's. Masyadong seryoso at parang hindi marunong ngumiti.