Captivating Aphrodite (UNEDITED)

Chapter 39

Reese's POV

I always loved the idea of having red and white as a motif in my wedding. Mas prefer ko rin ang ikasal sa simbahan kaysa sa beach, garden, at kung saan-saan pa. For me, mahalaga ang ikasal sa harap ng Diyos, sa tahanan nya.

I sighed. I am wearing my white wedding gown with red linings. It looks so elegant. It was designed and weaved by professional people. My hair's in a classy bun.

"You look stunning, sweety!" Puri ni Aenah, ang make up artist at hairstylist na nag-ayos sa akin. I smiled at him.

"Oh? Bakit parang sad ka pa rin? Kaloka, girl, ismayl! It's your wedding day! Ang gwapo ng mapapangasawa mo hoy!" Monologue nito. I just smiled again.

"Hoy, seryoso. May problema ba?" Turan ni Aehna. I faced him. Kaibigan ko na rin si Aehna eh. "Aehna, will you marry someone you love less?"

Aehna's face became serious. "Wait, are you saying may iba kang boy?"

"N-no, it's my friend. Iniisip ko lang." Sagot ko. Parang nakahinga naman ng maluwag ang bakla.

"Okay. Well, no. Alam mo, marriage is a serious matter. At kung magpapakasal ka na lang din, dun na sa someone you can't live without!"

Dun na sa someone you can't live without.

Dun na sa someone you can't live without.

Dun na sa someone you can't live without.

Nag-eecho sa utak ko ang sinabi nya.

"Oh, tulaley ka dyan girl," nawala ako sa pag-iisip

"W-wala." tanging sagot ko. Aehna just shrugged and she bade goodbye.

Noong ako na lang ang mag-isa sa kwarto ay tinitigan ko ang repleksyon ko sa salamin. I closed my eyes and searched deep within my soul.

Do you really want this, Aphrodite Reese?

Third Person's POV

HINDI MAPAKALI si Angela. She's feeling so bad sa mga nangyayari. Noong nalaman nyang engaged na si Reese sa nobyo nitong modelo na si Damien, dali-dali nitong tinawagan ang pinsan. Bakas ang sakit at paninibugho ng pinsan nyang si Adam sa kabilang linya.

Hindi nya alam ang gagawin. Alam nya, deep in within her mind and soul, idamay mo na ang puso nya. Alam nyang hindi lubusang mahal ni Reese ang nobyo. She can see it through her eyes. Wala ang kakaibang pagningning noon kapag si Damien ang pinag-uusapan o kasama nito. Pero kapag si Adam ang naririnig nito o napag-uusapan, nakikita nya ang sigla at saya sa mga mata nito.

It's so clear for all of them, maski sa mga normal na tao na hindi magkapatid si Adam at Reese. Kaya naman nagtataka si Angela. Why would Aphrodite Reese marry Damien still? When she knows she can love Adam without any barricades. Wala ng hadlang. Kung gayon, ano ang maaaring pumipigil sa dalaga para sundin ang damdamin?

She looked at her watch. It's already 8 in the morning. 5 hours na lang, ikakasal na si Reese. She knows she needs to do something.

Kinuha ni Angela ang Hermes bag nito at dumako papunta sa pinto palabas ng kanyang hotel room. Yes, she isn't staying in Reese's mansion anymore matapos mailibing ang boss nitong si Mr. Timothy Preston.

Sumakay sya agad ng taxi. Pupuntahan nya si Reese ngayon. This is the last thing she can do for her cousin. Alam nyang wala ng balak pa si Adam na tumutol sa desisyon ng babaeng minamahal.

So what if pakielamera? Ang mahalaga sa kanya, maging maayos ang lahat. She knows. She knows that this wedding won't fix anything! Kung sumuko na ang pinsan nya, sya naman ang lalaban para dito. Mahal na mahal nya ang pinsan nya. Alam nito ang pinagdaanan nito sa buhay at nangako sya sa ina ng kanyang pinsan, si Auntie Minerva na hindi nya pababayaan ang anak nito. Not ever.

Nang nakarating sila sa naturang hotel kung saan nakacheck in si Reese para maghanda sa kasal ay binayaran nya agad ang taxi driver. Sinobrahan pa nya ng limandaang piso ang bayad kaya tuwang-tuwa ang driver at panay pasalamat.

Tumungo sya sa receptionist at tinanong ang room number ni Reese. Binigay naman nito agad dahil bilin daw ni Ms. Preston, who's soon to be Mrs. Alegro na papuntahin si Angela once na dumating.

Nasa harap sya ng suite ngayon ni Reese. Angela took a deep breathe at pinihit nya ang knob. Tumambad sa kanya ang napakalaking kwarto na may magandang babae sa loob. Obviously, it's Aphrodite.

"Hi." Bati nya rito. Hindi na tumayo pa si Reese dahil masyadong mahaba ang gown nya na kailangan pa ng alalay kapag tumayo sya. Sinuklian nya na lang ng mainit na ngiti si Angela.

Lumapit si Angela sa kanya at nagyakapan sila.

Lingid sa kaalaman ni Angela, Reese felt so relieved when she saw her. Ewan nya ba. It's like Angela's an angel of her. Palagi na lang nitong pinapagaan ang loob nya.

They talked for a while about some girly stuff until Angela cracked her mission.

"Reese, are you happy?"

That is a simple question pero nagtalo at nagulo ang utak ni Reese. She doesn't know what to say! It was a question answerable by yes or no and yet she can't answer it. Hindi pa sya nakakasagot nang magsalita muli si Angela.

"Reese. I am your friend. Hindi nga tayo nagkasama ng matagal, but I can feel it..."

Lalong nagulantang ang isip ni Reese. Oh my God. Ano bang nais ipahiwatig ni Angela? She is so terrified. Not because she doesn't know what to say but because something builds up in her. It's a bit blurry but there's light. Light that makes her realize things she doesn't wanna think or talk about.

"Angela..."

Angela held her hand and looked straight into her eyes.

"Reese. Alam kong mas mahal mo sya."

Walang binanggit na pangalan si Angela but only one man entered her mind.

"Reese. Ito ba talaga ang gusto mo? Do you wanna tie yourself to Damien just because you don't wanna hurt him?"

Kung iba-iba lang ang sasabihan o makakarinig sa sinasabi ni Angela, malamang kanina pa sya nasigawan o nasabunutan. Those statements maybe offending but hell. Those questions matter to her. And those made the light inside her mind grow.

"Reese...this is not the answer. Did you forget what your father said?"

Follow your heart.

That's what her father said in the letter.

Wala na syang pakialam kung binasa man ni Angela ang sulat ng ama nya para sa kanya. All she wanna do is think about all the things.

"Here," at iniabot ni Angela ang kapirasong papel sa kanya. "Your heart will take you there. I'm praying you'll make the right decision. I got to go, Reese. May flight pa ako pabalik ng Australia."

For the last time, they hugged. She thanked Angela for its presence, though hindi ito makakadalo sa kasal nya. Angela left, leaving her that sweet and hopeful smile.

When she's finally alone, she looked at the piece of paper in her hands.

Your heart will take you here.