Artemis (Gxg) (Intersex)

Art 35

ARTEMIS 35

NATHALIA

Napapangiti ako habang nakaupo sa bench at minamasdan ang preparasyon ni Lake dahil ngayong araw ay ang kasal nila ni Freya.

She is wearing a gorgeous outfit na bumagay sa matangkad nyang pigura. Her mom and dad are talking to her and they seem so happy and proud with her daughter. Who wouldn't?

Her daughter has everything they could be proud of. And tonight, she's gonna marry the woman of her life.

And I smiled...a bitter smile. Saka ako nag labas ng malalim na buntong hiningi. Lake, is still my ex. She occupies a part of my heart that no one could ever replace. And it's my honor to see her as happy as tonight.

"You...hmmn..." Artemis muttered. Oo nga pala, katabi ko nga pala sya.

"Ha?" Pag lingon ko sa kanya, she looked somewhat hurt. Siguro dahil nahuli nya akong kanina pa nakatitig kay Lake.

"Are you...hmmn..." Hindi nya maituloy ang sasabihin nya pero tinuturo nya ang kanyang pinsan.

"What?" I asked her. Amused that she looked like a little jealous cat.

"H-hurt? That Lake is gonna marry Freya tonight?" Sa wakas, nailabas na rin nya ang gusto nyang itanong.

I gave her a smile, saka ako muling tumingin kay Lake. "Yeah, sort of."

I know Art is my wife, and hindi naman ako talaga nasasaktan na ikakasal si Lake. But tonight, I just want to take the remaining moment na mag reminisce sa mga oras na naging masaya rin kami nung time na kame pa. It's not that I still love her, but I still love her in another form of love now. Yung mapapangiti ka nalang na minsan kang pinasaya ng taong ito, but tonight, she's gonna be officially owned by someone, and that is not you.

Napayuko si Artemis. Sineryoso nya siguro yung sagot ko.

"You still love her?" She asked.

Tinignan ko amg katabi ko ng makahulugan. At the corner of my mind, gusto kong sabihin sa kanya ng pabiro, how dare you to ask me kung mahal ko pa sya, ano naman sayo? Ikaw nga, never ko pang narinig na mahal mo ako. But I stopped myself. Baka kasi mamaya mapahiya lang ako and at the end ako lang ang masaktan.

I sighed. "Freya is really lucky to have your cousin, Artemis. I must admit, naging masaya rin ako nung kami ni Lake." I told her the truth.

She let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry, hindi kita nabigyan ng ganito ka engrandeng kasal..."

Natawa ako at tumingin sa paligid. She's right, the reception is way better than what we had nung kinasal kami but I didnt mind that. Di ba nga ako ang may gusto ng simpleng kasal?

"Art, hindi ako naiinggit kasi mas maganda ang kasal nila. Ako nga ang may gusto ng simple di ba?" Sagot ko sa kanya.

"Then why?" I cant describe how she look. Is she seriously upset? Nasasaktan ba talaga sya dahil sa sinabi ko kanina?

"Why what?" I asked.

"Why..." Parang nanghihina nyang tanong. "Why do you still love Lake?" She asked.

Hindi ko alam kung dala ng pagbubuntis ko pero sa halip maawa at icomfort sya dahil mukha nga syang nagseselos na pusa ay parang mas gusto ko pa sya lalong pag selosin. Anyway, hindi naman nya ako mahal. Bakit ko naman iisipin feelings nya di ba?

"I already told you Art. Lake is one of a kind. Mabait sya, mukha lang hindi. Ikaw? Mukhang hindi dahil hindi naman talaga. Si Lake? Mukha lang masama ang ugali pero ang totoo, palagi nyang iniisip ang iba. Ikaw? Eh..." I stopped because I saw the pain etched on her beautiful face. Eto naman di mabiro.