AGS 4: The Best Man's Wedding

Prologue

Wala akong time mag-prepare for out of town. Ang dami kong pending commitments, may inaasikaso pa akong breaching of contract issue, and a multi-million lawsuit was not on my list for this year's headache. And Clark was handling everything for me, kaso biglang ito na naman!

Pag-upo namin sa table, sinadya nilang lagyan ang seats ng name tag to assign our places. Kaya nga hindi na ako nagulat na magkatabi kami ni Clark.

Mum looked at us as if she was a queen preparing for battle with the gents. Inis na inis siya sa ugali ni Kuya samantalang magkaugali lang naman sila.

"I am so delighted to have you all here," Mum said, it might sound sincere but we could sense her evilness behind her sweet smile.

My Mum's face is a natural beauty. Ang daming naiinggit sa mukha niya kasi hindi retokada pero mukha pa ring young and fresh. Really, mukha siyang younger sister ni Kuya kapag nagtatabi sila, and that wasn't a good sign because that means I'm getting old.

"Patrick married my darling Melanie a few months ago, and I am so happy that Leo finally tied with Kyline."

Kuya was sitting across from me and beside him was his wife, Jaesie. They both rolled their eyes habang pasimpleng umiinom ng champagne.

Mum has her favorite child, and believe me when I say na wala sa amin ni Kuya Ronie ang sagot doon.

"Clark! My dear," Mum exclaimed, and I could see everyone's face keeping their smile or else, parang paliliyabin ni Mum ang mesa using the centerpiece candles.

"Tita!" masaya ring sagot ni Clark habang ngiting-ngiti, pero sa ilalim, hinahampas na ang kamay ko, as if nanghihingi ng tulong. Hinampas ko rin ang kamay niya para lang tumigil siya.

Marahang pumalakpak nang sobrang lutong si Mum habang umiiling. "At last . . . welcome to the family."

Naibuga ni Jaesie ang champagne niya kaya napahinto si Mum sa pagpalakpak at napandilatan ko si Jae ng mata sunod si Mum.

"Sorry, I'm . . . wow, sorry." Dinampot agad ni Jaesie ang table napkin niya at ipinunas sa bibig.

Tiningnan ko isa-isa ang mga kasama namin sa mesa. The elders looked at me, as if congratulating us from my Mum's announcement. The announcement earned a cringed faces from Kuya's friend, as if nakakadiri ang sinabi ni Mum—which I would definitely agree with kasi wala nga ito sa plano.

"Tita, aampunin mo na 'ko?" masayang sinabi ni Clark. "Excited na 'kong maging Dardenne!"

No one laughed except his barkada, but it was a restricted laugh kasi talagang bubuhusan sila ng champagne ni Mum at tatapunan ng kandilang umaapoy pa once they tried to burst out laughing. They feared Tita Linda, but they feared Mum more.

"Clark, darling," Mum in her disappointed and forced calmness. "We already talked it, di ba? And besides, I booked an appointment with Mathilda for you and my baby Sab."

Sabay-sabay kaming napatingin kay Will nang mabanggit si Mat. Mabilis siyang umiling sa amin habang pinandidilatan kami ng mata.

Mathilda is Kuya's wedding organizer. Alam namin na magaling siyang magtrabaho, but I had no plan to work with her for my wedding kay Clark any time soon kasi . . . hindi pa tamang panahon ngayon.

"Mum, you're not supposed to do this," Kuya retorted. "Babawi ka pa ng gastos dito sa kasal ni Leo."

"Anak, hindi ako gagastos nang ganito kalaki kung hindi ninyo kinuha ang gastos ko dapat para sa kasal n'yo ni Jaena." Nagtaas agad ng mukha si Mum kay Kuya. "Kasalanan ko bang marami akong pera para gastusan ang kasal ninyong lahat?"

Napahigop ng wine ang parents ng barkada ni Kuya, mukhang na-offend sa sinabi ni Mum. Not surprised though.

"Hindi na kita pinakialaman sa kasal mo kay Jaesie. Single naman si Clark."

"Tita, hindi mo sure," sagot ni Clark. "Ang ganda kong lalaki para maging single."

"Shut up," that automatically spilled from my mouth.

"Ano ba?" pigil niyang bulong sa 'kin. "Makisama ka na lang."

Paano akong makikisama, wedding ni Leo ngayon, but we were talking about my wedding!

"Sab's getting old, you're getting old," katwiran ni Mum. "Pinare-reserve ko na ang church by June. Don't disappoint us. Nag-agree na rito ang parents mo."

Pati ako, nagki-cringe na nakatingin kina Tito Ferdz na matipid na tumatango sa amin.

"Tita, don't do this to me . . ." kunwaring umiiyak na sinabi ni Clark.

"You already said after ng wedding ni Leo, and here we are. It's your decision in the first place."

"I feel betrayed." Mabilis na niyakap ni Clark si Calvin na katabi niya habang OA na humahagulhol.

Oh my God.

Hindi ko na talaga alam kung ano na'ng nangyayari. Sobrang gulo na ng lahat.

♥♥♥