Play Pretend

Chapter 29

Tumango-tango na lang ako. Tinapos ko ang pag-aayos. Xaiver also styled his hair at the same time. Once we were done, sinundo na ulit kami ng shuttle. Dinaanan namin si Mama sa kanyang casita. She was dressed like never before. Noon ko na lang siya ulit nakitang mag-ayos nang todo. If it weren't for her illness, she would still look like she was in her early 20s.

"Nakakahiya at ngayon pa lang kami magkakaharap ng mga magulang mo Xaiver..." My mother finally told him her concern. Noong isang linggo niya pa ata iyon pinoproblema. "Kung kailang bukas na ang kasal ninyo..."

"Huwag po kayong mag-alala, Ma. That's how they also feel right now," Xaiver told her.

I pouted on how Xaiver called her that so naturally. Talagang nasanay na niya ang sarili niya na Mama na rin ang itawag sa kanya. On the other hand, I couldn't even try doing the same thing to his parents. I found it really weird and embarrassing. Susubukan ko pa lang, nagsisimula nang magsitayuan ang aking mga balahibo.

The shuttle drove us to the heart of the resort, where the Clubhouse was. Nandoon ang main restaurant, boutique, galleries at pati na rin ang library — the General Manager told us that last night noong nadaan kami.

Xaiver booked the private dining lounge just a few steps beside the pool. Nilagpasan namin ang main hall kung nasaan ang restaurant ng Clubhouse at dumiretso sa outdoor pool area. Kapit na kapit si Mama sa braso ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa gazebo. Dama ko rin ang kaba niya, lalo na nang matanaw namin ang mag-asawang Dela Vega.

Kaysa maging kabado rin katulad niya, iba ang naramdaman ko. I bit my lip when I saw Macy sitting with them. Malayo pa lang, I saw her smiling while having a conversation with Mrs. Dela Vega.

Hinawakan agad ni Xaiver sa kamay ko. I turned to him in surprise. He smiled at me as if he was giving me assurance. Hindi naman na 'yon kailangan. I trusted him enough to know that he wasn't the one who invited Macy to this dinner. It was obviously his parents.

"Ma," biglang tawag ni Xaiver kay Mama habang dire-diretso kami sa paglalakad. "I'm sorry for the sudden notice. It seems like my friend will be joining us for dinner."

Hilaw na tumawa si Mama sa kaba. "Ayos lang, ayos lang. Okay na 'yon. Mababawasan ang kaba ko kahit papaano."

"Thank you," Xaiver courtly replied before looking at me again.

Nginitian ko na lamang siya. He held my hand tightly as we reached the gazebo. Nag-angat ng tingin si Tita Mira sa akin. She got up along with Tito Lucio.

"Chantal! It's been a while!" Tita Mira greeted me with a smile. Bumeso siya sa akin bago humiwalay.

Last week ata ang huli naming kita ni Tita Mira noong sinamahan niya ako sa final meeting kasama ng wedding organizer. I couldn't thank her enough for the help and assistance she gave me throughout the whole process. Halos siya na nga ang umasikaso ng lahat ng kailangan. She was also very hands-on with everything, but I think, the huge part of her involvement was the pressure to make certain that her son's wedding would have no problems.

"Chantal..." Si Tito Lucio naman ang humalik sa pisngi ko bilang pagbati. "Excited for tomorrow?"

I smiled shyly. "Medyo kabado po."

"That's normal!" Tita Mira laughed. "Lahat naman ata ng kinakasal, kinakabahan. I bet our son's nervous, too, but his usual stoic face won't let him show that."

"Well, I guess you're right. I also got nervous during our wedding," alala ni Tito Lucio.

"Ma, Pa..." Huminga nang malalim si Xaiver. He stopped his parents from embarrassing him before they went further.