After running away on his wedding day, Calyx Royce returns to his hometown to fulfil the broken promise to his bride-to-be, only to learn that she has not forgiven him and has forgotten about him . . . literally!
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Childhood best friends, Calyx an...
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Content warning: Mature themes.
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CALYX recalled that fateful day that he once thought was just a dream or a part of his imagination—an out of this world hallucination.
He had been drinking heavily that day. Alam niyang may galit na sa kaniya ang mga tao sa Pilipinas dahil sa bigla niyang pag-alis nang walang paalam. Naduwag siya dahil sa ginawa niya sa kaniyang matalik na kaibigan at maging sa kaniyang pamilya.
It was hard. He wasn't ready.
It was vague how he realized that Anaise was already in front of him. Basta nagsimula nang magsalita ang bulto sa kaniyang harapan.
Maybe the alcohol was working wonders on him that he was hallucinating about Anaise being in front of him.
"Do you hate me that much, bes?" naiiyak na usal ni Anaise. Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa sling bag habang nakipagsusukatan ng tingin.
Napahilot si Calyx ng sentido bago muling binalik ang tingin sa dalaga. "I don't hate you, Anaise. You're my best friend for Christ's sake!"
"Kung gan'on . . . " Napalunok si Anaise. "Bakit ka umalis nang basta? Bakit iniwan mo 'ko sa ere? If you didn't want to marry me, you could have just said so. Tutulungan pa kita na hindi matuloy 'yon." Marahas na pinahid ni Anaise ang kaniyang luha. "Pero para umalis ka . . . I don't get you!"
"You know na imposible 'yon. Pipilitin nila tayo na matali dahil 'yon naman talaga ang gusto nilang mangyari. Sleeping with you just gave them more authority over us to get married."
Bumuntonghinga si Anaise at hindi nakatakas kay Calyx ang pagkuyom niya ng mga kamao. Lumapit si Anaise at naupo sa kama ni Calyx upang mas maayos ang kanilang pakipag-uusap.
"Is the idea of marrying me that disgusting, Cal?" Her voice cracked at the end.
"What the heck are you talking about?"
"Uulitin ko . . . Is the idea of marrying me that disgusting?" She was stern with every word. "Nandidiri ka ba sa akin kahit na may nangyari sa 'tin na kapuwa ginusto natin? O dahil iniisip mo pa rin si Alessa?!"
"Alessa has nothing to do with this!"
Halos mapatalon pa si Anaise sa kaniyang kinauupuan dahil sa biglang paglakas ng boses ni Calyx. "T-then . . . you do hate it."
"Why would I hate it?" he roared back. "Do you not know how amazing that night was? Do you not know how beautiful and perfect you are?!" pahiyaw niyang sagot.
