"Oh, honey. Mabuti at bumaba ka na." Sabi ni dad. Sinalubong naman ako ng ngiti ni mom. There he is. We met again after a painful conversation. My feet became stiff and I felt like I couldn't walk anymore. "Come here, nandito si Kuya Uno mo" Sabi ni Dad.
Mom and dad don't know anything, they don't know why I didn't want to come here in the first place but I was forced to just to show my respect to Uno, to his wedding. I slowly walked towards mom and dad, facing Uno. I forced a smile. "H-hi?" Ngumiti ako para hindi halata na medyo nahihirapan na ako. "C-congrats, kasal mo na pala sa l-linggo". Nauutal ako, hindi ko alam kung bakit pero nasasaktan ako.
"Oh? Kinakabahan ka 'ata?" Tumatawang sabi ni dad. "Nako! ito talaga" Hinaplos ni mommy ang likod ko. "Alam mo ba Uno, ayaw sana nitong sumama sa amin, ang kaso pinilit ng kuya niya tsaka sabi ko minsan lang naman at sa pinaka espesyal na araw ninyo ni Keisha." saad ni mommy, nasaktan ako do'n sa part na sinabi niya na "espesyal na araw nila ni Keisha."
He just smiled, I looked into his eyes. I saw happiness mixed with sadness in him. He looked at the necklace I was wearing and looked back at me. "Ah, sir baka nagugutom na kayo, ipinagluto ko po kayo, paborito 'yon ni
Rei— ma'am Reign." Aniya tsaka ngumiti, nauna siyang naglakad patungo sa dining room at sumunod naman kami.
"Dad, hindi pa ako nagugutom, pwede po ba mauna na lang kayo?" I frowned. Dad looked at me. "Reign" Aniya. Wala akong nagawa kundi sundin na lang siya.
We are all in the dining area, Uno, Keisha, Manang Fe, Manong Ambo, Kuya Ash, Kuya Jacob, and Dad. Pinag gintaan ako ni Kuya Ash At Kuya Jacob kaharap si Uno, Keisha, at Manang Fe. Subrang nakakailang lalo na't magkaharap kami ni Uno at ang magiging asawa niya. Grabing parusa sa sarili, Reign.
While we were eating, dad spoke. "Napaka swerte naman nitong si Keisha, nakatagpo ng matinong lalaki." Sabi ni dad. I looked at Uno who was now looking at me while Keisha smiled when she heard that. Ako sana 'yung maswerte dad, kung hindi mo ako pinarusahan ng tatlong taon sa Europe.
"Ilang taon ka na nga uli, Ija?" Tanong ni Mommy. Ngumiti muna si Keisha bago nagsalita. "Kaka twenty three ko lang po, no'ng 6" Aniya tsaka ngumiti. Halos maubo ako sa narinig ko. What? maka- birthday kami?.
"Magka birthday pala kayo nitong bunso ko." Sabi ni dad tsaka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. I looked at Uno, who now seemed to be saying something with his eyes. Bakit? Bakit magka birthday kami? Halos magkapareho na kami ah, magkasing tangkad, magkasing haba ng buhok, kasing payat at pareho naming gusto ang sinigang na baboy?.
I felt like kuya Jacob elbowed me kaya napatingin ako sakanya, hindi ko namalayan na nakatitig na ako kay Uno. "Namiss kita, pre" Pag-iba ni Kuya Ash. Ngumiti lang si Uno at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
After we finished eating, Uno took us to our own room, Kuya Jacob and I were together. Dad and mom are together, Kuya Ash and Manong Ambo, and Manang Fe are in a solo room. Nilagay ko ang mga gamit ko sa kama at hinarap si Kuya Jacob at Uno na mahinang nag-uusap. "Teka nga pala, Reign. Nakalimutan kong kunin 'yong gamit ko." Brother Jacob was rushing out, so Uno and I ended up together.
"Reign" Tawag niya sa akin kaya tinaas ko ang tingin ko sakanya. "I-im sorry" Aniya tsaka lumapit sa akin at mahigpit niya akong niyakap. I didn't hug him back, I didn't want to hug him. "Sorry for what?" Tinatagan ko ang loob ko na hindi masaktan pero may kirot pa rin sa puso ko. "I'm sorry if I marry someone else, who should've been you." Hindi oa rin siya kumalas sa pagkakayakap.
"N-no, it's okay. Tanggap ko na, Uno." Malamig na sabi ko. I don't know but at this time, there is anger in my heart. Finally, kumalas na siya sa pagkakayakap. Hinarap niya ako at hinawakan ang magkabilang braso ko.
"Before my wedding, I want you to allow me to marry Keisha." Aniya tsaka malungkot na tiningnan ako sa sking mga mata. Paano kung hindi kita payagang magpakasal Uno? may magagawa ka ba para hindi ituloy ang kasal?
I looked away and removed his hand from my arm. "There's nothing I can do, Uno. H-halos magkapareho kami, kaya go, marry her." Sabi ko tsaka umupo sa kama at kinuha ang libro sa bag. He was silent for a moment. "P-paano ka?" I could tell from his voice that he was fighting his sadness. "Bahala na" Malamig na sabi ko tsaka kinuha ang selpon ko sa minibag at nilagay sa bulsa ko.
"by the way, she's pretty. I hope you are happy with her." I said before I stood up and walked out.
I don't know where my feet will take me, all I know is that I'm going up to the terrace. When I reached the terrace, I immediately saw the mansion nearby. On the other side was the ocean, which looked peaceful.
It was sunset, so I took a few photos, including a photo of the mansion in the back. Subrang ganda dito, hindi ko aakalaing nag eexist pala ang ganito, sa libro ko lang ito nababasa at sa palabas ko lang rin ito nakikita.
CHAPTER 15
Start from the beginning
