The Pristine

Ang Pang-Limampu't Pito

"Even better," her tiny hands hugged my neck.

"Yeah..." I looked at the little chaos my half family made in our indoor garden.

The cake was now being cut in half by Arjuna while Beth was sneaking out again. Ramona tries to outwit my Titas and Titos while my brother has a space of his own with his wife and my Papa who was here, very much here celebrating with us.

"Even better..." I hugged her more.

Naiuwi na namin namin si Papa pagkaraan ng mga ilang araw sa ospital. Mas lumakas na siya at may gana na kumain pero maingat pa rin ako. Gusto kong baguhin ang ayos ng kaniyang room at ang kitchen.

He already backed out of the election as per advised. My brother filed instead.

As for me, classes had already started. Papa was against me transferring back here in Cebu. Ayaw ko siyang iwan mag-isa rito dahil sa Manila ang school ko pero mapilit siya na kaya na niya. I made it to a point that I spend my weekends here, no matter how impractical and exhausting it sounds to him.

Kinabukasan ay maaga ang aking alis pabalik ng Maynila.

"You're looking better and better each day, Chrissy," smiled Sean as we boarded the plane.

I rolled my eyes at him. Iyon ay siguro pati rin ako'y nagkaroon ng recovery mula sa mga nangyari.

"How can she not be, Sean? She's with the love of her life almost every day," ani Beth sa aking gilid na sumabay rin.

"How about you, then? Sino namang pupuntahan mo sa Manila?" I smirked at her flushed expression.

Humalakhak na lamang kami ni Sean. Bahala siya kung kailan niya ihaharap si Carlos pero kukuhanin ko na iyon para may partner si Beth kapag nagmartsa na patungong altar.

Pagkarating namin sa Manila ay dumiretso na ako kaagad sa condo. Nagpahinga ako roon saglit dahil bukas pa naman ang pasok ko. I wore a yellow sundress when I got out, talking to Ramona inside my phone.

"What do you think, Mona? This one..." I sent her the screenshot of a brochure.

"Or, this one..." Then, I sent another.

Tumagilid ang aking ulo habang tinitignan ang intricate details nito sa mga gilid. Ang sabi nila, mas detalyado ay mas maganda. Mukhang totoo naman pero gusto ko pa rin yata iyong simple lang.

"I liked the second one, thank you very much! Pero hindi ba mukhang daring iyan? Backless at sleeveless? Baka sabihin naman ng mga bisita, hindi ka na mukhang virgin!"

I laughed out loud as I readjusted my airpods.

"White for purity is enough for me. Ayoko na nang long sleeves at turtle neck. That's so not me."

"Where is he, anyway? Why don't you ask him?"

Napatigil ako saglit nang tumingala sa gilid at napaisip.

"Ramona, bawal iyon. Its tradition. Marami na nga akong ginawang bawal, pati ba ang tradition ay hindi ko rin susundin?"

"Modernized na ang panahon ngayon. Some people don't do it anway! Its not like you're ruining it. You're only asking for his opinion!"

"Bawal nga sabi! And also, where's the element of surprise in that. Hmm?"

Baka hindi na iyon magulat kapag nagmamartsa na ako at hindi pa maiyak dahil hindi na bago sa paningin niya ang damit. Nakaramdaman ako ng excitement at kaba sa parehong pagkakataon.

What would his expression be like at the time?

Napapalatak si Ramona sa screen. Kita ko ang pawisan niyang noo habang nagwowork-out sa treadmill.