No Strings Attached

-11-

Everything seems fine on a beautiful Sunday like today. Kahit hindi na kami nabalik ni Lourd sa dati, I'm proud of him for being a man for Monique. Wala na din ang pakiramdam ng panghihinayang ko na sila pa rin ang nagkatuluyan.

I guess I have finally moved on.

I just don't know if I'm willing to start again.

Ganito pala ang feeling when you're finally free from the things that haunted you in the past. It's refreshing and uplifting at the same time. Again, you're looking forward to something and there's the inevitable sense of hope.

I tapped Lourd on his shoulder causing him to look at me. "Congratulations." Yun lang ang sinabi ko sa kanya but the look on his face was priceless. Gusto ko sana siyang tawanan pero nakakahiya dahil andito na yung Pastor.

Ngumiti si Lourd Simon, not the bad-boy kind of smile but the kind of smile a real man does especially when he's happy for real. "Thanks bro." Nakita ko na pinapanood lang kami ni James with a smile on his face.

I looked again at the guests present in the wedding when my eyes caught her. We were both looking at each other. I didn't want to look away kaya nakipagtitigan din ako. Finally, her face broke into a smile. Napangiti din ako.

Bigla niyang kinuha ang phone niya and typed something. Sure enough, my phone vibrated.

Iiyak ka ha? Ha ha ha.

 

Tiningnan ko lang si Eleanor as I placed my phone back into my pocket. She was smiling playfully. Magrereply pa sana ako pero nagsimula ng tumunog ang isang kanta. Tinanguan ko na lang uli si Eleanor bago tumayo ng tuwid. I saw Lourd taking a very deep breath.

Then the doors of the church opened, revealing a woman I have loved before in the arms of her father. Everyone stood up in recognition as they watched her walk down the aisle. The choir starts singing a ballad, their voices slowly filling the silence in the church. This is their song, this is their story.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang mayroon sa relationship nila. Kung paano naging boyfriend si Lourd kay Monique or how they make things work. I just know them personally as persons close to my heart, but not enough to know their story.

I just know that they are finally getting married today. Madami ang nasaktan pero at least, umabot sila sa puntong to. We watched as Monique marched slowly, bridging the gap between the two of them. Ang huli kong alaala sa kasal ay hindi maganda.

I got left at the altar the first time I tried to get married. Ni hindi ko nga siya nakitang lumakad patungo sa altar but that no longer mattered. I finally understand what people meant when brides are radiant and beautiful―because they really are. And it's not because of her makeup or her fany wedding dress. I just know that she is positively glowing with so much happiness. Napatingin sakin si Monique and gave me a grateful smile. Tinanguan ko lang siya.

Napatingin ako kay Eleanor pero focused siya sa panonood kay Monique. Ganun talaga siguro ang mga babae especially when they're not yet married. Aminin man nila or hindi na gusto nilang maikasal, solemn sa kanila ang ganitong mga pagkakataon.