Okay, I'll do this.
I stood up from my seat causing everyone's eyes to dart on me. Nakangiti lang sakin si Mon. "Okay, we have Mr. Chance Sandoval right here. He's the twin brother of our groom." Saad ng Host. Napatingin ako kay Eleanor and she gave me a reassuring nod.
Nabuhayan tuloy ako ng loob kaya lumakad ako papunta sa harapan malapit sa table nung dalawa. Alam kong awkward ang gagawin ko ngayon. Siguro alam ng iba sa mga guests ang nangyari at may iba namang wala pang alam. I shook the idea off my thoughts.
Nginitian ko ang dalawa bago hawakan ng mic.
"Good day everyone especially to our newly-wedded couple. Lourd, my twin brother and Monique, a special friend." Ngumiti lang sakin si Monique na mukhang naiiyak na. Maybe she didn't really expect me to do this. Kahit ako, I wasn't expecting this. Ramdam ko ang kabog ng puso ko sa kaba.
"I wanted to say Congratulations to the both of you. Kasal na kayo. She's officially yours and vice versa. We've come so far. The road had been long and difficult but thank God we're finally here." I saw Eleanor watching me intently.
"I'm not really ready for this―I mean, giving this speech because I don't really have any idea on what I should tell you but someone pretty persuasive talked me into it. So here I am, Lourd and Monique. I came here to witness this big day because who would've miss it for the world?
"Lourd, ingatan mo yang si Monique but I'm not telling you this para sabihin na kapag binitawan mo siya at sinaktan, ay kukunin ko siya mula sayo. The first thing I'll do when you hurt her would be to kill you, Bro. No offense. I won't catch her when you let go of her, that's it because I have some other girl to catch." I glanced at Eleanor pero tinaasan lang niya ako ng kilay. Tumawa naman ang ibang guests.
"And Monique, tiyagaan mo ang kahibangan ng kakambal ko. He'll be a pain in the ass but at the same time, he'll be worth it so don't give up on him. Don't give up on someone you love. Never. Huwag mo kong gagayahin." Monique smiled habang nagpupunas ng luha. Kanina pa siyang umiiyak simula ng tumayo ako dito.
"And for the two of you, enjoy your life. Kasal na kayo so pwede na kayong gumawa ng kabalastugan." Lourd glared at me but laughed anyway. "I'm proud of you, to be honest. I mean, naunahan mo pa akong ikasal but that doesn't matter. Godspeed everyone." Tumayo si Lourd sa kanyang kinauupuan para yakapin ako pati si Monique.
Bumalik na ako sa kinauupuan ko. I heaved a sigh as I sat. Hinawakan naman ni Eleanor ang kamay ko and gave it a small squeeze which calmed me immediately. Tiningnan ko siya at ngumiti. She opened her mouth to say something pero tinikom niya din agad iyon. I thought she's gonna tell something about the wedding pero nagulat ako nung bumulong siya, "Mas maganda kung umiyak ka sa unahan."
I gave her a glare pero nakangiti lang ako. Her words weren't that deep and advise-worthy considering that she's a Psych major but it relaxes me in some way. Eleanor have a way with her words kahit minsan nonsense ang sinasabi niya.
"Thanks again, El." I told her.
"Okay lang. Keep on smiling babe." She pinched my nose bago magpaalam na pupunta ng restroom. Sakto namang lumapit sakin si James at umupo sa naiwang bakanteng upuan ni Eleanor.
YOU ARE READING
No Strings Attached
General Fiction[For my beloved Chance Lucas Sandoval] Chance Lucas Sandoval meets Eleanor Kai Gonzales in the most unlikely place, and you can guess that the most unlikely thing happens. He agrees to date other women, as Eleanor has stated, to help him move on wit...
