Hopelessly Devoted to You

CHAPTER 20

Napasubsob ako sa sahig.

"Is that enough to wake you up, Madrigal? What the hell are you talking about?"

Agad akong tumayo at ngumisi. That's what I've been looking for. Pero parang kulang pa. I wanted more.

"Isa pa nga," I requested while wiping the blood off my lips.

"Fvck you!"

Sumeryoso na rin ang mukha nina Micaller at Dela Vega. Inalalayan nila akong makaupo sa kama. Kaya ko pa naman tumayo kahit napakalakas ng suntok ni Montreal.

"Tangina, bro! Seryoso ka ba? Ano'ng nangyari? Bakit biglang nagbago ang isip mo? At bakit ngayon pa mismong araw ng kasal mo? Nababaliw ka na ba?"

"Sana nga nababaliw lang ako, Micaller."

Nagkatinginan silang tatlo. Montreal picked up the pictures on the floor. The pictures that ruined my entire being.

"This is..." he trailed off and stared at me. His face suddenly turned into horror.

"Saan nanggaling ang mga ito?"

I shook my head.

Wala naman kasing nakalagay sa envelope kung kanino galing ang mga iyon. Pero malinaw na sa akin ang lahat.

"Do you even believe this?" Montreal murmured.

"Mas matalino ka, dapat alam mo kung edited 'yan o hindi."

Napamura siya.

"These are fvcking real, but how?"

He examined the pictures again then handed those to Dela Vega.

"Teka, ano 'to? Bakit may ganito ka? Huwag mong sabihing may balak kang magpa-transition—" Micaller trailed off as he picked up the bottle of Estrogen pills from the floor. Inagaw iyon ni Montreal mula sa kanya. He's waiting for answers from me.

"I followed her yesterday because I wanted to see her. Pumunta siya sa isang clinic. Nang lumabas siya at sumakay ng kotse nahulog niya 'yan."

Nanlaki ang kani-kanilang mga mata.

"What the hell!" Micaller exclaimed. Napahilamos siya ng mukha.

"Is this the reason why you wanna call the wedding off?" Montreal queried. His face illuminated what I feel at the moment.

"May iba pa bang puwedeng maging dahilan? She fvcking betrayed me!"

"Did she lie to you?" he asked back. I shook my head again.

"She didn't lie to you, Madrigal. She just didn't tell you her history because she already labelled herself a woman."

"You knew how much I hate her kind, Montreal."

"Tangina, ang laking gulo nitong pinasok mo, Madrigal. I can't imagine what's going on right now at the church. Nando'n na ang lahat at ikaw na lang ang hinihintay." Si Dela Vega. Nakapameywang siya't napahilot ng sentido.

"Tangina naman, hindi pala kasalan ang pupuntahan ko ngayon kundi inuman. Nag-effort pa akong bumili ng susuutin," Micaller exclaimed frustratedly. Gusto ko sana siyang suntukin kaya lang baka hindi niya susundin ang utos ko.

"So, what's the plan?"

"I need your help. You know what to do," I responded to Dela Vega. Napabuntonghininga silang tatlo.

"Have you really made up your mind already, Madirgal?" Montreal asked as if he's still not convinced that I'm not gonna push for the wedding. I just nodded in response.

"I thought you love her."

That hit me. I felt like my heartbeat stopped for a second. I felt a stinging pain crossed my heart. Tangina, iyon nga ang masakit. Mahal na mahal ko siya pero hindi ko siya kayang tanggapin sa buhay ko. Ang akala ko siya na ang babaeng makatutupad ng pinapangarap kong pamilya. Ang akala ko iba siya sa lahat, mas malala pa pala, dahil nagawa niyang maglihim sa 'kin.

"Bakit hindi ka makasagot? Once you cancel this wedding, you know what it means, right? You are cancelling her from your life forever."

"Kung kayo ang nasa kalagayan ko, gano'n din naman ang gagawin n'yo, 'di ba?"

Nagkatinginan sina Micaller at Dela Vega. Umiling naman si Montreal.

"Ibahin mo ako, Madrigal. Hindi ako kagaya mo magmahal."

I grimaced.

"But I don't want to judge your decision. It's your life and it's your feelings. I'm just hoping you're not gonna regret this. Kasi sa oras na humingi ka ulit ng tulong sa 'kin, sampung milyon ang sisingilin ko sa 'yo," ani Montreal.

Napasimangot ako. Marahil huli na 'to. At huli na rin itong babaeng pinapasok ko sa buhay ko. Maybe I'm not as lucky as my friends. Kailanman ay hindi ako makahahanap ng babaeng tapat magmahal sa 'kin.

"Sige na nga, kahit na ang dami mong binasag sa hotel room hindi na kita sisingilin. Abuloy ko na lang 'yan sa puso mong namatay ngayong araw," Dela Vega exclaimed. Though he's holding his laugh, his eyes showed a deep concern about me.

"Tara sa Zero Degree. Tayo na magbukas ng bar kahit tanghaling tapat, tangina! Wooh!" sigaw ni Micaller.

"Bago 'yan balikan muna natin ang mga taong naghihintay sa simbahahan, Micaller. Tangina mo, ang takaw mo sa alak. Ihanda mo ang sarili mo dahil mapapalaban tayo sa maraming katanungan. Tss."

They all tapped my shoulder before leaving.

"This is gonna be the last draw of your cards, Madrigal. No more game two," Montreal warned before walking out of the room.

Nakipagtitigan ako ng ilang minuto sa kisame pagkatapos nilang umalis.

I didn't bother to fix myself. I just got my wallet, phone, and car keys before walking out of the room as well. Pumunta ako ng parking at kinuha ang kotse ko. Bahala na si Dela Vega mag-ayos ng hotel niya.

I stayed in the car for more than an hour before I decided to leave the parking space. My plan was to go to the Zero Degree bar, but I was surprised when I found myself parking the car outside the church where my wedding ceremony was supposed to be held. Marahil umalis na lahat ng mga bisita nang ibalita ng mga kaibigan ko na wala nang kasalang magaganap.

Wala nang mga tao sa loob at labas. Nakikita ko pa rin ang red carpet mula sa pinto.

I unconsciously went off the car and walked slowly to the church. I can feel my heart beating fast... painfully.

I immediately hid behind the door when I saw a familiar figure.

"Ma'am Safina, tara na ho. Kailangan na ninyong umuwi. Ihahatid ka namin sa bahay ninyo."

"Iwan n'yo na ako, Jessa. Pabayaan n'yo na ako rito. Hihintayin ko si Elliot."

"Ma'am, hindi n'yo ba narinig ang sinabi ng mga kaibigan niya kanina, hindi na siya darating."

Putangina. Ang sakit. I felt the urge to reveal myself and wipe her tears but when I remembered the truth about her, my feet won't just cooperate.

I found myself leaving the church. I didn't even understand why I brought myself here.

©GREATFAIRY