The (Un)Forgotten Half

CHAPTER 47 - THE ENDING

A/N: It would be good kung ipe-play nyo ang kantang Thinking Out Loud ni Ed Sheeran.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp-EO5I60KA

 

CHAPTER 47 - THE ENDING

I smiled brightly as cameras flashed continuously. Right now, I don't mind them one bit.

Bahagya akong nanginig nang maramdaman ang mabining dampi ng hangin sa aking balat habang naririnig ko ang pinaghalong tunog ng musika at ng mga alon na humahampas sa dalampasigan.

Ilang bonfire ang nakakalat sa paligid, pero may mga ilaw ding naka-set-up. Sa bandang unahan ko ay may makeshift na podium at sa magkabilang side ay may mga hilera ng upuan. The place is lined with torches, creating a hollow space in the middle that would look like an aisle. And that aisle of sand was showered with petals of roses and sakura.

Naglingunan sa akin ang lahat ng taong naroroon at biglang nagpalit ng musika. Lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko lalo nang mapatingin sa bandang unahan.

Naramdaman ko ang marahang paggagap sa aking nanlalamig na palad kaya napaangat ang paningin ko sa aking katabi. Sinalubong ng masuyong ngiti ni Harley ang tingin ko.

“Geez, don’t act like this is your first wedding. We just added some frills and fancy decorations, and a lot more people gets to witness this but it’s basically the same,” tudyo niya.

Inirapan ko si Harley.

“Iba pa rin ito. Civil wedding lang yun dati eh,” katwiran ko. Napailing na lang ang kapatid ko.

“Halika na? Kanina pa hindi mapakali sa unahan ang groom mo. Seriously, what are you both getting excited about? Mag-asawa na kayo since eight years ago, and recently, lumipat ka na rin kasama nya sa bago nyong bahay, tapos maka-kilig naman kayo sa kasal na ito, feeling first timers?”

“Ang kj mo talaga! Panira ka ng moment! Ikakasal ka rin, tingnan ko lang kung hindi ka maging excited kapag ikinasal ka,” ingos ko. “Tara na nga!” padaskol akong umabrisyete sa kanya at nag-umpisa na kaming lumakad.

Nakapaa lang ako at ramdam ko sa talampakan ang pinong buhangin na aking nilalakaran. I love the feel of the sand in my feet.

I looked forward, towards my groom, my husband, who’s patiently waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

“Minsan lang akong ikakasal, kaya may karapatan pa akong ma-excite,” pahabol na sagot ni Harley sa sinabi ko kani-kanina.

“Di ka talaga papatalo eh, noh!” komento ko kahit hindi lumilingon sa kanya.

“It feels lonely..”

“Huh?”

“It feels lonely having to take the back seat. I am no longer the first person you go up to whenever you are in trouble. I am no longer the person who will protect you, take care of you.. sya na yun. Sya na yung lagi mong tatakbuhan. Wala na akong role.”

Pinisil ko ang braso ni Harley at tiningnan.

“Ano bang sinasabi mo dyan. No one can ever take your place. You are my one and only brother. Mahal kita, kaya huwag ka ng mag-drama dyan.. Kuya.”

Gulat syang napalinga sa akin, nanlalaki ang mga mata.

“You called me.. k-kuya..”

“Dahil kuya naman talaga kita,” nginitian ko sya ng matamis. “Thank you for all the years you put up with me and put me first in your priorities. You will never mean anything less to me, kahit ano pa mang changes ang mangyari sa buhay natin pareho. Our bond is not only forged by blood, it’s much much more than that and I cannot be more fortunate for having you as my brother. Wala akong ibang gugustuhing maging kuya kundi ikaw lang. Our bond is a constant, never-ending, unyielding to anything. So stop fussing. I love you.”