Patrick and Melanie's wedding wasn't the wedding of the year. Mum wouldn't let that happen. Although she was questioning Uncle Bobby and Auntie Liz's capacity to make their son's wedding the grandest of all, when Uncle Bobby accepted her game, Mum backed out and said the simple the better.
We didn't want to question the Lauchengco's financial prowess, at never ko ring ia-underestimate ang capacity nila para patulan ang kayabangan ni Mum, but it was a good thing na hindi nila itinuloy.
Compared to Kuya's wedding na ang daming invited na hindi naman supposedly invited but Mum asked to come, sa wedding ni Patrick, kahit paano, ang invited lang talaga sa kasal ay talagang nakakakilala sa mga ikakasal. Close friends nina Melanie at Patrick, VIP clients ni Mel bilang chef, at "ilang" family members both sides. Buong family ng barkada ni Patrick, invited. Although, not everyone attended but still, nakatanggap ng invitation.
Speaking of Patrick's barkada, they were all prepared for the second part of the pre-wed photoshoot. And since part ako ng wedding prep team, wala akong choice kundi bihisan at tulungan ang boys sa mga suit nila.
Nasa main house ng mga Vizcarra nagbibihis ang lahat ng groomsmen and bridesmaid.
Sina Kuya, marunong magbihis ng suit. Sa kanilang lahat, si Kuya at si Leo lang ang umaangat kapag naka-suit. Sorry sa ibang boys, but I'd rather see them sexy and naked.
For sure, hindi lang ako ang mag-a-agree kapag sinabi kong asset ni Kuya ang pagdadala ng damit, especially suit. Every time he walked wearing one smart suit, he definitely looked like he's gonna buy everything his eyes could see. It was one of the prominent grace our dad has and Kuya has it as well.
Meanwhile, Leo wore his gray suit as if to intimidate everyone with his aura. The whole room was a simple Spanish old room and they all stood out, but Leo was sitting on a wooden chair, arms crossed, and legs in a four-like position, and he looked like he was gonna attack anyone who would touch a bit of his space.
Since I'm comfortable with everyone apart from Leo, I didn't see the others that special and dashing. Maghubad na lang talaga sila kasi doon sila may laban.
Si Clark na ang inaayusan ko ng bowtie nang matanong ko siya.
"Bakit si Kuya ang best man ni Pat at hindi ikaw? Akala ko ba, mas close kayo?"
"Best man kasi ako ni Leo."
Bumagal ang pag-ayos ko sa tie niya habang tinititigan siyang mabuti. "So, next year?"
"I doubt that."
"What do you mean by you doubt that?"
He just shrugged and that left a huge question mark on my mind.
He doubt that? Ano'ng meaning n'on? Hindi siya sure na ikakasal si Leo next year? So next, next year?
Importante sa amin ang wedding ni Leo because he made an agreement with Mum, so I must know what was gonna happen.
The last groomsman na kinailangan kong i-assist ay ang dapat na ring bearer pero masyado na nga raw kasing malaki para maging ring bearer. May point din naman.
Eugene Scott is Leo's eldest son, and he's old enough to carry the rings for the wedding couple. Kamukhang-kamukha niya ang daddy niya kaya nga hindi na kami humihiling na ngumiti o tumawa si Leo. Eugene's a happy kid. The first time I saw him, sa graduation pa ng daddy niya, and he was just a one-year-old baby at that time. Ngayon, halos maabutan na niya ang height ko. Hanggang ilong ko na siya.
Laging jino-joke ni Clark na anak niya talaga si Eugene at pinaglihian lang si Leo kaya nakuha ang mukha ng ama. Matagal naman na nilang biruan 'yon. Pero sa end ng family ni Kyline, ina-acknowledge nila si Clark as the second father of Eugene, kahit pa technically godfather na siya ng anak ni Leo.
"Are you excited?" I asked Eugene as I fixed his bow tie.
Eugene immediately grinned at me and flexed his perfect set of teeth. "Yeah! I saw Mimy in her dress too."
"Your Mimy is so beautiful."
"I'm excited to see her with Dada."
Eugene's smile gave me a bit of guilt. Hindi pa kasal ang parents niya, and here he was, witnessing the wedding of his daddy's friend and him as one of Pat's groomsmen.
Big deal sa akin ang wedding ng parents ni Eugene. Feeling ko kasi, go signal 'yon ni Mum para ikasal ako. And now that Clark mentioned that he's Leo's best man at hindi siya sigurado kung matutuloy ang kasal nina Leo next year, lalo kong nararamdaman na pinagdadamutan ko ng happiness si Eugene.
Sa isip-isip ko kasi, gusto kong sabihin sa kanyang pasensiya na siya kasi walang kasal na mangyayari next year para sa parents niya. At ang hirap i-drop ng selfishness na 'yon sa batang twelve years nang naghihintay maikasal ang parents niya.
It was already eight in the morning. Minamadali na kami ng photographer sa ibaba. Nauna nang bihisan ang bride at groom kasi sila ang dapat maraming shots, kahit pa sa room nilang dalawa, may kumukuha na ng pictures, six pa lang ng umaga.
Noong wedding ni Kuya, wala akong na-handle na orders pagdating sa suits kasi full ang schedule ko. Ipinilit lang talaga ni Mum itong kay Patrick kasi nga ayaw niyang padaig sa mga kumare niya.
Hindi na tuloy ako nagtaka nang maabutan namin sila nina Auntie Liz sa rose garden ng farm ng mga Vizcarra, paypay siya nang paypay habang pinanonood sina Kuya Ronie at Kyline na kasama ng bride at groom.
"Patrick's so dashing with his tux, amiga." Mum was so proud of her words.
"Sabrina's crafts are worth the wait, Tessa. Napaka-talented na bata."
"Of course, mana sa ina, hahaha!"
Yeah, right. Hindi nga siya marunong magsulsi. Marunong lang siyang manusok ng karayom.
Minsan, nakakahiyang marinig si Mum kapag nagyayabang siya. She was taking all the credit samantalang tumaba nga ako kagagawa ng suits ng groomsmen. Ni hindi ko nga na-embrace ang breakup moments ko, matapos lang ang suit ni Patrick! My gosh!
"Ronerico is so handsome," Auntie Liz praised. "Though, I was expecting for Clark to be my son's best man, but Ronie is still a good choice."
I slightly hid at the assistant photographer's body just to see Mum's reaction sa sinabi ni Auntie Liz about Kuya.
"I hope you don't take that personally, amiga," Auntie Liz disclaimed, she even held my Mum's arm just to apologize.
"No worries, amiga. Wala namang problema sa anak ko kung siya ang napili ni Patrick. I didn't want to spoil this, but ikakasal na rin naman si Clark, so everything's okay."
"Really?" gulat na gulat na tanong ni Auntie Liz, and my eyes instantly widened after hearing that. "To Suzanne's daughter?"
"No! Kay Sabrina, of course!" Mum closed her elegant fan and grinned proudly at Auntie Liz.
"Oh. But I thought Suzanne's daughter already has him."
"Ah! No, I won't let that to happen, mare. Tingin naman ni Suzy, papayag akong kunin niya ang mamanugangin ko?"
Mabilis kong hinanap si Clark sa buong rose garden. Inisa-isa ako ang bawat location kung saan-saan nagte-take ng photo, at doon ko napatunayang ang laki ng buong area kasi tatlong magkakaibang side na ang napuntahan ko, wala roon si Clark.
Umikot pa ako sa kabilang hedges at doon ko nakita ang barkada ni Kuya na busy sa photoshoot para sa groomsmen.
Formal silang lahat na nakatayo at seryoso ang mga mukha. Puro groomsmen ang nandito. Ang una kong napuntahan, mga bridesmaid naman. Iba pa ang kina Pat and Mel kasama ang maid of honor at best man kung saan ako galing.
Hinintay ko pa silang matapos bago ko hinatak si Clark sa isang sulok ng garden.
"O? Bakit na naman?" tanong niya.
Hawak-hawak ko lang siya sa kamay habang hinahatak. Hindi ko siya puwedeng hawakan sa suit kasi magugusot ang sleeve niya.
Paghinto namin sa sulok, nagkrus na ako ng braso saka siya tinaasan ng kilay. "Kilala mo yung anak ng kumare ni Mum?"
"Sino?"
"Suzanne."
"Si Sarah?"
"So, you knew na ikakasal dapat kayong dalawa?"
Nagsalubong agad ang kilay niya. "Ikakasal kami? Tita Suzy fixed the dinner for that reason."
"So, tuloy 'yon?"
"That was booked last year, mid-August," he said, and he sounded sarcastic. "Sabrina, January na. That was five months ago."
Nakatitig lang ako kay Clark sa gitna ng initan. Kahit ayokong kumunot ang noo, useless din kasi nakakakunot talaga ng noo ang sinag ng araw.
Naiirita ako sa idea na alam pala niya pero hindi niya sinasabi. Although, kung mid-August 'yon, kami pa ni Ivo n'on, so wala pa akong pakialam kung tutuusin. But he should tell me na may ganoon palang nangyari para hindi ako nagwa-wonder kung ano ang mga pinagsasasabi ni Mum sa mama ni Pat.
"Pusta, nagtsitsismisan na naman doon sa puwesto n'yo, 'no?" sabi niya at nagkrus din ng mga braso. "Just in case na hindi ka aware sa laro na ginagawa ni Tita Tess, nabalitaan niyang nila-lineup na ako ng mga kumare niya para sa mga anak nila last year pa after ng wedding ni Early Bird." Naningkit ang mga mata niya saka pinagalaw ang mga daliri niya sa hangin habang nagpapaliwanag. "Hindi naman sa nagyayabang pero maraming babaeng nakapila para pakasalan ko. Ang kaso, ayoko sa kanila."
"Ang kapal mo."
But I would admit that he was right and that was the annoying truth.
Favorite child si Clark ng halos lahat ng mga kumare ni Mum, at talagang makikipagpatayan si Mum para lang hindi maagaw ang favorite son niya ng ibang nanay.
"Wedding ngayon ni Pat. Ayokong sirain ang special day niya. College pa lang kami, iniiyakan na niya 'to. Sabihin mo kay Tita Tess, saka na siya umentrada, kapag tapos na ang wedding." Tinapik niya ako sa braso saka siya bumalik sa barkada niya.
Ayoko talaga ng situation ko ngayon. Naiipit ako kay Mum at kay Clark.
Basically, Mum was reserving Clark, and that was why she put me as a gambit in her game. Once I let go of this whole idea, mawawalan na siya ng good player sa laro niya kasi ako lang ang babaeng anak niya.
Napakamalas ko naman. Sana naging lalaki na lang ako.
It wasn't that I didn't like Clark to be my husband, but I just don't see everything as something workable. I mean . . . hindi pa sobrang clear ng idea. Clark said no. Everyone said yes. And I was torn between saying yes because everyone said yes, and no because Clark said no.
Personal decision, ayoko pang magpakasal. I might find someone else better than Clark—even though I could testify that he's the best among the rest, and even more than my own brother.
He would literally die for me. And if that wasn't love, then I don't know what love means anymore.
A few hours later, the wedding has already started. Nasa malaking auditorium ang lahat, and the capacity of the place was enough for five hundred people. May apat na malalaking monitor for everyone to watch what was happening on the altar. Everything was white and gold. Two hundred heads ang malapit sa fountain. All the assistants including me was positioned before the aisle. Katabi namin ang mga photographer, videographer, and isa sa strict protocol sa area, walang magdadala ng phone during the ceremony. Ayaw ng family nina Melanie na maraming makikisapaw sa paid job ng wedding studio. I didn't hear anyone around us complained regarding that, pero parang na-filter na yata nila ang visitors or na-inform na mula pa kahapon or before sila pumunta rito sa farm. Maliban sa barkada nina Kuya. Kaya duda akong walang gagamit ng phone sa kanila.
From the auditorium, may mahabang aisle papuntang gitna ng circular area kung nasaan ang fountain. Around that, may waterway na blue-toned ang tubig. Sa puwesto namin, may grand gold and white arc na puro white peony and gardenia. Along the aisle, may path na puro rin peony.
Supposedly, maglalakad ang groomsmen and bridesmaid papunta malapit sa altar, however, maid of honor at best man lang ang in-allow near the altar para sa ibang rites like paghahawak ng candle and all. Naiwan ang lahat sa area before the aisle. Doon kami nakatayong lahat, sina Clark and the rest. Aalis lang kaming mga assistant after Melanie's walk.
Lahat kami nakatingin at nakabantay sa procession kasi iba ang setup. It was doing good for the first part of the ceremony when the ring bearer entered in the middle of the midday sun.
Katatapos lang ng flower girl na naging okay naman, kaya nga napatayo at napasigaw kaming lahat nang biglang ibato ng ring bearer ang white pillow.
"Aaaaay!"
At saka sumigaw pa ang bata sa gitna ng aisle saka naghubad ng sapatos bago ibinato sa waterway.
Imagine our shocked faces and horrible reactions.
"Kunin n'yo na, daliiii!"
Sisipain pa sana ng bata ang display na peony pero naagaw na agad siya ng isa sa mga staff ng photography studio at may dumampot na ng itinapong unan.
"Yung singsing?" inaudible na tanong ng dumampot.
We saw some elders signaling "Wala! Nandoon na!" They pointed to the altar where Kuya Ronie announced that he had the rings beforehand.
A chorused sigh filled the whole dome. That was a mini heart attack for everyone.
Alam naman pala nilang magkakalat yung bata, ipinilit pa rin nila? My God, ha!
"Sabi na kasing palitan, e," narinig ko pang reklamo ni Melanie mula sa puwesto namin.
Pagtingin ko kina Leo at sa dapat na ring bearer, nagtatawanan lang sila nang mahina roon at parang tuwang-tuwa pa sa nangyari.
After a short delay gawa ng ring bearer, sa wakas, lalakad na si Melanie.
When Jaesie said she wanted her "gown" a comfortable wear, pinalakpakan ko ang decision ni Stephanie Myles na gawing suit 'yon. That made me more envious of the idea because my forte is suits and formal clothes.
Si Myles pa rin ang gumawa ng wedding gown ni Melanie, and I must say, her gown could be the death of Mum's ego.
Melanie's gown is a low V-neck gown full of gold embellishment and Swarovski crystals. It has floral lace around the neck, and shoulder, and a flowy silhouette down on her arms. Her waist is much smaller than mine, and she just gave birth a few weeks ago! The balloon part of her gown was so sleek and full of handmade satin white flowers. The train of it was five meters long, and that was the reason why we were standing before the aisle kasi kami ang aalalay sa train ng gown para hindi sumagasa ng mga display na bulaklak. It was a good thing na hindi na rin hinabaan pa ang belo niya na nakaipit sa tiara.
Everything was so magical, and this could pass as Mum's dream wedding for Kuya. Pero malas ni Mum, ang babaeng manugang niya, hindi pumapayag na pangunahan lagi.
The lone piano played the Canon in D as Melanie walked down the aisle. Everyone was quiet when the music shifted to Forevermore.
Tanghaling-tapat, although maganda ang bagsak ng araw, pero super init din. Bilad na bilad sila sa fountain area. May cover naman doon, pero doon lang talaga sa altar. Nasa initan pa rin ang mga ikakasal.
Mula sa altar, nakikita kong sumesenyas si Kyline. Napatingin agad ako sa hilera nina Leo. Kausap niya ang asawa niya. Pagbalik ko ng tingin, pati si Kuya, nakikisali na rin. Akala ko kung ano ang pinag-uusapan nila, then another delay na naman. Ang reason? Magpadala raw ng electric fan doon sa may altar kasi naiinitan daw si Kyline.
Wow, ha. Nandoon din naman ang pari saka si Kuya pati si Patrick at si Melanie. Talagang si Kyline ang priority?
Hindi questionable ang loyalty ni Leo, for me. May mga friend silang babae rin, at close din siya sa karamihan sa mga 'yon, pero never kong narinig na na-issue si Leo sa kahit sino sa mga 'yon.
Habang tinitingnan ko si Leo, naisip ko . . . twelve years, nahintay niya nang ganoon katagal si Kyline? Ayokong i-count si Patrick kasi ang dami pang naging babae nito bago ikasal. Si Kuya, sorry kay Jaesie pero hindi siya ang una o kahit pa umabot ng panlima. Pero si Leo, si Kyline lang talaga.
Intimidating din naman kasi si Leo. Parang iiwasan talaga ng babae. Pero ang hinhin ni Kyline.
Ang hirap sigurong humanap ng gaya ni Leo. Halos lahat ng kilala kong guy, puro mga babaero. Kung hindi babaero, lalaki rin ang hanap.
Nanonood kaming lahat sa ceremony mula sa gitna. Hindi ko ma-imagine na ikakasal ako. Hindi ko rin lalo ma-imagine na ikakasal ako kay Clark.
Not sure if I was just afraid of permanent commitment or maybe I was unsure of things about romantic relationships.
Settled na si Kuya pero wala pa silang anak ni Jaesie. Jae has no plan on having a baby for now. Naka-contraceptive pa nga rin siya at titingnan pa ang schedule for family planning.
Ang boring ng marriage nina Kuya at Jaesie, but they didn't look like they were fed up with each other. Siguro kasi, occasionally, they were competing with each other. More so, competing with everyone around them just to prove how powerful they are as a couple. Kaya pabor na pabor sa kanila si Daddy. Mga halimaw kasi sa business field.
Patrick was far from them. Pat had Jaesie before he had Melanie. But I guess sobrang weak ni Patrick for Jaesie to handle. Kakainin siya nang buhay ng ego ni Jaesie. Sa sobrang lakas ng persona ni Jaesie, hindi ko siya matawag na side chick ni Patrick, e. Parang mas bagay na tawaging side guy si Patrick kaysa sa kanya.
Mel's personality is strong as well, pero pabebe rin naman kasi si Melanie kaya carry pang i-handle ni Patrick. Hindi ko masabing perfect sila sa isa't isa, but Patrick's consistent with his choice so he must bear with his decisions.
Bumabalik tuloy ang worry ko kay Leo. Wedding niya ang go signal ng wedding ni Clark. And Clark's unsure of it.
Nakokonsiyensiya na agad ako sa idea na hindi ikakasal si Leo next year para lang hindi matuloy ang plano ni Mum para sa amin ni Clark. Pakiramdam ko, lalo ko lang pinatatagal ang paghihintay nila ni Kyline samantalang kung tutuusin, sila dapat ang matagal nang kasal sa barkada ni Kuya.
Ngayon pa lang, gusto ko nang mag-sorry sa kanila kasi kasalanan ni Mum kung bakit walang kasal nila ang matutuloy sa susunod na taon.
At sana lang ganoon kadaling mag-sorry.
♥♥♥