Chapter 12
"Steffie, darling!" bungad sa amin ng isang bakla nang makapasok kami sa boutique.
"Linc!" bati naman ni Ate Steffie sa kanya. "By the way, these are Julie and Elmo. Our maid-of-honor and bestman."
"Hello there lovebirds. Have a seat please." aniya.
"Lakas ng British accent oh." bulong sa akin ni Julie. Tumango naman ako and suppressed a smile.
"Linc, they're not together. They're just bestfriends." ani Ate Steffie.
"Oh darling, believe me. These 2 here won't stay bestfriends for too long." sambit naman ni Linc. Kumunot ang noo namin ni Julie saka pa nagtinginan. "Come along now, we don't want wasting time do we?"
Pumunta na sa fitting room sina Julie at Ate Steffie at agad naman silang inasikaso ng mga assistants ni Linc.
"I should've married a long time ago. Kasal ko lang pala ang magpapasuot ng gown sa kapatid ko eh." sabi ni Kuya Fort habang hinihintay namin sina Julie.
"Hahaha. Oo nga kuya. Si Ate Steffie lang pala makakapilit sa kanya to wear a dress eh."
"Yeah. Spoiled kay Steffie yan. Even before we became a couple. Kahit nung college pa lang kami ni Steffie sobrang spoiled na si Julie sa kanya. Palibhasa walang kapatid si Steffie kaya ganun."
"So since college magkakilala na kayo?" tanong ko. Tumango si kuya at saka ngumiti.
"Yeah. Steffie's my bestfriend. Parang kayo ni Julie. Yun nga lang mas matagal kayong magbestfriend ni Julie. Si Steffie kasi, classmate ko siya from first year to fifth year namin. Tapos parang one-of-the-boys din yan. Lalo na sa course namin? Engineering is also a male-dominant course."
"Paano naging kayo? I mean, paano nadevelop?" tanong ko.
"Well, crush ni Steffie yung kabarkada ko. Si Jiro. Chinito kasi yun eh. Diba you know him?"
"Ah! Yung nakalaro natin kahapon? Yung sino ba yun? Yung 5 ang jersey niya?"
"Yeah. That guy. Kaya lang, itong si Jiro may nililigawang iba. Syempre he sees Steffie as one of us lang dahil nga magkakabarkada kami. So parang platonic love lang."
"Eh anong naging role mo? Knight-in-shining-armor?"
"Hahaha. Well, not exactly. I became their bridge. Since sa barkada kasi bukod kay Bryan, si Jiro yung pinakaclose ko. So yun. Tapos nagtataka na lang ako bakit kapag magkasama sila naiirita ako. Mga ganun. Akala ko dahil syempre may nililigawan nga tong si Jiro diba. Tas yun pala I was already in love with her. Late ko na narealize kung hindi pa siya nagbalak sumunod sa parents niya sa California." nakangiting kwento ni kuya.
"How did you realize it?" pagtataka ko.
"Hm. Parang sakit yan eh. There are signs and symptoms that you're in love with your bestfriend."
"Signs and symptoms talaga kuya? When did you become a doctor? Hahaha."
"Haha. Baliw. Yan kasi yung sinabi nila mama and papa sa akin nun." aniya. "Actually, there are 3 parts in this. The first part of the signs and symptoms that you are in love with your bestfriend is what you call, 'Deep Feelings'."
"Deep feelings? Haha. This is awkward pero sige. Ano ba yun?" sabi ko.
"Does it feel awkward talking about this?" tanong niya.
"Kinda." kibit-balikat na sabi ko. Tumawa si Kuya Fort saka tumango.
"Uh-huh. Awkward pala ha? Anyway. Deep feelings. 1. Is when you feel those little demons inside your stomach. You stutter when you talk to him/her as if your hearts in your mouth and you find it hard to breathe properly." sabi ni Kuya Fort. "2. You find it hard to concentrate. For example, you are bored or you're not in the mood to listen to your professor so your mind travels away from your place towards her and all you can think about is her and how you'll be spending your lunch with her."
Tumango ako at nahinto kami saglit sa pag-uusap nang lumabas si Linc mula sa fitting room.
"You're sister has the perfect body. I envy her, Fort. Envy envy envy!" ani Linc kay Kuya Fort.
"She likes playing basketball and swimming." sagot naman ni kuya.
"Ugh. I'd kill anyone to get that body." sabi ni Linc. "I'll let them out wearing the inner piece of the gowns." sabi niya saka na muling bumalik sa loob.
"So. Gusto mo pa bang malaman yung next sign?" tanong sa akin ni Kuya Fort. Tumango naman ako kaya napangiti siya. "3. It's when you started dreaming of a future together. Yung tipong napapanaginipan mo na kayo ang magkasama hanggang tumanda. You watch as your grandchildren play around the garden or you just simply spend your life together." sabi niya.
"May I present these lovely ladies?" ani Linc at saka hinawi ng assistants niya ang violet na kurtina.
"Woah." sabi ni Kuya Fort. Ako? Laglag panga lang. Si Julie nakasuot siya ng puting damit na fit na fit sa kanya. Kitang-kita ang curves sa katawan niya.
"Twirl for me ladies." ani Linc. Umikot naman ang dalawa at halata kay Julie na di siya natutuwa sa ginagawa niya.
"Do I really have to wear a gown?" tanong niya pagkaikot.
"Jules, we've talked about this already. Para lang sa wedding ko please?" sambit ng kuya niya.
"But, can I wear sneakers instead of heels?"
"Darling, we don't allow beautiful ladies like you to just wear sneakers on my gorgeous designs. A 6-inch pumps would be the perfect shoes for the dress I have in mind for you."
"W-wait. 6 inches?! No!" protesta niya.
"Baby, just for a day. Please?" ani Ate Steffie.
"B-but." halata ang panic sa mata niya.
"Come along now, darling. Let's talk about the design." sabi ni Linc saka na sila bumalik sa opisina niya.
"Sara mo na bibig mo. Wala na sila." nagulat ako nang magsalita si Kuya Fort.
"Huh?"
"Your mouth's been open, Elmo. Ayos lang yan. I was surprised to see my sister like that too. Ang ganda ng kapatid ko no?" nagtaas-baba pa ng kilay si Kuya fort sa akin at natawa naman ako.
"So, yung second part nung signs mo kuya?" pag-iba ko sa topic. Natawa naman siya saka tumango.
"Yeah. The second part. 1. You think about her all day. As in hindi mo siya maalis sa isip mo even if you try to not think about her. It's like she invaded your brain and all you can think of all day is her and how you'll spend time with her. 2. You start daydreaming about her. I don't have to explain this coz you somehow experienced that a few moments ago. Hahaha."
"Ts. Hindi ah." sabi ko.
"Sabi mo eh. So, 3. You start listening to her favorite songs. Kahit gaano mo pa kinaaayawan yan, papakinggan at papakinggan mo pa rin yan. And eventually, magiging favorite song mo na din siya." sabi niya. "Are you ready for the last part?"
"Shoot." sabi ko.
"1. You're starting to act strange around her. Madalas makakahulog ka ng hawak mo or hindi ka mapakali kapag di mo siya kasama. Your friends might even notice it kaya mag-ingat ka. Hahaha." tumawa siya at napailing naman ako. "2. You can't wait to be with her all the time. Basta parang lagi mo siyang namimiss. Lalo na kapag di mo siya nakasama ng buong araw, feeling mo ang tagal na di mo siya nakasama. You long for her. 3. You start to think of how she thinks about you. Kung mutual ba or hindi. And lastly, you think about how you feel when you're together. Awkward ba or hindi."
"Hm. I don't think I've felt that towards Julie. I mean, kuya we practically grew up together. Parang magkapatid na kami niyan eh." sabi ko.
"Hindi ko naman sinabi na in love ka sa kapatid ko. You were just asking me diba? Kung paano ako nainlove kay Steffie. And those were my experiences. Ewan ko na lang sayo kung maramdaman mo yan. Minsan kasi late mo na malalaman na in love ka pala sa kanya eh. Minsan kailangan may taong magpaparealize sayo na mahal mo na pala siya. Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, hindi ko na hihintaying may dumating pang iba bago ko aminin sa kanya."
Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganun ang sinasabi sa akin ni Kuya Fort. Honestly, masaya naman ako kung magkaron ng boyfriend si Julie. Wag lang siguro yung Miguel na yun. Parang di siya magandang example kay Julie.
Pagkatapos makipag-usap nina Julie at Ate Steffie kay Linc ay kami naman ang sinukatan ni Linc at ipinakita ang design na ginawa niya. Ang sabi ni Linc, may sinilarities daw ang damit namin sa design niyang gowns para kanila Julie.
"Oh ano? We'll be heading to the caterer for the food tasting. You guys wanna come?" anyaya ni Ate Steffie sa amin.
"Sama tayo?" tanong ko kay Julie.
"Yeah sure. Food yan eh." sagot niya.
"Sure. Sunod kami." sabi ko. Tumango si Kuya Fort saka na sila sumakay sa kotse nila at kami naman ni Julie sa kotse ko.
"Ang kati-kati nung pinasuot saken kanina nakakainis! Ugh! I can still feel it." ani Julie habang papunta kami sa food tasting.
"Hahaha. You looked uncomfortable with it." sabi ko naman.
"I know! Super bru. As in parang di ako makakatagal na suot yun. If only I can wear jeans on kuya's wedding."
Ginulo ko ang buhok niya at hinampas naman niya ang kamay ko.
"Palibhasa kasi you're not the one who's gonna wear that gown eh. Tapos nakaheels pa. Yung totoo? Papatayin ba nila ko?!" angal niya.
"Grabe ka naman sa kanila. Syempre it's a formal event. Tsaka alangan ako yung maggown diba?"
"Tss." irap niya.
"Stop that." sabi ko.
"Stop what?"
"Yan. Yung pag-irap mo. Yung pagpalatak mo."
"Nakakainis lang kasi ang kati nga. Imagine, 20 minutes ko lang sinuot yun. Paano pa sa wedding? I'll be wearing that all day!"
"You look gorgeous naman ah." sabi ko.
"Ano?"