Kabanata 16.1 - Wedding

"That stupid guy! I'm pissed just by seeing his face!" she angrily said. 

I don't know what's the reason behind it but I know their first encounter doesn't sounds good because I can see how annoyed, angry and pissed Madison is right now. She's even murdering the throw pillow.

We are at our villa here in the beach where Ate Chandria and Kuya Froi will get married. Tomorrow is the date and we only have half of the day to enjoy ourselves.

"Why are you so pissed, Mads? What happened ba?" Adel asked while leaning on the wall, crossing her arms. I chuckled and Madison glared at me.

We are in the same villa, malaki naman 'to kaya kasya kaming anim. May three rooms, dalawa sa taas at isa sa baba. Iris and I, Grace and Mads, Ken and Adel share in the same room. Sila Mads ang nasa baba dahil wala na silang choice, ang bagal ba naman.

"Nagloko yung car niya in the middle of the trip and this guy insist for a help. It's okay for me naman since Madison can't do it—" she cut me off. 

"I can do it, okay? I just needed time but you let him do it as if it is your car, bitch how can you do that?!" she shouted at me. I laughed just by seeing her annoyed face.

"Wait— who is this guy? I'll congratulate him, Madison finally found her match, imagine that?" pang-aasar pa ni Ken. Madison throw the pillows on us and that's how the pillow fight starts.

"I don't know his name but he looks familiar, I think I've seen him somewhere before," paliwanag ko. I'm not good at memorizing names and faces especially if it isn't important, Ken is good at it since she has lots of friends.

"He's the exchange student from West U and bitch! He's the reason why I passed my research late, I almost failed that subject because of him!" Mads explained, there's still a hint of pissed in her voice.

We just laughed at her. Inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko, we need to prepare for tomorrow. I offered to help with the preparations and they agreed naman. As soon as I finished putting my things in the cabinet, I excused myself. I wanna go out for a while and breathe some fresh air. This is what I love the most when we're in a beach, I love how the breeze gently touches my skin, I feel alive!

"Wandering alone, huh?" I rolled my eyes without even facing him, this jerk! 

"You know what, I'd rather be alone forever than stand next to you even just for a minute," nababagot kong sambit. Rinig ko naman ang mahina niyang pagtawa.

"Get used to it, we'll see each other more often now that your sister and my brother will get married. Happy family, sister of my sister-in-law.." tila may pang-aasar na sabi niya. Parang kahit anong lumabas sa bibig niya ay kaiinisan mo talaga.

"Shut up, okay? I'm trying to find peace but now that you're here, I lose hope," tugon ko with a hint of sarcasm. I was about to leave him when he said something that stops me.. 

"You're hot, and so as your friends but you're off limits now, too bad. I was having a hard time picking among them who I can play with, will you suggest?" aniya sa nakakalokong tono. 

I waste no time to slapped him. Sa una ay nagulat siya pero 'di kalaunan ay bumalik na naman ang ngisi sa mukha niya.

"Don't make me slap you twice, you'll not gonna love it—" 

Someone interrupted us. 

"Is he bothering you?" that someone spoke and it's Isaiah.

"Yes and you are also bothering me so leave me alone!" I said without glancing at him before leaving. Gusto ko lang naman ng peace of mind, bakit ba kailangan pa nilang umepal?

Nakakainis!

Nang makarating ako sa villa namin ay nagkumpulan sila sa living room habang abala sa paglalagay ng face mask. Inabutan naman ako ni Adel at malugod kong tinanggap iyon. I wash my face before applying it, it is called beauty rest for tomorrow.

"Nikolai was looking for you earlier, did you guys see each other?" Grace said and it got my attention. Hindi ko ipinahalata sakanila 'yon.

I put my face mask while facing the huge mirror.

"No and I don't have any reasons to meet him," sambit ko while fixing the face mask on my face.

Nagkatinginan ang mga ito at tila nag-uusap gamit lamang ang mga mata.

"Woah, LQ agad?" may bahid na pang-aasar sa tono ni Adel but I didn't respond. Baka lalo lang akong pag-initan kapag nag react ako.

"Bitch, wala pa ngang label tapos may LQ agad?" gatong pa ni Ken sakaniya and again, I didn't react.

"Oh, doing the I-don't-give-a-damn tactic, huh? This is so you, Treia," sambit pa ni Iris and this time, I faced them.

She got me, huh? 

"Why? I can't see any reason to give a damn about it," depensa ko sa kalmadong tono.

Pumwesto ako sa gitna ni Grace at Mads at doon umupo. We're watching gossip girls on netflix at ni isa sakanila ay walang nakatutok sa TV, mas focus sila sa pag-alam ng sitwasyon namin ni Isaiah. 

"Oh, bitches she's denying it," ani Ken. Nag thumbs down gesture pa siya na parang sinasabing mahina ako.

I glance at her, inis man ay hindi ko ipinahalata 'yon. 

"I'm not denying anything, nagsasabi ako ng totoo," kalmado ngunit may diing pagkakasabi ko.

I leaned on the couch and rest my head at the back of it to relax. Agad naman silang nagkumpulan sa harap ko.

"You like him, Treia. You know, you do.." sambit ni Adel. Ramdam ko ang pag-aalala sa boses niya. Alam ko namang nagwo-worry sila. Siguro kasi after how many years ay ngayon nalang ulit ako nagka-ganito.

"I don't like him.. yet," sambit ko, buntong hininga lamang nila ang narinig ko. "That's why I'm doing this, I'm avoiding him para hindi na mapunta roon. Para hindi na lumalim pa, para hindi ko na siya magustuhan. I don't like that feeling, you know me," dugtong ko.

Nanlumo sila sa sinabi ko. Maybe yes, I'm being denial. Maaaring gusto ko na siya ngayon at pinipigilan ko lang ang nararamdaman ko para hindi na lumala pa. Natakot na 'ko, maraming posibleng mangyari kaya hindi pwede. Ayokong bumalik sa dati. I am the only one who can guard my own heart so I'll guard it whatever happens, whatever it may costs. 

"It is obvious, you like each other. What's wrong?" tanong ni Ken kahit alam naman niya ang sagot.

Umiling ako at bakas sa akin ang sarkastikong ngiti. Nagsisi akong ngumiti pa 'ko dahil medyo nalasahan ko ang face mask na nasa mukha ko. Hindi masarap! 

"Hindi porket nangyari sayo noon ay mangyayari ulit sayo ngayon," ani Iris na sinundan ng buntong hininga. Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako hudyat na ayoko na sa topic na 'yon.

Mukhang naintindihan naman nila ako kaya iniba na agad ang topic at napunta kay Mads. Nawala ako sa mood makipag kwentuhan sakanila, ganon na ba kalakas epekto sa'kin no'n? I wonder.. 

Maaga rin kaming gumising kinabukasan para makapag-ayos. I'm wearing turquoise A-line silk chiffon gown with pleated bodice and puffed sleeves. May slit 'yon sa gilid, ang haba niya ay abot sa aking talampakan kaya naka sayad ito sa buhangin habang naglalakad ako. Dahil mabuhangin ay naka flat gladiator sandals ako. 

Nangingilid na ang luha ko habang pinapanood sila ate na magpalitan ng wedding vows ngunit pinigilan ko ito. Ayokong umiyak lalo na't kasal niya ito, baka sabihin ay mas OA pa 'ko kaysa kila Mama. Speaking of her, ngayon ay kita kong umiiyak siya, pati na rin si Papa.