A Drunken Mistake (COMPLETED)

Epilogue

#ADMwp Epilogue

I looked at the mirror in front of me and tried to smile. After all these years, after all the joy and the pain, dito rin pala ang bagsak ko. Hastily, I wiped the tears off from my face. Wala na rin namang magagawa. Tapos na. Nangyari na.

Tumayo ako mula sa kinauupuan ko. I stared at my face—my tear stained face—and forced a smile that I've been practicing for months now. When I was satisfied with my fabricated smile, nagsimula akong maglakad papalabas ng kwarto ko. I enveloped myself inside the robe I was wearing. It was the wedding day. It was the wedding day yet I wasn't excited at all.

Kumatok ako mula sa pintuan ng kwarto katabi nung nirentahan namin na hotel.

"Maicy?" I called for her as I knocked on the door. Isang beses lang akong kumatok. I stood there outside, waiting for her. Halos isang minuto rin akong naghintay bago niya ako nilabas. Like me, her eyes were bloodshot as well. Mukhang pareho kaming hindi naging maganda ang gising.

As I stood before her, I showed her the smile I had been practicing for so long. "Ate? Ang aga pa..."

"Naninigurado lang," I said. "Sige, bababa muna ako at kakain. See you later, okay?" Tumango si Maicy at isinara niya iyong pinto.

After that, bumalik muna ako sa kwarto ko. I fixed myself. Hindi pwede na ganito ang itsura ko. I needed to look happy. I needed to lie to everyone and pretend that I was okay. I needed to lie to myself and forget the pain that was eating me up inside.

I went down and ate. Kailangan ko ng energy. Wala naman kasi akong kakampi... I needed to be strong for myself because if not, paano na lang ako? After I was done, umakyat akong muli sa itaas at nagkulong. I stared at the clock and counted the remaining time. I followed its ticking. Para akong mababaliw.

A few hours later, may kumatok sa kwarto ko.

"Mira, nandito na 'yung makeup artist," sabi sa akin ni Mama. Pilit akong ngumiti at nagpanggap na okay lang ako. Pinapasok ko sa loob 'yung makeup artist at pinabayaan siya kung anuman ang gusto niyang gawin. Wala na rin naman kasi akong pakielam. My life was already ruined and I refuse to believe that it could get any worse.

Matapos ang ilang oras, she was done. "Ang ganda-ganda mo naman," she said while admiring the beauty of my face. Nagpasalamat lang ako kahit sa loob-loob ko, hindi ba niya pansin kung gaano ako kalungkot? Kung gaano namumugto ang mga mata ko dahil sa pag-iyak?

Bakit ganon? Bulag lang ba lahat ng mga tao sa paligid ko kaya hindi nila pansin na nasasaktan ako? O talaga lang ayaw nila akong pakinggan kahit ilang beses ko nang sinabi na ang sakit-sakit na... Na ang hirap-hirap na...

Umalis na 'yung makeup artist at agad akong nagbihis. I was wearing a white gown yet my heart was breaking. This was everything I've dreamt of but it was also everything I despised... How can my life turned upside down because of a drunken mistake?

Matapos kong magbihis, lumabas na ako at sumakay sa bridal car. I was there, patiently waiting for all these madness to end. "Pwede na ba tayong umalis?" I asked when Maicy entered the car. Tumango lang siya. Nagsimula na naming baybayin ang daan papunta sa simbahan.

After a few minutes, we finally arrived. Madaming tao na naghihintay. Madaming tao na nag-aakala na okay lang ang lahat, na masaya itong araw... If only they knew the lies and the betrayal that led to this...

Bumaba na ako pagkatapos kong kalmahin ang sarili ko. The music started playing and I started walking down the aisle. There, I saw him. I saw the man I love, the man that I knew I was destined to spend the rest of my life with.

"I love you, Uno," I whispered.

He looked at me and said, "I love you, Mira."

Tumayo ako sa tabi niya. As a new melody serenaded our ears, we all looked at Maicy as she walked down the aisle.

"Please take care of my sister," I whispered to Uno, the man that I love.