Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 2

Cray

I am expecting a normal kind of a party that I am accustomed to. Yung typical na magulo at maingay. Yung nag uumapaw pa yung alak at kung ano-anong pagkain na nakahain lang para sa lahat ng gustong magpakalunod sa alak at pagkain.

Instead, I was greeted with an empty room. Well, not totally empty because there were scattered petal roses and pink balloons on the floor. Sa puting pader ng kwarto ay may mga nakahang din na gold and white balloons na sa dulo na tali niyon ay may mga nakadikit na mga photos. Can't just figured out if who are on it dahil medyo malayo sakin.

The ambiance is giving away a romantic vibe lalo pa at may mga nakasindi pa ngang lavander scented candles.

Gumala pa yung paningin ko sa loob, napansin ko din na sa bawat sulok ng pader ay may baskets pa ng iba't ibang kulay ng rosas. May mini backdrop din na una mong mapapansin kung maayos yung pagkakabukas ng pinto kanina. The words written on it complete this guessing game.

The room was designed as if someone's just planning to propose. And the people inside this room just witnessed a major turn down.

"Ate Cray.." Lumapit sakin si Elle na tila maiiyak pa.

Out of instinct, I opened my arms widely. Elle just almost threw herself inside my arms na para bang humihingi ng proteksyon. Which I find endearing though.

"Hey, It's okay." Masuyong bulong ko pa dito dahil nararamdaman ko na yung pagkabasa ng leeg ko kung saan nya sinubsob yung mukha nya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sya umiiyak gayung hindi naman siguro sya yung tinanggihan di ba?

"Sobra na s-sya." Panay pa din yung hikbi nito. "We planned the whole thing!" Umangat yung luhaang mukha nito at itinuro pa si Rainey na ngayon ay tila wala din sa sarili habang blangkong nakatingin lang sa backdrop kung saan nakasulat yung proposal nito.

Was she turned down? By whom? Ember?

"Do you see her? Halos di na kami nakatulog just to set this up. Tapos yung gagang Ember na yun, pumunta pa dito para makipaghiwalay lang kay Rainey! Of all the perfect places and perfect timing, dito pa talaga! Ngayon pa talaga!"

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o maaawa sa kanilang dalawa ni Rainey. Because seriously, Rain should have not done this together with my sister. She should have proposed privately para kung sakaling tinanggihan man ito ay hindi ito mukhang kawawa. It will also lessen the burden for someone she's proposing to. Proposing with a witness is putting the pressure to the one she's proposing. Good thing Ember isn't the type who gets usually intimidated.

"It's okay, Elle. We can't always have what we want." Hinalikan ko yung noo nito para pakalmahin ito. Pagkatapos ay inangat yung kanang kamay ko para ipakita dito yung cake na kincrave nito kanina. "Uhm, Comfort food?"

Umiling lang si Elle bago tila naaawa na tiningnan si Rainey.

"Rainey is such a pity. She's been following Ember since we were kids. Pero lagi lang syang sinasaktan ng babaeng iyon."

But Ember has been dodging her since we were kids too, Elle. Hadn't you all seen this scene coming? Truth be told, it's quite surprising that those two went dating.

"She'll recover." I said instead. Though I am really not so sure. Sa itsura kasi ngayon ni Rainey mukhang matatagalan pa iyon. "It's just a heartbreak."

I even heard Elle whispering, sabagay. I've been dealing with it everyday.

Bakit kasi ipinipilit ng mga tao yung sarili nila sa taong di naman sila gusto? You can't force people to feel something they're not capable of.