I'm Here Again

Chapter 32

"KASAL?!"

"Anong kasal?"

"Kaninong kasal?"

"Sinong ikakasal?"

"Bakit may kasal?"

I couldn't keep up at my people's questions one after another.

"HOY! Excuse me, kuyang abo ang buhok!" Mielle suddenly appeared and slapped his hands away from me. "Get your filthy hands off my sissy! Kasal-kasal ka diyan. Back off!" She hugged me from the side protectively. "Ano 'yan ha? Kakadating niyo lang dito tapos agad-agad may kasal na sasabihin? Ni hindi pa nga kayo nakakatagal dito ng isang oras? Abaaa! Bida-bida siya 'o!"

I licked my lips and pursed them to stopped myself from laughing at Mielle's lines. I know she was serious but the way she delivered them were just.. a bit funny.

 Abriel went in front us, creating more distance between me and Dean. "Tama si Mielle. Walang kasalang magaganap. Kakarating niyo lang dito at kasasabing importante siya sa inyo, na best friend mo," he pointed at Izarina, "ang Aice namin, tapos babanggitin niyo ang salitang 'kasal' ?"

Even Jace made his way to us, rubbing his chin while shaking his head. He was chuckling but stopped when he got to us, putting his hands on his hips. "You ain't gonna marry anyone in this room, Dean." He said his name with such disdain.

Aiceria's guy sighed before glancing back to Izarina. "Didn't I hope for this to not be ugly?" He returned his attention to us. "Sinabihan ko na kayo na alamin niyo muna kung sino ang tinutukoy namin 'di ba? Sasabihin niyong wala sa inyo ang taong hinahanap namin, tapos ano? Ayan siya!"

It was only his steps yet they already made us girls flinched. I saw Izarina did it, I felt Mielle did it, same time as I did. The guys hid it better than us, except for Elliot that whimpered softly and cowered. Rhyn went to where Dean is and since he's taller, looked down on him. "Sinabihan ko din kayo na alamin niyo kung kaninong teritoryo ito."

Knowing Dean -- based on Aiceria's memories -- that expression he has right now only shows when he's trying hard not to get intimidated by someone. "A-Ano.. Hi-Hindi mo --"

"Choose your next words wisely, Dean Ashford. Or they may be your last words."

I glanced at Mielle and she understood that she needed to let me go. Reluctantly, she did and I immediately went between them. "Hey? Hey? Rhyn? Rhyn! Look at me." I'm semi-hugging him, trying to get his attention. "Ey. Rhyn."

His eyes finally met mine -- Shit. He's livid.

"Wait lang ha? Let me -- er, us explain, okay?" I pushed him back to distance himself from Dean when the latter suddenly laughed.

"Ha.. Hahaha! Oh God! Akala ko katapusan ko na talaga, phew! You're still my savior like the old days, my Ria -- umf!" There was no sound of getting his jaw broken, but knowing him and his low pain tolerance, my punch on his face hurts like hell.

And that earned gasps around the room.

"Nilalayo ko na nga sa'yo ang kapahamakan, papalapitin mo pa ulit? Anong utak ang meron ka, Ashford?" Acting and talking like this all feels natural for me.. as if I really was Aiceria. 

"Oh, my God.. Ay-se!" Izarina ran towards the guy who stumbled down to the floor. She looked at me incredulously. "Ay-se naman, ito ba ang ibubungad mo sa'min pagkatapos ng ilang taon nating hindi pagkikita? Alam mo namang madaling masaktan si Dean."

I crossed my arms -- something my body seemed to do a lot before. "Tapos ka na ba, Iza?"

She exhaled and shook her head before slapping the back of Dean's neck. "Ikaw naman kasi! Tatawa-tawa ka pa, binalaan ka na nga tapos.. ugh! Sira ka talaga." Another batok. "Ipapahamak mo pa ang sarili mo at madadamay pa ako sa kalokohan mo, gago!" Batok again.