Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 37

Why was that woman here? Invited man lang ba siya?

Uh, no. Imposible namang i-invite nina Harold ang babaeng 'yon, e alam niyang hate na hate ko si Stacy. No way! Harold could never forget what Stacy did to me back when we're an OJT sa resort nina Eli.

"Okay na ba ang lahat?" salubong ni Israel sa aming dalawa ni Jenny.

My attention was not on him, kung hindi kay Stacy na kung makangisi sa akin, parang 'di na siya aabutan ng sikat ng araw bukas.

"Yes, sir. Bride na lang ang hinihintay bago opisyal na magsimula ang seremonya," sagot ni Jenny.

"Alright, we're going inside." Nauna na silang pumasok sa loob, sa wakas ay doon na rin natapos ang bangungot ko.

I'm still clueless kung paano nakilala ni Israel ang babaeng 'yon. Hindi ako sa ngisi niya nairita, kung hindi sa paraan ng pagyapos niya sa braso ni Israel. What the hell is that? Are they dating?

"Girlfriend yata ni Sir Israel ang babaeng 'yon," rinig kong untag ni Jenny, "kasi naalala ko, may binanggit siya sa amin na may dine-date siyang babae. Three years ago na yata... so, baka siya 'yong tinutukoy niya na longtime girlfriend niya."

"Oh, okay."

Wala na akong masabi, e. I don't want to sound rude if I say na walang taste pagdating sa babae si Israel. Come on! From canvassing a gold watch and then his standards fall in buying a local watch na kinakalawang. Myghad! I just can't imagine na 'yong nahanap niyang pamalit sa akin is... so cheap.

Pinili ko na lang na 'wag nang makiusyoso sa buhay ng iba kasi hindi naman ako kikita roon. I just focused on watching Harold and Celine exchanging vows with each other. Afterwards, they exchange rings, do wedding rituals and so on.

From my seat, I can see in both of their eyes that they are romantically in love with each other. The joy shining in their eyes is evident that this wedding ceremony is the cue to open the book 2 of their love story.

I can say na isa ako sa naging witness ng love story nilang dalawa during college. I still remember how Celine made Harold suffer in the plethora of him, pursuing Celine. Talagang pinahirapan ni Celine si Harold sa panliligaw sa kanya, but then sa hinaba-haba ng naging ligawan stage nila, sinagot din ni Celine si Harold.

And now, seeing both of them combining their heart and soul, witnessed by the Lord, their love story continues to infinity and beyond. Sa rami ng pinagdaanan nilang dalawa, na ilan sa mga iyon ay nasaksihan ko, I'm proud that they overcome those together.

I hope the same story happened to Eli and I.

*****

Nasa reception na kami after ng kasal. Ang mga bisita ay nagkani-kaniya ng upo sa mga table at nagsikain. The same thing we did, we just sat and relaxed while eating some dishes served at the long table.

Tahimik lang kaming apat na kumakain nang daluhan kami ni Israel... kasama si Stacy.

"All of you did a great job," as soon as he sat on the chair in front of me, he started talking. "Job well done, team. Congrats!"

Nag-toast sila kung kaya naman para hindi ako magmukhang KJ rito ay naki-toast na lang din ako. Although I'm starting to feel uncomfortable because I'm sharing the same atmosphere with Stacy, being aware that she's staring at me.

Malamang ay nakarating na sa kanya ang balita sa ginawa ko sa nanay niya... that's why she's doing this. Tsk. Still not enough to defeat me.

"You're not eating veggies kaya ka ganyan. Try some." Nawala ang atensyon ko sa kinakain nang magsalita si Stacy, placing some vegetables on Israel's plate.