Can't Marry You Yet (The Edited & Continuation)

Kabanata 27 (Wedding)

Nayeli

When she woke up from the light coming through her window. She turned to her side, Zayd was still sleeping. She smiled as he didn't move the pillow barrier between them. Mayamaya pa nagpanicked siya nang marinig ang boses ng ina. She quickly woke up Zayd.

"Bakit mo naman ako ginising?" he sound groggy.

"Nasa labas si nanay."

"What?"

"Bilis. Pumunta ka muna ng garden."

Behind her room was the garden so Zayd could easily sneak through the window. They were almost caught.
She sighed.

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Naikasal nga sina Dami at Banjo. She was happy for both of them. It was as if a thorn had been pulled out of her. As usual, her family's afternoon was chaotic and noisy dumating din kasi ang ilang kamag-anak nila. They talk, laugh and say hello.

"Hoy Ayeng, kumain ka pa. I know the the word diet is not in your vocabulary" Ryan said, pinsan niya ito sa ina. Matagal din silang hindi nagkita.

"Maybe you're the one who needs to eat baka pumayat ka" she answered back.

They really teased each other a lot. Noong mga bata pa kasi sila, mataba sila pareho at bonding talaga nila ang kumain.

Marahan siyang siniko ni Zayd.

"What?"

"Huwag kang makipag-away sa pinsan mo."

"Hindi ako nakikipag-away, it's our love language."

"Tama. Don't worry Zayd, makapal ang mukha niyang si Ayeng kaya immune na 'yan sa mga pang-aasar ko."

"Mas makapal ang mukha mo, kaya nga magpinsan tayo."

Nilapitan siya ng tiyahin niyang si Belen.

"Kumusta ka na Ayeng, wala ka pa bang balak magpakasal? You're not getting any younger, you see naunahan ka na ni Dami."

"Tiyang, I'm not in a hurry. We'll get there."

Kanina pa siya nawiwindang, almost everyone there is asking when will she going to get married. She stood up and took some wine. Zayd followed her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Nakukulili lang ang tainga ko sa mga tanong nila. Do couples really need to get married? Marami naman dyan nagsasama kahit walang kasal."

"So you really have no intention of getting married? Kaya ba you rejected my proposal?"

Natigilan siya.

"Sorry. Look, that's not what I meant, I'm just not ready to get married."

"How long until you're ready Nayeli?"

"Akala ko ba hindi mo ako mamadaliin?"

"Okay, sorry. From now on, I won't talk about wedding anymore."

"Zayd..."

"Doon lang ako kina Julius."

The man turned his back on her. She sighed. She knows how much Zayd wanted to marry because his parents are not married that's why he doesn't want his future child to experience all of that.

She received a call from Piper.

"Hello dear, how was your sister's wedding? Hindi ka naman gumawa ng eksena para itigil ang kasal ano?"

"Baliw! Syempre hindi, galing talaga ng imaginations mo Piper."

"Nag-alala lang pala ako sa wala. So kumusta naman si Zayd sa parents mo?"

"Well, close na sila. Nanay na nga tawag niya sa ina ko."

"Well, that's good. At least hindi ka na mahihirapan if ever magpakasal kayo, right? The question is, when will you get married?"

"Pati ba naman ikaw? You know everyone here has asked me that."

"You can't blame them, especially now that Dami is married. Panganay ka kaya syempre magtatanong ang mga 'yan. Don't tell me uunahan ka pa ng bunso mo?"

"Hoy, Julius Vin is still young, magtapos na muna siya ng pag-aaral."

"How about you?"

"That's the problem, I don't have any plan to get married yet. Ayun nga si Zayd, mukhang nagtatampo."

"See, I told you. Ano ba ang kinatatakutan mo? Zayd is kind. He will be a good provider, too. And most of all he loves you."

"What if we divorce? Marriage will be just a waste of money and time. And besides wedding isn't only the confirmation of marriage, what matter is love. Pwede naman kami magsama ng walang kasal since we love each other."

"Yes, but a ceremony will complete your marriage. Haven't you dreamed of wearing a bridal gown?"

"No" she answered shortly.

"What? Babae ka ba talaga? Please check kung may matris ka ba" she joked.

Natawa siya rito.

"Did you know maraming mga babae dyan na nangarap na maglakad sa altar while their groom is waiting for them. Fantastic isn't it?"

"What if maghiwalay nga kami?"

"My God, Nayeli! Stop procrastinating, dear. Paano naman kung hindi, are you going to miss that opportunity?"

Her friend words had come to her senses.

"Alam mo kapag nandyan ako ngayon nakatanggap ka sa akin ng batok. I really wanted to get married, but no one is proposing. Kaya nga babalik na lang ako ng Pinas baka sakaling dyan ako swertehin."

"Alright, pag-iisipan ko ang mga sinabi mo."

"Bilisan mo naman mag-isip, Zayd might get bored and find someone else."

"Noted."

She hung up. Piper has a point. She doesn't want her refusal to marry...be the reason for Zayd's love for her to outgrow. Brace yourself, Nayeli. If you really love Zayd you better make your choice now.