Closer

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Sa isa sa mga rooms sa reception venue ay magkakasama ang mga magkakaibigan na sina MG, Ponggay, Kyla, at Jema.

"Jema! Bilis, suotin mo na to. Ready na kami ohhh..." Kyla mentioned habang tinutulungan ni Ponggay si Jema na isuot ang ang damit.

"For sure, hindi ka na iiwan ni Deanna after this!" MG chuckled while putting some make up kay Jema.

"Regardless naman kung anu suot ni Jema, baliw naman talaga si Deanna sa kanya!" Singhal ni Ponggay.

And they all laughed habang naparoll ng eyes na lang si Jema at sinuot ang attire na pinapasuot sakanya.

Deep inside napapangiti na lang si Jema. I'm sure she can't resist sabi niya sa sarili niya.

Maybe after this, marerealize din ni Deanna na kapili pili din ako. Na sa haba at dami ng mga pinagdaanan namin, eh finally we can be together na. Deserve naman naming parehong maging masaya diba? Patuloy na isip ni Jema.

Hindi na mapakali si Deanna sa pag hihintay kay Jema. She doesn't have a clue kung anung performance ang gagawin nila but she hopes they can skip it kasi marami pa siyang gusto sabihin at ishare dito. The feeling na finally makakasama mo na yung mahal ko just kept her restless.

"Araw ni Ate Ly at Kuya Kief to! Relax Deanna." She said to herself.

Kalma lang. There's plenty of time para makabawi kami ni Jema sa isa't isa.

FLASHBACK

Some people want it all

But I don't want nothing at all

If it ain't you baby

If I ain't got you baby

I hear it loud and clear while I spend my last day in Thailand. My heart know what I want - who I want. Jema said to herself with conviction.

If only I had her with me here. If only I took the steps to stop her from leaving. I still couldn't figure out bakit ko siya pinakawalan. All the successes that I have now still makes me feel empty and lonely. I'm not with the person I wanted to share all of these. Patuloy na isip ni Jema.

I wonder tuloy if she ever thinks of me too. Naiisip kaya niya ako ngayon or nung mga nakaraang araw? Kasi ako, palagi.

Sometimes para akong namamalikmata kasi parang I can see her in my book launches, or in events. I feel na proud siya of what I have achieved. Na palagi pa rin siyang andyan every step, malayo man pero andyan pa din.

Or baka lahat ng ito ay kathang isip ko lang. I'm just so and still crazy in love with her. Na mahal na mahal ko pa rin siya and all these time, hindi naman talaga ako nagmove on. I just accepted our distance but never said goodbye to the love we have. Sabi naman niya sa sulat nya na maybe one day. One day when the time is right for both of us. Deep inside umaasa pa din ako na baka kami pa din sa huli. Kami pa din ang para sa isa't isa.

"Mahal pa rin kaya nya ako?" Jema uttered softly as the song ends.

She stood up and went out the bar. Walked a couple of blocks until she reaches a park. Funny thing is bago siya umupo sa may wooden bench, nabasa niya itong nakaukit sa isang wood panel.

You will never know the answer to a question you never asked.

And bam! Bullseye! Hits the spot deep!

MG said, "Huy guys, the wedding coor said, ready na daw at tayo na!"

Medyo nagpanic naman si Jema at hinila si Ponggay, "How do I look?" She tried to smile wide.

Natawa naman si Ponggay, "Jusko! Kagandang babae! For sure akit na akit mo na siya!"

"Baliw!" Sagot ni Jema.

"Ayiieeeee, talaga namang ready na ipaglaban ang minamahal!" Tukso ni Kyla.

"Bring it on!" Tila naghahamon na sagot ni Jema. 

This time, ako naman kikilos Deanna. I must make sure, hindi na natin papakawalan ang isa't isa. Jema thought.

Tuluyang naging madilim na nga ang paligid ng stage sa reception ng kasal nila Ly at Kiefer. Biglang spotlight kay Ly na tumayo naman kaagad sabay ng pagtugtog ng kanta. 

Agad na lumabas sina MG, Kyla, Ponggay, at Jema. All wearing skin tight black shorts, stockings, and tube top with matching high heels. Akala mo'y mga back up dancers talaga ni Beyonce.

Nilapitan nila si Ly at hinarangan habang mabilis na nagpalit ito ng halos kagaya din ng kanilang suot pero all red naman ang color. Angat na angat siya sa mga kaibigan nya.

Everyone got excited and all eyes sa bride at sa mga back up dancers nito. Deanna can't help but smile, she was so surprised that Jema agreed to dress up like that. Iniisip niyang si Ponggay pa may chance but Jema? Who would have thought.

Grabe! Sobrang bagay sa kanya! Napalip bite na lang si Deanna.

Nagperform na ang magkakaibigan sa stage, pero litaw pa din talaga sa mata ni Deanna ang matagal niyang nais makasama. May mailang kindat pa si Jema dito kaya lalo itong naexexcite. Panay naman ang kantyaw ni Bea sa kanya.

"Jusko Deans, its freaking hot diba?!" Bea exclaimed as the girls on the stage continued to show their dancing skills. It was full of wows from the audience.

Suddenly, Deanna went into a deep thought.

Flashback of when his father was threatening her na sisirain ang buhay ni Jema pag di niya binigay yung property nila. Deanna's face shows all the fears. She never wanted na mapahamak pa si Jema. Gagawin nya ang lahat to keep her safe.

It was the only thing that connects us. I wish it was that easy to just let go of it, pero it was where Jema and I built our dreams together. It's where we both want to live. Bawat kwarto, bawat sulok ng property na yun pareho naming plinano. It's just so hard to let go. Isip ni Deanna.

It's not about the amount of money we invested, but the dreams we kept hanging. Because I know deep inside - I still want and hope for us to be together again. If only dad won't get in the way. I don't know how else I can protect Jema. Lord, please help me. I'm stuck!

How can a man who never really cared for me asks for the most important thing from me. That's all I have. Nabenta ko na halos lahat ng properties ko just for dad to leave me alone pero bakit hindi siya nasasatisfy. Can't I choose myself this time? Kaya ko na bang protektahan si Jema from him? Deanna asked herself.

Namulat lang si Deanna sa kasalukuyan ng maramdaman ang tapik sakanya ni Maddie.

Pinapatayo siya nito at pinapapunta sa dressing room. "Go Deans! Meet Jema there! You know what to do right?"

Tumango naman si Deanna at agad na umalis.