NOT YOURS

PROLOGUE

"Zae, that's not yours! Have this instead." Mrs. Montecillo's loud voice almost made me drop the glass of Virgin Mojito in my hand. I just gave her an awkward smile and still took the glass of champagne she won't allow me not to take.

"Alam kong favorite mo yang Mojito na yan! But look si Claire, yang ninang mo she really made sure all expensive brands of alcohol are present." Ninang Claire hosted a small but intimate party for her daughter who announced their wedding. But looking around, and seeing the whole residence be filled with the colors of diamond and black that matches my cocktail dress, the rich certainly have a different perception of the word 'small'.

"Balita ko nga.." Tita Shane looked around and leaned closer afraid someone might hear what she has to say. "Yung iba kamo dyan, smuggled" She snickered as I jokingly hit her shoulder. "Tita, let me inform you that you're like on the 20th glass of champagne you claim to be smuggled." Natawa si Tita at muntik pang madura ang champagne na nilalaklak niya. I'm really glad we're both situated on the balcony peeping over the people in the fountain area, cause they won't believe this affluent magnate of a tita that I have is losing her mind on a champagne.

A guy who's holding a tray of the same champagne walked to us, Tita Shane handed me a glass again but I politely said no, kaya she's now drinking from both glasses. Psh, nahiya pa siyang kunin yung buong tray!.She then began rambling about how she wants to start a champagne business in Manila. I looked at her in disbelief dahil winery ang main business niya at ng kanyang asawa. She's literally known in the business industry for that, pero ngayon she might be more known for her drinking habits.

She continued telling me her plan, the number of branches she wants to have and even asks me for a name. But I wasn't really paying attention. I was more focused on the on-going speech being done below for Ninang Claire's daughter and her fiance.

"You both are indeed lucky to have each other, a perfect match that shares an amazing lovestory. Your relationship that first started as something risky since we know how Ninang Claire can be so strict right?" I laughed with what I heard, dahil totoo naman na sa kanilang dalawa, kahit Tita Claire is two years older than her, she's a stricter bunso. Dapat always prim and proper, kaya nga whenever her nieces walk around they ooze with class wherever they go. They always stand out, even in the midst of the crowd, you'll always have an eye on them.

The speech continued as I watch intently from above. Tita Shane still has two glasses of champagne as she leaned on my shoulder. I took the other glass dahil baka maitapon niya pa sa dress ko. "Mag-iispeech ka rin ba, nak?" I shooked my head. "I got nothing much to say naman Tita." It's true, marami naman na nag-message sasama pa ba ako?

"Pero si Madison oh, daming nasasabi dapat sumama ka!"

"Eh may experience na yan sa marriage soo," I trailed off. Tita bursted out laughing as I gave a small smile. Pero I shushed her agad nang lumakas ang tawa niya baka kasi makuha atensyon ng lahat at isiping tita's laughing at the speech that's going on. "Oh, ito.." Tita handed me another glass na hindi ko alam kung saan nanaman galing. "Dali na, sa isang glass pa nga lang lumalabas na kapilyuhan mo, dapat i-unleash mo more of you tonight!" The sibling dynamic her and Ninang Claire have is really obvious right now. Yung isa nasa mismong reception, facilitating and the other one is right here who might cause chaos anytime soon.

"So, lastly I wanna congratulate you both on this new milestone in your lives. You're gonna be entering a new chapter of your life! This is something to look forward too, forget about the pressure, the impending challenges. Cause surely, you guys can conquer it because of your love and support for each other. As long as you guys are together your humble abode will be filled with promises and deams, your days will be filled with nothing but solace and content that you made the right choice of choosing each other." She raised her glass of champagne followed by the raised glasses of the crowd cheering for the wonderful speech that summarizes what a great marriage can give you. She smiled profoundly adding a shimmering graze into the nightsky. I raised my glass as well. "Cheers, everyone!"

I watched her intently as I chugged the whole glass of champagne. I drank the other one sa kabilang kamay ko with the same intensity. I slightly clenched my jaw at the mere thought that maybe, just maybe her last words about marriage really made sense cause if it does, she might just be fooling herself for it's contrary to what we both have.

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