The one he loves to hate

1. Broken, crazy and just drunk

Ten years later…

The church was full of white and pink roses everywhere. It was so beautiful. It was the perfect day. Lex was standing inside the church smiling as he looked at Barbara walking down that aisle. She was and would always be the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. From where he was standing, he could see the tears flowing from her eyes. Iyon siguro ang sinasabi nilang tears of joy. Barbara looked so happy while she walked. Nakita niyang ngumiti ito sa kanya so he smiled back. Hindi siya makapaniwala na nangyayari talaga ito. She mouthed something to him. Hindi malinaw ang mga salitang binitiwan nito sapagkat natatakpan ng puting belo ang mukha nito. But whatever it was, he knew that it was something good.

Pinanood niya si Barbara habang ito’y naglalakad. He had dream of this moment for a million times before. The moment when Barbara would finally walk down the aisle, wearing that beautiful long white dress, holding a bouquet of yellow tulips while everyone was looking at her. He had dream of this moment for so long that he couldn’t believe that it was actually happening now. 

Kumirot ang isang bahagi ng kanyang puso nang lumagpas na si Barbara sa kanyang kinauupuan. Naramdaman niya ang pagtapik ni Kerky – one of his best friends – sa kanyang balikat. His heart was shattered when he saw Barbara took Demien’s hand to face the altar. He looked away. He couldn’t accept the fact that Barbara was marrying someone else. 

Barbara was marrying Demien.
Demien and not him. 

Akala niya ay tanggap na niya ang bagay na iyon pero nagkamali siya. It’s been a year since he realized that Barbara would never be his and yet he was still pretty bummed about it. Hindi kasi talaga niya matanggap ang mga pangyayari. One moment he was with Barbara, ready to confess his undying love for his childhood sweetheart and then the next day he found out that she was pregnant! Lahat ng pangarap niya para sa kanilang dalawa ay literal na biglang naglaho. 
Nasayang ang paghihintay niya. Kung alam lang sana niya na magiging ganito, noon pa sana niya sinabi kay Barbara ang lahat.

“I now pronounce you, man and wife. Demien, you may now kiss your bride.” 
Muli siyang napapakit. Hindi niya kayang makita ang bagay na iyon. It would kill him.

“Bok, dapat kasi talaga hindi na tayo nagpunta dito.” Narinig niyang komento ni Kerky. Tiningnan niya ito. 

“Bakit?” kunwa’y tanong niya. 

“Kasi nagkakaganyan ka…” madamdaming pahayag nito. Umiling siya. Minsan ay hindi na niya maintindihan si Kerky. Mula nang magka-girlfriend ito ay unti-unti nang nagbago ang ugali nito – not that he didn’t like the Kerky now – but he just missed the old Kerky; iyong mapang-asar, iyong insensitive. Hindi kasi niya kailangan ng sensitive na kaibigan ngayon. Ang kailangan niya ay isang taong walang pakialam.

“Okay lang ako.” tinalikuran niya ito. Tinungo niya ang pinto palabas ng simbahan ngunit bago siya makalabas ng tuluyan ay narinig niya ang kanyang pangalan. 

“Lex!” napabuntong-hininga siya habang dahan-dahan niyang nilingon ang nagmamay-ari ng malamyos na tinig na iyon. Pinilit niyang ngumiti habang hinihintay niya si Barbara na lumapit sa kanya. 

“Hey!” damang-dama niya ang hapdi sa kanyang puso. Lalo siyang nasaktan nang makita niyang hawak-hawak pa nito ang kamay ni Demien habang nakatayo sa kanyang harap.

“Thank you for coming.” Nakangiting sabi nito. 

“Best wishes…” Iniabot niya ang kanyang kamay kay Barbara. Alam niyang hanggang shake hands na lang talaga siya. Alam niyang hindi na niya maangkin ang mga labi nitong noon pa niya nais mahagkan because whether he accepts the fact or not – Barabara now belongs to another man. She now belongs to Demien.