Love Beneath Lies (Part 2) ✓

Epilogue

L E X I

I never thought I would see this day come.

"'Wag na nga sabing umiyak. Hindi ka pa nakakalakad sa aisle, Ate!" pabirong pagsabi ni Czarina kay Ate na siyang hindi mapigil ang mga mata sa pagluha

"Oo na, 'to na, 'di na nga sabi iiyak, eh," sagot naman ni Ate nang kunin sa 'kin ang inabot kong tissue. "Nako, masisira makeup ko nito."

"Ano? Okay ka na? Malapit na kami maglakad ni Cza sa aisle," ani ko. Saglit siyang tumango.

"Kami na ang bahala ng daddy mo sa ate mo. Mag-ready na kayo sa harap ni Cza," sagot naman ni Mommy. Imbis na maging concerned siya sa pagiging emotional ni Ate ay napangiti na lamang siya. Probably thinking how special this day would be, not only for Ate, but also for us. She was seeing her daughters get together on her eldest's wedding, after all. It wasn't an everyday view.

I wondered what Mommy thought of that time. Ganito rin kaya siya no'ng kinasal sila ni Daddy?

Ganito rin kaya ako sa kasal ko? Sa kasal namin?

"Oh, ba't ka nakangiti, Ate?" biglang tanong sa 'kin ni Cza. Was I smiling just from the thought of getting married to Niko? Oh, God.

"Wala," ang tanging nasagot ko lang kay Cza, hirap pa ring pigilan ang mga labi ko sa pagngiti.

Czarina and I were called by the wedding director to gather ourselves by the side, outside the arc. Kasunod na kasing maglalakad ang mga bridesmaids at sunod nama'y ako, ang maid of honor. Nang ma-realize kong malapit na akong lumakad sa gitna ay saka lang ako nakaramdam ng kaba. I questioned it first. Hindi naman ako 'yung bride, pero bakit ako kinakabahan? Maglalakad lang naman ako sa gitna.

May nanonood kasi.

Ah.

Shit.

Feelingera mo naman, Lexi. 'Di naman ikaw 'yung bride.

"Ready ka na ba, Maid of Honor?" Doon lang bumalik ang atensyon ko sa mga kaganapan. Tumango lang ako't ngumiti. Hindi ko na rin napigilang higpitan ang hawak ko sa bouquet ko.

Okay. You can do this. Hindi ka madadapa. Eyes on front lang, Lexi.

'Yon ang utos ko sa sarili ko ngunit nang makarating ako sa gitna, iisang tao lamang ang nakita ko. Na para bang ang lakas ng magnet sa kanyang mga mata; wala akong ibang makita kundi siya. It was as if it was the two of us in the venue. At siguro'y gano'n din para sa kanya. Kita kong napaawang nang kaunti ang kanyang mga labi nang pumwesto ako sa gitna. As if seeing me left him breathless.

Little did he know, I was left breathless as soon as I saw him, too.

Niko stood on the left side, wearing the best suit he had ever been in. The deep blue suit he was in perfectly complemented his mestizo skin tone. Moreso, with his honey-brown hair that was neatly parted to the side. Ilang beses ko nang nakikita si Niko, but there was something magical when I landed my eyes on him as I walked down the aisle. Probably the venue and event helped as to why I felt that way.

My mind took me back to the times when hatred was all I could feel for him. Napatanong ako sa sarili ko. Kung sakaling hindi ko siya pinakinggan noon, ano kayang mararamdaman ko habang naglalakad palapit sa kanya? Would things be different then? Would I still feel hatred?

But who was I fooling? I know in myself that the hatred I felt was just to mask the longing I had for him. That every lie I spouted was masked with truth.