The Substitute Bride

Chapter One

"Rhicole, come on get up! It's time! It's timeeeeee!!" Nagising ako sa walang habas na sigaw ng matalik kong kaibigan at housemate na si Cindy.

Hindi pa ako natatapos magkusot ng mga mata ko para makatulong na magising ang diwa at maimulat ang mga mata ng bigla syang lumapit sa akin at higitin ako sabay tulak papunta sa banyo, para maligo.

"You're really weird Cindy, palagi kang ganito sa first day ng klase. Excited pero pagkatapos ng isang linggo, wala na, hindi kana motivated." Sabi ko ng tuluyang makapasok ng banyo.

"Of course, it's always the first day that I get to choose of who can be my next crush. Didn't you notice?"

"Noticed what?" Tanong ko na puno ng pag tataka.

"Gosh you're really clueless, whenever school year begins, they seemed to all be glowing up." sabi nya sabay irap. "Mygosh, please, just take a shower na. We'll be late."

Nagkibit balikat na lang ako sa sinabi ng kaibigan at saka nagsimula sa aking ritwal.

After about 30 minutes, I was done getting ready. Kinuha ko na ang bag kong nakahanda na din para sa unang araw ng klase.

"Hey, you did not even put any liptint?" Cindy commented when she saw me going down the stairs whilst brushing my long brown hair.

"Nevermind that, let's go. As you said earlier, we'll be late, so let's go." sabi ko at halos patakbong lumabas na ng condo dahil kung hindi ay kung anu ano na namang pang color sa mukha ang ilalagay sa akin ni Cindy.

Four years, it has been four years since Cindy and I lived together in her condo that was a high school graduation gift for her by her parents. I can vividly remember how we became best friends. If I am mistaken, I offered her some milktea when she was crying because of her first heartbreak. From that time, we have always been together. She even forced me to live with her so here we are now.

"Rhi, I still can't believe this is our last year in college. Are you excited to graduate?" She asked, while we were walking to university.

"Of course. That's what I have been waiting for Cinds. Alam mo naman yon."

"And.... are you still planning to leave the country after?" she asked again, with a hint of sadness.

"Cinds, that's my plan. I took up nursing para makapunta sa UK, alam mo naman yan, then if I will be given the opportunity doon, I will pursue medicine."

She did not say anything, after what I said. Alam ko naman, ayaw talaga ni Cindy na umalis ako. But I have to, for my dream and for my mother. She had sacrificed everything for me, and even without her asking I know it is my responsibility to give back to her. 

Palaging iniisip ng aking ina ang kapakanan ko. Mag isa nya akong itinaguyod at sinusuportahan mula nung bata ako at mula ng iwan kami ng ama ko. Kahit hindi nya sabihin, alam kong pagod na sya. Kahit kailan, kahit habang pinapagalitan nya ako pag may nagagawa akong mali ay hindi isinumbat sa akin ng aking ina na pagod na sya. Kaya ito lang ang magagawa ko sa kanya para makabawi, ang suportahan naman sya pag nakatapos na ako at nakaalis ako ng bansa.

"Hey Rhi, can't you hear me?" nabalik ako sa wisyo ng tumigil ang kaibigan ko at hawakan ang mukha ko na sya ring nakapag patigil sakin na lumakad.

"A-ano yon ulit?" tanong ko

"Are you okay? Is something bothering you? If it is about me being nag-iinarte, please nevermind me okay? You do what will make you happy and satisfied. I know you are doing it for tita Sandra, and I won't stop you. It's just that, you know, you're my only best and true friend, so it is difficult for me to think that soon, you'll be leaving me." she said, smiling. "I don't want to be selfish thinking only about myself Rhi, so you do what you have planned, and you never know, maybe I would decide to go with you, right?" she continued.

I smiled at my best friend. She always thought she is very lucky to have me, she always tells me. Little does she know, I am the lucky one to have her. 

"Anyways, as I was saying Rhi, later mom and dad are inviting us for dinner, I told them it's our first day but, you know mom."

"It's fine, if you want to go, we can go. It will all depend on you Cinds." I answered.

"Alrighty, I will call them later and tell them we'll be coming."

Pagkatapos ng ilan pang minuto ng paglalakad ay narating na namin ang university kung saan kami nag aaral. Marami na ding mga estudyante ang pumapasok, pero ang kumuha ng atensyon ko ay ang kumpulan ng mga tao sa may gilid ng gate ng university. Nagulat ako ng biglang iangkla ni Cindy ang braso nya sa braso ko.

"What do you think is going on there?" she asked.

"I have no idea Cinds, kakarating lang natin diba?" sarkastiko kong sagot.

Agad nya akong hinila papunta malapit sa kumpulan ng mga tao, nang halos ilang metro na lang ang layo namin sa kanila ay biglang nabuwag ang kumpol at nagbigay daan ang mga tao sa dalawang lalaki at isang babae.

"O.M.G. so the news is true?" gulat na sabi ni Cindy na mukhang hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita.

"hmm?" I reacted

"Didn't you hear? There were news going on that some multi-billion heirs will be coming to study here as exchanged students as part of their trainings. I just can't believe that they chose our university out of all universities in the country." Cindy explained.

"Well, our university's reputation is one the best amongst all, so I am not surprised. Until now, I still can't believe I was able to gain scholarship from here." I said.

"Hmp, what a brag. It's your last year here and you're telling me, you still can't believe that fact?"

Natawa na lang ako sa reaksyon ng kaibigan ko. 

"Halika na, we might be late kakatsismisan natin." sabi ko sabay hila sa kanya at nagmadaling maglakad papasok sa university.

Halos lakad-takbo ang ginawa ko habang hila hila si Cindy. Ang kaibigan ko naman ay panay na ang reklamo.

"Rhi come on, stop iiiit! I am tired." 

Nilingon ko sya habang mabilis pa din ang lakad, sasagutin ko sana ang reklamo nya pero bigla akong nabangga sa isang pader na dahilan ng pagkatumba ko. 

"Oh my gosh Rhi, are you okay?" Tanong ni Cindy habang inaalalayan akong tumayo.

"Yeah, I'm okay." sagot ko sa kaibigan, tinignan ko ang pader sa harap nang makita kong tao pala at hindi pader and nabangga ko. Ang gwapo, ang tanging naisip ko ng makita ko sya. Agad akong humingi ng tawad sa lalaking nasa harap ko.

"I am sorry, nasaktan ba kita?" tanong ko.

"Asha Collins" sabi ng lalaki na ipinagtaka ko.

"Ha?" ang tanging nasabi ko

"I didn't expect you'll also be here." dugtong ng lalaki

"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" Tanong ko

Punong puno ng pagtataka ang lalaki sa tanong ko. Magsasalita sana syang muli ng biglang hinawakan ni Cindy ang braso ko.

"I am sorry for interrupting you guys, but Rhicole, we have to go. We'll be late na talaga." sabi ng kaibigan ko.

Nagsimula na ulit kaming maglakad-takbo ni Cindy, pero ngayon ay sya naman ang humihila sa akin. Hindi pa kami nakakalayo sa lalaki ng bigla itong magsalita.

"He'll be here Asha. He had been looking for you. Brace yourself."