A Stupid Promise

III: Bridging Gaps

Miko Fontanilla

Calling...

I picked up my phone and my eyebrows met halfway once more as I squinted at the name that was flashing on my screen. I instantly rejected the call and shoved my phone inside my tote.

"Wow, malalim pa rin ang galit?" Charles commented beside me with a snicker as he stole a glance at me. "It's been a week. Kaya mo pa bang tiisin?"

"Keep your eyes on the road!" I snapped back at him.

We just finished our meeting with Misha and Kenneth here in Tagaytay. It turned out that they will be postponing their wedding next year due to some family crisis. Kenneth's mother was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, and would need to undergo treatment as soon as possible. With that, they couldn't attend to the wedding preparations since they were also considering to go abroad to seek treatment.

Now, I already understood why they couldn't decide on anything final for the last few weeks. They insisted to treated us over lunch at Antonio's and apologized for all the inconveniences that they caused. I told them it was okay, and that the speedy recovery of Kenneth's mother was more important. I would be glad to welcome them back when they're ready.

So, I think I can finally take a break from the wedding planning.

Oh yea but then there's Miko. UGGGGGH!

Charles stepped on the break as soon as the traffic light turned red.

"He was gone for three years. Three freaking years tapos ano? He just comes back and he decides he's gonna get married in a month! Tapos sa akin pa niya ipapagawa. Sino ba namang hindi maiinis dun? Gusto lang akong pahirapan." I finally said, my voice seething with much irritation as I crossed my arms on my chest.

"Iyon nga lang ba talaga?" Charles chimed in as he poked my left cheek. It's been a habit of his every time I get pissed off. He said it might help in releasing some of the bad vibes I was feeling. I couldn't see the connection but I just let him do it anyway.

I turned to look at him with one eyebrow raised. "Iyon na iyon."

Though I knew deep inside, it just wasn't that.

"Kung iyon na iyon, then why not talk to Miko and be upfront about how you feel?" Charles suggested as if it was the easiest thing to do.

"Are you serious? Please lang, Charles. It's been three years. Wala na iyon."

He went mum for awhile as he gazed at me with those burning eyes of his. It was like he was scanning through my dark soul.

The traffic lights then shifted to green.

"Meron pa." Charles said as he stepped on the gas.

I scoffed at him. "And what's your basis for that?"

"You brought it up yourself."

"Huh?" I suddenly felt lost in translation.

"Because if wala na talaga iyon, you wouldn't be bringing up those feelings from three years ago."

"But you said be upfront about how I feel! I just answered your question. It's not that easy to bring up something from the past, especially now that he's about to get married. What were you expecting me to say?"

"Well, I was expecting you'd say something like, 'Miko, I'm pissed off at you because you gave me such a short notice for your wedding preparation.' I was thinking that's just how you were feeling earlier." Charles was explaining matter-of-factly. "Pero may deeper feelings pa pala. The fact that you're not talking to him for a week makes clearer sense now."