CHAPTER 3
Nag-dridrive na siya pauwe habang iniisip kung sino ang kayakap ng babaeng kahahalik niya lang kanina. “Damn!”
He is searching for her, and when he finally found her, he was stunned when he saw she is hugging another man. He might be a fool, but for a second he thought they have something for each other. “Damn! What am I? A girl? Stupid!”
Pagkadating niya sa condo niya ay naupo siya agad sa sofa at pagkakapa niya sa side table habang hinahanap niya ang remote ng tv ay may nakapa siya na nagpaalala na mayroong napakaimportanteng magaganap sa buhay niya ngayong gabi. He opened the small box and inside it is a beautiful engagement ring.
“so what do you look like?” he asked himself. Pumunta na siya ng kwarto saka sinuot ang isang traditional na damit na binigay ng mga magulang niya.
He drove home and he can here the voices inside the house. The house is so full of light.
“Nandito ka na pala.” Salubong sa kanya ng kanyang ina with ofcourse a very soft voice. Atleast that made him a little bit calm.
When he stepped inside the wide garden everyone took their places and the whole place turn quiet.
“Are you ready?” his mom asked, at tinanguan niya lang iyon.
Ang traditional engagement party na iyon ay parang ordinaryong kasal na maghihintay ang groom sa harap ng altar. Ang pinagkaiba lamang ay, hindi pa sila magsasabi ng ‘I do’ manunumpa lang sila na magiging faithful sa isa’t isa, at ipapakilala sa lahat na, they will be the future bride and groom.
May tumugtug ng malamyos na musika, at naexcite siya ng may lumabas na isang babaeng nakamahabang gown with her hands infront of her with face covered with a veil, kaya hindi niya masyadong maaninag ang mukha nito. He also knows that the woman can’t see clearly with that veil. He is excited because of that. He smiled. His parents won’t fail him. Alam niya na ayaw ng mga ito na hindi kaaya-ayang apo. Natawa siya sa mga tumatakbo sa isip niya.
Nang makatabi ito sa kanya ngumiti siya. And the 30 minutes of the ceremony began.
“and do you promise to be faithful to her as long as you were with her?”
“I will” he answered because he knew he doesn’t have any choice.
“then you are aloud to see your bride” the judge said.
He looked at her, and raised his hands, at unti- unti niyang tinaas ang veil. He saw her lips, that made him realize something. Those lips are familiar. Lalo pa siyang kinabahan ng umabot iyon sa kalahati ng mukha ng babae. Napalunok siya, and yes his intuition didn’t failed him. She is closing her eyes when he finally revealed her face.
He was stunned, when she opened her eyes. He knew, he saw it, a sudden flinch of shock in her face, but it’s only for a little while. Naging composed ulit ang babae at tumingin sa kanya ng diretso, but her eyes is different. Lifeless, cold, as if she had have accepted her faith but still doesn’t approve to it.
“You may kiss her now for the first time.” The judge said.
Nag-alanganin siya, kinabahan. ‘It is not the first time. Damn it.’ Naisip niya. ‘the first time is worst.’ Patuloy pang sabi ng isip niya. Pero nang Makita niyang pumikit ito ay wala na siya magawa kundi halikan ulit ito, pero sinigurado niyang dampi lang iyon. Then there was the clapping of the audience. Humarap sila sa mga tao at ngumiti siya. Hindi niya alam kung nakangiti si Theren, ‘ that's her name right?’ tanong niya sa isip niya. ‘I am engaged with the student body president.’
Pagkatapos ng handaan ay hindi na niya ito Makita. “ Ma, have you seen her?”
“Who? Teejay? I haven’t, baka nasa paligid lang yun.”
