He Was My Cousin

Chapter 5

Chapter 5
I fucked up.

If I'm dreaming, please wake me up.

I blinked my eyes. Twice or thrice. Walang nagbago. He was still there, and he was looking at me. Naka-manchester siyang polo shirt at maong pants. He was wearing a pair of rubber shoes, too. Same, old Paolo... the college guy Paolo.

Lumapit sa akin si Mama at dinaluhan ako. She held my arms gently. "Aya, it's j-just 5 PM... A-akala ko 8 ka pa makaka-uwi?" tanong ni Mama na nakaharap sa akin.

Her eyes were diverting their gaze from one direction to another. She was standing so close to me, and I knew she was blocking my view of him. But, really, did it change anything? Will it change anything?

I did not break his heart five years ago just to waver now. I did not come back just to run away.

I gently removed Mama's hands on my arms and moved her by holding her in the shoulders. Muli kong nakita si Paolo. He was just staring at us, so I stared at him as well to know how much the guy hated me. But there was no wrath in his eyes. There was no love, no longing either. He was just staring at me like I am someone who he's used to seeing. Like a neighbor? Like a friend? No, maybe like a cousin?

Biglang umalingawngaw ang boses ni Lance. "Tita Amie!" he said with his trademark American twang. He found my mom's name amusing because it's pronounced ey-mi and not ah-mi. He gave her an exaggerated hug.

Nang bitiwan niya si Mama ay humarap siya sa amin. I caught his eyes when he saw Paolo. Nakita ko rin ang pagbalandra ng ngiti sa mga labi niya, sensyales na na-recognize niya ito.

Yes, Lance knew my history with Paolo. Sa sobrang chismoso ni Lance ay hindi ako nakaligtas. At siguro, I needed someone to confide my issues and stories to when I was in the States. Ngunit kahit kailan ay hindi ko naisip na magtatagpo sila. Not even in my dreams.

And I almost wanted to trip Lance when he faced Paolo. Tanging ang center table lang ang naghihiwalay sa kanila. Napansin kong may box ng pastries doon. "Who's this?" Lance asked, his voice was friendly... pretensiously friendly.

I should be the one introducing them to each other, right? Dahil ako ang may kakilala kay Lance. Pero bago ko pa man magawa iyon, I saw Paolo stood up and offered Lance his hands for a handshake. Tinikom ko na lang ang bibig ko.

"Paolo," banggit niya na para ba siyang nagpapakilala sa isang business investor.

Inabot naman ni Lance ang kamay niya. "My name is Lance, mostly called Lance Parker... 'cause, you know, that girl... she doesn't know how to park decently. I'm Lance Sarriega as per legal documents," he said casually. What the hell?

Lalapit na sana ako upang paalisin si Lance roon... He was babbling nonsense! Ngunit hindi ko nagawa dahil may ibang kumuha ng atensyon ko. Paolo sat again to his place, and Lance sat on the lone-seater sofa.

I was just staring at the center table, looking like a bimbo. Dahil sa center table na iyon ay may envelope. Kulay maroon iyon na may gold. May mga bulaklak rin na naka-engrave bilang palamuti. And on its center, three words were embossed...

Salvatorre - Montemayor Nuptial

I mentally nodded. Ah, a wedding invitation. A. Wedding. Invitation. A freaking envelope that tells me to watch a freaking wedding. I wanted to laugh hysterically. A wedding! A feast of two people getting tied!

The idea that Paolo's really in front of me right now hasn't fully sunken in and now I am presented with a wedding invitation? Oh, good Lord!

Nakita kong napatingin si Paolo sa akin. Gusto ko sanang iiwas ang tingin ko pero huli na. I knew for sure he found out where I was staring. He was still sitting when looked up to me. "We really hope you could all be there," aniya, his voice was sincere or at least it appealed to me like that.