Untamed Attraction //oh hold//

UA 28. Away from here

Xena

"I Nicolas, take you Helen to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."

Mula sa kinauupuan ko ay nakita ko ang luhang tumakas sa mata ni mama pagkatapos sabihin ni tito Nicolas ang wedding vow niya. I unconciously shifted my gaze towards Near na naka-upo few seats away from me. He was looking back at me. Isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa mga labi niya and I can't help but smile back. Agad ding nabura ang ngiti ko ng halikan siya sa pisngi ni Lia na naka-upo sa tabi niya.

Why the hell does she love brushing her annoying lips on Near?!

Bumuntong hininga ako at tumungo. May kung anong kumirot sa dibdib ko. Naiinggit ako. Sana pwede akong umupo sa tabi ni Near. Sana pwede ko siyang halikan sa pisngi at bulungan nang mahal ko siya habang nakatingin kami sa dalawang taong kinakasal.

Kinuyom ko ang kamay kong nakapatong sa may hita ko. Nagusot ang parte na 'yon ng dress pero wala akong pake. Nakakainis. Dapat bang pumayag na lang ako na makipag-break si Near kay Lia? I shook my head.

May naramdaman akong kamay na humawak sa nakakuyom kong kamao. I looked up and saw Shin smiling at me. "Stop frowning." Bulong niya.

"Can't help it." I said with a huff.

"Nagseselos ka?" Tanong niya tapos ay tumingin sa gawi nila Near. Bumalik ang tingin niya sakin. "Gago 'yun ha. Gusto mong pagselosin din natin?" He suggested with a sly smirk on his lips.

Inirapan ko siya. "I'm not childish, Shin."

"C'mon, it'll be fun."

"I'll appreciate it if you could shut up." Inis na sabi ko which made him pout. I playfully slap his cheek.

The wedding ceremony went as planned. Walang tumutol though I'm itching to raise my hand earlier nang tanungin ng priest kung may gustong tumutol. This wedding is the reason why I can't be with Near. Pero alam kong wala namang kasalanan sila mama at tito Nicolas. If they love each other, then so be it.

Natapos din ang kasal at ngayon ay papunta na ang lahat sa venue ng reception. Syempre kay Shin ako sumabay to avoid any suspicion. I know I'm being paranoid but it's better to be safe than sorry, right? At isa pa, magtataka na ng sobra si Lia. At kawawa naman kung iiwan kong mag-isa si Shin.

Naka-upo na ako ngayon sa shotgun seat ng kotse ni Shin. He was humming while starting the engine. Nilabas ko naman ang phone ko from my purse nang maramdaman kong nag-vibrate ito.

From: Near
I miss you.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. Sumandal ako sa sandalan at nagsimulang magtype ng reply.

To: Near
I do, too. And for the record, that Lia girl pisses me off.

Nag-drive na si Shin. Binuksan niya ang radio ng sasakyan niya at tumunog mula sa speaker noon ang Emperor's New Clothes ng Panic! At The Disco. Sinabayan niya ang kanta, knowing every words of the lyrics.

I got a reply from Near.

Naiinis din ako sa kanya, trust me. Pinagsabihan ko na but she doesn't listen.

Of course she's not gonna listen. Brat.

To: Near
I can bear with it.

From: Near
Just say the words baby, and I'll dump her w/o wasting any seconds.