Stay With Me

Prologue

"Hindi ako nagpapanic. Seryoso, I'm not panicking. I'm perfectly calm."

Litanya ni Cheska habang paroo't-parito sa kanyang kwarto. I can't help but roll my eyes at the scene unfolding in front of me. I ushered her to sit down on her bed and immediately gave her favorite Green Tea Frappe.

"Hindi nga halatang nagpapanic ka Beks. Kulang na lang eh masunog yang phone mo, katititig mo. Sino ba kasing nagdecide na magpakasal ng tag-ulan?" She took a generous sip from the Venti-sized cup and gave me one of her famous death glares. I managed to let out a snicker. Naka-iwas rin ako mula sa hampas ng kanyang kamay.

"You're not helping Beks! You're supposed to be calming me down and help me take care of things. Not the other way around." I can't help but laugh hard at her antics. At dahil dito, binigyan niya ako ng isang matinding pag-nguso. Linapitan ko siya at yinakap ng mahigpit.

"I'm helping you naman diba? Pero what you need to do is to chill Beks. Although you chose to be wed in a monsoon month, we've been planning this wedding of yours for half a year now. Smile na."

Nginitian ko siya at sa wakas, ngumiti na rin siya pabalik. I kissed her on the cheeks and got up to pull her up as well.

"What would I do without you Beks?"

"Hay nako Beks, hindi mo malalaman ever at wag mo nang ring subukang alamin. Kaya tama na drama. I'm sure your groom-to-be has been waiting long enough. Nako, di na to pwede pag mag-asawa na kayo ha? Kawawa naman ako."

Apparently my best friend Cheska and her fiancé Martin were talking about their wedding preparations. At itong si Cheska hindi nakayanan ang stress at nag full-blown panic mode na hindi kinaya ng powers ni Martin. He immediately called me and asked for a favor if I could come over to help hush her down. Minsan talaga malala 'tong si Cheska kung mag drama, akala siguro nasa high school pa rin kami.

"Salamat Sade."

Ani ni Martin pagkalabas naming ni Cheska ng kwarto niya. He walked directly to Cheska to lightly kiss her on the lips. Di ko mapigilang mapaudlot sa nakita ko.

"Hinay-hinay naman sa PDA. Single person present here o."Pareho silang napabulalas ng tawa at di ko na rin napagilang mapatawa sa bitterness ko. I picked up my own frappe off the kitchen counter where I left it a while ago. The irony. It's bitter like me. Napa-ismid ako.

"Sade, nag-confirm siya. Uuwi raw siya."

Mahinahong sabi ni Martin. Bigla akong napatigil sa pag-inom at napa-singhal ng malakas, kaya lalo akong tinignan ng maigi ni Cheska. I tried to calm my nerves. You're not affected Sade. You're not affected. I chanted inside my head while I regain myself.

"Ah talaga? Edi mabuti. Kumpleto tayo." Uminom ulit ako ng kape. I refused to meet them both in the eye. I know too well they would know what I'm thinking if I did.

"Sigurado kang okay lang sayo? I mean, I could say he's not invited na pala Beks. Eto kasing si Martin eh."

I took a deep breath and then finally looked at them. They were the epitome of high school sweethearts. Ever since our barkada was formed, they have been together. Naiinggit ako. I'm envious but I know they both deserve each other. I gave them a smile.

"Oo naman Beks. He's your friend, our friend. And diba, we all agreed to be complete on each other's weddings? And he has lots of utang na. Especially sayo Martin. It's fine really." I tell them as Cheska nears me. We both smiled at each other and then I hugged her.

"Well, if that's the case then I should also inform you na he's coming with us papuntang Ilocos." 

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A/N: How's that for a prologue?