The Manila Charmers : TROY

33

I never even imagined na nakatayo ako ngayon sa simbahan habang pinapanood ang paghalik ng kaibigan ko sa ex ko.

What the f*ck happened? Seryoso ba ang nakikita ko? Parang kailan lang nakita ko sa Boracay si Xyra and now? Wow. Engaged na pala siya ng mga panahon na yun, I supposed.

But Xyra looked so happy. Yung aura ng mukha niya napaka-fresh. She looks like a princess. Her wedding gown was pure white with laces. Nagbago na siya. Hindi na siya yung ex ko na pure maldita at free-spirited. She looked reserved and classic.

Ganoon nga siguro ang pag-ibig. Mawala man ito, may kabutihan naman na madudulot either sa kanya or sa'yo.

I'm so happy I broke up with her. Kung wala yun, hindi niya makikilala si Sid.

" Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!" , her brother said while we were in Manila Peninsula. Grabe. Hanggang ngayon hindi ako makapaniwala na Mrs. Gomez na siya.

Parang kailan lang halos aso't pusa kung mag-away ang dalawang yun and now..

" I would like to thank all of you who attended our wedding. This means so much to us. As you all know, I was the one who crashed into her car that caused her amnesia. Baby, I'm really sorry." Sid was holding the mic on his left hand and wine on his other hand. " But maybe, that was God's plan. He planned to make a car crash para magkakilala tayo. To redeem myself and to win you back. Xyra, I know we've been through our ups and downs. I didn't regret anything. I love you and I will love you forever." He hugged his wife and kissed her on her forehead.

Everyone was clapping habang ako naman nakaupo lang doon, nakangiti lang. Ang saya pala ng ganito. Before I was so allergic to love, but look at me now.

" Wow. Ikaw ba ito, Troy Luis Herrera? Napapangiti sa mga weddings? That must be something pare.", Joaquin said while looking at the couple too. Siniko ko siya at napakunot ang noo.

" Mind your own business."

" Hahaha! Pikon ka talaga Troy", he smirked. " Mag-lovelife ka na kasi para hindi ka na parang may PMS palagi."

" Shut up." Siniko ko siya at nagpanggap na wala akong ginawa habang nakahawak na sya sa bandang tagiliran niya.

Naglalakad ako paalis ng Manila Penn when Joaquin approached me. Hinihingal pa. Looks like he chased me. " Pa-sabay. Sige na, please?" I nodded and pushed my car keys.

Letting Joaquin inside my car was a mess. Napakatsismoso pala ng kaibigan kong ito! He asked me about me and Roxanne. Mula sa pagkakakilala namin hanggang ngayon, he wants all the details too much!

" So you mean, instead of you and her, sila na ni Kuya Trevor? Wow. Ganoon kabilis? Geeez.", he said while looking at the Coke he's been drinking for the last thirty minutes.

I nodded and kept my eyes on the road. Kung bakit ba kasi di matapos ang road! Layo kasi ng tinitirhan ng Joaquin na ito, masyado pa syang maungkat.

" Damn, bro. Paglaban mo yan! ", he exclaimed. Napatingin ako sa kanya. He looked serious though. " Mahal mo di ba? Then fight for her. Fight for your place. She should be yours until the end, Troy. Wag mong hayaan makuha siya ng iba."

I have never seen my friend like this. Grabe. He's changed.

" T*ng*na pre. Ikaw na ba talaga itong kasama ko sa car? You're the one who's surprising! Naiba yata ang tingin mo sa love? Epekto ng pagiging chaser mo?" , I asked. Napangiti siya.

" Siraulo. Natamaan ako eh. Bakit ba?"

" Baduy mo, Joaquin!"

" Nagsalita ang hindi baduy. If I know, nagpapractice ka pa ng sasabihin mo kay Rox everytime may date kayo. Hahaha! Baduy! Pwe!", he acted like he was vomiting. I just shook my head and kept driving.

Pagkabukas ko pa lang ng pintuan sa bahay, I saw my brother instantly. Para siyang gago na nakatayo sa may sala at nakatingin sa akin. He was really expecting me to come back.

" So, how was her wedding?"

" Fine. She looked so happy."

" I hope you'd also come to OUR wedding soon." He smirked and walked closer to me. " Roxanne will look MORE beautiful than her, I bet."

I shook my head and headed straight to my room. Paakyat pa lang ako ng hagdan nang bigla akong hatakin ni Kuya sa balikat.

" Never ever attempt to snatch her away from me, Troy. Alam ko ang mga galawan mo. Nagkakalinawan ba tayo?"

" No and no. F*ck no. Nauna ako kay Roxanne. Tandaan mo yan, kuya."

" You really can't get over the fact na NEVER kayong magiging kayo in the end. She needs this opportunity so much. Pumayag naman na siya magpakasal di ba? Iba nga lang magiging groom but nevermind, I would still make her happy.."

" Hah! Do you think I would believe you kuya? F*ck no. You are just doing this in the name of MONEY. Akala mo ba di ko alam? Mapapasayo LAHAT ng pagmamay-ari at pinaghirapan ni Daddy kapag nagpakasal ka sa isang katulad ni Roxanne."

Unti-unting nagdilim ang tingin niya sa akin and I can see that he was cletching his fist. Nagpipigil ng galit na handa ng sumabog.

I looked at him and went upstairs. Walang sense ang pakikipag-away sa mga assuming and plastic. I didn't mind all that he has been saying to me while I was on my way to my room.

Until he said something that caught me looking back at him.

" Wala ka ng magagawa, Troy! Ikakasal na kami next week!"