SaiLem Three {DANGER: I'm Falling For You}

35. Invitation

Cyann

A few days after All Saints’, we receive a notification from Ate Carsie. There’s a cousins meeting on Wednesday at the ancestral house. Our topic: the up-coming weddings of Kuya Vlad and Ate Maxine and of Ate Carsie and Kuya Erik.

I offer Clementine a ride to work. Kahit natapos na niya ‘yung hundred hours of OJT, Kuya Vlad asked her to stay even until before the Holidays since it’s the busiest time of the year. Sabi ko susunduin ko na lang ulit siya. And unlike before, she didn’t refuse it.

Finding out that she has a living first-degree cousin whom she really likes must have done it. And I’m really glad and thankful for her sake. Knowing that she’s related to Alice must have been the first ray of sunshine from the dark clouds that have been looming over her for years. It was a touching reunion, really.

As soon as I arrive, the dining room erupts into an even more lively chat. Ganun talaga, I’m the life of the party. Hinintay pa naming makarating si Kuya Kyle before we started unpacking the wedding invites at the living room. Ate Maxine hands me a black envelope with my and Clementine’s names engraved on the recipients’ name in silver ink.

Hindi na ako nagsalita. But why is it black? Akala ko ba wedding? Why does the invitation look like it’s something for a funeral—?

My thoughts dissolve into thin air as soon as I open the card. It’s the coolest shit in the world. I mean, what with the curlicues and the embossed outlines of guns and roses, not to mention the equally out-of-this-world pre-nuptial picture of the couple—Mafia Style.

The ‘oohs’ and ‘aahhs' of my cousins are audible in the air while I read through the names on the entourage list. And it gives me the second shock of the day.

I gawk at the expensive cardboard. “Is this for realz?” I blurt out and look at Kuya Vlad with my eyes opened wide. “I’m your best man?!”

He stares at me blankly. “Hindi. Cyann Mabanta ang nakalagay diba? Hindi ikaw yan,” he sarcastically confirms.

The last time I checked, I’m just one of the regular abays. This is the first time na magiging best man ako. I mean, of all people, why me? It should’ve been Kuya Erik since he’s the best bud. Or if it isn’t him, then it could’ve been Kuya Kyle or someone from his barkada.

And since we’re on the subject, tinignan ko na rin ‘yung partner ko—the maid of honor. I’m not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me pero… “Clementine is the maid of honor?!”

“Ay, hindi ko pa ba kayo nasabihan? Pakisabi na lang sa kanya ha, Sai?” Ate Carsie smiles widely at me before looking at a checklist. Now I know who organized this.

Not knowing how to break this down to my  maid of honor—err…that sounds really cheesy right there. Kinilabutan din ako. Well anyway, I compose a message to her while my cousins continue on with the last-minute adjustments.

To: Clementine

Dec. 22. Save the date. You’re invited to the Zaldivar-Mariano Nuptials :)

“Sai, sino ‘yung kumanta nung anniversary nila Tita Jo?” I hear Ate Carsie ask me and I lift my head from my phone to see her tapping the end of her Parker pen over the folder.

“Sino dun?” I ask back only to realize that there was only one singer during my parents’ anniversary. “Oh, you mean... si Alice? The girl with the golden voice?”