The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 13: Unlucky Number 13

It was really cold. Sising-sisi si Fresia na hindi man lamang siya nakapagdala ng jacket. The August weather had been too temperamental. It was drizzling yesterday when they arrived and it rained hard last night. Laking gulat nga niyang hindi umulan sa kasal ng pinsan niya. Either Izzy's lucky or the heaven didn't want to bless the marriage.

"Do you want my coat?" Bullet asked. He must have noticed that she's shivering.

"No," sagot niya. She can't cover her back. Gusto niyang maging agaw-pansin iyon mamaya sa ceremony at reception. Izzy will be fuming mad!

Sinamahan sila ng isang usherette papunta sa dalampasigan kung saan may set-up para sa wedding ceremony. May mahabang puting telang nakalatag mula sa entrance hanggang sa dalampasigan. May mga nagkalat na rose petals sa ibabaw ng tela at string lights naman sa tigkabila nito.

Halos naroon na ang lahat nang makarating sila. Occupied na rin halos lahat ng upuan. Knowing Izzy made it easy for her to know where she will be sitting. Fortunately, it wasn't next to Richard. Nasa bandang gitna ito at ang date nito. He's sitting beside her parents.

Sa bandang hulihan sila ni Bullet pumwesto. She saw a card on one chair with her name on it. Nasa pinakadulo at pinakasulok ang upuan niya. As expected of Izzy... kahanay niya ang mga taong hindi nito gusto.

She's okay with it, though. Kaya lamang ay iisa lang talaga ang upuan. Where the hell would Bullet sit? Hindi naman sila kasyang dalawa roon.

"I'll ask for another chair," she told him.

"There's no need for that." Naupo ito sa upuan at saka tinapik ang hita. "You can sit here," he said with a smile.

Napansin niyang tumaas ang kilay ng ilang nakarinig sa sinabi nito. Babatukan sana niya ito nang maalala niyang boyfriend nga pala niya ito ngayon. So she just smiled sweetly and pinched his cheek as hard as she could. "Aww... honey, you're so sweet," gigil niyang sabi.

Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya at inalis sa pagkakakurot. "I don't mind that you're heavy. Come on. Sit."

Gusto niyang sapakin 'yong tumawa. Gusto rin niyang sapakin si Bullet na ngiting-ngiti at mukhang proud na proud sa sarili nitong kalokohan. But there's no time for that. Pinaayos na sila ng organizer dahil magsisimula na raw ang kasal. Akala niya ay wala na talaga siyang choice kundi ang maupo sa kandungan ni Bullet. Mabuti na lamang at may staff na kumuha ng extrang upuan para sa kanya.

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May kaunting awang naramdaman si Fresia nang maglakad sa aisle ang mga bridesmaid. The gray was too dull against the setting sun. Kung siya ang papipiliin ng damit na isusuot ng mga ito, she would have chosen chiffon as the material and maybe have the dresses with the same hue as the afternoon sky. They would look a lot better against the setting sun.

But the material was too heavy for the beach wedding. She could tell that the girls were just smiling because frowning will only make them look worse.

"Mas mukha pang pang-abay 'yang suot mo," bulong sa kanya ni Bullet.

"I know, right? My cousin has poor taste kasi."

Even with the man she's going to marry, Izzy chose poorly. The groom looked older than forty two. Mataas na ang hairline nito at medyo malaki na rin ang tiyan. She thought that maybe the man was so hot that Izzy didn't mind the age gap and just went on marrying him. It's clear to her now that the only thing that attracted Izzy to this man was his money and social status.

Or... could it be true love? Pinigilan niyang matawa. No, it can't be that.

The only person that brightened her mood from the entourage was her aunt. Tuwang-tuwa siya sa malalaking batong nakapaikot sa leeg nito. Her aunt has a flair for the dramatic. Naglalakihan ang suot nitong jelwelries. Masyado kasing flashy. But her heart certainly is bigger than her accessories because she was able to love Izzy unconditionally.