TWISTED FATE (On Going)

Kabanata 35

I know...

ANDREW'S POV:

Inalalayan ko si Pia pababa ng stage upang libutin at batiin ang mga bisita gaya ng sabi nina lolo't lola. Sumang-ayon man ako o hindi, I know my appeal will surely won't work. Hawak-hawak ko ang malambot niyang kamay while walking around the venue. Kiss dito, congratulations doon. Picture dito, papuri doon.

"You look good together."

"Bagay na bagay kayo."

"A perfect combination."

"We wish you happiness."

"Congratulations. Napakagandang bata."

Paulit-ulit na lang sila. They keep on blabbering about how lucky I am or how lucky Pia is na ako at siya ang mapapangasawa ko at niya. Naririndi na nga ako. Gusto ko ng bumalik sa mesa, kumain at magpahinga.

"Drew!" Napatigil ako when a familiar voice called me out.

It was Andrei waving his hand in mid-air na tila ay inaagaw ang atensyon ko. He's with Red na todo ngiti and my cousin Luke na seryosong nakatingin sa plato niya. Nagdadalawang isip ako kung lalapit ba o hindi matapos ang lahat nang nalaman ko tungkol kila Luke at Pia. They were childhood friends. I grew up in the states kaya hindi ko nakilala si Pia who happens to be the daughter of our family's closest friend. She's the same girl na palaging ikinukwento sa akin ni Luke whom he wishes to marry in the future. Kahit wala akong feelings for Pia, pakiramdam ko ay inagaw ko siya. If only, I don't have any responsibility to this woman ay buong puso ko siyang ibibigay kay Luke. But Luke got into an accident twelve years ago. He underwent an operation wherein a portion of his memory was taken away at kasama na doon ang mga alaala nila ni Pia. 'Yan din siguro ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niya na ito maalaala.

Inakay ko si Pia papunta sa pwesto nila Andrei. I felt her trembling hand on my arm kaya wala sa sariling napatingin ako sa kanya. Namumutla siya at mukhang kinakabahan. Nanginginig na ipinatong ko ang aking palad sa kamay niyang nakapulupot sa braso ko. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin with those questioning eyes. Though I didn't know why, ay ngumiti na lamang ako upang pakalmahin siya.

"Bro!" Bati ni Andrei na sinundan ni Red ng tapik sa braso.

They were looking at us na animo'y sinasabing "Huli ka!" Napailing na lamang ako at bumaling kay Luke na ganoon parin ang reaksyon but this time ay kay Pia na siya nakatingin. He was seriously looking at Pia as if he was checking every inch of her. I can feel that Pia is no longer comfortable with the way he stares.

"Luke." Tawag ko sa pangalan niya.

He smirked but stood up and extended his arms for a hand shake. His face is unreadable. I cannot get it if he is mad or disappointed at us. I would really understand him kung sakaling galit siya. Who wouldn't? Pia's his first love. Kahit ako din naman.

Mariin niyang hinawakan ang palad ko as if he is sending a nonverbal message habang diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ko. He looks so serious.

"Congrats." Malamyang aniya at bumalik sa pagkakasalampak sa silya.

Pia on the other hand tightened her grip on my coat. Muntik na ngang malukot. Tsss. Tension is written all over her face.

"Nyay!" Sigaw ni Andrei at umambang yayakapin ako but I immediately pushed his face away. Kadiri! "Ito naman. Excited lang. I should have expected so much from you, man." Natatawang wika niya habang tatawa-tawa pa. Bumaling siya kay Pia at ngitian ito. "Pia, you look great tonight. Congrats." He greeted and was about to hug Pia ngunit maagap ko siyang itinulak palayo. Tsatsansing pa eh.

"Over protective!" Bulong ni Red sa tabi ni Luke habang nakahalukipkip.

Ano daw? I was just trying to be nice here. Ngayon pa na ang sama-sama ng tingin sakin ni Luke. I feel like I have stolen something very precious from him with the way he looks at me. Kung sa bagay, precious nga naman talaga ang manang na 'to though she seems cold and boring.

"Kailan pa?" Naiusal niLuke sa gitna ng tawanan naming tatlo.

Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa gawi niya na matamang nakatingin kay Pia. Hinarap ko si Pia at iminuwestra ang ate niya na kanina pa kumakaway.

"Excuse me." Mahinang bulong nito at agad na nagtungo kay George.

I know this will be a tough night for me and Luke but I guess they deserve to know the truth. Kung paano at bakit kinailangan naming magpakasal. I sat on the chair in front of him. Luke's eyes are very expressive but this time there is no hint of any emotion. Ganyan siya ka apektado sa pagpapakasal namin ni Pia?

"We didn't plan for this. Everything happend really fast. Nagising na lamang ako isang umaga sa Paris na siya na ang katabi ko. Pareho kaming lasing and then here it is. Both families decided for this wedding. That's it." Explained I in a bored tone.

Tumikhim si Luke at binalingan ako ng atensyon. He was staring at me intently. His stares are like daggers piercing through my soul. He opened his mouth twice but no words came out. He took a deep sigh at tumingin siya kay Pia na ngayon ay nakikipagtawanan na sa kapatid niya.

"Do you love her?" Nagulat ako sa tanong ni Luke kaya hindi agad ako nakahulma ng isasagot. Nakita ko siyang iniiling ang ulo niya bago muling magsalita. "Do you even like her Drew?"

Katulad kanina hindi na naman ako nakasagot sa tanong niya. May it be love or like, I don't really know what. Alam kong alam nila kung sino talaga ang laman ng puso ko. This is f*cking insane.

"Alright. I get it." Aniya nang nakitang wala akong planong sumagot. He stood up and tapped my shoulder. "Please take good care of Pia. Kung hindi mo kaya, sa akin na lang siya." Wika niya at tuluyan nang naglakad palayo ng venue.

"Sundan ko lang Drew." Paalam ni Red and followed him.

I never wanted to hurt anyone. Hindi ko kontrolado ang sitwasyon. Hinilot ko ang aking sentido at matamang tinignan si Pia mula sa malayo. She's uncomfortable with everything. I can see base on the looks of her face. She unconciously held her stomach kaya napangiwi ako sa ginawa niya. Is she in pain?

"Do you love her Drew?" Wala sa sariling tanong ni Andrei.

I glanced at him but he's looking at  different directions. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya and to my surprise, she's looking at George, intently! Tutunawin niya ba si ate G?

"I don't know. Right from the very start, alam niyo naman na kung sino talaga diba?" Said I.

I didn't elaborate my answer anymore dahil I know it's obvious kung sino ang tinutukoy ko. Pia's nice. I want to consider her. Consider falling in love with her pero hindi ko pa kaya. Hangga't mahal ko pa si Cassandra, I can't.

"You're unfair man." He plainly uttered.

I know.

Naiusal ko na lamang sa sarili ko bago nagpakawala ng isang malakas na buntong hininga.

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A/N:

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