Mister Villain

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Four days to go at pakiramdam ni Maine e mahahati ang katawan niya sa pagod.

Pero kasabay nun e naisip niya na kung stressed siya e malamang stressed na stressed na din si Patring.

"Kapag ako ang kinasal, wala nang ganito kadaming seremonyas. Wala na ding gown. At ang mga tao pwedeng dumating na kahit ano lang ang suot. Kakainin nating lahat street food - isaw, kikiam, at saka fishball. Tapos yung bulaklak ko, sampaguita na lang. At ang buong entourage ko, kahit naka-pajama, wala akong pake. Basta mag-enjoy kayong lahat, ok na ako" she told her bestfriend as they both deflated on the sofa, kicking their flats away and spreading both arms and legs as much as they can without hitting each other.

"Alam mo nung second week pa lang nang preparations, gusto ko na sabihan si Sam na mag-tanan na lang kami" Patricia admitted "Pero alam ko paano niya pinaghirapan to kaya kahit gusto kong maloka minsan, hindi ko sinasabi yun sa kanya."

"Kapag ganyan ko napapatunayan na mahal mo talaga yung si Sam e."

"Kapag ano?"

"Kapag pinipigilan mo ang sarili mo na sabihin ang totoo kase masasaktan siya. Kay Sam ka lang ganyan."

Nangiti si Pat. "Siguro nga... mahirap din kaseng hindi mahalin yung mokong na yun e. Ang tiyaga tiyaga niya sa akin."

Because of their situation before, Maine rarely ventured into talking to either Sam or Patricia about how much they love each other or why kase lagi siyang nakakaramdam nang kirot.

The past days has been so freeing because it often feels like they have been catching up on years of missed opportunities for conversation as honest and stripped down as they were having now.

"Totoo. May pagka-bitchesa ka kase e. Kaya ko iniisip dati bakit ikaw ang nagustuhan ni Sam at hindi ako."

Hinampas siya nang unan sa mukha nang matalik na kaibigan. "Ang bait ko dati ha! Ikaw kaya tong mataray!"

"Excuse me! Sino nang-OP kay Pauleen dati dahil sa ang ingay ni Te? Hindi ba ikaw?"

Tumaas ang kilay ni Patring. "May dahilan korek? Nag-aaral tayong lahat nun at wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi magkwento nang magkwento. Natuwa nga kayong lahat sa ginawa ko dahil natuto siyang mag-aral na lang din kapag nasa library, diba?"

Sasagot pa sana si Maine nang dumating si Sam, all smiles, and dragging an obviously awkward Richard Faulkerson Jr. behind him.

Agad-agad silang umayos nang upo sa sopa nang mapagtanto nila sino ang bisita.

It would be too late to pluck down one of the flats dangling against a picture frame in the far corner of the living room (that Maine realized to her horror was hers) so they can present a much more decent picture to the newcomer.

Pinigilan niyang mamula ang mukha kakaisip na posibleng nakita sila ni RJ na upong tambay sa kalye.

"Hi Maine! Hi Pat!" bati nito sa kanila.

"Faulkerson, bakit andito ka na naman sa bahay namin?" her bestfriend asked, throwing in an arched eyebrow for the full kontrabida effect.

Sam nodded at RJ, signaling that he was going to take this for him so he could dodge to safety. "Babe..."

"Gogna, huwag mo akong ma-"babe babe" dyan. Hindi ikaw tinanong ko."

The other man was not flustered but continued to smile at his intended. "RJ comes bearing gifts."

"Gifts o bribe?" Pat asked shrewdly, her eyes closing into slits.

RJ tapped at Sam as though to say he would take it from here. "You can call it whatever you want basta I hope you and Sam enjoy it. Mukhang kailangan nyo yun e."