Serendipitous

Best Man

English Fanfic
A4Day29 Challenge
PROMPT: Being in love is not the same as loving

The music from the band mixed with the soft chatter from the people around us as the chandelier glittered when the spotlight shone on it. Our guests were full and satisfied from the delicious food served by the caterers as well as the unlimited drinks they are drinking from the wet bar.

Alright, now it's time to shine, I thought.

"May I have your attention please?" I called on to everyone to settle down as I stood up and turned to face Maine, who sat beside me, beautiful and glowing as ever.

"When we were growing up, Maine and I were thick as thieves. Our parents called us 'the terrible two' because whenever there was trouble, you can expect that we were both in the middle of things - either as a willing participant or the mastermind of it.

"Remember that time, Meng, when we tried to use a magnifying glass to examine a grasshopper under the heat of the sun? And when the hopper jumped away, we left the magnifying glass on top of the dry grass, not knowing that it will quickly start a fire that caused panic within the plantation for one entire afternoon?" Maine laughed and nodded as she remembered the event that I shared to her.

"Tita Mary Ann and Tito Teddy were so furious with us and were about to spank you when I stepped in and said... do you remember what I said back then?" I prompted Maine who nodded once more then took the microphone from me for a bit.

She turned to towards our guests then spoke. "Alden told Nanay and Tatay that 'I brought the magnifying glass here and taught her how to use so I am actually the one at fault here.' I think he wanted to protect me and stop me from getting a good spanking. However, as a result, both of us got spanked instead. Shared responsibility daw kasi e!" Maine shared the tale and made everyone howl in laughter.

I grabbed the microphone back from her and shook my head at her. "Dyan yata nagsimula yung pagiging sadista mo e. Kahit anong kasalanan mo, dinadamay mo ako palagi sa parusa! Pero pag kasalanan ko, pinagtatawanan pa ako pag pinapalo ako."

Maine stuck her tongue out at me and I reciprocated which caused our parents, seated as well on the Presidential Table, to shake their heads at our "maturity" until now.

"Kidding aside, that was the time when I realized... how much I love you. Truly, madly, deeply. There is nothing I wouldn't have done for you Menggay, you know that."

Turning to the guests, I continued my speech. "Someone, I think it was Jerald - pare nandyan ka ba?"

"Grabe ka pare, palibhasa madilim lang nang konti, ganyan ka na, kunwari hindi mo na ako makita," Jerald answered back in a teasing manner.

I laughed and raised my glass in his direction. "Jerald once asked me, 'paano mo ba nasabi na mahal mo talaga si Meng? How do you know that you love her versus being in love with her?'"

"Meng, hindi ako nagsabi nun! Imbento lang yang si Alden! Alden, ano ba, baka sakalin ako nyan nang wala sa oras!" Jerald reacted to my confession.

"Je, mamaya tayo mag-usap," Meng bantered back to the joy of the crowd.

"Ehem," I cleared my throat to stop the two from bickering so I can finish my speech. "Back then, I couldn't answer Je's question. Not because I wasn't sure of what I felt but because I couldn't find the right words and examples to share with him. Besides, I didn't need to convince him; I needed to convince you, Meng.

"I know I love you because of three things. First, I have here some matches and charcoal."

"Alden... " his mom warned him jokingly.

"Ma, wag kayong mag-alala, hindi ko po sisindihan dito. Example lang po!" I assured my mom as I scratched my head to the laughter of our guests.

"Ah, ok, to continue. Infatuation is like the fire from a match. Very quick to spark, but once it's lit, it burns out fast as well. Whereas real love... it grows and develops over time. We started out as acquaintances and after fanning what we felt slowly yet consistently, it started to burn and spread. It comes to a point when you don't need to fan it anymore but it will still burn because the heat comes from the inside.

"Ganyan ang pagmamahal ko ke Meng; it can't be easily put out. Through ups and downs, through thick and thin, it will always remain," he stared at Maine, who showed him a watery smile in return.

"Second," I said while getting a sheaf of papers from an envelope. "Eto po yung phone bills ko nung year... secret na lang kasi baka mabuko nila na matanda ka na, beh," the room exploded in laughter once more as she glared at me from her seat.

"When you only think you love someone, distance makes your feelings fade. Petty fights become reasons for splitting up and never talking again. In short, you give up easily once the initial intense emotion fades and arguments start becoming frequent. You make up reasons not to talk to the person anymore.

"But when you truly love someone, kahit alas dose ng madaling araw dito sa Pilipinas tapos tanghaling tapat sa Amerika or vice versa, you make time to keep in touch with each other no matter how difficult it is. Naku, pag nag-aaway kami ni Meng dati, may isang araw sigurong hindi kami mag-uusap. Pero after that, someone initiates a phone call, apologizes and then you try and avoid making that person mad again. You never stop being there for them whether you're physically present or not."

At this time, a tear has rolled down my face even as I try to be manly and keep my emotions in check. Maine stands up to face me and wipes away my tear with a smile on her face.

I hold her hand in mine as I proceed to my last point. "Finally, I have here a ring," which I took out as everyone gasped.

"I have here a ring to symbolize how deeply I love you. I have one too and I promise to wear it everyday for the rest of our lives," I said as I slipped it on her ring finger.

"The most important thing I know about love is that true love isn't selfish. When you think you're in love, you always want the person you love to always be with you. You want them - period.

"But true love - it's more than that. When you truly love someone, you want the person you love to be happy with the person they love the most. I will always be your best friend, Meng, until forever, as I've inscribed in the friendship ring I gave to you. Actually, hindi lang pala best friend, kapatid na talaga kita as we welcome you into our family as my brother Richard's wife!

"Thank you for choosing me as your 'Man of Honor' kahit na nawalan ng 'Best Man' ang kapatid ko," he said as he and his twin brother exchanged a wink.

"I love you and I always will, Menggay. Nandito lang ako sa sandaling kailanganin mo ako. And now as I end my speech as the bride's 'Man of Honor', may you all raise your glasses to the beautiful bride and the handsome groom, my best friend, Nicomaine Mendoza and my twin brother, Richard Faulkerson, Jr! Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!"