Somebody Waiting

Adwamput tres-Uno

Two weeks before the wedding sobrang surreal ang lahat ng nangyayari. If Raine and Richard is in their sane mind, they wouldn’t allow this rush para ipakasal sila.

May taxi bang naghihintay?

Biro ni Raine while she stare on her mother na busing-busy sa paghahanda ng kasal nila.

‘Ma, bakit kayo pumayag na ipakasal ako ng ganun na lang? Sa inyo ni Dad mas madali kayong magduda at mas hirap magtiwala sa mga tao, paano kayo napapayag agad?’

Her mother stopped on dialling her phone and dropped the pen she’s using in making her check list for the last minute preparations of the wedding. She looked at her daughter and crawled to the couch next to her. She place Raine’s head on her shoulder and cuddle her little baby.

‘Well anak, alam ko yung mga pinagdaan mo sa amin ng dad mo pati dyan sa kaibigan mong mukhang bumbay.’

‘Ma!’ Raine protested.

‘Totoo naman ah..mukha ngang bumbay yun.’

‘Eh hindi po kayo natakot na baka saktan ako ni Richard?’

Anne made Raine look at her.

‘Ikaw ang tatanungin ko, sa tingin mo sasaktan ka ba ni Richard? Kung sasaktan ka lang nya aba itigil na natin to ngayon palang!’ Her mom said angrily.

‘Hey! Ma! Stop it. Richard won’t hurt me. He’s the last person that can do that.’ She said fervently as if making her mom digests what she said to which Anne chuckled.

‘See…pinagtatanggol nya…’ Asar nito na ikinapula naman ng anak.

‘MA!’ ang tangi lang nitong nasabi.

They laughed at their banter for a good whole minute before Anne turned serious and asked her daughter the question she has in mind nung nagkita sila sa Tagaytay  ng hindi sinasadya.

‘Alam mo nung nakita ko kayo ni Rj na magkasama sa Tagaytay pumanatag ang loob ko sa desisyon ng Dad mo na ipagkasundo kayo. I know that you trust no one but trusted this man just like that kaya in a way, he gained my trust.’

Maine has to smile at that.

‘Anyways, maiba ako, mahal mo na ba?’

Kung mapula na ang mukha ni Raine kanina, may mas ipupula pa pala to.

‘Ma! What’s with the question?!’

‘What? That’s a legit question. Raine you’re getting married with that man! My goodness… Bakit ka nahihiya?’ Sabi ni Anne sa anak na seryoso pero may halong panunukso.

Raine think first deeply.

Mahal ko na ba?

‘Pano ba malalaman kung mahal mo na, Ma? Halos mag-aapat na buwan palang kaming magkakilala eh pwede na ba yun? I mean, yes I’m fond of him pero hindi ko talaga alam…’

Anne brushed her daughter’s hair upon hearing her sentiments.

‘Takot ka anak… Takot kang magmahal.’

‘You think so? Yun nga rin po ang kinakatakot ko eh, baka kahit mahal ko na si Richard di ko maparamdam o masabi man lang sa kanya kasi takot po ako.’

‘Hay naku anak…di ba ganyan din problema natin dati kay bumbay? You’re so afraid to show your affection to someone you love when you really do. Instead you act awkwardly dun sa tao na yun kaya ayun lumagpas sayo. Pero pasalamat naman ako na lumagpas.’

‘Ma!’

‘Ma ka ng Ma, dede ka? Di pa ko tapos..’
They laugh their lungs out at that.

‘Nagsisimula palang kayo ni Rj pero naniniwala ako na lalago ang pagkakaibigan ninyo… Basta ipangako mo sakin Raine, kapag kinasal ka na, let Rj destroy the walls you have built surrounding yourself. Let him in and together build the wall to protect your relationship from other people that will try to tear you apart.’