Wanted: Brother-in-law (Published)

Chapter Ten

"What the hell are you doing, Agui?"

I keep on asking myself that. I've been standing in the middle of the dance floor for quite sometime now, and yet kahit anino ni Bling hindi ko makita. Kanina pa rin ako palinga-linga but all I could see are those faces that didn't matter to me at all. I sighed. Pupunta ba siya? Should I just give it up? What if she doesn't come? Paano kung mali ako? Paano kung hindi niya pala talaga ako mahal at isa lamang iyon sa aking ilusyon? Pero hindi.. papanindigan ko ang paniniwala ko. Mahal ako ni Bling,nararadaman ko iyon at kahit kailan hindi pa nagkakamali ang instinct ko --- we'll except for that time when i refused to marry Jasmine  but if I married Jasmine back then, hindi ko makikilala si Bling. Hindi ako magiging mas masaya. 

I never thought that someone like her can change someone like me. When she came into my life, everything changed... hindi ko nga inaasahan na magiging ganito ang kakalabasan naming dalawa. Ako at siya.. I smiled. I couldn't help but hope... I really want her to come. I need her to come here tonight..

"What if hindi siya dumating?" tanong ng kontrabidang parte ng utak ko, napailing ako. Darating siya. I'm sure of that. 

"Agui..." I turned around when some dude called my name. I frowned when I saw my brother walking towards me. "What the hell? It's my birthday, bro.... be happy." Inakbayan ako ni Jacinto. Siniko ko siya. 

"Tigilan mo ako.Lumayo ka nga sa akin baka masapak kita." inis na sabi ko. Pilit kong tinatanaw ang entrada ng bahay, tahimik kong hinihiling na sana, dumating na siya... pero wala hindi pa rin nangyayari. Bahagyang itinulak ko si Jacinto. 

"Diyan ka muna, bro. Happy birthday. Mag-asawa ka na at tigilan mo na ang pambabae mo." Tawa lamang ang isinagot niya sa akin. Inirapan ko siya, pagkatapos ay napailing pa ako. Jacinto is the youngest Emilio, and he is just like me.. I mean I used to be like him. He used to be my wingman/partner in crime/drinking buddy ------- pero nagbago ang lahat ng iyon nang dumating si Bling sa buhay ko. 

My brother and I used to go out every Saturday night, but when I met Bling ---- I begun to spend my Saturday nights inside my home, smiling or laughing alone dahil lang sa naiisip ko siya. While Jacinto kept partying, I was with her and Letlet playing paper dolls or flying kites. 

Naisip ko noon, ganoong buhay ang gusto ko. A peaceful Saturday afternoon with the woman I love and our future kids.. I smiled to myself. I had it bad... Masama na nga siguro ang tama ko kay Mary Grace Cabling. 

"Oh shit.shit.shit!" napamura ako ng may makita akong gumulong na dalawang bote ng alak sa sahig ng verandah. Bigal kong naalala ang kwento ni Papa sa aming magkakapatid noong mga bata pa kami. He used to tell us that this house was haunted by alcoholic ghosts! And yes, I'm scared of ghosts, and spiders.

"You speak french now?" nakakalokong tanong sa akin ng pamilyar na tinig na iyon. Medyo madilim ang paligid kung kayat pinagsawa ko muna ang mga mata ko sa dilim bago ko tuluyang nakilala ang nagmmay-ari ng malamig at malungkot na tinig na iyon.

"Trey?" tumayo siya at saka tumango sa akin. "Im didn't know you're here. Does Mom know you're here?" Santiago Emilio III, my eldest brother, also known as Trey ---- the drummer of NEON. He turned his cold eyes to me. 

"A little bird told me that the love of you're life married you college arch-enemy.. Is it true?" He may always be missing in action but he's always updated. 

"Yeah.. but I don't care anymore..." tinungo ko ang terrace at saka tumingin sa ibaba. I have a better view here. Kung darating man si Bling, agad ko siyang makikita. I smiled to myself. Sigurado akong siya ang magiging pinakamagandang babae sa paty ni Jacinto. 

"Sinong hinihintay mo?" tanong niya sa akin. I shrugged. 

"You'll see..." makahulugang ngumiti ako. I felt Trey's hand on my shoulder.