The Wedding Planner

M.U (Muling Umaasa)

It sounds to be the best day of her life. Finally, nakalaya na siya and in gaining her freedom, she regains herself. She can now smile as she used to. She is now friendlier and less bugnutin.

"What happened in Baguio?" puna sa kanya ni Diane while they are having a bite of American salad and Buffalo wings.

"Nag-seminar ako, right?" Gab throws her questioning look.

"Yeah I know. Pero iba ang aura mo now eh, you look so fresh and pak na na pak. You met someone there?"

She throws another infuriating look at Diane. Should I tell her she asks herself. "What happens in Baguio remains in Baguio."

"Hmmmm..Madame, you are becoming so secretive na so I guess I have to become nosy na rin then. Whatever has happened there I am happy kasi nakikita ko transformation mo," she sips lemonade. "Sana si 'the one' na ang reason for your transformation.

She smiles. It's always 'the one' kaso in a different level na. "Sira ka Diane, you better finish what you are eating now and mag-pamper muna tayo. We badly need it."

"Yayamanin ka talaga," they have entered the salon. "I wish my salary is as huge as yours."

"Sira,I wish my work is as easy as yours," she laughs. "Pamake over ka na para di na tumingin sa iba si Andz. Nalolosyangan na sa iyo."

"Gaga, ikaw ang magpamake over ng magka-jowa ka na. 9 months na lang out ka na sa kalendaryo," Dianne is her alter ego. They would not care even if there are others listening to their conversation. "Mareng Beks pakirebond yung hair niya tapos kulayan ng platinum and her nails apply brighter and fuller colors, bold chartreuse will do well with her personality."

"Gaga at baka sa pinaggagawa mo sa akin maging reason ng termination ko," biglang may tumawag sa phone ni Gab. Pao. She can't leave as they are on the process of applying treatment on her. She just lowered her voice so Dianne won't be able to catch their talk.

"Work na naman, grabe ka palitan mo na si Rizal sa Luneta," Dianne comments when Gab turns off her phone. Gab smiles."Si Baguio guy?"

Should she or shouldn't? "Ay grabe siya. Secretary ko may tinatanong lang. Basta ako na magbabayad sa atin today, my treat."

"Thankie Beshie," she is Dianne's angel eversince she got married. "My scoop ako sayo about Pao."

"My HIV? Terminally ill?"

"Sobrang evil mo pa rin kay Pao. I was there during the inauguration of his 5-star hotel. Grabe layo na niya noh. And guess kung saan siya nagpapatayo ng bagong house niya?"

5-star hotel here? How busy is she that she never noticed about it. Pao never mentioned about it during their talks. "Good for him but I am not interested."

"You should. Magiging magkapitbahay na kayo. He is building a 10-room house. He invited nga tayong batchmates niya sa house warming. You should come. Nabanggit kasi niya na he wanted to see you."

Napalunok siya with that statement. They really have to both pretend na wala silang niluluto. "Kelan ba yan as long as mag-fit sa schedule why not di ba?"

"Uy, gusto niya makita si Paolo Zavier," Dianne teases her. " You should at baka magbago isip nun sa papakasalan niya pag nakita ka. It should be an Araneta-Concepcion wedding not an Araneta-Acosta wedding."

It should be an Araneta-Concepcion wedding not an Araneta-Acosta wedding, lihim siyang kinilig. It sounds an overkill. Sure na siya sa sarili niyang naka-move on na siya. Binabanlawan na ang hair niya, the color brings out her more prominent facial features-high cheekbones, royal blue eyes, thin but perfectly-sculpted lips. Bagay na bagay sa kanya. "I will come pero do not tease me sa kanya. I prefer the Araneta-Acosta wedding. Maganda for sure yung girl."