choosing not to

of string quartet and sky lanterns

16 july 2015 | 4pm

isay, lester and addie were on their way to sofitel to meet rj. last minute check kung ok na ang lahat. tonight will be the beginning of another chapter for their two beloved best friends. rj is finally proposing, so of course hindi naman pwedeng mawala ang mga taong mahalaga sa kanila, lalo na at sila na ang naging family ni maine.

"huy pare yang mukha mo mapupunit na sa laki nyang ngiti mo. mamaya ang sagot pala-"

subukan mong ituloy les... subukan mo lang talaga

"ito naman di na mabiro. pre oo lang isasagot nun sayo. wag ka ng kabahan" lester countered seeing the sudden change in rj's eyes.

"rj she'll say yes. halika ka na at i-check na natin yung sky lanterns" isay said with a comforting tone

pano nga kung mag-no si meng isay? pano kung maisip nya na-

seeing the uncertainty in rj's eyes addie cut him thru "walang rason rj.... you gave her so many reasons to say yes but never once did you gave her a reason to say no. mahal na mahal ka ni meng. she'll say yes"

"pare sorry sa banat ko ah.... pero tandaan mo ikaw na ang naglalaba ng panty ni meng at take note handwash ah ka-"

gago mo talaga eh. sige na check mo na lang yung string quartet make sure na-rehearse nila yung kanta ah, les importante yung kanta na yun

"oo naman. smile ka na pre labyu. gusto mo ba paliparin ko si chantal kreviazuk?"

siraulo. isay yung tiramisu na pinagawa ko?

"just the way you want it rj. ang hirap gawin ah. sobrang hirap kaya nung recipe ni meng"

pero ang sarap di ba, the best. sabi nya hindi daw yun ang the best tiramisu and we'll tour the world para mahanap yung best tiramisu. but for me walang tatalo sa tiramisu ni meng

"mamaya na yang speech mo. baka mamaya mabulol ka pa. tara na check natin yung flower arrangements bago tayo mag-iyakan"

while making their way to the function room to check the flowers, rj suddenly stopped and said

thank you guys. i can never thank you enough.

addie, isay and lester engulfed rj in a tight group hug, making their friend feel everything will go well.... or so they thought.....

*************************************************

17 july 2015 | 3:24am

"isay how's rj?" addie asked

"nakatulog na finally. les hindi mo pa rin na-kontak?"

"kagabi straight to voicemail ngayon naman unattended na"

"ano ba yung last message nya kay rj?" isay inquired

"i love you. i'm sorry. that was 9:15pm pa after that wala na. addie ikaw wala ka ba na-receive kay meng"

addie hesitated but seeing the look in her friends eyes she gave them her phone.

| from: maine |

i don't have any valid reason but i can't make it addie. and i don't have the courage to tell him. please tell rj i won't be there.

meng don't do this. not tonight. please naman

i'm sorry addie i can't.

anong problema meng? bakit?

i don't have any excuse.

something's wrong. you'll not act like this if there's no excuse.

wala addie. please just make sure hindi nya ko hihintayin. hindi ako makakarating.

meng im begging you....

and i'll beg more.... addie make sure he doesn't wait...he doesn't need to wait...not now....i have to go

meng please

one last thing addie.... tell him he can now break his promise

meng whatever this is.... nandito kami. nandito lang kami. please be safe

"bakit di mo sinabi kanina?"

"les sorry. umasa ako na baka darating pa siya"

"wag na tayong magsisihan lester. may plausible explanation si meng. hindi naman nya alam na magpo-propose na si rj eh. addie pag kinontak ka ulit ni meng let us know. sige na let's call it a night. it will be a very long day tomorrow...."

and with that they find their own space in the room not wanting to leave a broken hearted rj, all they know is that their friends will need them and they will be there.

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