The Bridesmaid [MaiChard AU]

Last Night

“Tuns, Pare, alagaan mong mabuti si Joyce ha. Kasi you know what they say, happy wife, happy life! Congrats, bro! To Tuns and Joyce! Cheers, everyone!”

RJ raises his champagne flute and clinks it to the couple's before taking a sip. As the groom's best friend and best man, he is witness to how Tuns' and Joyce’s friendship turn into something more. And now they’re here and he sometimes wonder where he can find his. Looking at how happy the newly wed couple is, he hopes he finds his better half too. And soon. After all he’s 28 and not getting any younger.

He feels his phone vibrate from his pocket and signals his best friend that he’ll take the call outside. He answers the call as he leaves the table and it’s his secretary on the line giving him updates about his latest project. He stops walking as he reaches the door of the man’s rest room down the hallway.

“Sige, Je. Ipa-courier mo na lang yung papers first thing tomorrow. It’s late na din e. I’ll have them signed agad when I receive it. Salamat, pre ha. At umuwi ka na nga sa misis mo. Malamang kanina ka pa hinihintay ni Val sa ba--”

He pauses mid-sentence and eventually drops the call when his gaze falls the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. She wears a peach halter gown, her wavy brown hair cascading down her shoulders. She must be a bridesmaid from the other wedding happening next door.

He hopes she’s only a bridesmaid.

***

Maine pushes the double doors open and stomps her way out of the venue. She is quite tipsy bordering on drunk from all the champagne she had, fuming as she watches her ex-boyfriend parade his new girlfriend like a trophy around their mutual friends like he hasn’t just broken up with her three months ago.

“Ang kapal ng mukha!” She grits her teeth and growls. “We’re better off as friends pala ha. Eh ano to? Sa harap ko pa talaga pinarada? Dito pa talaga sa kasal ng nina Rodjun at Dianne natin? Anong gusto mong palabasin, Henry? Bastos ka eh -- wuuugh!”  She covers her mouth with her free hand and runs toward the nearest rest room she can find, feeling her stomach lurch.

Thankfully there’s one a few feet away but a guy is blocking her way to the door.

***

RJ follows her with his eyes as she runs towards him albeit her probably very uncomfortable 4-inch heels that he is startled as her palm suddenly hits his chest, forcing him to step back and hold on to the door knob of the rest room, simultaneously opening it for her. She seems to have not yet noticed the curious looks of the people around her as she heaves and throws up in one of the cubicles.

Recovering from his initial shock, RJ immediately runs to her and holds her hair back as she vomits and gags. He hesitates but the eventually gives in, heeding his mother’s reminder: Always be a gentleman.

He gently rubs her back with one hand and gingerly gathers her hair with another.  “Ok lang ba? Hawakan ko lang buhok mo para di masukahan.” Then he gulps as his gaze drops to the smooth skin of her shoulders, the curve of it perfectly meeting her slender arms.

She only nods.

“Better?” He clears his throat and leads her to the sink when she nods. He still has her hair in his hands as she washes her face and gives her his handkerchief when she is done. She faces the mirror and meets his gaze with gratitude then immediately followed by consternation.

She takes in a sharp breath before yelling at him. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! GET OUT, YOU PERVERT!”

RJ is only thankful that they are the only ones left in the room.  He just chuckles and shakes his head lightly. “Uhm, Miss. You’re actually in my turf.” He explains, pointing a finger to one of the urinals in the room.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry. Ugh. Pakamalas ng araw ng to. Sige labas na ko.” She walks briskly out the door but slips on a tissue paper on the floor. She would have fallen flat on her butt had it not been for RJ’s hands catching her by her elbow as she grips his muscular arm for support.

***

“Miss, are you okay?” He asks. They were still standing by the door, now conscious at the men looking at her as they enter the restroom.

“Yeah, I’m ok. Nahihilo lang. Thank you.” She finally gets the courage to look at him and meets a pair of mesmerizing brown eyes and a bedimpled smile that suddenly renders her sober.

He steadies her, his arm around her waist and leads her to one of the plush leather couches on the lobby. “Dito muna tayo. What do you need, water?”

She rests her cheek on her hand with her elbow propped on the backrest of the couch, her hair falling down her right shoulders, exposing her left one to view.  “I’m ok. Ugh, this is embarrassing. Pasensya ka na ha. Sobrang nasusuka lang talaga ako. I don’t usually drink this much kaya siguro--” She slurs, her eyes droopy. She didn’t sleep well last night, the thought of possibly seeing his ex-boyfriend at the wedding keeping her awake. Lo and behold, she just didn’t see her ex, said ex even had the audacity to bring his new girlfriend as his date.

“Hey, no worries. I’m glad I helped.” He faces her and smiles reassuringly.

“Buti nandyan ka kundi napilayan na balakang ko. Marmol pa naman yung tiles. Thank you talaga, ha. And I’m really sorry, natulak na kita, natawag pa kitang pervert. This is just one of those days, you know?” She chuckles.

He bends down to tie his shoes. “You're welcome. Ok lang yun. We all have those.” When he is done, he sits back up and holds out his hand. “RJ nga pa--. Ayun, tulog na.”

📷 © sc from Aldub's TNT TVC

A/N:

I originally wrote this for Cuida but decided to make this a full fic intead kasi mukhang magiging mas mahaba sya than what I originally planned. (opo, nilulubog ko po ang sarili ko sa kumunoy). 😭 Pero mahal ko ang MaiChard at di sila nilulubayan ng utak ko. Oras lang talaga kelangan ko para maituloy ang mga pending fics ko.