His Wedding Planner (MNEBACP's Sequel)

No Turning Back

Eighteen: No Turning Back

I was still sleepy and all nang bigla akong pasukin ni Kuya Genesis sa kwarto ko.

“Your crazy best friend’s downstairs..”, nakasimangot niyang sabi sa akin pagpasok niya.

Kaya kahit hinahatak pa ako ng kama ko ay pinilit ko na lang na bumangon at bumaba ng sala. Bumungad sa akin si Kuya Duke at Keith na nag-aasaran sa couch.

“Umalis ka nga! Ang pangit mo!”

“Wow, Mondragon? ‘Tong mukhang ‘to? Pangit? Sus! Hahanap-hanapin mo ‘to!”

“Ew! Ew! Asa ka!”, depensa ni Keith tapos ay napansin niya rin ako sa wakas na papalapit sa gawi nila.

Dali-dali siyang umalis sa tabi ni Kuya Duke saka tumakbo papunta sakin. “Good lords, Tin! Buti gising ka na! Your Kuya’s harassing me!”

“Oy, harassing mo mukha mo! Hinawakan mo nga abs ko kanina!”

“Ew! Abs ba yon? Kala ko kasi bilbil!”

“O-oy! Anong bilbil? H-hoy, Mondragon!”

Feeling ko ay muntik nang madislocate ang braso ko nang bigla akong hatakin ni Keith paakyat sa kwarto ko. She loudly slammed the door then run towards my bed.

“Seriously, Keith? Pabababain mo ako, tapos dito rin pala tayo mag-uusap?”, poker face kong sabi sa kanya tapos ay tumabi din ako sa kanya sa kama.

She was quiet for a moment. Parang kani-kanina lang hindi siya nagtatatalak kay Kuya Duke. Ilang beses na rin siyang nagbubuntong hininga at maya-maya pa’y nagsalita na rin siya, “I saw Terrence last night..”

Napabalikwas ako ng higa para harapin siya. Nakatingin lang siya sa kisame.

“You what??”

“I saw him last night. Sa party ni Sky..”

Then everything was suddenly puzzled for me. “You saw him there?? Kaya ba di ka natuloy??” Nandon si Terrence? E, bakit di ko man lang siya nakita? Tsaka, paanong nandun siya?

Keith weakly nodded, “Alam mo ba? Mukha akong tanga nung nagkita kami kagabi. Alam ko talaga nagmukha akong tanga. Bigla-bigla ba naman akong tumakbo agad palayo sa kanya. I was running while crying. I got tripped into my own gown. I must really looked stupid last night, Tin. Nang dahil na naman sa kanya. He always makes me look stupid everytime..”

Tahimik lang ako habang nakikinig sa kanya. Kasi ngayon lang naman talaga siya naging open sa akin tungkol sa totoong nangyari sa kanila ni Terrence. She kept a lot of details from me. But I don’t want to hold that against her. She needs privacy too. Tsaka alam ko namang di magtatagal magkukuwento din siya sa akin. And her she is already, opening up.

“I thought what we had was already something for keeps. Pero hindi pala.. hindi pala..”, nilingon niya ako saka siyang bahagyang ngumiti. A smile she rarely use. A fake one. “We were happy, we were fucking happy not until one day I discovered he’s already engaged to this Nathalia Castillo. Childhood bestfriend niya daw..”

Sa bawat salita ni Keith, ramdam ko siya. Ramdam ko siya kasi that’s what happened to me too. Nagulat na lang ako, engage na rin pala si Ken kay Krystal. And that was like a bomb thrown into me. I wasn’t well prepared. Di ako handa kaya di ko alam papano sasaluhin.

“He was the one who broke off our relationship, Tin. Because his family never liked me.. and never they will. Shit, ang sakit-sakit lang kasi kahit ni minsan di man lang niya ako pinaglaban. I was alone on the battle. At alam kong sa oras na ‘yon, talo na’ko. I lose the game. I lose him.”

I didn’t know what to say kaya niyakap ko lang ng mahigpit si Keith. We were both quiet. She cried her heart out, and I just let her. When lunch came, umuwi din siya. Pupunta pa daw kasi siya ng shop niya kasi dalawang araw na siyang di pumapasok.

We were both preoccupied about Terrence awhile ago na hindi ko na naaalang magkukuwento din pala sana ako sa kanya tungkol sa pinag-usapan namin ni Ken kagabi.

“Just wait for me, Valentine..” It was the last thing he said as he finally left me on the garden. Pagkatapos non ay hindi na kami nagkita sa loob ng function hall. Wala akong ideya kung umuwi na ba siya o nasa party pa rin. But what he has said made me stayed up all night. Kaya nga halos ayaw ko pang bumangon kanina dahil halos mag-uumaga na rin ako nakatulog kanina.

What he has said gave me chilly feelings. And on the same time, it felt weird. His words just brought me inkling fear. I hope it’s not what I am thinking. But if not, then what?

Katatapos lang namin magdinner at kakaakyat ko lang ng kwarto ko nang maabutan ko ang cellphone ko sa ibabaw ng aking kama na nagri-ring. My breathings suddenly hitched up when I saw Ken’s caller i.d. appearing on my phone’s screen. My hand was shaking as I finally hit the answer button.

“Uhm, hi?”, bungad ko sa kanya sa kabilang linya. Ramdam na ramdam ko yung lakas ng tibok ng puso ko.

“Hey..”, he answered then my heart died. Gusto kong maiyak na ewan. “I’ve missed you..”

This feels weird. Hearing his voice just makes me want to cry my heart out. Am I missing him too much? Was five years’ that much?

“I..”, I took a deep breathe. “I’ve missed you too, Ken..”

“Can I see you now?”, his voice was kinda weak. It makes me wanna think that he really misses me too.

Gods, Valentine! Collect yourself, will you?, angil ko sa aking sarili.

“Okay..”, mabilisan kong sagot. I was kinda surprise by my sudden answer. Shit, miss ko na nga talaga siya. Damn, I know this is all way too wrong but forgive me Lord, but this guy I am talking to right now just makes me want to jump off the cliff for him. Damn, reality. Kasi kahit gaano ako kahanda banggain ang lahat, yung fact na ikakasal na siya sa iba. Alam kong nasa maling desisyon pa rin ako. Alam kong mali ‘to, but my heart whispers I need to follow the direction it’s giving me. Even if the direction felt so wrong.

So I ended up seeing him somewhere peaceful. Kung saan walang masyadong may napapadaan na mga sasakyan at mga tao. It was a children’s playground somewhere malapit lang samin.

We were just quiet for a couple of minutes while sitting beside each other. Hinayaan muna naming balutin kami ng katahimikan—not until he finally spoke.

“I’m breaking off the engagement..”

Halos masamid ako sa sarili kong laway nang bigla niya iyong sabihin. Then the fear I thought just awhile ago suddenly turned into reality. This is what I am afraid of. This decision he’ll make.

“Ken..”, hindi ko halos alam ang sasabihin.

Ang ipokrita ko kapag hindi ko aamining gusto kong magkabalikan kami. But the risk.. it’s too much to handle. Knowing that Amber is a daughter of a well-known politician. Nakakatakot sumugal. I’m not afraid for myself. I’m more afraid of what could happen to Ken.

“This is the only choice left, Valentine..”, baling niya sa akin. His face soften as soon as we meet each other’s gaze. “My only choice is you. Laging ikaw.”

My heart just melted again. And then I realized that this guy in front of me.. shit, mahal na mahal ko pa rin pala siya. Siya pa rin talaga kahit limang taon na ang nakalipas. Siya lang.

“And it’s also always you, Ken. Ever since, it’s just you..”, I weakly answered.

This time, gumuhit na ang ngiti sa labi niya. A smile of relief.

“That’s my girl. Braver, aren’t you? Let’s face this shit together..”

I weakly smiled back at him, “Yeah, let’s both face it. This time, there’s no turning back..”