Feels Like Home

PROLOGUE

"Ms. Alveña, the church's ready. Ikaw nalang po hinihintay." I nodded. Tumingin muna ako sa salamin bago tuluyang bumaba.

Pagkababa ko sa hadgan, binigay agad sa akin ng assistant ko ang aking bag at ang flowers na gagamitin ko.

Ngumiti ako sakanya, "Thank you, Olivia. Una na kayo sa church. Sunod nalang ako. Ikaw na bahala sa groom." Tumango naman siya at nauna ng umalis.

Pinuntahan ko yung bride sa dressing room. "Are you ready, Ms. Hans?" Tanong ko sa bride.

"Actually, I'm quite nervous. I don't know if I should do this. Should I, Vienne?" Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay at nginitian.

"Hey, I know you don't want to end up like me, right? I had my chance but I blew it away. Don't do the same mistake I did, Ms. Hans."

"Why do you always have the right words to say? I hate you." Sabi niya ng naka-pout. Natawa kami pareho dahil sa sinabi niya. I looked at her and smiled. "There's no turning back now." She said. Finally! Buti naman na-realize niya na, na wala ng atrasan 'tong kasalan na ito. Kundi, all my efforts will be wasted.

Lumabas na kami at sumakay sa bridal car. I helped her dahil sobrang bigat ng gown niya dahil puro beads at patong-patong na layers ng tela. Besides, I'm her maid of honor, I should help her all the time.

After how many minutes, nakarating na rin kami sa simbahan. Tinulungan ko siya bumaba sa kotse and after that pumila na ako sa entourage.

"Your turn, Ms. Alveña." Sabi nung coordinator. I walked and smiled. Naisip ko, if I just said 'yes' to him, maybe he'll be the one standing in the altar, and I'm the one walking down the aisle. Pero ngayon all I can think are 'what-ifs'.

I prayed to God that if it's my wedding, he is the man waiting at the altar for me. Pero oo nga pala, I was the one who turn him down.

After the ceremony, pumunta ako sa bride and groom to congratulate them. I waved them goodbye dahil I'll be going back to the States. Nagpaalam naman na ako, I told them na hindi ako makakapunta sa reception, but nag-iwan ako ng message and I want our friend to read it for them.

Pero bago ako umalis sa church, nakita ko siya. Nagtama ang mga mata namin at parehas kaming nagulat. He looked at me for how many seconds, but after it, he smiled. He smiled like nothing happened. He smiled like I didn't brought him pain. He smiled and his smile never changed since the first day I saw him. And after seeing him smiles, the pain came back.

The pain I felt five years ago.