After All This Time

To Provide For Your Family.

Ricci's POV

"Excuse me po."

Patrice and I looked at each other. Nginitian ko siya at hinawakan yung kamay niya.

"Umm... I would just like tell all of you po na Patrice and I are...ummm... getting married."

Naging tahimik ang buong paligid. All of my relatives were here. Agad naman itong napalitan ng hiyawan. Everybody were smiling and saying congrats to us.

"Congrats, mga apo. Wawa is so happy."

Niyakap ako ni wawa pati na rin si Pat. She politely said thank you to wawa. Halos lahat nagtatanong na rin kung kelan daw ba ang kasal. Si Pat na ang sumagot.

"Ummm... wala pa po kaming any plans or date for the wedding. We're trying to sort out po muna yung nangyari with Ricci. Kaya po minove po muna namin yung pagpa-plano para sa wedding. Focus po muna kami sa pag-solve nung problem."

Each and every member of my family got mad with what happened. Gusto pa nga ng mga tita at tito ko na magsampa ng kaso against sa La Salle for their false accusations and unreliable results. Ang sabi naman ni mommy and daddy, hihintayin muna namin lumabas yung results sa hair follicle test na ginawa sakin. Mas accurate and precise daw kasi ang results kapag hair follicle sample ang sinubmit ko cause it detects drug intake in not less than 90 days.

Nung matapos ang dinner, nagkwentuhan na lang saglit tapos we called it a day. Pagod kasi halos lahat galing sa biyahe. Hindi naman kami ganun ka-dami ngayon. Only our close relatives were present. Wala rin naman kasi kaming balak mag-imbita ng sobrang dami para sa kasal namin. Gusto ni Pat konti lang yung tao pero solemn.

—

Patrice's POV

"How's everything, Nicole? Pwede ko na ba siyang makita?"

Napakunot ang noo ko sa narinig ko. Who's Nicole? At sino yung gustong makita ni Ricci?

I immediately called him out.

"Babe?"

Nagulat siya at agad binaba yung cellphone. Hindi ko alam pero what I'm feeling right now, parang hindi ko gusto. Don't tell me ngayon pa siya magloloko kung kelan engaged na kami. Oh God, mababaliw ata ako if he decides to call off the wedding or something.

"Who's that?"

"Uhhh...ummm... s-si ano... si Nicole! Kasi ano eh... may... pinapabili na shoes si Miles sakin sa Nike. N-new release. Eh alam mo naman na d-di ba sa Titan? Meron agad s-sila na latest shoes? Kaya yun... uhhh... s-si Nicole! She's an assistant dun sa Titan sa BGC."

He's stuttering and licking his lips. He's lying. Kilalang-kilala ko na si Ricci. Alam ko kung kailan siya nagsisinungaling at kailan hindi.

But even though I know that he's lying, I didn't try to push him to the limit to tell ne the truth. Instead, I nodded and looked away. I can't believe this. I can't believe he had the guts to lie to me, straight up to my face.

"I-I'll just get water, babe."

Naglakad siya papunta sa pinto at lumabas ng kwarto. Pagka-sarado niya ng pinto, napa-upo ako sa kama at nilagay yung kamay ko sa taas ng dibdib ko. My heart was beating so fast and my hands are shaking. Ganto ako kapag nalalaman kong someone's betraying me or keeping a secret from me or I'm being lied on.

The scenarios forming inside my head were too scary. Parang mababaliw ako sa mga naiisip ko. Images of Ricci saying sorry and calling off the wedding, Ryle crying because his dad will leave us for good, and things I don't even want to think about.