After We Happened

XXXII. One Hundred Thirty Four Petals

Kabanata 32

One Hundred Thirty Four Petals

Daffney's POV

Stance: Daffney, can we meet? I need to tell you something important. Can you meet me at the park near your house? I'm already here. I just really need to tell you something.

I was kinda busy arranging things for our wedding. I haven't seen Stance for days now. He said that he had to tell me something important, kaya naman ini-excuse ko muna ang sarili ko kina Ate Dexan na abala din sa pagaayos ng kasal namin ni Darlin. Lumakad lang ako papunta sa park dahil malapit lang naman iyon sa bahay namin.

Nang makarating ako, I immediately saw Stance sitting at the swing while holding a single-stemmed tulip. Kaagad niyang napansin ang presensiya ko kaya tumayo na siya. Lumapit kaagad siya sa akin at ibinigay ang tulip na hawak-hawak niya.

"Thank you," I told him bago ko tanggapin ang bulaklak. I was suddenly stunned when he hugged me tightly. I couldn't move. Dahil nagulat ako sa ginawa niyang pagyakap sa akin. When I finally recovered from the shock, I called his name. "Stance, are you okay? Is something wrong? Alam mo namang pwede mong sabihin sa akin ang kahit ano... that's what bestfriends are for..." I told him.

Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng yakap niya sa akin at pagiling niya sa balikat ko. He suddenly pulled away and I saw that he was crying.

"Stance... what happened?"

He smiled sadly at me that I almost felt his pain. Kitang-kita ko ang lungkot na dala-dala ng mga mata niya. "Daffney."

I looked at him. Hinawakan niya ang magkabila kong braso, para bang sinasabi niya na pakinggan ko siya.

"Two days from now, you're gonna marry him. You're gonna marry Darlin."

I smiled at him. "Yes..." I said and I couldn't hide the excitement anymore. Ang bilis ng panahon. Parang kailan lang, college lang kami. Parang kailan lang, hindi naman kami... ang bilis, dalawang araw na lang at ikakasal na ako. Magiging asawa niya na ako at magiging Mrs. Francisco.

"Alam mo naman Daffney, di ba? Hindi ka naman manhid, di ba?"

I looked at him. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying too. Of course, I knew. Hindi naman ako manhid. Alam kong matagal na akong gusto ni Stance, since we were in college. We were friends. We were bestfriends. I knew that he had feelings for me. I just didn't know how to reject him. We never had a problem. Dahil hindi naman niya kami ginulo ni Darlin. And he knew about my relationship with Darlin and how much I loved him.

"I love you, Daffney... still and always will. Right from the very start, I already loved you from then."

"Stance, I'm sorry..." sabi ko lang sa kanya at pumatak na ang mga luha ko. "I'm sorry kung hindi ko kayang ibalik ang lahat ng nararamdaman mo para sa akin... sa 'yo."

"No, no," he immediately cut me off and wiped the tears on my face with the use of his thumb. "No need to be sorry, Daffney... alam ko naman."

"Still... I'm sorry."

He nodded and smiled again. "Two days from now, you'll be marrying him. Two days from now, you're going to be his wife. Two days from now, you're going to be his wife... for life."