After We Happened

I. Marriage

Kabanata 1

Marriage

Napuno nang hiyawan at palakpakan ang buong simbahan dahil nagkiss na ang bride at groom.

I just sat there and watched everyone else happy. So, what does it feel kaya?

What does it feel getting married?

I was so close to experiencing that feeling.

Agad-agad kong pinunasan ang aking mga luha. Stop crying, Daffney! Naiyak ka lang naman dahil kasal niya 'to, right?

Ayoko talagang umuwi pero dahil kasal naman niya ay pumayag na ako. Umuwi lang ako dahil talagang nagpumilit siya. He pleaded. I agreed because he said that he made sure that he wouldn't be here.

At mukhang tinupad niya naman ang pangako niya.

I'm his sister after all. Anong klaseng kapatid ako kung sariling kasal ng aking kuya ay hindi ko ma-attendan?

"Oh! Picture naman daw ng mga bridesmaid! Let's go, Daffney!" yaya sa akin ni Rienne, she became prettier and sexier. Iba-iba talaga ang nagagawa nang mahabang panahon.

I've also heard na naging loyal na siya ngayon at three years na sila ni Tyson. Who would've also thought na sila ang magkakatuluyan?

Hinila niya ako papunta sa altar. I was still hesitating on whether I should hug kuya Darry or not, but in the end, I did.

"Kuya, congrats! Hi there, ate Grace! I guess we're sisters now!" bati ko sa kanila ng kanyang asawang si Grace. I tried to make it sound happy or at least I did.

"Oh, don't cry now, Daffney! Thank you for coming home..." saway sa akin ni Kuya Darry nang umagos nanaman ang aking mga luha.

I said stop crying, Daffney!

"Tss! Grace, sana 'wag mong iwanan si kuya ah!" dinaan ko na lang sa pang-aasar para hindi na ako mapaluhang muli... and it actually worked.

"Don't worry, Daffney, ako nang bahala. Thanks for attending our wedding," nakangising sabi sa akin ni Grace. Hindi man kami close pero I think she's a great woman and will be a great partner and wife to my brother.

"One... two... three, smile!" utos ng photographer.

I smiled genuinely. The first genuine smile I've had in a long time.

"Daffney, sa akin ka na sumabay," yaya sa akin ni Terrence. Mas mature na ang friendly face niya, it's not so friendly anymore at malaki na rin ang katawan niya.

"Sus! Na-miss mo lang ako eh!" pangaasar ko pa sa kanya. Ngunit hindi siya tumawa, seryoso na lamang ang mukha niya ngayon.

"Na-miss? Really? Four years iyon, Daffney. Four years."

Natigilan ako sa naging sagot niya sa akin. I know... four years isn't easy to catch up, but for a moment I just thought na baka okay na siya sa akin. Na baka okay na sila sa akin.

"Sorry," was all I could utter.

"Sorry for what? Are you sorry for leaving? Or are you sorry because you're back?"