Perfect Stranger

Chapter 28

; End

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ROSARY'S

Araw ng Lunes. The day, I have to let my feelings for Laverne go. Engagement party nila, I have to go katulad ng ipinangako kay LJ. We will play. I will play. I have to play.

"Siri? Are you sure you really want to go? I mean, Siri pwede namang wag ka nalang pumunta." Nginitian ko si Dylan.

"I told you, kaya ko. You don't need to worry. Isipin mo nalang na pupunta tayo don para magpakabusog." I laughed before looking at myself at the mirror. I heard him sighed.

"Hintayin na lang kita sa kotse." Tumango ako bago inayos ang sarili ko. I want to end the pain tonight. I want to be free from this endless pain.

"Play Siri. Just play and everything will be okay." Nagbuntong hininga ako bago tuluyang lumabas ng bahay.

Nakarating kami ni Dylan sa venue. Napakaraming media ang nagkalat sa paligid. Good thing at mukhang hindi nila ako balak puntiryahin ngayon. Siguro'y nasabihan na sila ng management na wag akong gambalain ngayong gabi, marahil ay dahil na rin sa baka masira ko pa ang gabing ito na inihanda para kina V at Ms. Sy.

Pagpasok namin sa bulwagan ay biglang nabaling sa'min ang atensyon ng lahat. I knew this would happen. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Dylan sa aking braso. I looked at him and smiled, assuring him that I'm doing fine.

Naupo kami at patuloy pa rin ang ilan sa pagsunod ng tingin sa'min. Biglang bumukas ang malaking pintuan at pumasok si Laverne,kasama si Ms. Sy. May nag-abot ng mic kay Ms. Sy kaya agad naman itong nagsalita.

"Good evening everyone. So, as we all know we are gathered here together dahil ngayong gabi ay mahalagang mangyayari." She paused and let out a bright smile. "Honestly, Laverne and I were not lovers." I heard the audience gasped. Kahit ako'y napakunot ang noo. What are they doing? "But we have a daughter. Actually, they are twins but one of our angel died, two years ago." Tears began slipping from her eyes. " And tonight, I  decided not to marry V ." Lalong lumakas ang ugong mula sa mga bisita at ang iba'y napapalingon na sa gawi ko.

"I think we have to go, Siri." Pag-aaya sa'kin ni Dylan kaya agad akong tumayo at nagpatianod sa kanya palabas ng bulwagan.

"Siri, don't go. This engagement party wasn't for me and V. This is originally made to you and V." That made me stop. "I knew how much you love each other, I realized that I was being so selfish. I want you to be happy  with Laverne." Nilingon ko si V na tila nagulat rin sa sinabi ni Jillah. "V, take care of Siri, don't hurt her. And please, when you two got married don't forget to visit LJ." She laughed. Niyakap nito si V bago ako nilingon at nginitian. Itinuro nito ang kinatatayuan ko at iniabot ang isang maliit na box kay V.

Nakangiting lumapit sa'kin si V, habang napabitaw naman si Dylan sa pagkakahawak sa braso ko.

"Siri, please be with me. Marry me, Siri." He said bago lumuhod sa harapan ko at binuksan ang maliit na box na naglalaman ng isang makinang na singsing.

"Laverne. I'm sorry, I can't be with you anymore. I can't marry you." Gulat itong napatingin sa'kin. " We've been in too much pain already, V. Ayoko nang maulit pa yon. My heart can't bear pain anymore. My heart is too weak for you. My heart can't take your painful love anymore." Unti-unting pumatak ang mga luha sa mga mata namin. Natahimik ang buong paligid. Tanging hikbi lang namin ni V ang sumasakop sa paligid.