LIKE I NEVER LEFT °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

3. Wedding

Sinubukan kong bumalik sa dance school, nagbabakasakaling makita si Amara o si Theo. Pumunta narin ako sa music school kung saan siya nagtuturo pero hindi ako pinapasok ng guard. Muntik ko na ngang masuntok e. 

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" My ears heat up upon hearing the tone he uses on me.

"Rivas, you don't own this place." 

"Alam mo Palmer, puro ka yabang e. Umalis ka na dito." 

"Gago ka ba? Hindi mo pagmamay-ari ang lugar na 'to kaya tumahimik ka." 

"'Wag ka ng umasang kakausapin ka ni Amara. She hates you."

"Walang nagtatanong." 

Unfazed by my antipathy towards him, he draws closer to threaten me.

"Wag na 'wag kang magkakamaling lapitan ulit si Amara o ang pamilya niya. Matagal na akong nagtitimpi sa'yo Palmer."

"The feeling is mutual. Honestly, kung hindi dahil kay Amara, matagal ng wasak 'yang pagmumukha mo." Ganting pang-iinis ko rito.

"Ethan!" Amara panics, probably because the jerk is talking to me. "Come on." Pinandilatan niya ang gago na nakatingin parin sa'kin. "Ethan, he's not worth it."

"Amara, let's talk." I mutter thoughtlessly because of anger. I'm pissed off, not at her, but at the jerk with her.

"Ethan, tara na!" She iterates, ignoring me.

"Amara."

"Go to hell, Palmer." She mouths before dragging Ethan with her.

Ano ba kasing kailangan mo Four? Aren't you just going to apologize? Bakit iba naman ang dahilan kung bakit ka nagkakaganyan? Bakit iba ang dahilan kaya mo siya gustong makita? You left her seven years ago and you expect that nothing changed? You are a complete idiot.

"Four, anak." Tawag ni mommy, hindi pa ako nakapasok ng bahay. Mukhang inabangan niya talaga ako. "Mag-usap nga tayo."

We settle inside her greenhouse at the backyard. Puno'ng puno 'yon ng halaman gaya ng dati—mas marami nga lang bulaklak ngayon. It's beautiful.

"Bakit si Tiara lang ang nag-aasikaso ng kasal niyo? Tell me Four, what really is going on? Is she pregnant? Bakit kailangang madaliin ang kasal? Dahil one month lang ang hiningi mo sa manager mo para magbakasyon? Ganon? Four, ang mga ganitong bagay, pinagplanuhan ng maayos." Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

"Mom. Hold up. Ano'ng kasal?"

Mom's face turns red at my question. Halatang galit siya at nagtitimpi lang. Tumahimik siya ng ilang saglit at tinalikuran ako.

"Mom. I know what I did years ago and that's not gonna happen again—"

"Really? Really Four? It's not going to happen? Ano 'tong ginagawa mo ngayon? Eh hinahayaan mo nga ang fiancee mong asikasuhin lahat. Ni hindi namin alam kung saan ka nagpupunta buong araw! For the whole week since you arrived, hindi ka namin mahagilap!" She bursts out.

"I'm not marrying her mom." I say in soft whisper.

"What? Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm not going to make the same mistake again! I'm not getting married—"

"Umayos ka Four!" Mom shouts who is evidently so furious. "I've lived with the shame and the hatred you caused to this family years ago and you heard nothing from me." She begins crying and my heart automatically breaks. "Don't make me go through that same pain and shame, son. Maawa ka naman sa'min ng daddy mo." She leaves and I have no strength or the courage to stop her. Tears stream down my cheeks watching her walk away. I never wanted to hurt her.