Gunita [EDITING]

diecenueve

My heart was beating erratically, even when I parted ways with Uno already—I wouldn't even be able to come back to my senses if not for the wedding organizer!

"The wedding's about to start Miss Brandi." I nodded my head and heaved a deep breath to keep my calm. Ewan ko ba kung bakit, but Uno really loves to screw with my head and it's getting annoying already!

Still, I just can't ignore the fact that I can't really avoid him...

I sighed.

"You okay?" I smiled at Hannah, one of our cousins, and nodded my head. Gosh, Brandi. Get yourself together.

I heaved a deep breath in and composed myself. Cameras were everywhere, and I knew I'd get shit from Anna if I'd show how disappointed I was with our families—mostly towards the Jerardos. Alam naman nila, e. They deserve all the hatred that's been going on within me and Chen.

They just don't care.

They never cared.

I roamed my eyes, trying to find where Uno is, to probably calm myself down for a while, even though he was the very reason why I was feeling like this. I didn't know why I suddenly felt off. Maybe it was the vibe, maybe because it felt lonely, maybe because deep down I realized everyone was just here to witness something dreadful. It was as if we're about to witness a crime scene—a murder.

Freedom being the victim.

What's new... freedom's long been dead the day we were born, anyway. We weren't supposed to be free.

We were supposed to be their puppets. The same version of their grim-ass selves, or maybe even worst. Hindi ko na talaga alam.

I didn't want to keep my eyes forward. The altar didn't look normal—it felt like sacrificial. As much as I wanted to tell myself that I should treat it sacred... nobody even was religious enough inside the church to even call it sacred.

Everyone just boasted power... fame... authority.

Everyone... they're all too alike. Pretentious.

But my stupid self couldn't just stop looking straight—it was as if I was trying to torture myself. And then... our eyes met.

Shit.

It felt horrible. I suddenly felt the need to run away. Just looking straight unto his eyes meant danger, his familiar lopsided grin... it was always enough to scare the shit out of me.

I shouldn't even be scared.

But Fallon's just a devil incarnate. Buti hindi siya nasunog.

"It's just for this day," I whispered to myself, holding the small bouquet of golden roses on my left and patting my chest with the other. I felt Hannah gently squeezing my left hand.

"Are you sick?" I shook my head and smiled. "Should I call the medics? Baka mapano ka naman..."

"I-I'm fine," I said, slowly regaining my composure. I already warned myself about Fallon and his stupid game—I needed to stay strong, for myself... for Chen. Napangiti naman sa'kin si Hannah at tinap na lang ang balikat ko.

"Whatever it is that's bothering you, I know it will pass," she said. I nodded my head, smiling a little.

A few seconds later, the music started playing and I started walking down the aisle, smiling at every camera I pass by, cautious not to look so grim in front of everyone. It looked weird when I saw Anna and Dad together, or maybe it was just the disgust within me. I smiled when our eyes met—I really can't recall the last time I saw him... still, I was happy seeing him again.