Maybe You & I

29

ALLIE

"And you may kiss your bride."

I looked at him. This very handsome man who is now officially married to me and the world watched as he took me as his wife. He looked at me. At first I thought I saw happiness in his eyes pero nawala din bigla. Baka I was imagining it. I looked him in the eye. Then nilapit niya mukha niya sa akin. I closed my eyes. And he kissed me.... Sa ilong. And its done.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr and Mrs Daniel Antonio."

"Mrs. Daniel Antonio" ...so ako na si Nathalie Escudero-Antonio. He took my hand and we marched down the aisle together.

When we got to the hotel where the reception was held, we were supposed to change but there were too many visitors to entertain.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us hear from the best man, Mr Diego Antonio."

"Good evening everybody. To those who do not know me, I am the  younger brother of Daniel and surely, the more good looking one. At home and among our cousin, Dan is our Kuya. He is Kuya to all of us. Takbuhan namin from pang gas, pang date, pang business andiyan siya. Rich kid eh. Siya din ang takbuhan namin kung may rambol, kung may sumulot sa girlfriend at kung may problema. Si Kuya, walang ipinapakilalang babae kina Mom and Dad. Pero alam namin na left and right ang pambababae niyan. Kung magkapalit ng girlfriend parang nagpapalit lang ng brief. Then one day, nung 22 years old siya, may ipinakilala siyang girl. Sa buong angkan ng Antonio. Nagulat lahat kasi, first time may ipapakilala siya. Ang isa pang kagulat gulat ang ipinakilala niya noong girlfriend niya ay ang matagal ko nang crush na si Allie Escudero. Gusto kong awayin yung kuya ko eh kaso isang tingin mo lang kay Allie alam mo nang in love siya kay Kuya. Allie was only 15 then kaya nung nalaman nina Tita Anna and Tito Wax na may boyfriend na si Allie, natakot sila. Siyempre ba naman 22 at 15 at si Dan Antonio pa. Pero bilib din ako sa dalawang to, through the years , after 5 years, sila pa din.

Allie, marami ka mang naririnig na babae ni kuya, huwag kang maniwala, alam ko nag iisa ka lang sa puso niya. Kuya, alagaan mo sarili mo, baka pag sobrang tanda na hitsura mo iwan ka ni Allie. Leave the business to me. Try ko din i experience maging bilyonaryo baka habulin din ako ng mga chicks at makahanap din ako ng kagaya ni Allie Escudero. Allie, take care of my kuya. Ayaw niya sa amoy vinegar at naiinis siya sa amoy ng liniment hahahahaha. Tip, minsan punta ka sa opisina niya, marami siyang collection dun ng tback, baka may size ka dun hahahaha."

Binato siya ni Dan ng table napkin.

"Siraulo!"

Everyone was laughing at Diego. I smiled too. I looked at Daniel and he was laughing at his younger brother.

Then I was called to dance with my Dad. I danced with Tito Carlo and then gramps and then Daddy.

"Are you happy, sweetheart?"

"Yes Daddy" I lied

"You look lovely tonight"

"Thank you Daddy. And...thanknyou for alwats always being there for me. And you are the #1 man in my life. You have 1/2 of the space in my heart, and the others share the other half."

"Sweetie, one day it will all belong to Dan. Hahahaa"

"No Daddy. Hahaha"

" One day anak, one day."

After dancing with Daddy, it's time for me and Dan to have our first dance as husband and wife.

He took my hand and put his other arm on my waist. Then Elvis voice was heard all over the area.

Then he pulled me closer and hugged me. We did not move. We just stayed there swaying to the song. Ang bigat bigat ng pakiramdam ko. Mahigpit din ang yakap niya sa akin. Gusto kong umiyak. I tilted my head and he saw the tears. The sadness in my eyes is mirrored in his. He wiped the tear that rolled down my cheek and out of the blie he kissed me and I kissed him back.

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