Chasing You (On Hold)

Chapter 14

I wiped a tear as I listen to Seah and Hugo's vows to each other. The musical accompaniment made it even more symbolic and meaningful than it is.

"You may now kiss the bride." At nagsimula nang maghiyawan ang guests, ngumiti ako at sinenyasan na ang team kong tugtugin ang arrangement na nakatoka sa segment na to ng wedding. 

"Are you okay Gabs?" Tanong ni Kahlia na nasa tabi ko, well supposedly wala ako sa tabi niya since hindi naman ako bridesmaid but since I am the musical coordinator, and an "honorable" guest, I was given a seat in the front row. 

"Uh, uhm, yeah. Weddings make me emotional." Sabi ko at natawa nalang sa sarili. Birong napailing si Kahlia at nang picture taking na ay inasikaso ko na rin ang crew ko. 

"Great job guys! I'm scheduling a practice 2 hours before the evening reception mamaya doon sa music room nila so please don't be late." Anunsyo ko sa kanila at tumango naman ang lahat. 

"Oh siya na, kumain na muna kayo at magapahinga. Charlotte, ikaw na muna ang bahala sa kanila." Mabilis na tumango si Charlotte kaya ngumiti na ako at nagpaalam para makaabot pa doon kela Kahlia. 

Nang makarating ako doon ay katatapos lang mag-photoshoot nila Kahlia, at hudyat na katatapos lang rin ng mga bridesmaids dahil kasali si Kahlia doon. 

She gazed towards my direction at naglakad papunta sakin, I smiled. 

"Gabbie! Where were you? Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap para sa photos." Napakunot ang noo ko, what does she mean by 'photos'?

"The photoshoot?" Tanong ko at umirap siya tsaka humalukipkip na para bang dismayado sa naging sagot ko. I heaved a sigh.

"Hindi naman kasi ako informed na kasali pala ako sa photo-ops ng kasal nila Seah. You didn't inform me! Kasalanan ko ba 'yon?" I said sarcastically, Kahlia rolled her eyes pero bago pa siya makapagsalita ay dumating si Zave. 

"Oh, eh andito na pala si Gabriella Silang eh! Tara na Gabs, kanina ka pa kaya namin inaantay para sa barkada picture natin. Tingnan mo oh, humahaba na nguso ni Kahlia." Pabirong sabi ni Xavier at inakbayan si Kahlia. 

"Piss off Zave. Tara na Gabs!" Anyaya ni Kahlia at hinatak na ako papunta doon kung nasaan yung newlyweds. 

Kawawang Zave. Said a little voice in my head, napailing nalang ako at binati sina Seah. 

"Congrats lovers! Pinaiyak niyo 'ko ng bongga kanina." Sabi ko at tumawa naman si Seah. Her eyes gleamed with so much joy, at sobrang saya ko para sa kaniya. I might have not been there to witness their relationship overall, pero makikita mo talagang mahal na mahal nila ang isa't-isa. 

Ay! Ano ba yan, nagpapakasenti na naman ako. 

"Thank you Gabbie! Nagpapasalamat rin kami sa team mo, they made this whole ceremony even more magical. And of course, all of that is possible because of you. At h'wag kang mag-alala gagala naman tayong magbarkada after our honeymoon eh." Nanlaki ang mata ko doon, I looked at Kahlia, tumango siya kaya malapad akong napangiti. 

"You don't have to Sei," Sabi ko, inakbayan ako ni Alexus. 

"Ang dami niyong kwento! Magpicture na nga lang tayo, meron pang reception ladies!" Frustrated na sabi niya kaya nakatanggap siya ng suntok sa braso galing kay Kahlia, at kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran. 

"Kill joy forever ka talaga De Merced!" Inis na sambit ni Kahlia at natawa naman kaming lahat. 

"Where's kambal nga pala?" Tanong ni Kahlia kaya natigil kaming lahat. 

"I haven't seen Kade since after the wedding. Where'd he go?" Sulpot ni Silver. 

Kade? I haven't talked to him ever since the night of his celebration party. Flashbacks of what happened that night hit me. 

"Ang sabi ko. Anong mapapala ko kung ang taong gusto ko maiiwan dito?" Nagtapat siya sakin.

Pagtatapat ba talaga yon? 

Ako? Gusto ni Kade Madrigal?

"Since when?" I asked him, bago ako bumaba ng sasakyan niya.

"Since a year ago. Now goodnight Isla Gabrielle." Sabi niya at hinalikan na ako sa noo.

Kung gusto niya ako, paano? How? And why? Gulong-gulo ako, does he know me even before I had business to do with Seah and Hugo's wedding? 

At saka, kung gusto niya ako... wouldn't he try and at least get to know me? Or win my heart? Pursue me I guess? 

Oh what the heck Isla Gabrielle? Why would you want him to pursue you, gusto mo rin ba siya? 

I shrugged the thoughts off and snapped back into reality nung hinatak na ako ni Alexus for the picture taking. 

Well, I guess the photographer has had enough of our talks. 

"Kade won't be back until tomorrow." Sabi ni Hugo pagkatapos ng picture namin, we were the last ones to take a photo with the newlyweds kaya nakapag-usap pa kami. 

"Why?" I asked. 

Napatingin naman silang lahat sakin. 

Uh-oh. Why do I keep doing this to myself?

I looked at Seah and Kahlia, and they were both giving me funny looks. I rolled my eyes at nagawa pang tumawa ng dalawang bruha. 

"Well, Isla, to feed your curiosity.." Nag-pause pa si Hugo at itinaasan ako ng kilay. I heaved a heavy sigh. Talaga namang wala akong mapapala sa mga kaibigan ko.

Baka naman kasi may emergency lang siya sa business diba? Gosh. I am stressing this too much.

Natawa naman ang mga kaibigan ko sa reaksyon ko nang madatnan ko si Kade, hingal na hingal. His hair was disheveled, and his tie was a little loose, hindi na niya suot pa ang kaniyang suit kundi yung white long-sleeves nalang at nakatupi na ito hanggang siko.

He was damn attractive alright. 

Wait what? Akala ko sabi ni Hugo bukas pa ang balik niya from whatever he was doing. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Hugo at binigyan naman niya ako ng malokong ngiti.

Damn you Hugo Dela Paz. 

"Uy! Andito na pala si Kade!" Sigaw ni Silvester, I then realized. Shoot! Was I being obvious? 

Tumabi nako kela Kahlia at Seah, Seah nudged me and whispered. 

"May nangyari ba?" Tanong neto. I looked at her, napailing nalang ako at nginitian siya. 

"Ba't mo naman nasabi?" I asked back. 

"Saan ka nanggaling kambal? Kanina ka pa namin inantay. Ikaw lang yung wala sa picture!" Panenermon ni Kahlia sa kambal niya. Nagkibit-balikat  lang ito at tumingin sakin. Umiwas naman ako. 

"Hmm, bakit nga ba?" Panunukso ni Seah. 

Oh my gosh! When will my crazy friends stop bickering me! 

"Sorry, I had to go last minute. Business call. I need to go back to Europe in two days. Nagkaproblema daw yung construction ng isa sa mga towers namin roon." He explained. 

"Ayan naman pala. Buti pare pinaliwanag mo na, eto kasing si Gabbie--" I immediately covered Alexus' big fat mouth. Sheesh! 

My gaze diverted to Kade who was playfully raising his eyebrows at me. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang mga kaibigan ko. 

"Chill Gabs, andito naman si Kade. You have nothing to worry about." Bulalas ni Silver at inakbayan pako. Nakisama na ang lahat. 

Wala na talaga. Hindi na, ayoko na. Lupa pakilamon ako please. 

I could feel my cheeks burning crimson red, I looked at Kade once more and he was smirking at me. 

Idiot! 

--

A/N: I'm back! For another 2-4 mos. and hiatus season ko na naman. But yay! I feel so euphoric updating this chapter. Kakamiss! XD ps. Not proofreaded; please don't mind grammatical/spelling errors.