Cuts
The day before our engagement, everyone is too busy organizing things for the biggest event of the year. My parents are so excited, sending late invites to some of our relatives, and their friends.
Reid's family, on the other hand, is also preparing for the final touch of the event. Sinabi sa akin ni Papa na maraming business tycoon ang dadating, hindi lang 'yon, pati ang mga shareholders ng dalawang kumpanya ay imbitado, ang mga outstanding employees, may mga media ring darating.
Reid is probably preparing too. Bago umalis ng bahay ay pinakita sa akin ni Mama ang guidelines of ceremony ng engagement party. He has to share a speech with everyone because it's not only our engagement that they are looking forward to; it's the merging of the two companies. Since he's the CEO of their growing company, he needs to have a little talk in front of his crowd. Our parents will do the same, samantalang ako? I'm a hundred percent wallflower.
"Talaga bang papasok ka pa ng trabaho niyan, Ali? Excited na ako sa engagement niyo ni Reid!" sambit ni Sydney habang kausap ko siya sa cellphone.
Maaga akong umalis ng bahay para pumasok sa office. Pinigilan pa nga ako ni Mama dahil kailangan ko daw magpahinga't mag-beauty rest aniya, pero mas ginusto ko pa ding pumasok.
Seeing my busy and excited parents is just giving me a little pressure deep inside. I just realized that what they have dreamed since day one is still the most important thing to me. And that being said, I'll stop being hard to get towards Reid.
The chase that I have started will soon end.
"Ayokong panoorin ang magulang ko sa mga ginagawa nila para sa engagement," sagot ko kay Sydney habang nilalakad ang left alley.
Maaga pa pero buhay na agad ang daang ito. Mayroong mga tiangge at nagpe-perform. I stopped and watched the old man playing a piano bass. Maraming taong dumadaan ang napapahinto para panoorin siya.
I smiled as he's playing a familiar classic piano song.
"Hindi ka ba excited?" natatawang tanong sa akin ni Sydney sa kabilang linya.
Inilipat ko ang cellphone sa kabila kong tainga. "Like, what's in it for me?"
She laughed that made me roll my eyes. Totoo naman, ah! Ano nga ba ang lahat ng ito para sa akin? The way I see it, it doesn't really benefit me.
I could live without the help of my parents. I have my own funds and a stable job that pays me enough. Kahit wala ang mga ito, sigurado naman akong kaya kong mabuhay.
Iyon nga lang, ito ang pangarap ng mga magulang ko. Matagal ko ng tinanggap ng maluwag sa loob ang gusto nilang mangyari. They introduced this kind of set up to me when I was a kid back then. It became my responsibility to make them achieve their dreams. And that's being too selfless, I know.
"What's in it for you? Gusto mo isa-isahin ko?"
I smiled a bit. Here she goes again! I let out a heavy sigh and just accepted my fate. Ayos lang ito, Aliyah. Para sa mga magulang mo 'to. I reminded myself.
Anyway, being with Reid Alvedo isn't that bad after all.
"Alam ko na ang sasabihin mo. Pro-Reid ka, e." Umirap ako at nagpatuloy na ulit sa paglalakad sa daan papuntang office.
Humagikgik si Sydney. Tignan mo at parang kinikiliti ang babaeng 'to! Minsan talaga mahirap din ang magkaroon ng kaibigang baliw. Her imagination is beyond what I expected. In short, malala siya.
"Alam mo naman pala, e! Pasalamat ka hindi pa ako makamove-on sa nangyari sa amin ni Seiji. Hindi tuloy ako makapagconcentrate sa pag-iintriga sa'yo." She took a deep breath. "Nami-miss ko na agad siya. Pwede pala 'yon, 'no? Panandaliang init lang ang nangyari pero buong buhay ko yata ang naapektuhan."
