The Shotgun Wedding (COMPLETED)

31 Mawi

Lilac POV

Malakas na mga katok ang binibitawan ko sa pinto ng condo ni Mawi kaya nakangiwing Mawi ang nagbukas non.

"Lili! What are you doing here?!" Gulat na aniya ng makita ako.

"You didn't pick up your phone!" Sita ko naman sa lalaki. He grinned and side-stepped to let me in. I check my watch only to see it's already four in the afternoon. This ordeal is taking too much of my time but I dont have a choice. Kailangan kong imulat ang mata ni Mawi sa katotohanan.

"I must have put my phone in silent mode. What brings you here? Dont tell me they send you here to check up on me again? I'm good. Everything's good." Nakangiting ani Mawi ng mapansin ko ang ilang lukot at walang lamang can ng beer.

"Have you been drinking again?!" Sita ko sa lalaki na nagkamot ng ulo niya.  He chuckled when he saw me waiting for his response.

"I'm of legal age to drink. You do realize that I'm older than you, Lili?" Anito na animoy gustong magprotesta sa mga pagsita ko sa kanya. Nasa boses nito rin na animo'y bata ang sinasabihan niya. But I wanted to know what's happening to him so I proved more.

"Sabi ni Blythe hindi ka raw umattend ng practice niyo ngayon? May problema ka ba?" Aniko na ikinangisi ni Mawi.

"Lili, I know I confided to you once, but that doesn't mean I have to tell you everything." Halata na ang inis sa mukha ni Mawi ng sabihin niya iyon. I felt hurt with those words. Am I being too nosy?

"Sorry. I'm just worried." Aniko sa lalaki. He smiled but it looks like a hallow smile to me. He reach for the can of beer on his center table and he was about to chug it down when I shouted.

"Dont!" I said and he stop.

"That's enough drinking. You have to be thinking straight to what I'm about to tell you." Napabuntong hininga si Mawi. I know he is losing his patience with me but I can't let this pass. Binaba naman ni Mawi ang can ng beer at iminuwestra ang sofa para maupo kaming pareho doon.

"So what is it?" Ani Mawi. Napalunok ako habang nakatitig sa mapungay niyang mata habang magkatabi kaming nakaupo sa sofa. Gawd! He is so handsome that it felt so unfair for him to be cheated on. He is almost perfect!

Bigla naman ang pag-aalinlangang ko na sabihin sa binata ang pakay ko. I can see that he is drunk at hindi ko alam kung matino pa ba ang takbo ng isip niya.

Pero kung palilipasin ko naman itong tyansa na mabuking si Miranda ay baka wala ng ibang pagkakataon na ganito. Hahaba pa lalo ang pagdurusa ni Mawi dahil lang sa walang kwentang babaeng iyon.

"Lilac..." inip na tawag sa akin ni Mawi na ikinagising ko sa malalim na pag-iisip. Pero animo'y hindi ko alam paano ko sasabihin ang mga katagang alam kong lalong ikasasama ng damdamin ni Mawi. How can I hurt him when I have loved him  for such a long time. It will be a hard sight, for sure.

"If you dont have anything to say, I badly need a drink today." Ani Mawi at tangkang aabutin niyang muli ang can ng beer ng mabilis akong nakapagsalita.

"She's cheating on you." Mabilis na nanulay sa labi ko. Mawi's face went blank and for a moment I felt relief.

"What made you say that?" Anito sa akin habang titig na titig sa mukha ko. His expression was so dark now that somehow I felt scared.

"I-I s-saw them. Miranda and h-her guy. They are in Hiyetts Hotel in Tagaytay. Heart is there too, watching them. I-If you dont believe us you can see it for yourself." Aniko na mabilis na ikinatayo ni Mawi.

"Bullshít! This can't be true!" Mabilis ang kilos nito ng kunin niya ang susi ng kotse niya at cellphone.

"Wait for me. I'll come with you." Aniko pero derederetso lang si Mawi. Ni hindi nito nagawang kabigin pasara ang pinto ng condo niya kaya ako na lang ang nagsara noon. Pagkalingon ko ay nakita kong bumababa na sa hagdan si Mawi at ni hindi hinintay na umakyat ang elevator. Gulat ako sa mga pangyayari kaya wala akong nagawa kundi takbuhin at sundan ang binata.

"Mawi!" Tawag ko habang pinipilit habulin ang binata gamit ang maliliit kong hakbang sa hagdan pero animo'y walang naririnig ang binata habang halos talunin na nito ang mga baitang ng hagdan.

"Mawi wait!" Muli kong habol sa kanya pero animo'y wala talaga itong balak tumigil para sa akin.

Sa wakas ay narating ko ang parking pero alam kong huli na ako ng humaharurot na SUV ni Mawi ang mabilis na lumampas sa harapan ko. Mawi is driving his car like a madman and a horrifying panic gripped my heart at that sight.

Mabilis ang itinatakbo ko para pumara ng taxi.

"Follow that car!" Aniko sa taxi driver na agad naman nitong ikinasunod sa SUV. Mawi is driving so fast that my heart felt like stopping and my breathing labored. Guilt is starting to kick in. I know it in my gut that something wrong is about to happen. And that I made that happen.

A horrifying shriek escaped my lips when in a sudden turn Mawi's car overturned and it went straight to the road cliff. The horrendous sound of the car turning while falling off the cliff and the sight of it made me lose my breath. Cars stopped and people started to crowd but my body felt too weak to even move. I tried with all my might to get off the taxi, and when I finally did I can almost feel that my knees will fail me.

"Walangya! Ang bilis niya kasi magpatakbo! Bakit mo kasi hinahabol miss?!" Rinig ko pang ani ng matandang taxi driver. I quickly lean on the taxi and fish my cellphone on my pocket and dial for emergency. I can't even see clearly from all the tears that kept falling from my eyes but I tried with all my will to act. Mawi needs help.

It's my fault!
It's my fault!
This is all my fault!

The response of the rescue team was quick and in no time they are pulling Mawi's body out of the wrecked car. His face was full of blood and his arms and legs looks badly hurt.

Natauhan lang ako ng magsisakayan na ang mga nagrescue sa ambulansya. Agad akong tumakbo at pilit sumasakay doon.

"Kilala mo miss? Kamag-anak ka ba?" Ani ng lalaking may hawak ng oxygen na nasa bibig ni Mawi.

"I know him. He's my friend." Sagot ko na lang kaya hinayaan nila akong sumama. All the while that I am looking at the battered sight of Mawi, I was praying and crying. Praying badly that Mawi is not badly hurt. Praying for his life. Crying because I am guilty of causing this accident.