Stonehearts 8: Peridot

Two

I was taking down notes as the quiet chatter from Era and Cael's – he insisted that I drop the Sir – filled the open space. Though they are to wed in Boracay, I opted for a ceremony practice in an open garden café near my shop.

With just two weeks into the wedding, and everyone flying out to the island five days from now, Era is losing her mind and stressing over the event.

I can't blame her. With so much shit that had happened in her life, I think this is her mechanism of coping up with it. Cael's been very supportive of her and never did he miss reminding her that everything will okay and that he'd kill if they won't finish as Mr. and Mrs. by two weeks.

As her planner and her friend, I pitched in whatever I can to make her feel better and less bothered. I also told her numerous times that Cael won't let anyone stand in his way of making her his wife.

That's why I called them for a rehearsal so that everyone would know what their part and what they'll do on the big day. I just want everything to be perfect for Era, because she deserves it.

"Lahat na ba nandito?" tawag ko sa atensyon nila na may ngiti. Lahat sila pinasadahan ko ng tingin pwera sa damuhong nakaupo sa pinakadulo na monoblock, sa pangalawang hanay. I can imagine him leaning lazily on the chair in front of him with that smirk in his face.

Nope not him. Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan 'yong atraso na ginawa niya sa'kin kumakailan at 'wag na siyang umasang kaya ko siyang patawarin.

"I'm here! I'm here!" a high-pitched voice dominated the surroundings, making us all turn to look. "Sorry, I was late! Woooh, Lord God, I'm never a fan of running." she gushed all of that while panting. She has her hand over the arch of the entrance while the other is in her chest while she heaves.

"Great job, Sapphire. Fifteen minutes ka lang late ngayon." tudyo ni Kiel sa kanya.

Umirap naman ang pinsan niya saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harap ko.

"Okay, now we're all here. Pwede na tayong mag-start." muling banggit ko.

As I barked my instructions, Era is all but a big ball of excitement and anxiety. She was listening very eagerly, nodding occasionally as she holds hands with her future husband. Cael on the other hand, looked like he didn't give hell as to what I was saying. He was just staring at Era, enjoying the different expressions crossing her face. It was clear that she doesn't notice it because she had fixed her attention to me. But in my point of view, I witness the admiration and twinkle in Cael's eyes that clearly says that his soon-to-be wife is the most valuable thing to him.

A surge of jealousy and longing made my heart clenched. Damn, some people are just really lucky.

I cleared my throat, not really the best time to be thinking about those things. "Ready na ho ba tayo? Let's all form a line sa may entrance."

Lahat sila nagsitayuan at sumunod. I was again busy jotting down some reminders when a shadow tainted my white pad. It is just me or I already memorized the feel of his presence, because when I looked up, Kiel's probing, deep, coffee-colored eyes met mine.

I smiled tightly at him, "Sir Kiel, pumila na ho kayo sa likod ng entourage." it took everything in me to make it sound casual, but my heart. Lord, my heart is making a run for its life.

Why does he have to be this good-looking? That strong jaw, prominent nose, extraordinary long and silken eyelashes, and that unruly hair which fell loosely in his forehead.

I don't know what this guy had done to me, because I always go from annoyed to extremely attracted to him from one moment to another. I'm always stuck on those two feelings, going back and forth in a limbo.

I know he didn't fail to notice my reaction because for a while a smirk appeared in his handsome face.

"You done staring, sweetheart?" his arrogance evident in his voice.

I acted as if I was hawking a loogie to move myself out of the attraction-filled haze I was at.

"Pumili ka na roon, SIR KIEL. Naghihintay na 'yong ikakasal." I reiterated.

He squinted his eyes at me, as if searching for something. Something I have no idea of. "Well, you'll soon tell me." He sounded so confident before he turned to his heel and strode over to where he's supposed to be.

I was in a state of shock. Am I that easy to read? Am I that transparent that he noticed? I quickly shook my head to clear my paranoia. Maybe, it was just a lucky guess.

I again displayed my professional smile as I go over on how the venue would look like. Sinabi ko na rin kung anong kanta ang tutugtog at kung ilang segundo ang kailangan nilang bilangin bago maglakad sa aisle ang bawat abay.

"Mommy, Daddy, dito po kayo maghihintay sa gitna kay Cael." then I walked to our makeshift altar and pointed to where they will end. "Lalakad po kayo hanggang dito, tapos sa likuran po kayo ni Cael tatayo. Dito po sa tabi ni...." napalingon ako kay Kiel na nasa tabi ko. "Sir Kiel." we locked eyes and I saw mirth dancing in his while he suppressed his grin.

Madali akong umiwas ng tingin, "Okay, gawin po natin 'yong sinabi ko."

I cued on the person-in-charge of the sounds and signal for Cael to walk on the path we referred to as the practice aisle.

As I stand at the end point of their walk, Kiel closed the inches separating us and whispered directly on my ear. "Love it when you called Mom and Dad 'mommy and daddy'."

I was dying to see his expression, killing to descry that damn smirk I know he has on, that sexy simper I am slowly considering as one of my weakness.

Good thing, I was strong enough to move away and not look at his direction. I think the best way to manage these confusing feelings I have for him is to just ignore him. Because I know the moment I face him, I won't be able to control my wild heart. Damn it! Curse his pretty face!

Lucky for me, he dropped his antics after that. The practice went smoothly, it even ended with Cael tearing a bit as Era practiced her walk while holding a vase as her 'bouquet'.

"Pakasal na lang tayo sa West." I even heard him commenting when Era stood in front of him. She playfully smacked him in the chest while she half-cried, half-giggled.

Nakatitig ako sa kanila, sa lahat ng naging kliyente ko masasabi ko na sa kanila talaga ako nakaramdam ng matinding inggit. And I'm not usually like that, kasi hindi ko naman pinangarap 'to. But looking at Cael and knowing how deep and rooted his love for Era, I realized that maybe wishing for this type of a happy ending isn't really that bad.