Accomplice Then, My Bride Now (Completed)

ATMBN 1

"So you knew?"

"RJ..."

"All along, you knew, Maine?"

"RJ, let me explain—"

"—so, these past few months na sinasamahan mo ako, it's all because nagbabayad utang ka? Kasi nakokonsensya ka? Dahil putangina! Alam mo?!"

"RJ, please..."

"Nasaan siya? Sumagot ka! Nasaan si Rachel?"

"..."

"Sagot!"

—
(4 months ago...)

"Cheng naman, ano na naman to? Hindi na pwede tong ginagawa mo! Si Anton last time, na iintindihan ko kung takbuhan mo sa kasal ninyo, kasi alam ko parents mo lang ang may gusto sa kanya, pero si RJ? Grabe Cheng, ano ba problema mo?"

"Meng, please understand—"

"Hindi ko maintindihan Cheng, kasi ang bait nong tao sa'yo, mahal ka nong tao, gusto siya ng pamilya mo, bonus na yong gwapo, wala akong makitang pwedeng ayawan mo sa kanya. Ano to Rachel?"

"I think I am not ready to settle down Maine."

"Ganon? 8 months into the relationship, tapos nag propose at umu-o ka, tapos sasabihin mo ngayon di ka ready?"

"I don't kno—"

"FUCK! Ang poootaaa naman ng I-don't-know na yan! Cheng! Hindi ito game na nilalaro lang natin, we are talking about a certain Rj here who doesn't deserve this! Mga tao tong pinaglalaruan mo!"

"Will you help me or not?"

"Honestly, I am so frustrated right now. 2 years ago, you asked me that same question, and I said yes, because I know wala kang pagmamahal don sa tao, but iba yon. You backout sa wedding even before the preparation started, and now you're asking me to help you run away on your wedding day, which is bukas na—tangina RACHEL! Bukas na 10am! Bakit mo ako pinahihirapan? Mahalaga ka sa akin because you are my bestfriend, pero you're asking too much now—"

"Ang dami mong sinabi, Maine. Isa lang ang gusto kong malaman. Will you help me or not?"

"Rachel, alam ng Diyos kung gaano kita kamahal, pero hindi kita tutulongan this time. Pag isipan mo to, you still have time and I am expecting na andon ka bukas. Enough of your childish act Cheng, di na nakakatuwa."

"Great! Of all people, my own bestfriend turned her back on me."

"I will never turn my back on you, but I can give you some knock on the head—not this time Rach, I have to go. See you tomorrow."

—
Umalis siya sa bahay ng bestfriend niya na mabigat ang loob. Hindi niya maintindihan ano pang hahanapin nito—RJ is almost perfect. A true gentleman, one that has the kindest heart. Ang genuine nong tao, at alam niyang mahal nito ang bestfriend niya.

Nakikita naman niya na mahal din ito ng bestfriend niya. When they're together, there's no doubt that they're great couple and that they will be great as a family too.

That is why it pains her na mauuwi lang sa wala lahat ng ito. Her bestfriend deserves a guy like RJ, as much as RJ deserves Rachel, yet, right now hindi niya alam if deserve pa ba ni Rachel ang pagmamahal ni RJ, if she really is pursuing her no-show-on-her-big-day tomorrow.

For the past months na naging boyfriend ni Rachel si RJ, naging close na din siya sa binata. Somehow they have bonded over a few beers, a lot of road trips with other friends and a few out of the country trip with friends too. Sa madaling salita, kilala na niya si RJ, and she have learned to really love him as a friend and as someone who captured her heart to be the man for her bestfriend.

Iba din ang style nitong si RJ eh, niligawan buong angkan, pati kami na mga kaibigan ni Rachel. Charmer is even an understatement. There is this genuine vibe in him that everyone who gives him a chance to be closed will also end up being drawn to him. He has this magnet to people, that's why madali lang nagkapalagayan ang loob sa isa't-isa.

Among Rachel's friends, sa kanya naging mas close si RJ. Parehas silang bully, and of course sino ba pwedeng hingahan ni RJ sa mga problema at advises when it comes to Rachel? E, siya itong mas close talaga kay Rachel.

RJ, calls her Miss Maine, and she calls him Gob, as in Gobernador—it's a running joke among them especially her and RJ, kasi most of the time the way RJ talks is parang politiko, napakahinahon, napaka madeplomasya kaya tinutukso niya noon na with his charm and the way how he carries himself in public pwede talaga pumasok ito sa politika, hanggang sa napagtripan at nakasanayan na niyang tawagin itong Gob.

Natatawa siya sa mga kalukohan nilang magbabarkada, including RJ. Kaya masakit sa kanya ang desisyong ito ni Rachel, kasi hindi ito deserve ni Gob. Kahit isipin palang niya ang posibilidad na hindi sumipot si Rachel bukas sa kasal, parang pinipiga na ang puso niya.

She is torn between warning RJ or does everything in her power para magbago ang isip ng bestfriend niya—and she chooses the latter, mas madali yon kaysa showing herself into RJ's doorstep and warn him na baka di tumuloy si Rachel sa kasal nila bukas. She doesn't have the courage even the slightest guts to say it to Gob's face. So, right now, her goal is to put some sense into her bestfriend's head. She bombarded her with Viber messages making sure she will soon realize that walking out on RJ will be the dumbest thing she could ever do in her entire life!

Hindi siya makatulog the whole night, kinakabahan siya, hindi nag rereply si Rachel, naka seen palagi, so, atleast she was sure na binabasa nito lahat ang text niya.

At around 2 am, di na siya nakatiis, tinawagan niya si Rachel, 3 rings and thank God she picked up the phone.

"Bestfriend..."

"Hey? Are you drunk? Saan ka? Nasa condo ka?"

"Nope, I am here in Batangas..."

"What are you doing there? Ang layo ng Batangas sa Manila Rachel, bumalik ka na."

"Then, come over here Meng and get me."

"Sh*t! Will be there, diyan ka lang!"

And she drops the call, bolted out of her bed, change her PJ's to ripped jeans and a white tee and a hoodie. Gets her phone, wallet and car key. Nagmamadali siyang lumabas ng bahay, if her anxiety awhile ago is manageable—right now, it went full-blown! This is not a good sign. Kinakabahan na talaga siya.

"Come on Rachel! You're a pain in the ass right now! Sarap mong batukan bes!"

And since madaling araw na walang traffic at madali lang niyang maabot ang Batangas—may rest house ang pamilya ni Rachel doon, na most of the time nagiging sanctuary nito pag may problema ito or gustong mapag-isa.

I hope okay lang si Rachel
and so, help me God, sana magiging okay ang lahat.

Sana nga.