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Untitled Part 1

AHRHYS HELD MY FACE WITH BOTH HANDS AND lowered his face onto mine. I tried to meet his loving gaze but I could not ignore the butterfly flitting near the painting behind his head.

It seemed to have come from nowhere. One moment it wasn't there, the next, it was fluttering about. Maybe it was a good sign. Maningning, Ahrhys' Mom said butterflies bring good luck for they are vessels. Temporary hosts for the souls of the departed who want to bless the living.

"Mahal na mahal kita, Yunjin." Ahrhys' voice brought my attention back to him. His handsome, boyish face echoed his words. His eyes were filled with love and longing, his tears were ready to fall.

Such love, such devotion.

Do I even deserve him?

Wala akong ibang gusto kung hindi ang mapaligaya si Ahrhys. Ayokong pagsisihan niya an gang desisyong ito. Pero....ni hindi ko kilala ang sarili ko. He nodded ever so slightly, as if he could read my mind...he does. He knew me better than I knew myself. Kailangan ko siya.

I parted my lips ready to be kissed by the most wonderful man, by the most patient, most kind, most.....the butterfly landed on the painting's plastic frame. It spread its wings wide, resembling two letter Bs, back to back. Then it closed them.

I gasped.

The two uppercase Bs.

Gold against quilted velvet.

Blinding white light exploded inside my head.

Next thing I knew, I was lying on the floor, my head on Ahrhys' lap and his mom was brandishing a tiny roll-cap bottle over my face. Smelled awful.

I sat up.

"Yunjin, okay ka na, mahal?" Sabi ni Ahrhys, handa akong yakapin.

I pushed him away, "I'm not Yunjin, you asshole!" I screamed. At Ahrhys. At his mom. At the pastor who was officiating this wedding....wedding!

OH. MY. GOD.

I saw the papers I just signed. I screamed some more, "How could you do this to me? All of you! How dare you!"

"Yunjin, patawarin mo ako. Mahal na mahal kita. 'Yun ang mahalaga, mahal ko---"

Humakbang palapit sa akin si Ahrhys. Napatitig ako sa mukha niya. Hindi ako makapaniwala...hindi ko matangagp. Kanina lang ay handa akong halikan siya...handa akong ibigay sa kanya ang lahat!

"I don't even know you---"Bile rose up to my throat. Hindi ko na napigil. I vomited on the pastor's shoes. Humanda itong alalayan ako. Ganoon rin sina Ahrhys. And the brides' maids in white skirts and tops. I hated them all.

I stepped back, "Don't you dare come near me." I warned Ahrhys and yanked the veil off my head. I threw it. His mother caught it. That was when I saw the gold letters.

On my bag.

Of course. The bitch had been using it. Said it was hers.

And I didn't know shit.

I yanked the Balenciaga clutch off her shoulder, "This is mine!"

They were all stunned.

Really?! Sila pa ang may ganang magulat.

I looked at my bag, "Oh!" I cried. My tears fell on the gold uppercase B's in the flap. I opened it. Pinagtatapon ko ang laman na alan kong hindi akin--handkerchief, a fan, a comb. And then, my wallet! Also a Balenciaga. It was a yellow papier mini wallet, popular last year. It still contained my credit cards and IDs.