"Congratulations!"
"Uy, Congrats!"
"Sa hinaba haba ng prosesiyon, sa Simbahan pa rin talaga ang tuloy!"
"Nakakakilig sila!"
"High School pa lang tayo sila na, hindi ba?"
Napairap ako sa paulit ulit na pagbati ng mga katabi ko. Hindi naman sila naririnig ng Bride at Groom sa unahan, e! Ang iingay lang.
"Ang bitter ah! Parang hindi niya bestfriend iyong ikakasal!" Pindot ni Cross sa ilong ko sabay mahinang halakhak.
Kasal ngayon ng matalik ko'ng kaibigan na si Willy, sa high school "baby" niya na si Kaizen. Also, today marks their 10th anniversary as a couple. Napapasana all ang mga bisita nila dahil sobrang bagay naman talaga nilang dalawa.
"Lux! Ano ba naman iyan! Parang hindi ka naman masaya ngayon. It's my wedding day kaya! You should be one of the happiest! Kinasal na beshy mo oh!" Si Willy na maarte pang nakalagay sa dibdib ang kamay na may dalawang singsing. Ang arte ha!
"Congrats, Wil and Kai! OMG! This is so so Romantic! OMG! The flowers are wonderful! Your dress is a fucking dream! The Venue was extravagant. OMG talaga!" Eksaheradang puna ko sa kasal nila. Using my favorite accent—Brit accent. Tawa ako pagkatapos.
Si Willy ay nakalabi na habang nagpipigil nang ngiti, habang si Kaizen ay humahalakhak na rin. Ngumiti ako at unti-unti nang yumakap sa kaibigan. "I'm happy for you, Will. I'm proud of you, and I love you. Congratulations! You're the prettiest tonight." I added the latter because I know that is what She's waiting.
Kumalas ako sa yakap at tiningnan siya. At tama nga ako, nakangiti na ang gaga.
"I know, right? I'm the prettiest tonight. Right, baby?" Pa cute pa siyang ngumiti sa asawa niya. Asawa na niya!
Ako kaya, magkakaasawa pa kaya ako? I asked myself inwardly.
"Of course, Lux. You will, soon. When the right man finally find you." She gave me a small smile.
Napalaki ang mata ko.
Did I say that out loud?
"Or Maybe.. The right one is actually right at your back na, you just didn't notice." Pataas taas kilay pa niyang sinabi.
"Or not her type, baby?" Bulong ni Kaizen sa bruha niyang asawa.
"Probably that, baby!" Sabay halik sa pisngi ni Kaizen.
Lumingon ako sa pinag uusapan nila at hindi na ako nagulat ng makita si Giovanni. Maging ang babae na nakahawak sa mga braso niya.
"Hindi ko nga yan type.." Pabiro kong bulong sa bagong kasal na naghagikhikan lamang.
"You're late!" Si Willy na maarte pang nag labi, akala siguro cute tingnan!
Humalik si Van sa pisngi ni Willy sabay yakap, sinuklian naman ni Willy ng mas mahigpit na yakap.
"We're married!" ngiti ni Willy.
Pagilid din niyang niyakap si Kaizen. At tinapik tapik ang likod.
He awkwardly looked at me. Then gave me a small smile of acknowledgement, which I return.
"Well yeah! Can you believe that bro? Because I can't! Anyway, congratulations!" Sabi niya pagkabitaw sa mag asawa.
"Hi, I'm Willy! One of Van's bestfriend. We were never properly introduced." Naglahad siya ng kamay sa kasamahan ni Van.
"Right! Guys this is my fiancé, Danniza. Dani, these are my bestfriends. Willy the bride, Kaizen the groom." The newlyweds shook her hand. And then Van looked at me.
"And well, this is Lux.." The fiancé then turn her head on me. She didn't smile at me though. She just look at me straight in the eyes.
I didn't withdrew my stare at her, too. I just raised my left brow in question of her eyes lingering at me.
"Lux?" She asked, eyes still on mine.
You recognized me, do you? I asked her with my eyes.
She hooked her arms to Van's, then asked..
"Isn't she your ex girlfriend, love?" With her sweet voice, still looking at me.
Like a whiplash he turned his head on her. Shock written all over his face.
He was probably uncomfortable answering her, so I did it for him.
"Actually, no. We never really dated. We were just close, back then. Pero hindi naging kami. Why would he date me, right?" Ending it with a laugh.
Kahit na my kirot sa dibdib ko.
Kahit na naiiyak na ako.
Kahit na gusto ko nang umalis.
Sana ay wag na lang niyang sagutin. Sana ay itanggi na lang niya. Umangat ang tingin ni Van sa akin. May pagtataka kung bakit ganoon ang naging sagot ko. Ngumiti ako sa kanila sabay gawi sa bagong kasal.
"Guys, excuse me. I'll just look for Cross. Baka namumuti na mata 'non kakahanap sa akin." bahagya pa akong humalakhak. At naglakad na palayo sa grupo nila.
Ngunit hindi pa man nakakalayo ay nagsalita muli si Van.
"Cross, huh? Are you guys dating now?" Van asked with his firm voice.
I didn't look back. I'm going to answer him, no. But, Kaizen beat me to it.
"Oo pare, sila na. Nagulat nga rin kami eh. Nung October 2 pa naging sila." Napalingon ako bigla at tatawa tawa pa si Kai habang sinasabi iyon. Yumakap sa asawa niya na umaarte pang kinikilig.
Van threw dagger looks at me. I just smiled at him and finally walk away from them.
