Taped-Up Heart

XXIV. The Wedding

Chapter Twenty Four

The Wedding

I'm trying to be okay.

It was my fault to begin with. I was the one who didn't want him. I was the one who didn't want us to be more than friends... I have no one to blame but myself. Everything was my fault. I'm the main reason why I am hurting like this.

It's been two days ever since that night. Tiu was the one to take me home, wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang umiyak hanggang makarating sa condo. At dalawang araw na rin nang huli akong lumabas. Gusto kong ubusin na ang lahat ng luha ko, baka sakaling wala nang matira pa.

Gusto kong mapagod na ako kakaiyak, para bukas wala na.

Para bukas, tapos na ako.

It's the intrams week of our school kaya okay lang um-absent, tutal wala rin naman akong participation doon. Today, I've decided na pumunta sa school. I wanted to see the booths para man lang malibang ako kahit papaano.

Malaki naman ang Xavierville, I'm sure hindi ko naman siya makikita... 'tsaka ano naman kung makita ko siya? Dapat wala na lang 'to. Dapat tapos na 'tong nararamdaman ko dahil ako naman ang may ayaw sa kanya. Ako naman ang may ayaw sa ideya naming dalawa.

I should remind myself constantly that I was the one who didn't want him, who didn't want us—not the other way round.

I sighed as I looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes were still a little puffy so I decided to wear a little foundation and concealer before finally heading to school.

Maraming booth ang nakatayo. Mayroon pang mga iilang amusement park rides. Pumunta lang ako sa isang booth na nagtitinda ng nachos, I was craving for this. Sa totoo lang, kaya rin ako napilitang lumabas ay dahil gutom na ako.

After buying nachos, I also bought iced tea before finding a table. Umupo na ako sa isang table, iyong mga table doon sa may mini garden namin na concrete. Buti na lang at malilom na dahil mag-4 na rin ng hapon.

I just sat there quietly while eating when two guys approached me.

"That's her, right?" tanong nung isang singkit sa isa pang singkit.

I know them.

They're both Achaia's brother.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's her," sagot ni Arch, also known as Tiu number three.

"Bakit?" I asked. Nakatayo lang sila sa harapan ko at tinitingnan akong mabuti, habang ako ay nanatiling naka-upo.

"Can you come with us?"

My forehead creased. "And why would I?"

"I told you that's her!" biglang sabi ni Adee, also known as Tiu number four.

"It's an emergency," sabi ni Arch.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. "So? Bakit ako kakailanganin 'dun?" I asked the both of them.

Nagkatinginan muna sila bago ulit ako binalingan. "Ms. Dela Cuesta, if you could please, please cooperate just this once, we would highly appreciate it," Arch said.

Tumayo na ako dala ang nilagyan ng nachos at iced tea. I headed to the trash bin and threw them away, ignoring the Tiu brothers.

"Ms. Dela Cuesta, wait!"

Napatingin ako sa kamay ni Adee na pinipigilan ako. "What the hell? Let go of me! Ano ba ang kailangan niyo sa akin?!" I irritatedly asked.

They looked at each other once again before nodding. Kaagad akong kinabahan. I was about to run when they both held me by the arm.