His Wedding Planner (MNEBACP's Sequel)

If It's Meant To Be

Forty-Six: If It's Meant To Be

Halos limang minuto na kaming nandito pero ni isa sa amin walang lakas magsalita. I don't think so it's necessary for me to say anything. After all, I've already known what I need to—or maybe not.

“How are you?”, sa wakas ay narinig kong sabi niya.

Kamusta nga ba ako? Okay ba ako? To be honest, hindi ko na rin alam. I've lost track of what I truly feel.

“Fine, I guess...”, I managed to say.

Bahagyang umihip ang malamig na hangin dahilan para mapayakap ako sa sarili ko.

“Have you already talked to them?”, sunod na tanong ni Ken sa akin.

He meant my dad and my siblings.

I shook my head. I don't have the courage yet. Sa susunod na siguro...

Ulit kaming binalot ng nakakabinging katahimikan. Nag angat ako ng tingin sa kanya nang tumayo siya para lapitan ako. Bahagya siyang lumuhod sa harap ko saka niya hinawakan ang mga kamay ko. Saglit akong napatigil sa paghinga.

“Let's talk to them one of these days, hmm?”, aniya habang diretsong nakatingin sa akin.

Sa sobrang lapit niya sa akin, natatakot akong baka marinig niya ang pintig ng puso ko. Out of all the people I've known and met, siya lang may kakayahang magparamdam sa akin ng ganito. I absentmindedly nodded even though hindi ko alam kung paano namin gagawin yon. My family doesn't know anything about us yet. Ni hindi nga nila alam na muntik ko nang i-organize ang sariling kasal ng dati kong kasintahan. If only they had known, they would've sent my ass back to Barcelona right away.

We did not talk about a lot of stuffs. In fact, that's the only thing we've talked about before he drove me home. I busied myself for the rest of the week. Sometimes I'd go shopping. Sometime's I'd visit a coffee shop and stay there for a couple of hours tapos ay uuwi rin. As much as I can, kailangan ko munang maging preoccupied. Saturday came, nakatanggap ako ng tawag mula kay Keith habang abala ako sa pagp-prepare ng breakfast ko. Maagang umalis sila Kuya at Dad sa hindi ko malamang dahilan.

“Birthday ni Psyche today!”, bungad niya. “I hope you still remember him...”

“Oo naman. Grabe ka naman sa akin”, sagot ko. There's no way I'll forget him. He's one of the craziest guys I've met during my college years.

“Cross just called me and told me to invite you as well...”, patuloy ni Keith.

“Hmm...”

“And he's gonna fetch you by the way, ha! Kaya maaga kang mag-prep. Bagal mo pa naman magbihis.”

I rolled my eyes. Muntik pang mahulog ang bacon sa sahig nang isalin ko ito sa plato mula sa frying pan.

Our conversation ended hastily. Kumain agad ako, then washed my dishes afterwards. I was just finished cleaning the sink when my phone rang again. Bahagya akong naubo nang makita ang pangalan ni Ken sa screen ng aking cellphone. He greeted me 'Good Morning' awhile ago through text kaya lang ay pa-lowbat na ako kaya hindi ko na siya na-replyan. I hesitantly answered his call.

“Hey...”, masuyong niyang bungad sa akin. “Did I wake you up?”

Para akong tanga na agad na nagkagat labi tapos ay mabagal na tumango. As if naman nakikita niya ako. “I just got done eating my breakfast. Sorry, I was charging awhile ago kaya di na ako nakapagreply...”, alanganin kong sabi.

Narinig ko agad ang mahina niyang tawa sa kabilang linya. Oh, god. How I miss hearing his laugh. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako habang nakasandal sa gilid ng sink.