Embrace the Suck (Bad, #1)

Chapter Thirty

"You're engaged?!" gulat na sigaw ni Oli.

Nag-init ang mukha ko at napatingin sa paligid namin. It reminded me of where we are. Nakatambay kami ngayon sa study area dahil mamaya pa ang meeting namin para sa internship.

Today is the first day of our last second semester. That's why it's going to be academically uneventful. On the job training na kami sa semester na ito at pagkatapos ay graduate na!

Nakita ko ang paglingon ng ibang students sa gawi namin. They were surprised with Oli's suddent outburst. Some looked curious though. May isa pang tumingin sa kamay ko. I gave them an apologetic smile before looking at my friends again.

"I think?" I answered, but it sounded more like a question. Hindi pa ako rin ako sigurado hanggang ngayon.

It's been only a day but it still hasn't fully sink in. I found myself gaping at the diamong ring in my finger a couple of times, but the disbelief is still there. It just feels so surreal. I failed to tell them about it yesterday because I was still in shock.

"Oh my God. Patingin, bakla!" sabi ni Oli at kinuha ang kamay ko. Suminghap siya at impit na tumili habang nakatingin doon. "Girl, Tiffany 'yan. Do you know how much that costs?"

Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko naisip ang tungkol sa anong klase ng singsing 'to. I can't even make myself take it off. I'm scared to touch it. Umiling lang ako bilang sagot.

Binitawan ni Oli ang kamay ko. "Ay. Ako rin hindi ko alam, pero feel ko sobrang mahal," hagikgik niya. "Congratulations! I'm happy for you."

"I'm happy for you too, babe, pero bakit ang bilis?" si Nina. Nakangiti siya sa akin pero hindi buo ang ngiti niya at mukhang nagtataka.

This is a typical Oli and Nina reaction. They are like yin and yang. Devil and angel on my shoulders. Ganito na talaga sila dati pa kaya hindi na nakakagulat.

"S for Speed lang!" halakhak ni Oli. "But whirlwind romance is a thing naman! Look at Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky, they got married after dating for three months and now they're still going strong with three kids!" maligayang sabi ni Oliver. Pitchfork na lang ang kulang.

"One month pa lang sila," Nina argued. Her bright halo was glinting.

"So? Hindi pa naman sila magpapakasal bukas. Besides, twenty pa lang si Kenna," sagot ni Oli at umirap kay Nina. His face transitioned so fast that I almost missed it. Malaki ang ngiti niya nang bumaling sa akin. "I'm so excited! I will help you plan for your wedding! Bakla, dami kong ideas! I'll show you my board on Pinterest!"

"Ang bilis pa rin," muling sabi ni Nina. Ngumuso siya.

"Alam mo, 'wag mo na i-invite 'yan sa wedding. I'll be your only maid of honor," sabi ni Oli. He held an imaginary crown and placed it over his head.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Tama naman si Nina. We've only been together for a month. It's too fast for an outsider, but it already feels like I've been with him forever.

And just like what Oli said, hindi naman kami magpapakasal agad. It can be a long engagement. Maybe the wedding will happen next year or it can still be years from now.

"I think we should celebrate. What do you think?" sambit ni Oli.

"I think tanga ka. Second day ng pasukan kinabukasan, gusto mong uminom?"

Natawa ako sa pambabara ni Nina kay Oli. Oli grimaced at her. "I think kailangan mo na humanap ng mga bagong kaibigan."

Mas lalo naman akong natawa. Pati si Nina ay natawa sa pambabara sa kanya ni Oli. "We'll do it on Friday then."