Wish You Were Mine

Chapter 12

MAE is standing in the front door. Behind her is Steven. She stood there the whole time of the proposal. They arrived when Jace was just about to kneel and tell Rachel those heart warming revelations of him. It's really romantic. Jace is romantic. He prepared all of this for Rachel. That only proves how much he loves her. Rachel is so lucky, no, so blessed for having someone like Jace for the rest of her life. During the proposal until it's done, Mae is holding back. Holding back the feelings and emotions bugging her. As she watched that memorable and important event for Jace life, she just can't be happy for him. No matter how she tried putting a happy smile on her face, she just can't. She can't deceived herself. The whole time of the proposal is pure pain on her part. The man she loves is getting married with the woman he loves. Just how painful is that? Witnessing that is a torture. How she wish that she was her.

ERICA: Mae!!!

     Biglang natauhan si Mae at pinilit ngumiti habang papalapit si Erica sa kanya.

ERICA: Nandito ka na pala. Napanuod mo ba?

MAE: Y-yeah. I arrived on time actually.

ERICA: Really? Ang sweet noh?

MAE: Hmm.

     Tumango si Mae. Pagkatapos ay narinig niya ang boses ni Jace na tumawag sa kanya. Lumapit ito sa kanya. Parang slow motion ang paglapit ni Jace kay Mae. Nakatingin lang siya sa mukha nito habang masayang lumapit sa kanya. Bakas ang happiness sa mukha. She promise to herself not to let those tears drop. She's been holding back since she arrived and witnessed the 'end' of her. But, she end up crying. Its just hard to keep holding back.

JACE: Hey, I'm getting married.

     Excited na sabi nito nang makalapit sa kanya.

MAE: I know. 

JACE: Bat ka umiiyak?

MAE: Tears of joy..

     Pagkasabi nun ay niyakap ni Mae si Jace ng mahigpit. It's like it will be the last hug for them. She's crying heavily. Nasa likuran lang ni Mae si Steven who don't know what to do and what to say to Mae. All he knows is she's in pain.

JACE: Hey, you sure you're ok?

     Hinarap niya si Jace, still crying. Tears just keep on flowing over her cheeks. Pinilit niyang ngumiti to show him the happiness. Fake happiness.

MAE: Congrats. I'm... I'm happy for you.

JACE: Thanks.

        Nilapitan naman niya si Rachel and greet her then hug her. For some reason, everyone seems to be silent. Parang natulala ang lahat sa kanya. Siguro nagtataka ang mga ito sa kanya for crying like that. Si Steven ang bumasag ng katahimikan ng mapansing tahimik ang iba at pinapanuod lamang ang kilos ni Mae.

STEVEN: Congrats Sis! You'll gonna be a bride!

RACHEL: Thanks Steve.

STEVEN: Let me see the ring.

      Kinuha nito ang kamay ng kapatid at tiningnan ang singsing.

STEVEN: Don't worry Mae, yours is gonna be bigger than this.

      Napalingon ang iba kay Steven.

RACHEL: Haha, talaga ha.

STEVEN: Yup!

      Sabay kindat kay Mae na nakatingin lang sa kanya. She calmed down already.

PETER: Mukhang susundan na din kayo ni Mae Jace ah.

       Ngumiti si Jace at tumingin kay Mae. Umiwas ng tingin si Mae at tumungo sa dinning area.

STEVEN: Surely, in short time she'll fall for me.

      Steven is trying to cover up the awkwardness in the atmosphere. And trying to divert the attention and the topic.

LISA: Anyway, kain na tayo. Baka malamig na yung pagkain.

      Lahat sila ay nagtungo na ng dining table at duon ipinagpatuloy ang kwentuhan. Tahimik lamang si Mae. Katabi niya si Steven na laging kumukuha ng atensyon ng lahat upang hindi siya mapagtuunan ng pansin. Sa harapan niya ay ang masayang sina Jace at Rachel. She just wanna go home and cry her heart out in her room. She just can't take it.

JACE: Mae?

     Biglang napaangat ng ulo si Mae sapagkat nakatitig lamang siya sa pagkain niya na hindi naman gingalaw.

MAE: H-ha?

JACE: You're not touching your food. You sick?

        Napayuko si Mae at tiningnan nga ang hindi pa nagagalaw na pagkain. She loss the appetite. She just wanna walk away from there.

MAE: No. I'm not sick.

       Sagot niya na hindi pa rin tumingin kay Jace.

       NATAPOS na ang dinner at ngayon ngay tuloy pa rin ang party sa entertainment area. Yung iba nag kakaraoke at yung iba nama'y sumasayaw. Habang si Mae ay nasa labas, may hawak na beer at tinatanaw ang view from the resto.

STEVEN: You drinking?

      Tanong ni Steven na hindi niya namalayang nasa likuran na pala niya.

MAE: Just beer.

STEVEN: I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from getting hurt..

MAE: Don't worry. No harm done.. Just you by my side is enough to keep me from breaking down.

STEVEN: You really have a big courage though. If that were me, I'm gonna walk away.

     Sandaling nagkaroon ng katahimikan, until Steven heard Mae sobbing. He knew she's gonna cry. Lumapit ito sa kanya at niyakap ito.

STEVEN: Damn it. I hate it when I can't do anything.

SAMANTALA...

LISA: What do you think? Aren't they compatible?

       Tanong ni Lisa habang pinagmamasdan sina Mae at Steven, Hindi alam ng dalawa na kanina pa sila pinanood mula sa glass sliding door nila Lisa, Jace, Rachel at Peter.

RACHEL: I've never seen my brother that protective from his past girls. He must be serious with Mae.

PETER: Looks like Mae's gonna be laid soon. hahaha.

LISA: Shut up Pete!

      Tahimik lamang si Jace na nakatingin pa rin sa dalawang magkayakap. Is he missing something? Bakit hindi nagku-kwento sa kanya si Mae?