Be The Bride

IKA-DUHA

RIDE HOME..

Nasa pagawaan naman kami ng jewelries.

“I want a very thin gold wedding ring,” sabi ni Klara.

Hindi ko alam kung nang-aasar lang ba ang tadhana pero bakit halos ata lahat ng gusto ko.. gusto niya rin?

Pero sige na lang..

Pagkatapos ng lahat, na madali namang nangyare, kasi parang alam na alam na ni Klara ang lahat ng gusto niyang details sa kasal, ay napagdesisyunan na naming umuwi.

Akala ko makakahinga na ako nung biglang,

“We will drive you home Ms. Karen,” sabi ni Klara habang nakapulupot ang kamay sa braso ni Khy.

My eyes stung at the sight d*mn it!

“Okay lang Maam Klara.. magta-taxi nalang ako pauwi," sabi ko.

“Gabi na.. it’s dangerous,” she said with concern.

“Okay lang,” pamimilit ko.

“Just.. let us take you home,” he said finally.

So? Ano pang magagawa ko?

NAKAUPO AKO sa passenger’s seat, si Khy sa driver’s seat at si Klara naman syimpre sa front seat. Tapos para akong sabit dito sa kanila. Para silang may ibang mundo.

Kitang-kita ko ang maya’t maya nilang pagkukulitan.. hawakan ng kamay, sweet talking..

Yah.. yah..

Syimpre.. malamang sa malamang mahal na mahal nila ang isa’t isa.

And then as I sat there in the passenger’s seat, listening to their sweet conversations, nasaktan ako bigla.

Ako dapat yun eh..

Ako dapat yung bride-to-be niya.. ako dapat ang katabi niya..

Years ago.. posisyon ko yang kinauupuan ni Klara. But now, I am in the backseat, watching a scenario that should’ve been mine. But now, it belonged to her.

Pinikit ko nalang ang mga mata ko. And as I did that, a tear came out.

Going home with them is a bad idea.

“Sa kompanya niyo na lang ako ihatid please,” sabi ko na parang bara ang lalamunan.

Napalingon si Klara sa akin.

“Why? It’s already night.”

“May tra-trabahuin pa ako. Ngayon ko lang naalala.”

I lied.

He didn’t say anything. He didn’t even convinced me to go home. Fine! Edi siya na ang walang pake.

--

“Salamat sa inyo,” I said nung huminto na yung sasakyan.

“Of course Ms. Karen. It’s our pleasure," Klara said cheerfully.

At nagkatinginan lang kami ni Khy.

Ang sakit na kahit katiting man lang wala na siyang pake sa’kin. Noon, ayaw niyang nagpapagabi ako kahit saan.

“Overtime?” he simply asked.

Finally!

“Yah..”

And then.. they went off..

Sa totoo lang.. ayoko talagang ihatid nila ako sa bahay. Kasi ayokong makita ni Khy na binili ko yung apartment na pinag-iponan namin noon.

Yes, dumating na kami sa point ng relationship na nagplano na kami para sa future namin. And it all went down the drain, because I left.

I left.

I was the one who left, pero bakit ngayon parang ako yung naiwan?

And I just stood there. Infront of the company building. Crying.

And then..

“Karen..”

That voice!

I know that voice!

Agad akong lumingon. And as I came to stare at his eyes, I was electrified.

Now I realized, the mere presence of Khyree Jared can still electrify me until now.

“You came back."

I sounded so hopeful. So  desperate.

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha ko.

Para siyang nagulat na makitang umiiyak ako.

But why did he came back? Did he came back for me?

I prayed, wished, and hoped that he will tell me he came back for me. Pero bumagsak ang balikat ko when he said,

“You forgot your purse," he said while handing me my purse.

And I realized for the nth time today, that I still love Khyree Jared. And Khyree Jared loves Klara Aranzuela.

Ang sakit.