Be The Bride

IKA-SIYAM

OVER..

I texted Randolf kung nasaan ako. At buti nalang sinabihan ko siyang sunduin ako kanina bago nagsimula ang meeting namin, dahil ngayon malapit na siya sa kinaroroonan ko.

“Emily let’s talk.”

Napatingin ako kay Khy.

“Let’s not,” I said.

Napahilamos siya sa mukha niya.

“Please..” he begged.

When I heard a screeching sound of a car, alam kong dumating na si Ran. At hindi ako nagkamali nung nakita kong si Randolf nga ang bumaba sa kotse at nilapitan kami.

“Let’s go?” sabi ni Randolf purposely ignoring the scene he arrived at.

Maglalakad na sana ako papalapit kay Ran when Khy’s hand grab my arm.

“Stay," he said.

Inalis ko ang kamay niya. “You’re not someone who can make me stay or leave. Not anymore Khy," I said before finally turning my back on him.

This is it. We’re over. Finally over.

“You okay?” tanong ni Ran nung pareho na kaming nakapasok sa kotse.

Napatingin ako sa side mirror. Khy is still standing outside.

I smiled at Randolf and lied, “Yes, I am.”

“Of course you’re not," he said and smiled at me. “Seatbelt ma’am.”

Mahina akong napatawa at isinuot ang seatbelt ko.

“I won’t ask anything, kung sino siya, kung anong nangyare, I won’t be curious. Kasi alam ko yun ang gusto mo.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“But instead, don’t ever pretend that you’re fine even if you’re not. Especially infront of me.”

Napangiti ako.

“Thanks Ran..”

“For?”

“For coming to me.”

He chuckled. “Anything for you ma’am.”

HINATID NIYA AKO pabalik sa kompanya.

“Ihahatid kita mamaya.”

“You don’t have to Ran. Taxi nalang ako.”

“I want to, sige na. Pabayaan mo na ako. It’s one of my many excuses to see you.”

Napatawa ako. “Corny mo. Are you sure you never dated anyone before?”

He nod his head.

“Weh?” pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

“Oo nga.”

Bigla niyang kinuha ang kamay ko at hinawakan ito.

“Just know that you can always be truthful to me,” he said sweetly.

Hinawakan ko rin ang kamay niya at nginitian siya.

“You can always be honest with me too,” I said.

“Kung ganun, can I be honest?”

Tumango ako. “Of course.”

He stared at me and then said,

“Nagseselos ako.”

I was dumbfounded.

Napayuko siya.

“I don’t know why, pero kahit wala akong alam, pakiramdam ko malaki ang parte ng lalaking yun sa buhay mo.”

I am so amused by his jealousy. Ang cute ni Randolf.

“So ba’t ka nagseselos?” tanong ko forcing myself not to smile.

“It’s because of the way he looks at you,” he said and looked at me in the eyes again. “And the way you look at him too.”

Niyakap ko siya. And I know he was taken aback because of what I did.

“He’s a past I can never run away from. Tama ka, malaki ang parte niya sa buhay ko. Sobrang malaki. He was once my life, my world, and my everything. So I’m sorry, for making you jealous. Sorry, if I’m still stuck in the past. Sorry if I am taking you for granted.”

Hinigpitan niya ang yakap.

“No, don’t be. I’m not rushing you. Take your time. No matter how long, whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here waiting.”

And I can’t stop cursing myself in my mind for being so hook up with Khyree, when Randolf is here. F*ck you self!

Why? Why are we always like this? Why do we always want the people who doesn’t want us?

--

Dahil sa inasta ko nung meeting, I decided to let Ani handle their wedding. I took my hands off in their wedding because I don’t want to ruin WWM’s image by betraying our motto: WORK OVER EMOTIONS. I’m the CEO and I should be the one upholding our ideals, not the first one to break them.

Napatingin ako sa schedule of activities ng kompanya. Today, ay pupunta si Ani sa Maragsa kasama sina Khy at Klara. They’ll be checking the resort there and negotiate what to do with their wedding.

“Lexie! Nakaalis na si Ani?” tawag ko sa isang employee.

“Ewan ko ma’am. Bigla na lang siyang nagmamadaling umalis eh. Pupunta daw siya ng ospital.”

“Ospital? Why?”

“Parang yung kapatid niya po ata, na-aksidente.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. And just as when I am about to call him, nag-ring ang phone ko.

[Kareng..]

“Ano ayos lang ba kapatid mo? Ikaw? Ayos ka lang? Do you want me to go there?” nag-aalala at sunod-sunod kong tanong.

[No hindi na kailangan. He’s fine gurlalo. Pero hindi ako pwedeng umalis dito.]

“Okay no problem.”

[I’m really sorry Kareng, pero can you go to Maragsa with them?]

Natigilan ako. Can I? Can I really go? Magiging okay ba ako?

[Kung hindi mo kaya sige ako nala--]

“Hindi, kaya ko. Kailangan ka ng kapatid mo diyan. Ako na bahala..”

[Sure ka?]

“Yes. Sure na sure.”

Talaga ba? Sure ako?

Babalik akong Maragsa kasama si Khy? Kakayanin ko ba? Magiging okay ba ako?

I’m fine with any places in the world, but not in Maragsa. Masiyadong sentimental sa akin ang lugar na yun. It’s like going back to where everything started.

Where he and I first met.

I’ll be fine right?