Wonderstruck

CHAPTER 21

The Wedding

"TANG INAAA!" hindi na napigilan pa ni Maximo ang kaniyang nararamdaman at mabilis na naibato ang basyo ng bote ng alak. "May mali ba ako? Bakit hindi niya ako kayang ilaban? Mababa ba ang tingin niya sa'kin? Ibinigay ko naman lahat, ah? Kahit 'tong putang inang katawan ko binigay ko kasi mahal na mahal ko siya!" he was exclaiming his line with a spluttering voice due to drunkenness.

"Oy, pre, tama na nga 'yan!" Asher tried to pull every bottle of alcohol from Maximo.

Drunk France stopped his friend from getting all the bottles of alcohol by pulling him through the collar of his shirt. All of them were impaired by alcohol and could barely move.

"Alam mo kasi, Abo," isa ring bulol na kung magsalita si France dahil sa kalasingan. "Hindi ko rin 'to masisi si Maximo, eh. His man is really beautiful! Sobrang perfect ng existence niya and I also don't mind if he's a man!" halos mawala na sa balanse si France habang nagsasalita.

Asher just gave him a calculating look.

"Hoy, France!" Tumayo si Maximo na parang naghahamon ng away pero tinawanan lang siya ni France. They are such dickheads.

"Akin lang 'yung William ko! Huwag ka sumali diyan pababalikin kita sa bansa niyo!"

"Gago!" They both laugh.

Asher looked at his friends especially Maximo. Bukas na ang kasal ni Maximo and there's nothing we can do about it. Sigurado akong mas magiging mesirable ang buhay niya kapag nangyari 'yon.

"Umuwi na kaya tayo. Lasing na lasing ka na, eh!" Hahawakan na sana ni Asher si Maximo para alalayang makatayo nang bigla na lang siya nitong itinulak.

"Ayaw!"

"Mamaya na kasi, Abo. Pag-uusapan pa nga natin 'yung boyfriend niya, eh!"

"Tang ina ang iingay ninyo!" natatawang pagsasaway ni Asher dahil sa ingay ng mga bunganga ng kasama niya.

"Pero seryoso, Maximo. Sobrang lakas ng dating ng boyfriend mo. That man of yours? He exudes beauty and out of this world handsomeness! Is he also good in bed?"

"Hoy, fuck you! Don't drag his name into your dirty shits!" he said in defense.

"Sorry na, pare! Nadala lang din ako sa hitsura niya. He's like an angel sent from above," he said while staring at Asher.

"Ang corny mo na, France! Manahimik ka na nga lang!"

"Gago, Abo! Ganiyan din naman tayo matagal na hindi ba?! Are you jealous?" Ang kaninang lasing na si Maximo ay nahimasmasan nang kaunti dahil sa kaniyang narinig habang si Asher ay gulat naman sa narinig.

"What did you say?"

Asher was shocked and in disbelief as Maximo turned the center of their conversation to them.

"W-wala siyang sinabi!" mabilis na pagdepensa ni Asher ngunit mabilis siyang hinatak ng lasing na si France papunta sa tabi niya. He rested his right arm on Asher's shoulder.

"No! M-me? And this man beside me? We're together for almost two years and you know nothing because you're stupid!" natatawang sabi nito kahit wala namang nakakatawa.