It Had to be You (Valdemar Series #2)

Kabanata 12

12 – Mistake

“Congratulations, Anastasia!”

Ngumiti ako at tumango sa bumati. She walked towards me and kissed my cheek. 

“Thank you, Tita Mabelle..” I sweetly said. “It’s nice seeing you here.”

She's a former beauty queen and mom's batch mate in Stanford. They're usually together in fashion events abroad.

She laughed and held my hand. “Of course, sweetheart!”

I smiled at her again and shifted my eyes to my mom talking to a senator’s wife. Dad is now with some of his colleagues, chitchatting with them while drinking. Tita Alondra is entertaining guests with Tito Ignatius.

Iilan pa ang bumati sa akin. Ayden is now missing. Kasama yata ni Atlas, pati ng lawyer nila dahil may pag-uusapan. Well, I don't want him here so it's fine. Mamaya, humanda siya sa akin.

After we walked down the aisle together, hindi na kami pormal na nakapag-usap pa. We were so busy entertaining guests. Kahit na hanggang ngayon ay palaisipan pa rin sa akin kung paanong sa kaniya ako ikinasal ay naisip kong mas mabuting mamaya na kami mag-usap dahil alam kong magsisigawan lang kami.

I sipped on my wine and looked around. Madilim na ngunit maliwanag pa rin sa hardin na ito dahil sa mga light bulbs na nagkalat. I also changed my outfit. Masyadong mabigat ang ball gown para suotin ko pa nang matagal na oras.

Halos matapon sa akin ang inumin ko nang may humila sa braso ko. Agad ko iyong inilayo sa puti kong damit saka tinignan ang humila sa akin. 

“Am! My dress!” I exclaimed. 

“Anastasia!” gigil na sabi niya. “What was that?”

I sighed when I realized what she's asking. Luminga muna ako saka inilapag ang baso. Lumapit akong lalo sa kaniya saka nagsalita.

“I don’t know, Am! I was shocked too! Tita Alondra changed everything!”

She ran her fingers through her hair because of frustration. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya para sana ay pakalmahin siya.  

“Is this why Tita Rustesia got mad earlier?” she asked. “She doesn’t like Ayden!”

“Yes!” pabulong kong sigaw. “Tita changed the number of guests, the invitations, and my groom! I didn’t know any of this!”

Mas lalo ko siyang hinila sa dilim kung saan walang gaanong makakakita sa amin. Nagpatianod naman siyang sumunod sa akin. 

Classical music was playing. Rinig iyon sa lahat ng sulok ng malawak na hardin. Almost everyone is holding a wine glass. Lahat sila ay nagtatawanan at nagkukwentuhan. Some elderly was slow dancing on the dance floor.

“You don’t know any?” she sounded doubtful. “Are you sure?”

Kumunot ang noo ko. “Wala akong alam, Amethyst! Paano ko naman ito malalaman? Ni ang mommy ko nga ay hindi nalaman ang mga binago!”

Nanliit ang mga mata niya. I frowned. 

“Don’t lie to me, Anastasia.” She seriously said. “You know you cannot lie to me. Sa lahat ng tao, ako ang dapat na sinasabihan mo ng sikreto!”

Lalo akong naguluhan. She roamed her eyes around. Lalo kaming nagtago sa gilid ng puno upang walang makakita. 

“Ano bang itatago ko? I didn’t know anything about this wedding, Am! Ano bang sinasabi mo?”

Halos sabunutan niya ang sarili niya. She bit her lower lip and pulled my hair a little. She looked so frustrated. Agad kong ininda iyon. 

“Bakit ka nananabunot?”