Ngayong gabi na yung rehearsal dinner namin and I don't know what to make out of it. Ayoko na nga sanang ituloy kasi baka ma-trigger namin si Agnes. Hindi ko rin alam bakit rehearsal dinner ang tawag nila samantalang malayo pa yung kasal namin ni Agnes. Normally this should be a day before the wedding pero wala naman kaming choice.
Nagstay kami ni Agnes sa kwarto namin sa hotel habang nagre-ready yung mga planners dun sa baba. Sila Mama naman nasa ibang kwarto kasama sila Tita Cy. Mukhang matagal na nilang naplano kasi may venue na and nakabook na kaming lahat. I'm not so sure what to expect out of it.
"Aji. Are you okay?"sabi ko sa kanya. She nodded but her face is pale and I can tell that she's just trying to keep herself calm.
"Alam mo, let's just call this night off. Pwede naman tayong hindi tumul--"
"No wifey. Sayang naman yung preps na ginawa ng parents mo. They're all excited for this."sabi niya as we were making our way dun sa hall.
"Okay, mukhang andito naman na lahat ng ineexpect natin."sabi ni Mama ng malakas. Sa sobrang panic ko napahawak ako kay Agnes and she just pressed my hand lightly.
"As we all know, we are celebrating something important today. Kasi today is the rehearsal dinner ng panganay namin. Dapat talaga nung Feb pa sila kinasal." Naramdaman ko na humigpit yung hawak sa 'kin ni Agnes. I don't know why I'm uneasy with this whole speech. Siguro dahil ayoko lang kasi ng attention. Susko wag naman siguro kami pagsalitain dun sa harap di ba? I can tell that Agnes is also anxious.
"But of course, circumstances change, and we are postponing it to a later date. But don't worry, we will send invitations. Ayaw palang kasi magplano nung dalawa ng venue and all. We won't get to have the ceremony here, pero, we are planning to have the wedding celebration dito pag-uwi namin."dagdag niya.
Bakit ba feeling ko naplano na talaga nila lahat para sa 'min ni Agnes? There was this unmistakeable dread on Agnes's face. I think kinakabahan din siya sa mga nakaplano na para sa 'ming dalawa. We haven't really talked about this whole wedding thing and I know that she's feeling uneasy. Kahit ako kinakabahan.
"Anyway. I would like to propose a toast, para kay Tricia at kay Agnes."sabi ni Mama tapos tinaas niya yung wine glass niya. "Cheers."
"Oh, nga pala, mga anak, halikayo dito sa harap."sabi ni Dad. Nagkatinginan kami ni Agnes pero tumayo din kami at lumapit sa kanya. Ano nanaman 'to?
"I think some of you hindi niyo pa kilala si Agnes, pero ito si Agnes. She's the daughter of Cynthia. And soon to be the better half ni Tricia. Napakabait na bata nito and napaka-caring," I think I rolled my eyes at natawa si Agnes. I felt myself breathe a little cause Agnes seems to have relaxed. I can't help but feel suffocated by all these eyes watching us kaya napainom ako nung hawak kong wine.
"Wifey, pahingi please."bulong ni Agnes sa 'kin kaya inabot ko sa kanya yung baso ko. Kinakabahan din 'ata siya sa mga sinasabi ng tatay ko. Bakit naman kasi sila ganito?
"Agnes, I think would be the perfect compliment for Tricia."sabi ni Dad. We heard a chorus of 'aww' and I felt Agnes slightly ease out at what he said at kahit ako medyo napangiti sa sinabi niya. I agree, Agnes is my perfect compliment.
"Mga anak,"sabi niya tapos humarap siya sa 'min ni Agnes. "Wala pa man, but I hope you live a happy married life."sabi niya. Bumalik na rin kami ni Agnes sa mesa namin.
"So, since andito na rin naman lahat tayo, why don't we discuss yung magiging setup sa kasal niyo?"sabi ni Mama. Here we go again.
"Oo nga, konting panahon na lang yung meron tayo."sabi ni Tita Cy.
"Ano bang gusto niyo? Beach wedding or church wedding? Para makahanap na tayo ng venue."
I looked at Agnes and she looked very tense. The dread on her face is starting to be apparent and she looked like all the color on her face has drained.
"Also, I think beach wedding should be fine. Maganda rin naman beaches sa US."
"Tita, Ma. Hindi pa namin yan napapagusapan ni Agnes."sabi ko just to stop the conversation.
"Well, baka ito na nga yung tamang time. And anong color motif ba gusto niyo? Meron ba kayong guests na gusto niyong isama dun sa wedding ceremony mismo.."
Tuloy-tuloy lang si Mama sa pagsasalita when I noticed na Agnes was holding her chest and she was taking in deep breaths. She looked very pale and I know that something's wrong with her. I wanted to cut them off kasi I know we are triggering Agnes.
"AGNES!"
Bigla na lang bumagsak si Agnes kaya we had to rush her to the hospital. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras kaming nag-aantay na may lumabas na doctor. Pero maya maya lumabas na si Tita Cy at sinabing okay na si Agnes. Aantayin lang daw yung result ng tests niya and she was now moved to the recovery room.
"So we have run all the tests necessary and mukhang okay naman po yung patient. All her vitals are normal and wala namang nagstand-out sa tests sa kanya except, alam niyo po ba kung may history si patient about a heart condition?" Iiling na sana ako nung biglang nagsalita si Tita Cy.
"Alam ko."
Napatingin ako sa kanya. Ito ba yung sinasabi ni Karelle na sakit niya?
"Dahil ba yun dun?"tanong ni Tita Cy.
"We're still running some tests so hindi po namin alam ano talagang dahilan. But so far all her vitals are normal and clear naman siya on most tests. Update na lang po namin ulit kayo. But ano po bang last activity ni patient before she fainted? And meron ba siyang complaints na may masakit sa kanya?"sagot nung doctor and umalis na rin siya.
I looked at Agnes and I can remember how she was clutching her chest and how she looked so pale. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko ngayon na andito siya sa ospital.
Lumabas muna ako ng kwarto ni Agnes and habang nasa labas ako nakita ko si Raisa. Nagmamadali siyang humawak sa doorknob.
"Raisa." Bigla siyang huminto.
"Don't go in there."sabi ko sa kanya.
"Kaibigan pa rin ako ni Agnes at may karapatan pa rin akong makita siya."
"You have forfeited that a long time ago nung iniwan mo siya."sabi ko sa kanya. She just shook her head in disbelief and hinawakan niya ulit yung pinto.
"Raisa."sabi ko sa kanya. "Not tonight please."sabi ko sa kanya. She scoffed.
"Alam mo kasalanan mo 'to eh! I TOLD YOU TO CALL THIS WEDDING OFF AND ANONG GINAWA MO!? GANITO KA BA KA-SELFISH PAT?! MAS MAY PAKIALAM KA PA SA KASAL NA 'TO KESA KAY AGNES?!"sigaw niya. Hindi ko na napigilan yung sarili ko.
"ANONG KARAPATAN MONG SABIHIN SA 'KIN YAN?! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE AGNES!"sigaw ko sa kanya and I quickly wiped my face nung naramdaman kong tumulo yung luha ko. "Mahal ko si Agnes. And if I can save her I would."sagot ko sa kanya.
"Then save her."sabi ni Raisa then she walked out.
