Wishing You Were A Stranger

Chapter 29

Chapter 29
Another Woman

One year had passed and after Throne said those words, I didn’t see him. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya biglang nag-laho ng walang pasabi.

He left without telling me why? And he just said things that made me think over night?

“Fall in line now… The bride is here,” ani ng babaeng naka puting bestida.

Agad naman na nagsinudan ang mga tao. Napa-linya rin ako ng wala sa oras. Ngayon ang araw kung kailan ikakasal sina Wenona at Yeofole.

I smiled at Yeofole who looked tense. He managed to gave me a smile and thumbs up. I give him a thumbs up too.

I am happy for him. I am genuinely. Wala na ang bitter thoughts ko regarding with their wedding. Na para bang kasabay ng pag-alis ni Throne ang pagkawala ng pagka-bitter ko at natanggap sa sariling mahal ko na pala siya.

Totoo nga talaga ang sinasabi ng iba na kaya mo lang ma-rerealize ang importansya ng isang tao kapag wala na ito. Kapag hindi na ito nagparamdam sa iyo.

Nang magsimula ng tumugtog ang wedding march. Isa-isa ng naglakad ang mga tao. Hindi naman talaga ako kasali rito pero pinilit ako ni Yeofole na sumama sa pila.

Isa rin ‘yong lalaking iyon, hindi man lang sinasabi sa akin kung nasaan ngayon si Throne. Sa tuwing magtatanong ako, he just answered that Throne will let me see him in the right time.

Kailan ba ang right time? Twelve months had passed and kahit anino’y hindi ko mahagilap sa lalaking iyon.

“I pronounced you husband and wife. You may now kiss your wife…”

Agad na nagsipalakpakan ang lahat. I also clapped my hands as Yeofole kissed Wenona. They deserve to be happy and hope that there married life will be happy and strong.

Sa gitna ng palakpakan, I felt my phone vibrated in my pouch. I took it out and saw Juanie’s name in the screen.

Agad akong naglakad patungo sa pinto ng simbahan at sinagot ang tawag ng kaibigan.

“Hello?” I answered it.

Napatingin ako sa kulay asul na ulap sa kalangitan. I smiled as I saw how the white cotton clouds tried to hide the blue sky. They looked very pretty and nice.

“Wow! I am happy because you answered after five missed calls…”

Napatingin ako sa aking cellphone sa sinabi niya. Totoo ngang may limang missed call galing sa kanya.

“Sorry…” ani ko. “ But why did you call all of a sudden?”

“I saw him…” she said.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa kanyang sinabi. “Sino?”

“Him. Throne. I saw him earlier,” aniya.

My eyes widen. I hurriedly ran towards my car and press my key fob.

“Where? Kailangan ko siyang makita!” I opened my car’s door.

Papasok na sana ako ngunit natigilan ng marinig ko ang kasunod niyang sasabihin.

“He was with another girl…” I heard her sighed dramatically. “ And they looked happy. They are holding each other’s hand while seating comfortably in the airplanes seat.”

Napakurap-kurap ako sa aking narinig. Nanghihina kong sinara ang pintuan ng aking kotse habang tinatanaw ang mga taong masayang lumalabas sa pituan ng simbahan.

“What flight?” I asked.

I heard her sighed once again. “Philippines… He was here now but with another girl.”

Ang katiting na pag-asa ko’y biglang naglaho. Ibinaba ko ang aking mga kamay habang pinipilit ang mga luha kong hindi tumulo.

He was gone for one year and he comes back with a woman? He didn’t even tell me why should he left. Is it because of the woman? Did he left a woman in States?

“Hoy!” I heard Elaze voice. “Tara, inom!”

Napatingin ako sa aking gilid at nakita siyang nakasandal sa kanyang kotse. The cars of my two other friend parked beside her’s.  Isa-isa itong bumaba habang nakatingin sa akin.

Trina walked towards me and hugged me. “It’s okay…” she whispered calmly. “ We heard what happened. Juanie said it.”

Hindi ko namalayang isa-isa ng tumulo ang mga luha ko sa aking mga mata. I hate crying in front of them because I promised myself not to cry over again. But here I am crying in front of my friend who saw how my life turned into a miserable one.

Elaze and Relane tapped my shoulders. “Iiyak mo lang ‘yan, Gem but after that, be strong…” Relane said.

“Nandito lang kami para sa’yo.” She added.

“Oo nga… You know how much we love you more than the love of that moron,” Elaze said.

I never thought that after he says those words was the last time I sees him.  I thought he loves me, he said it pero parang pinaglaruan niya lang ata ako. Na isa akong laruan na kapag nagsawa siya’y babalikan niya ang taong totoo niyang mahal.

I sniffed. Inabot ni Elaze ang puti niyang panyo. Tinanggap ko iyon at bahagyang nagpasalamat.

I wiped my tears using the towel Elaze gave me before looking back at them.

“Do you think Throne have someone now?” I asked.

Elaze rolled her eyes. “Juanie saw him with another, so he has another now.”

Trina let go of our hug and caressed my hair. “Don’t think the things that can made you sad, Georin. You’re precious, think about that.”

“ Correct!” Relane exclaimed and rest her back at my car’s door. She crossed her arms. “Boys should cry, not girls.”

“Ay wow? Pero bakit halos babae ata ang umiiyak dahil sa lalaki?” ani ni Elaze.

“It’s because some girls tend to believe that the guy they’re with was the guy who they can be with, forever...” Relane flipped her hair. “Girl! Remember, forever didn’t exist and we’re living in reality not some kind of fairytale stuff,”

“You sounded like you’re an expert when it comes to that…” Elaze raises her left brow. “May experience ka na ba sa love, Relane?”

Natigilan si Relane sa tanong ni Elaze. Her smile faded and only the seriousness from her eyes remained.

“Of course, I did…” she mumbled that made us shocked. She smiled but a forced one was plastered in her lips. “I did… once.”

“Guys!”

Naibaling naming lahat ang tingin kay Juanie na suot-suot pa rin ang kanyang uniform. “They’re here!” she exclaimed. “Georin, he’s here!”

She pointed some direction. Sabay kaming napatingin doon ng makita si Throne. I knew it was him. I can differentiate him and his twin.

Napatingin ako sa babaeng hawak-hawak niya sa beywang. I gasped, when I knew that girl. I already sees her. She was smiling while pointing at a certain direction while Throne’s eyes are pierced with mine.

It was Honey. The woman I met the last time and the woman Throne’s holding now.

I looked away as I forced myself not to cry. I am done crying. I don’t want to shed some tears now. Not now.

“Let’s go,” ani ko habang binubuksan ang aking kotse. “Let’s leave this place.”