AS1: RISK [✔]

38

Chapter 38
Zari

"Ang tagal mo namang dumating! Ikaw ba yung bride?"

Napairap ako nang bumulong kaagad si Suji sa akin para pagalitan ako. Reign just laughed at us. Kakarating ko lang at nagsisimula na sila. Nasa altar na si Bourbon, hinihintay ang bride nya.

I looked at Suji to ask her. "Who's the bride?" I know her name, but I haven't seen her yet.

"Hindi ko alam, eh. Kilala ni Reign iyon," pabulong na pagsagot ni Suji sa akin. Nilingon nya si Reign para tanungin ito. "Kilala mo iyong bride, diba?"

"Si Debra ba?" tanong ni Reign.

"Malamang. Ilan ba bride ni Bourbon para maguluhan ka?" siraulong aniya ni Suji.

"Alam mo, sasapakin talaga kita," aniya rin naman ni Reign.

Napairap ako nang magbabayangan na naman sila. "Sagutin mo nalang," sabi ko kay Reign.

"She's our schoolmate back then. HUMSS student. Akala ko nga na hindi magiging sila, eh. Puro kasi sila bangayan," sagot ni Reign sa amin.

We became silent when the door opened widely. Ang daming naglabas ng mga phone nila para ma-video ang bride na naglalakad patungo sa altar. It was a touching scene for me because the bride was crying while smiling.

She looks like she's too happy. Nilingon ko si Bourbon. He's also crying and smiling while looking at his bride walking toward him. The place was full of flowers, and it looks so beautiful because of the colors that they chose.

"Ikaw ba iyong kinasal?" bilang bulong ni Suji sa akin nang naiiyak ako habang nagsasabi ng vows sila Bourbon at ang asawa nya.

Nilingon ko sya para irapan. "I'm just happy for them. Can't I?"

"Cute mo," natatawang sabi nya na inirapan ko na lamang.

While looking at them...I remembered when I was imagining. I was on a flight at that time, the day when I said goodbye to Gin at the airport so I could go to the US. I remembered myself walking towards the altar where Gin was waiting for me.

I imagined myself marrying him. Gosh! Why do I love him so much? That I still cling to him even if it already hurts so much.

"Kiss the bride," When the priest announced that, napuno ng tili ang simbahan ngayon.

Kinuha ko kaagad ang phone ko para makapag picture sa kanila. They looks so sweet and cute. Pati sila Reign at Suji ay napatili nang halikan ni Bourbon si Debra - asawa nya.

"Sana all! Shawn, kiss me like this!" sabi ni Suji, ka-video call nya ngayon si Shawn para maipakita itong kiss the bride na scene.

Hinampas ni Reign nang mahina sa braso si Suji. "Mahiya ka nga!"

It already ended after the pictorials. Umalis na ang iba para tumungo sa reception area habang kaming tatlo ay tumungo kaagad kila Bourbon at sa asawa nito. When Bourbon saw us, he immediately gave us some high fives.

Kung hindi pa sya ikinasal ay siguradong yayakapin nya kaagad kaming tatlo kasi close kami pero ngayon na may asawa na sya, high five nalang ang maibibigay sa isa't isa. We also need to distance ourselves. Ayaw namin na paselosin ang asawa nya.

"Hi, Debra! Congratulations!" kaagad na niyakap ni Reign si Debra pagkalapit nya rito. Nilingon nya si Bourbon. "Malas ni Debra, ha?"

Napanguso kaagad si Bourbon. "Swerte nga, eh. Guwapo ko kaya."

"Nakakasuka ka, dude," aniya ni Suji.

Lumapit din kami ni Suji kay Debra para batiin sya. Nakipag-usap muna kami sa kanila bago kami tumungo na sa reception area. It was fun. We enjoyed it. We also did some catching up with some of our batchmates who attended the wedding.

"Sayang! Wala si Gin," pang-aasar ni Bourbon sa akin nang makalapit sya sa table namin.

Napairap ako sa kanya. "Puntahan mo sa Florida," sabi ko na kaagad nyang tinawanan.

It was so fun. I can also see that Bourbon is now happy with his life. Kung totoo man iyong sinabi ni Suji sa akin na nagustuhan ako ni Bourbon, mabuti nalang na hindi sya umamin at hindi naging kami.

If we ended up with each other, he won't be able to love Debra and I won't be able to love Gin. It's a good thing that he got cold feet before when he still liked me. Sometimes it's a good thing when we didn't end up together with someone I liked.

"Congratulations!" bati ko ulit kay Bourbon nang uwian na. He smiled at me because of what I said. "I wish your happiness," sincere na pagkasabi ko.

"Thank you, Zari. Salamat talaga sa pag-attend. Sana magkita ulit tayo ninyo tapos sana may kasama ka ng jowa non," sabi nya, nginisihan pa ako.

"Dalawang buwan pa makakauwi ka iyon," singit ni Suji na tinawanan kaagad nila Bourbon at Reign nang narinig nila ito.

We parted ways and went home after the event. Kaagad akong nakatulog pagkauwi kasi bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagod. Hinalikan ko lang si Milo bago ako natulog na.

"Divorced na sila Gin at Syrine!"

Two months already has passed. It's been a year already since Gin and I last talked. Kaagad akong sinalubong ni Reign ng ganitong balita. I rolled my eyes at her when she smirked at me.

"Pwede ka namang maging masaya!" inirapan nya ako. "Buti pa si Suji tuwang tuwa nang sabihin ko sa kanya ito."

Napakagat ako sa labi ko habang inaasikaso itong blueprint na nasa desk ko. "I'm working," nilingon ko sya. "Istorbo ka."

"Napakainit naman ng ulo mo. Mag-oorder ako, ha? Kain tayo."

"Ikaw bahala," sagot ko sa kanya nang hindi sya tinitignan.

We just ate here at my office. Umuwi rin naman sya nang malapit na mag alas kuwatro kasi shift nya na raw sa hospital samantalang ako naman ay inaasikaso pa rin ang mga blueprints. Umuwi lang ako sa condo nang ala sais na.

After I arrived at my condo, I immediately changed my outfit. Pinakain ko lamang si Milo. Nandito kasi sya, kinuha ko sya galing sa bahay kasi bigla ko syang na-miss. Komportable naman sya rito kaya walang hassle.

"Wait lang, baby, ah?" ani ko kay Milo nang marinig ko ang doorbell. "Puntahan ko muna iyon," tinapik ko ang ulo nya nang nag-sit kaagad sya pagkasabi ko noon na para bang naiintindihan nya ako.

Nilapag ko lang ang dogfood sa lamesa bago naglakad patungo sa pintuan para buksan iyon. I thought it was Suji so I was already ready to scold her but I was stunned when it wasn't her.

The person immediately smiled at me after seeing me. While looking at him, hindi ko namamalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha ko. My tears started to fall while my heart keeps on beating faster.

He's wearing a cream sweater and denim pants. Halatang kakarating lang sa Pilipinas kasi may kasama pa syang maleta. He's also wearing a cap na kaagad namang tinanggal nang makita ako.

Napaawang ang labi ko. "Gin..." pagbanggit ko sa pangalan nya.

He smiled at me. He looked so tired but he still managed to go here to meet me again. I didn't realize how much I miss him. I thought I was okay with not seeing him. I thought I won't react to anything if I saw him again...but I was wrong.

He chuckled before grabbing me so he could hug me. When he hugged me, I immediately sob at his chest. I heard him laugh while hugging me. He even caressed my back so I could calm down.

Nilapit nya ang labi nya sa tenga ko para marinig ko ang bulong nya. "I'm already single, miss. Can I be with you now?"