✔ || Love Me at Your Own Risk (Single Ladies Collaboration Series #2)

XIV

Chapter 14

Maaga akong nagising ngayong araw dahil hindi naman talaga ako nakatulog nang maayos. Bukod sa nahihirapan akong makatulog dito sa hospital, ngayong araw na rin kasi ang pamamanhikan ng pamilya ni Alexander at ang engagement party.

I need to do this for the sake of my conscience, and to fulfill my mother's last wish. She's still unconscious, but this is the only way to make her happy. I just want her to be proud of me once she wake up.

“Hindi mo kailangan gawin 'to, Tria. Maiintindihan naman ni Mommy kung hindi mo talaga mahal si Alexander.”

I shook my head. “She's aware, Ate Cynth.” I forced a smile.

Kinuha ko ang necklace sa mesa at binigay sa kan'ya para isuot sa'kin. Nandito kami ngayong lahat sa bahay kasama ang kani-kanilang pamilya. Naiwan si Mommy sa hospital kasama ang dalawang personal nurse niya.

Ayaw sana naming iwan si Mommy doon mag-isa, lalo na at alam naming siya ang magiging masaya dito. Nahihiya lang talaga kami sa pamilya ni Alexander, at sa hospital. Masyado kaming marami to occupy the space their kaya napagpasyahan naming dito na lang sa bahay.

But still... I know she's here and Daddy to guide us all.

“Hindi pa huli ang lahat para mag-back out, Tria. Hindi pa naman kayo kinakasal,” Ate Cynth said.

Tiningnan ko lang si Ate mula sa salamin. Nakatayo pa rin siya sa likod ko at matamang nakatingin din sa akin. We're at my room here in our house, and the others are somewhere outside.

Ayoko sanang magkaroon ng party para na rin respeto kay Mommy, but I know her. She'll against that idea and throw a party at all cost.

Hindi rin pumayag ang pamilya ni Alexander na gawing simple ang party. Wala na rin kaming nagawang magka-kapatid kung hindi ituloy ang party dito sa bahay na anumang oras ay magsi-simula nang magdatingan ang mga bisita.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng room ni Ate Cynth. Napansin kong nakasimangot siya pagkalabas namin ng room kaya agad kong hinawakan ang kamay niya. I know she's sad. Hindi kasi siya nagtagumpay na mapigilan ako sa kasal.

“Smile ka naman, Ate. Baka sabihin ng mga bisita hindi tayo masaya sa party.”

“Hindi naman talaga.” She hissed and rolled her eyes.

Itong mga kapatid ko talagang 'to kung umasta parang mas bata pa sa akin. Hindi ba nila alam na pinalaki nila akong strong independent woman. I'm twenty minutes eight and I can handle myself, sometimes.

“I will be fine, Ate Cynth. He can't touch me whenever he want. We're just married by papers, he can't own me.”

Humigpit ang hawak ni Ate sa kamay ko bago ito niyakap. “Please, promise me. Call me or anyone in this house if something happens, okay?” She glance at me and worriedly smile.

I nodded. “Promise.”

It took me a week to decide if I can still continue this wedding. After what happened in the hospital with Keeon, even in my dreams they're chasing me. They continuously reminding me how sad Keeon that night and how he tried to convince me to stop the wedding. But, I can't.

I still don't know what he's trying to say, that he sacrificed everything and waited me for too long. And I think, this is the best thing. I don't deserve to know anything.

Mas masasaktan ko lang siya kung ipapaalala ko pa sa kan'ya. Lalo na kung wala naman akong magagawa para masuklian siya.

Pagkababa namin ni Ate Cynth sinalubong kami nila Ate Aelin at Kuya Dione, they're all sad. At pansin ko iyon sa kanilang mga mata.