AGS 4: The Best Man's Wedding

Chapter 5: Empty

"Patrick Lauchengco's gonna get married by next year, oh my God, girl!"

"They're checking the girl's background, and dang, bitch! It's Mel Vizcarra!"

"No shit, for real?"

"Akala ko, friends lang sila!"

"Yeah, I thought so, too!"

Mat and I were in a club, and we were supposed to have fun tonight, pero wala akong ibang marinig sa paligid kundi tsismisan about Pat and Mel's upcoming wedding.

Babaero si Patrick, as we all know. Malamang sa club na 'to, more or less five girls, naka-hook up or na-entertain na niya before. And Mel's reputation being the hardest girl to catch in town is definitely huge news for some of these people kasi ang tagal nang friends nitong dalawa.

Ni wala ngang nag-akala sa amin na may relasyon pala sila, lalo ngayong buntis si Mel.

The club was dim enough to hide us from everyone, and I could smell the different mixes of alcohol, cigarette smoke, and perfumes.

Mat was dancing with a hot guy near our table, and I was sipping on my martini. Being a Dardenne is already a privilege kasi lagi akong nakakakuha ng space sa mga club na hindi ako basta-basta nalalapitan.

My mind was wandering, and I was thinking about Ivo and our breakup. Kaso biglang sisingit si Mum at ang plano niyang ipakasal kami ni Clark.

I didn't hate Clark personally. Ayoko lang ng idea na ikakasal kaming dalawa knowing na halos wala nga kaming intimate connection after I went back here sa Philippines.

I was busy scrolling on my phone when I saw my IG feed. Kuya was flooding my feeds with his wife's achievements. Sobrang dami niyang ina-upload na photo about sa kanila ni Jaesie. And not just simple couple photos, but those kinds na parang required kaming lahat na i-praise silang dalawa for being successful.

Jae's so greedy. Not the social climber, gold-digger greedy. She really hates sitting around and do nothing. Sobrang busy niyang babae, kahit friends niya, kailangan pa ng appointment a month ahead para lang makasama siya for a day or two. And speaking of it, may outing nga pala sila nina Kuya next month kaya hindi ako mabubulabog ni Kuya for a few days. Buti naman.

A few scrolls and I saw Patrick's IG series of photos. He was baking a cake and piping the icing on top of it.

Pat loves cars, and maybe Mel's influence is really strong for Pat to dive into the baking field. But he was doing great, and the final output has a slightly so imperfect "Happy Birthday, Papa."

Pat is so sweet for a man. Babaero siya, pero walang nadi-discredit sa kanya ng sweetness niya toward girls. And now he's gonna get married to Melanie. Sa kanilang dalawa, I doubt na si Mel ang naghahabol dahil hindi ko matapos-tapos ang suit niya because Mel kept on declining the wedding dates.

"Hoy!"

"What the f—" I almost threw my phone in the air because of shock. "Clark!"

"Hahaha! Tutok na tutok, ha." Tatawa-tawa pa siyang tiningnan ang phone kong bumagsak sa lap ko dahil sa gulat. "Nakausap mo na kuya mo?" tanong niya, at pinalo ko agad siya sa balikat para makaganti.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I yelled.

"Party ngayon dito ni Shiloh, invited ako."

Shit, oo nga pala. Invited din ako, but this is a club, and we had no idea kung sino ba ang puwede naming makita rito.

"How did you find me here?" I asked, glaring at him as he put his arms around my shoulder.

"Narinig ko sa counter, mag-isa ka raw dito. Si Mat, nakasalubong ko kanina, may kasama nang pogi, e."