The Girl in the End

II

II.

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'OMG!' Larissa's set of friends squeal as she shows them her accessorized ring finger.

Nasa isang restaurant sila, about to have their dinner. May iba pa silang hinihintay.

'So eto ang dahilan kung bakit mo kami ipinatawag? I can't believe you're getting married!' Raissa, her friend since elementary days gushes.

'At ang gorgeous ng groom-to-be.' Sambit naman ni Sheena na halatang may crush kay Stanley.

'So ano, di kami bagay?' Larissa raises an eyebrow.

'Wag mong pinapansin yang si Sheena no.' Myca tells her candidly. 'Inggiterang palaka lang 'yan, di ko nga alam bakit kasama sa barkada natin 'yan e.' She jokes.

'Mga ulol.' Hagalpak naman ni Sheena. 'Syempre I'm so happy for Larri no. Kahit crush ko si Lee, alam ko namang di ako papatulan non. At saka Sa barkada natin, sya pala yung second na ikakasal. Wait, asan ba si Samantha?' At inilinga linga ni Sheena ang ulo sa paligid ng restaurant.

'Susunod pa lang daw. Pero malapit na.' Larrisa said upon checking her phone.

'So, may details na ba about the wedding?' Pangungulit ni Raissa.

'Syempre wala pa.' The excited bride-to-be giggled. 'What do you expect, kahapon lang sya nagpropose.'

'Tsaka syempre, hindi naman siguro after ng proposal, pinag-usapan na agad nila kung ano ang gagawin sa kasal nila.'

'More like, ginawa nila kung ano yung gagawin nila that night after ng kasal nila.' Pilyang pang-aasar ni Myca.

'Wag nga kayo.' Larissa blushed.

'Pabebe much?'

'Walang makapipigil sa kanya!'

And they all laughed.

'Oh, I remember, bakit hindi mo i-hire yung wedding coordinator ni Sam?' Raissa suggests.

'Ay oo. Good idea. Ang ganda ng wedding ni Sam diba?' Sheena agrees.

'That time when we were sitting there, in our bridesmaid dresses, we were like: Gusto ko, ganito rin yung kasal ko. Diba Larissa?'

'Hindi ko alam.' Larissa shakes her head. 'I mean, yung rates kaya nya, okay?'

'Gurl, minsan ka lang ikakasal. Wag mo masyadong isipin ang rates. And, marami kang pera. Yung jowa mo, yayamanin din. You have the right to splurge.'

The four stopped talking as the waiter came to them, pouring lemon water to their glasses.

'May order na po kayo?' Tanong nito pagkatapos.

'None yet.' Larissa smiled. 'May hinihintay pa kami. We'll just call you 'pag okay na.'

Ngumiti rin naman ang waiter bago nito iniwan ang magkakaibigan.

'Isa pa, super nice nung wedding coordinator ni Sam. Ano ngang name nya?'

'Zia ba?'

'No. But it starts with the letter Z diba? Z....'

But before Myca could guess another name, Samantha, the other member of their squad has arrived.

'Sorry I'm late.' She apologizes, occupying the empty seat in between Larissa and Sheena.

'It's okay. Wala pa namang 1 hour.' Sheena's remarks was that of sarcasm.

'Kanina pa nga kami pinagtitinginan ng mga waiters dito, akala siguro nila, hindi kami kakain.' Raissa adds.

'Ang hirap kasi humanap ng parking.' Pagdadahilan ni Sam.