DETECTIVE FILES. File 2 (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 55: UNREQUITED LOVE

Chapter 55: Unrequited Love

JEREMY MARTINEZ'S POV

We sat in the wide living room of the Maongco's. Janissa Maongco, Math's friend, is so hospitable as well as her family. They provided us clothes for the wedding. I found myself funny in such outfit. Suot namin ni Gray ang makukulay na slacks at damit na hanggang tuhod at mataas ang manggas, topped with a funny cap. Kahit si Math at Bestie ay balot na balot din sa kanilang kasuotan. They even wore a shawl over their faces and I had this feeling that we were Hindu actors and actressess of a Bollywood film.

Speaking of them, they're sitting on the long sofa in the living room with us. May isang baso ng tubig sa harap namin. On the side is a three tier plate with rice and sliced boiled eggs on top of the rice per layer. I frowned when it occured to me na iyon ang pagkain para sa reception. Rice and boiled eggs? Please no. Katunayan ay kanina pa kami nakaupo dito. The videographer was filming Janissa for the whole time and the other guests were outside. May naririnig din akong ingay na para bang may lalaking nagsasalita na hindi ko naman maintindihan. I sat uncomfortably at nilingon ang mga nasa sofa. On one side is Gray busy chatting with Isabel, not minding the deadly glares that Amber is throwing them. Isabel did the talking while Gray listened to her.

I nudged Amber with my elbow. "Bestie, sinong Isabel ang pinirito?"

She turned her glare at me kaya itinaas ko ang dalawang kamay for surrender.

"Sabi ko nga si Isabel Oily eh. Hehehehehe." Her glare doubled kaya ibinaling ko na lang sa kabilang dako ang atensyon ko. Sa kabilang side naman ay sina Janissa at Math, talking about the old times.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa bride "Janissa, hindi pa ba magsisimula ang kasal?", tanong ko sa kanya. We've been sitting here for hours.

She smiled at me. "Kanina pa nagsisimula Jeremy."

"Ha? Kanina pa? Eh bakit nandito ka pa?" Niloloko ba niya ako?

"Farhan and Ama are inside para sa kasal", she said and pointed the door kung saan naririnig ko ang ingay.

"What? Si Farhan at yung papa mo ang kinakasal? My God!"

Math and Janissa burst into laughter. "It's not like that Jeremy. Lalabas din sila maya-maya and we'll head immediately to the hotel for the reception."

Hindi naman nagtagal ay lumabas na nga ang pinsan ni Isabel na si Farhan kasama ang Ama ni Janissa. Farhan got the glass of water, drink half of it and passed the other half to Janissa. She drank the water too and then everyone is congratulating them. Ganoon lang ba iyon? Oh, I guess I won't share any glass with anyone from now on.

We rode in the car at nagpunta sa reception. It was a huge hall at puno iyon ng tao. I guess the Maongco and the Milano have lots of friends. The talk in the reception took three hours and we have to congratulate ourselves for staying alive the whole time kahit wala kaming maintindihan sa sinabi nila. They were talking in a language na hindi namin maintindihan, except for Math who keeps on laughing with the other visitors.

Kasalukuyang sini-serve ang pagkain nang may napulot si Math."Hey, kaninong pitaka to?", she asked and opened the wallet and I was too late to realize that it was mine. Nabuksan na niya iyon at kinuha ang mga lumang larawan at ID na nakatago doon.

"Calvin Jeremy Martinez", Math read loudly the name on my nursery identification card. Amber pulled it at tiningnan din iyon. It's kinda embarrassing dahil nakahati pa sa gitna ang buhok ko sa picture na iyon. Photoshop is not yet popular during that time and the photographer didn't give any signal na kukuha na siya ng litrato. My eyes were swollen that time dahil naghilahan pa kami ng yaya ko dahil ayaw kong magpakuha ng litrato.