There Was You (Completed)

59 - Wedding Prep

A/N: Relatively light update today

"Ano ate Kai, ikaw na bahala dito? Na-set ko na orders ng materials para sa office ni Kevin. Bukas ang delivery." They were able to finally close the deal with Kevin, especially after he saw her design of their house.

Ate Kai, however, is not happy. "Kasi naman teh, bakit naman weekday pa pinili n'yo para sa getaway? Diba, kaya nga may weekend getaway, para weekend gawin!"

"Pagbigyan n'yo na kami, minsan lang naman. At least, makkiita kung kaya naming hindi magwork ng dalawang araw."

"Patingin nang hindi magwowork? Ako pa ba lolokohin n'yo? Teka, baka naman ibang klaseng work ang gagawin n'yo diyan teh? Sama kong bente. Sabagay, wala nga pala kayong official na honeymoon. Sige na nga, you're forgiven and forgotten."

Maine gave her a bear hug. "Thank you Ate Kai! You're an angel!"

"Excuse me, goddess, not angel. Basta tandaan mo, yung pasalubong ko kahit saan mang lupalop ng Luzon kayo pupunta!

"By the way, ate Kai, baka dumaan din yung wedding coordinator. Nasa table ko yung mga magazines, nakatupi na ang mga pages for the flowers and decoration. Basta, the operative word na i-emphasize mo sa kanya is simple and elegant."

"WAIT! WAIT! Paki-rewind, forward, rewind, forward, then rewind again. Ayan, malinis na ang VHS tape. Oo, huwag mo nang ipamukha, inabot ko pa yon. Pakiulit? The wedding planner? Yung shunga na yon na GGSS? Are you testing our friendship or are you testing our friendship?"

"Sige na ate Kai. Ngayon lang, please?"

"Bes naman, puwede mo namang papuntahin kahit anong araw sa isang linggong pag-ibig, huwag lang ngayon na aalis kayo. Alam mo namang not in tangent ang aming mga aura. He, she, or whatever it is, he's out of this world."

"Naplano na kasi. Eh ngayon lang siya puwede."

"Anong naplano? Ang sabihin mo, yang asawa mo nahihilig na bigla na lang susulpot dito sa office at itatanan ka sa kung saan-saan. O huwag kang mag-blush, masyado kang halata na kilig-na-kilig. Maloloka ako sa inyo! Siya larga na! Humayo kayo at magpakarami. Saan ba kayong resort?"

"Secret! Doon sa walang signal!"

A/N: Searched Google for a resort with no signal.

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At the parking lot in front of the HoMMe office.....

Richard opened the passenger door for Maine and got into the driver seat afterwards. "Are you sure they will be fine, mahal?"

She strapped on her seat belt. "Positive mylabs, the office is in good hands. Ate Kakai even volunteered to meet the wedding planner. Isn't than sweet of her?"

"Si Ate Kakai? volunteered? Akala ko ba gali na galit siya dahil sinabing boses palaka siya over the phone?"

"That's water under the bridge. Saka ano ka ba, hindi mahilig magtampo si Ate Kai, no? Ikaw nga, are you sure tatakbo office mo nang hindi mo dala laptop mo?"

"The office manager I hired is working just fine, thank you very much. Na-reschedule naman meeting namin with the potential new partner. Tope 'will handle the rest, and of course the ever reliable Michael in Singapore. If the issue is urgent, for sure they will call me."

"So shall we? I can't wait to see the resort that Tita Pia reserved for us. Hindi ko tiningnan pictures sa net. I want to be surprised."

"Talaga, hindi mo ni-research? Ikaw ba yan, Maine? Yung totoo, saan mo dinala asawa ko?"

"Diba sabi mo, testing the waters tayo on both sides? With us not being present and worrying about our respective jobs, for two days? E di pati yung pupuntahan natin, hindi ko rin tiningnan. Nakaya naman. So far so good."

He tapped her knees. "I'm proud of you Mrs. Maine."

"Let's go! Alam ko may Waze app ka, but I'll still be your navigator today. Minsan mahirap pagtiwalaan yung tinuturo nyan na daan."

"Teka, wala ba kong pampaganang kiss mula sa navigator ng buhay ko? Ang layo yata ng biyahe natin."

"Mylabs?"

"Yes, mahal?"

"Navigator ng buhay ko? Akala ko iniwan mo yung mais sa bahay. Bakit ang corny mo pa rin?"

"Chichacorn cheese flavor ang baon ko, mahal." He leaned over from the driver seat and captured her face. "Sige na mahal, isang kiss lang. Your friendly, nosy coffeshop neighbor is looking o. Sayang naman kung mahohopia siya."

"In broad daylight?" She stole a glance at the cafe and saw the blinds going down. "But, if you put it that way, then let's do it. Nang ma-iskandalo naman siya paminsan-minsan."

They were both breathless when they surfaced from the kiss. Far from being scandalized, our friendly, nosy cafe-owner neighbor's shipper heart is happy.

A/N:  Huy! Respeto naman, umagang-umaga oh. Ito talagang mag-asawang ito.

The nosy shipper neighbor is us :)

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The wedding coordinator did come when Tita Terrie is already in the office with Kakai.

"Hello, hello! I'm looking for Maine, Nicomaine M. Faulkerson."

Tiningnan ni Ate Kai ang bagong dating mula ulo hanggang paa, at paa hanggang ulo, pababa, pataas, at biglang taas ng kilay. "And you are?"

"I'm Pauline, the wedding coordinator."

"Pauline ..sa gabi. E sa araw?"

"Paulo, do we have a problem with that? Ah, you must be her assistant, the one I talked to on the phone. Yung boses ... never mind. Where is she?"

"Maine is not here. And for your information, I'm her partner in business. And for your information again, you're looking at the beautiful maid of honor. Right Tita Terrie? And that is straight English, if you know what I mean." Complete with hair flip

A/N: Ate Kai, anong hair flip, maikli buhok mo diba?

"Beautiful Maid of honor? Nasaan? The maid, I see. But the beauty and the honor, ewan ko lang." (Shots fired!)

Affronted beyond belief, Kakai stood up beside Tita Terrie and got her hand to hold her arm. "Pigilan n'yo ko Tita, susungalngalin ko na talaga 'to."

"What does sungalngalin means? It's such an archaic word." Turning to Tita Terrie " Oh so you're Tita Terrie from San Francisico. Pleasure to meet you madam. You look more beautiful that the picture Maine showed me."

A/N: Sponge! Don't worry Ate Kai, we got your back.

Tita Terrie dropped Kakai's arms.

"Nice to meet you Pauline. Here are the magazines that Maine left. She made notes on the pages. How's it going on the search for venue?"

Paulo, este Pauline put his arm on Tita Terrie's shoulder. "Ayun na nga. Can I call you Tita? Planning a wedding more than a month away is very challenging. Correction, it's such a herculean task. Na-sstress ang beauty ko, fully booked lahat ng hotels at reputable events places. Even the church reservation! I'm at the bottom of my barrel."

Kakai tried to hold her temper. Feeling close agad, teh?

"E di maghanap ka ng bagong bariles. Kadali naman ng problema mo! Ang mahal-mahal ng bayad sa 'yo ng bestfriend ko."

Pauline looks around. "Is somebody talking? I can't hear you!"

"Children, please! Settle down. Kung hindipareho kayong face-the-wall. Now, can we discuss the wedding like civilized people that we are?"

A/N: Sino unang susuko?  Sa pula, sa puti?

Guys, I'm logistically challenged this morning.

There will be another update late this afternoon.