The Girl in the End

XLVI

XLVI

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Larissa opened her eyes to a familiar white surrounding and warmth holding her hand. She smiled weakly as she sees her fiance', head sideways, eyes closed, in a peaceful slumber. Marahan nyang pinisil ang kamay nito at agad namang nagmulat ang huli.

'Kamusta ka na?' Nag-aalalang tanong ni Stanley. 'Ang pakiramdam mo, ok ka na ba?'

Instead of answers, tears started to roll down Larissa's cheeks.

'San masakit?' He helplessly asked as Larissa beckons him to her.

And she clings to him the moment that Stanley put himself near her. Larissa cried hardly without him knowing why.

Nakangiting pinapasadahan ni Larissa ng kanyang mga daliri ang prototype ng wedding invitation na dineliver sa kanya ng kanilang wedding supplier. Yung vows na lang nila ang kulang. Pero kumpleto na ang names ng Principal Sponsors at mga abay. Titingnan pa nya sana ang loob ng box para kunin ang sample ng souvenir when she heard her phone ringing. It was Sheena.

'Bakla.' Sheena greeted once she receives the call.

'Hm?' Larissa's mind was drifting to that lovely invitation again.

'Jowa mo?'

'Nasa Palawan with Geoff and Pete.'

'So sya nga siguro 'yon.'

'Ha?' Larissa wanted to confirm what Sheena said since it was disrupted with a somewhat weak signal.

'Wala. Wala. Sige, babye na.'

'You're acting weird. Ano ba 'yon?'

'Wala. Akala ko kasi, nakita ko si Stanley sa Pool Club kagabi.'

'Tama na ang clubbing Sheen.'

'Wag mo ko diktahan, Mother Theresa. Sige, babye na.'

Sheena already hung up before Larissa could utter another word. Napailing na lamang ang huli habang inilalapag ang telepono sa mesa. Muli nyang dinampot ang sample ng wedding invitation na kanina ay sinusuri nya ngunit bago pa matuon ang atensyon nya dito ay ibinaba nya muli ito para kunin muli ang cellphone nya.

'We need to talk.' Tila alingawngaw na paulit ulit ang mga katagang iyon sa tenga nya.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Larissa bago muling ibinaba ang telepono. Ngunit hindi pa man ito lumalapat sa mesa, ay muli na namang tumunog ito.

Isang Viber message na may naka-attach na mga pictures galing kay Sheena ang sunod sunod na dumating.

SHEENA: Sam, si Lee 'to db?

What Larissa saw made her heart jerk. Parang isang malakas na suntok ang tumama rito dahilan para mapaupo sya sa nakaabang na silya sa likod nya.

Patuloy ang pagdating ng pictures. Iba ibang kuha. Iba ibang klase ng sakit ang idinulot sa puso nya.

A picture of him in his board shorts and white shirt, with her in her skimpy bikini, frolicking beside the beach.

Her, sitting on his lap as he was burying his nose on her neck.

Basically pictures of her fiancé and her wedding coordinator, PDA-ing on the El Nido sand.

If it was not too much, there was also a clip. Both of these people laughing, his hands on her waist before she tiptoes to give his lips a peck. As she put her heel back to the sand, he carries her, bridal style, running to the glistening sea after where they continue laughing and kissing in between.