THE WEDDING DRESS

1. The worst news ever. . .

Bigla akong napabalikwas sa pagkakahiga ko. Ugh nakakainis! I'm in the process of falling asleep when the doorbell rang, I have a hard time sleeping because of insomnia at kung kelan nakakatulog na ako saka may mang-iistorbo.

I glance at Dora, my wall clock, ulo kasi ni Dorang lakwatsera ang design nito na nasa may itaas ng pinto sa kwarto ko, pero lalo lang akong nainis kasi maghahating gabi na pala. Who would be pestering me at this hour?

I get up and open a chest of drawers looking for some decent clothes, after changing to something presentable -at least to me, which is a long hello kitty shirt that ends just above my knee, I literally drag my feet to the main door.

I switch on the light in the living room and I get a shock of my life after seeing someone standing at the door!

"Oh F**k!" Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko sa sobrang gulat. "You surprised me to death! Bakit pumapasok ka nalang?!" Hindi ko manlang narinig na bumukas ang pinto.

It's Heins my long gone bestfriend whom I am deeply in love with.

He walks past me and sits on the sofa, then places his feet over the center table. "What took you so long? It's too early for you to be sleeping, 'glad you didn't change your password." Sabi nito nang makaupo na ng komportable, at home na at home matapos ang lahat. "And since when did you start using the f word?" Biglang tanong nito, ang kanyang mga mata parang naging mapanuri ang tingin sa akin.

I started using that word and many others of the same class since nung hindi na sya nagpakita so better ignore his question and change the topic. "Naligaw ka yata?" Tanong ko.

Last year pa nung huli kaming magkita, he was so into his girlfriend that time and that b*tch asked him to stop being friends with me and obviously sinunod nya yung narrow-minded b*tch na yon. Nagpaalam naman sya na hindi nya muna ako gagambalain at sana ganoon din daw ako, naintindihan ko naman kasi alam ko hindi nya ako matitiis. Pero hindi ko inakala na aabot sa isang taon, mahal nya nga siguro ang babaeng yon at ako kaibigan lang talaga.

"I miss my bestfriend." Sagot niya.

Hindi ko napigilang i-roll ang pretty eyes ko ng 180°. Oh God help me, I'm sick of that word!

When he's being like this, I know he has a problem. Naaalala lang naman nya ako kapag may problema sya, kaya nga kahit masama man lagi kong pinapanalangin na sana lagi syang may problema. My home is his sanctuary and my shoulder, his pillow.

I sit beside him and start the routine bestfriends do. "What is it? Did something come up? Did you two.. break up?" Here I am again reprising my role as dakilang tagapakinig, tagasermon sa babaerong 'to, tagapayo na syempre laging bias, natural mahirap kayang maging neutral kung may interes ka.

Hindi ko inexpect ang naging reaksyon nya sa tanong ko. Tiningnan lang nya ako at natawa sya. "How long have you been wishing that?" Tanong nito.

"Uhm, since you left me?" Tumawa nalang din ako, kahit papano may katotohanan naman yung sagot ko kahit na palagi ko namang pinagdarasal na maghiwalay na sila sa tuwing may bago syang girlfriend.

"I never leave you." Seryosong sabi ni Heins though I'm trying to lighten up the air.

Umusod sya sa may tabi ko, then he places his head on my shoulder and I realize how much I miss him, matindi pa nga sa inakala ko parang gusto ko syang gahasain. Hay ano ba yan, pinagnanasaan ko na naman si Heins! Pinatok-patok ko ang ulo ko na nakasanayan ko ng gawin kapag kung ano ano ng naiisipan ko.

"I'm sorry.." He says while casually stopping my hand from tapping my precious head.

"I understand, I'm just.. a friend." He holds my hands without looking at me and now I'm hoping again.