Ahn couldn't stop herself from smiling. Everything was so perfect. Three months after she gave birth to twins, she was finally able to walk down the aisle. Iya and Rica surprised her with a beautiful gown, a hundred times better than the one she initially liked.
She couldn't ask for more. Everyone she loves was there. Kahit si Aubrey ay pumunta, pero sa reception lang.
"Guys, hindi pa ba kayo aalis for your honeymoon?" Iya inquired. Kanina pa sila nito kinukulit.
"Ayaw pang umalis ni Ahn e," Ken replied.
She hugged him tightly. "Let's stay here for a while. Kahit bukas na ang honeymoon. I missed this, Ken. It's been a long time since we've all been together. Gusto ko munang i-enjoy yung time na kasama ko sila."
"Oh, alright."
--
Naiiling na lumayo si Iya sa bagong kasal. They look so happy. This is how it should be. Na-delay lang ng konti yung happy ending, but it came nonetheless. Masaya siya para sa dalawa. And she's kinda proud of herself for starting it.
Nilapitan niya ang dalawa niyang kaibigan na nananahimik sa isang tabi.
"So, kayo, ano'ng plano ninyo sa buhay?" tanong niya kina Abby at Zanjo.
"Ako magtatapos muna ng pag-aaral," Abby replied. Malayo pa rin sa katotohanan na maging doktor ito. Ilang taon pa.
"Ako, aantayin ko syang makatapos," sagot naman ni Zanjo.
"And then?"
Abby looked at Zanjo, then back to her. "Ewan."
"Zanjo, wala kang balak mag-propose?"
"Iya!" saway ni Abby. "Don't give him any idea! Pagagalitan ako ng parents ko kapag nagpakasal ako agad. Magpayaman daw muna ako."
Tumawa siya. "So, yun na yun? Hanggang ganito na lang kayo?"
"I'm willing to marry him if he's willing to wait," Abby told her. Tumingin ito kay Zanjo at nagpatuloy, "If we break up along the way, that's fine. But if we find ourselves in love with each other by the time we turn 28, then let's get married."
Naiiling na ngumiti si Zanjo. He shook Abby's outstretched hand. "Deal."
--
"Oh my God! Are you going to propose again?!"
Paris scowled. Naging habit na ni Jasmine na tanungin siya ng ganoon tuwing nagiging solemn ang mukha niya habang nakatingin dito. She was actually right this time though. Naiinggit kasi siya sa mga pinsan niya. Mukhang ang saya-saya na ng mga ito.
"Panira ka ng moment."
Tumawa ang girlfriend niya. "Di ba sabi ko after three years?"
He grunted. "Fine."
"Aww." Umangkla ito sa braso nya. "Don't worry. I'm already reserving my yes for you."
--
"Hi, Vienna!"
Vienna smiled. Kanina pa nakatingin si JL sa kanya from across the room. Mabuti naman at naisipan na nitong lumapit.
"Hi, kuya!"
"Ouch, bro! Na-kuyazone ka agad!" sabat naman ni Mikey na nasa malapit lang.
Tumawa siya.
"Umalis ka nga!" sabi ni JL sa kapatid.
--
Mikey obliged. Nilayuan niya ang kapatid na kanina pa gustong dumiskarte sa pinsan ni Ken. She's a lot younger than the women his brother used to date. At alam din niyang wala pa sa bokabularyo ng kapatid ang pagsi-seryoso.
Siguradong dali ito kay Ken kapag nalaman nitong nagbabalak si JL na pormahan ang pinsan nito.
He smiled to himself and scanned the room. His eyes landed on one oddball who seemed to be wrapped up in her own bubble on one corner.
Kumuha siya ng isang baso ng champagne at saka niya ito nilapitan.
"Hi, Aubrey. You okay?" Iniabot niya rito ang inumin. "Here."
Ngumiti ito. "Thank you."
"Can I sit?" he asked, motioning to the chair next to her.
"Sure."
"Why are you sitting here? Walang nag-aya sa'yong makipagsayaw?"
"Nakipagsayaw na 'ko."
"With whom?"
"Hans. And Ken." Tumawa ito. "I just realized how stupid that was."
He frowned. "What? Dancing with them?"
"No. It's just that... I always fall for the wrong guy. Palagi tuloy akong nasasaktan." She smiled at him. "Sorry for the drama. You don't need to hear it."
"It's okay."
She sighed. "I just wish that there's a sign. Something that can tell me if I'm choosing the wrong one again. I'm just too tired of this game."
"Alam mo naman siguro that knowing who you'll end up with wouldn't necessarily spare you from the heartache, right? I mean, what if you knew it was the wrong guy but you fell anyway?"
"I guess you're right."
"Here's an idea. Why don't you try dating me?"
Napataas ang kilay nito. "Lasing ka ba?"
He laughed. "No, not drunk enough. Wrong move ba?"
She just shrugged.
"I know that we don't know each other that well, but there's no harm in trying, right? Malay mo..."
"Baka naman may girlfriend ka?"
He shook his head. "Already broken up with her last year."
"Are you in love with someone right now?"
"Nope." He raised his glass. "Ano? Up for it?"
It took her a while before she finally considered his proposition.
"Okay, let's give it a shot."
They chink their champagne glasses.
