Ang napunit na kontrata [ A stand alone story]

Find the love that comforts you,

A love that stays, constant and true,

Like a sky that is always blue.

I smiled genuinely when, in the video, Rayana ended her vow by reading a poem. Never did I expect her to end up with my cousin, Rhette—hindi ko alam kung paano nabilog ni Rhette ang kaibigan. But I’m happy for Rae. Even though Rhette acts like a stupid person sometimes, he knows how to take care of someone. Especially the one he loves.

Natawa ako noong kinunan ng litrato ni Kuya Jace ang nakababatang kapatid. Rhette was crying while watching their wedding video, kahit pa ang ibang clips ay kanina lang kinuhanan. Hindi rin nagpahuli ang kinuhang video tech ni Rhette. Maayos na inilatag ang mga kuhang video at litrato.

“I heard it was edited by his friends,” wika ni Ollie bigla.

“Who?” wika ko.

“Iyong nag-edit ng wedding video, kaibigan daw ng pinsan mo mula hayskul hanggang kolehiyo.” Doon ako napakunot ng noo. Aside from Ender at Hitaro, may iba pa bang kaibigan na hindi ko alam? “Ano nga ulit ang pangalan niya? I think his name starts with the letter K, hindi ko lang matandaan kung—”

“Kazuki! Man!”

Sabay na bumaling sina Evelisse at Ollie sa bandang likuran nang marinig ang boses ni Rhette. Laglag ang panga nilang pinagmasdan ang lalaking sinalubong ni Rhette. “Thank you, man! Really! It's such a good video. Mabuti na lang at napakinabangan ko ang talent mo!” Birong halakhak na wika ni Rhette.

Natawa ang kaibigan niya. “Siraulo!” I watched them exchange a quick bro-hug.

Olympia leaned toward the table, her eyes wide. “He's freaking hot, Jaslene! Bakit ngayon lang lumitaw iyang kaibigan ni Rhette?! Itatanong ko mamaya kay Rae! May kapatid kaya siya? Baka puwedeng ireto sa'yo!” Pinandilitan ko sa mata si Ollie, habang natawa lang si Elsie sa tabi niya.

“Stop it, Olympia! Alam mong allergic ako sa mga lalaki.”

“Asus! Ikaw na nga lang ang single sa batch natin, eh!” dagdag pa niya.

“Don’t you think it’s time to find a cure, Jaslene?” sakay rin ni Elsie.

Ang mga gagang ‘to! Umiling na lang ako sa kaibigan. Ayan na naman sila! Kaya naman noong dumating na ang picture-taking with the bride and groom, agad akong inakay ni Ollie at pinirmi sa tabi niya—specifically to place me right next to Rhette’s friend, whom we were seeing for the very first time.

“Sorry,” I whispered when I bumped into him. Because of the "invisible gap" Ollie kept insisting on, she kept pushing me closer even though there was already plenty of space.

“It’s fine, Miss Ma’am.”

Napahawak si Ollie sa dress ko at nagpipigil ng tawa. “Stop it, Olympia,” wika ko noong itulak na naman niya ako.

Ollie looked at me innocently. “Adjust daw sabi ni Elsie eh,”

“Huh?” Nagtataka ang wika naman ni Evelisse nang marinig ang pagtawag ng kanyang pangalan. Nakita ko pa ang panlalaki ng mata ni Ollie kay Elsie. Elsie then cleared her throat. “Sorry, Jas! Wala kasing space rito, eh.” Napatingin rin siya sa katabi ko. “Sorry,”

He chuckled. The hair on the back of my neck stood up at the sound of his laughter. When he was laughing with Rhette earlier, it didn't feel like this. Bakit parang tumunog sexy?

My eyes widened as I realized what I was thinking. Get your head out of the clouds, Divina! I shook my head, but I was stunned when he suddenly spoke to me. “You okay, Miss Ma’am?”

Ayaw kong tingnan siya. Nakakahiya! Baka isipin niya na nababaliw na ako rito! Tumango ako habang hindi nakatingin sa kanya. “Ayos lang,” tipid na sagot ko.

“Sige po, konting compress lang po tayo!” wika ng photographer. I cleared my throat when Ollie pulled me close to her. “Ayan! Sir, lapit kayo konti kay Ma’am,” the photographer instructed the man beside me.

Because of the photographer's request. Kazuki closed the gap we had. Tila para akong nahulog sa isang patibong. Hinuli ako ng mga mata niyang tila nangungusap. Kulay ng mata niyang kuhang kuha sa hulma ng kulay ng aking madalas na ginagamit na tinta sa pinta.

Berde.

“Stay still, lang po tayo! In 3, 2, 1—”

“Look at the camera, Miss Ma’am,” he whispered in my ear.

Startled, I looked straight ahead and flashed my sweetest smile.

“Next po iyong family ng bride,” the photographer called out, but the three of us stayed in our spots as Rayana had requested.

Evelisse, Olympia, Rayana, and I have been childhood best friends. Kung titingnan, pinagpustahan pa ng matatanda rito sa Cento Uno kung sino sa aming apat ang maunang mag-aasawa. Hula ng matatanda, si Olympia raw ang mauuna. Tinawanan pa nga ni Ollie iyon dati.  

But look at how playful the world is—the one we least expected to settle down early was the one that went first. At sa pinsan ko pa?!

Rae and Rhette used to be pusa’t aso kung mag-away. Hindi ko naman itinatanggi na kilala si Rhette bilang babaero.

Rayana, on the other hand, was well-known for being polite, pretty and brainy. Sa maliit na detalye, napakalaki ang pagkaka iba ng dalawa. I can't blame our elementary teachers for being shocked that these two ended up together.

If I am not mistaken, sinaksak pa nga ni Rayana si Rhette ng lapis nung Grade Five kami eh. I just never imagined they would develop feelings for each other in college. Kaya pala panay ang dayo ni Rhette sa Manila, akala mo’y papunta lang sa market at bibili ng toyo.

But you can see the effort. Yes, Rhette maybe a bad boy before but I never expected that only Rayana can soften his other side.

“Before anything else, siyempre, gusto rin nating pakinggan kung ano nga ba ang masasabi ng pinsan ng ating groom. May we call Ms. Divina Jaslene for her speech?” Muntik ko pang maibuga ang iniinom kung Pepsi pagka tawag sa pangalan ko. 

Naguguluhan na napatingin ako sa harap. At talaga naman! Sa nakikita kong ekspresyon ng bagong kasal, alam kong pakana nilang dalawa 'to. 

“Go! Jaslene!” Hiyaw naman ni Ollie na akala mo'y isang digmaan ang pagpunta ko sa harapan.