Kabanata 3

Chapter 3

The night ended peacefully.

That's how I will describe the engagement party. Bukod sa pagbibigay ng pekeng ngiti sa mga taong dumalo ay wala na kaming iba 'pang ginawa. Nakatingin ako buong gabi kay Markus, pilit na binabasa ang reaksyon niya.

He talked casually to all the people around us, laughing with them. But to me, he suddenly turns quiet. Sometimes, I tried to strike a conversation with him but he ended up walking away—to catch up with some of his friend. Hindi ko naman sya magawang habulin, takot na may makapuna sa pagiging ilag nito sa akin.

"Thank you for this memorable night, Melly. We really am thankful to you and your family, lalo na kay Markus. Hindi nyo alam kung gaano kalaking tulong ito para sa pamilya namin," Mommy said before hugging tita Mel. Tapos na ang party, at kasalukuyang kami na lang ang natitira dito sa mansion.

"Of course, we really treats you as our family Beth. Hindi namin kayang panoorin na lang kayo na tuluyang sirain ng mga issue at ng kung ano pa man. Sana lang ay maging okay din si Robert at maging maayos na ang lahat," sagot naman ni Tita Mel kay Mommy. On the other hand, Dad and Tito Jordan are standing way far from us, seryoso ang  mga ito na tila ba nasa isang meeting.

I am curious about their talks but I knew that I shouldn't meddle with their respective stuffs, and instead, I roamed my eyes all over the corner of the place and tried searching for Markus. Nang magsi-alisan ang mga guests kanina, bigla na lamang 'ding nawala ang lalaki. Hindi man lang sya nagpaalam sa akin, or sa kahit kanino.

Binalikan ko ng tingin sila Mommy at nakita ko namang seryoso na rin itong nag-uusap. Dahil gusto 'kong makausap ng solo at seryoso si Markus ay hindi na ako nagpaalam at tuluyan na lamang lumabas upang subukang hanapin sa likurang bahagi ng mansion si Markus, silently hoping that he's still here.

May maliit na hallway na gawa sa bricks stone ang dinaanan ko, patungo ang kaliwang bahagi sa mini pool ng mansion namin at sa kanan naman ay ang garden, samantalang sa diretso niyon ay matutungo kami sa mini bar ng aming pamilya. I was torn where to go, but then, after thinking about Markus's situation right now, mukhang alam ko na kung saan sya matatagpuan.

I continued walking straight and the light dimmed as I go close to the mini bar. The silver colored door of the mini bar appeared, and without a second thought ay mabilis ko iyong binuksan at agad 'ring pumasok.

A red light all over the place registered to my eyes and then I started scanning the place just to find the person I am looking for. And right at the dark corner, I saw a figure. Not a figure of a single person, but two.

Napalunok ako habang pinag-iisipan 'kung lalapitan ba ang mga ito. By just seeing the height of those persons that I am seeing, I already can tell who they are. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago napagpasyang umalis na lamang duon. Marahan ang kilos ko ng nagsimulang tumalikod upang iwan duon si Markus at Kate. At this moment, guilt is still inside me, and I know that I cannot bear to stand in front of Kate, and ask for forgiveness from her which I know that she cannot give to me right now.

Ngunit mukhang hindi ang plano 'kong gawin ang pinaburan ng tadhana, dahil bago pa man ako makalayo sa kanila ay narinig ko ang mariin at matigas na pagtawag ni Kate sa pangalan ko.

"Eliza..." She called. Hearing how her voice trembles while calling me made the guilt I am feeling doubled. Pakiramdam ko bigla ay pinangapusan ako ng hininga. "Eliza...bakit?" She continued asking, that made those tears inside my eyes fell.

Her voice...it sounds so broken. I can sense a sound of being betrayed, brokeness, pain, and heartache.

I gulped twice before turning to face them again. Nabungaran ko naman si Kate na nakaharap na sa akin habang puno ng luha sa kanyang mga mata. Habang nakatayo namin sa tabi nito ang nakatalikod na si Markus.

"Bakit pumayag ka Eliza? Hindi ba kaibigan lang naman ang tingin mo kay Markus? Bakit mo sya inaagaw sa akin? Hindi mo naman sya gusto kaya bakit ka pumayag magpakasal sa kanya?! Bakit kailangan na si Markus pa, sa dinami-dami ng lalaki? Bakit sya pa ang gusto mo, Eliza?!" Pasigaw na tanong sa akin ni Kate. Panay ang pagpatak ng luha sa pisngi nito.

I can see her red and swollen eyes, a sign that she kept on crying for how many days and nights already. Her voice cracked while striking me those questions.

Sinubukan 'kong sandaling yumuko upang humugot ng lakas na sumagot. Marahan akong umiling habang nakikipag-laban ng tingin sa kanya.  "Hindi ko naman 'to sariling desisyon lang, Kate. Wala rin akong pagpipilian. Ayaw ko 'tong gawin, pero wala akong magagawa. This is the only way for me to help my family. Ayokong madamay kayo, pero wala na rin akong ibang alam na paraan para lang mapigilan ang pagbagsak ng pamilya namin. You know how supportive I am when it comes to you and Markus' relationship, and you personally know that I just don't have a choice about this. Pasensya ka na. Ayokong makita kang nasasaktan---"

"Pero nasasaktan ako---kami ni Markus ng dahil sa pamilya mo! Pamilya mo ang dahilan kung bakit nangyayari 'to sa inyo kaya bakit kailangan naming madamay ni Markus? Bakit kailangang masira ang relasyon naming dalawa para lang tulungan at malinis ang pangalan nyo? Bakit kami nadadamay sa ka-miserablehan ng pamilya mo?! Bakit, Eliza?!" Sigaw nito sa akin na mas ikinatindi ng pagpatak ng luha ko. Habang lumilipas ang segundo at naririnig ko ang masasakit na salita galing kay Kate, mas tumitindi rin ang guilt na nararamdaman ko.

"I'm sorry, Kate...but please understand my situation. Kahit ako, hindi ko to gustong mangyari, pero wala na akong magagawa. I don't want to see you both hurting, kaya hindi rin madali para sa akin ang naging desisyon ko pero kailangan ko 'tong gawin." I blurted out hoping that Kate will understand me, but instead of that, I see her eyes getting more sharper while looking at me. "I'm sorry that you two also suffers because of my fa---"

"Wag mo na 'tong ituloy." Kate cut me off.

I slowly shake my head while glancing at Markus whose still not turning to face me. "I can't. The engagement has been publicly announced." Wika ko.

Kate smirked sarcastically. "Then get ready, cause I am telling you that you will have a miserable life,"  aniya. Matigas ang tono at halata ang kasiguruhan doon.

Napalunok ako bago matamlay na nginitian si Kate. "I already am having a miserable life, Kate. If you think that I am happy about this at all, then I a advice you to think again. Hindi lang kayo ang nagdu-dusang dalawa. I know that I am wrong from choosing this, but I just need to accept it." Wika ko bago nilawakan ang matamlay ko nang ngiti. "I am afraid too, and pained with the reality that the two people I once cared of is now living with anger towards me. I am a villain, but I will accept every harsh consequences of me choosing my family this time..." saad ko bago tuluyan na silang tinalikuran at mabilis ang lakad na lumabas ng mini bar.

Pagkasara pa lamang ng pintuan ay halos mag-unahan na sa pagpatak ang mga luha ko. Napaka-sikip at bigat ng dibdib ko matapos makausap si Kate. I can remember how she looked at me with anger and Markus who never even glanced at me.

Hindi ako sanay na ganoon ang scenario naming tatlo. We used to be very good friends but, choosing my family over them made our friendship vanished like a bubble. The friendship that we had way way back. The friendship I treasure. And the people I love.

I grinned with a trace of guilt. "This is the consequences of my choices. I should accept this wholeheartedly...for my family," wika ko sa aking sarili bago tuluyang humakbang upang tuluyang umalis sa lugar na iyon.

~

"We'll get your size for the wedding gown, Miss Aragon." The woman said to me that I just responded with a smile. Bumalik ako sa pagtingin ng wedding brochures ng maramdaman 'kong nanatiling nakatayo sa gilid ko ang babae. "Is there anything you need?" I asked.

The woman smiled. "We just wanted to ask if what time your fiance will come? The taylor has been here for awhile already, and just waiting patiently for Mr. Perez..." She sounded so calm and polite when delivering the message to me that made me feel a bit guilty for Markus' late arrival.

I smiled a bit to hide my guilt. "I will try to contact him again, he's just really need to fix a few things. Maya-maya lang ay darating na rin iyon. Sorry for the long wait," I explained.

"Its fine, Miss. Gusto lang po namin ma-assure na darating si Mr. Perez today, so we can adjust the time of our closure. Salamat." sagot naman nito.

Nakaramdam ako ng hiya ng marinig ang sinabing iyon ng babaeng staff ng buotique. Although, she said those words politely, I cannot help but to feel bad. Its such a waste of time for them to adjust for us. Kami na nga itong late na dumating, tapos sila pa rin ang maga-adjust. Pati ang closing time nila nababago dahil sa amin.

I sighed heavily before looking up to her and gave a slightly despicable smile. "I'm sorry for the disturbance that we continued causing you, I'll immediately contact my fiancè so we'll finish the measurement early. Pasensya na talaga," banayad 'kong wika na agad namang inilingan ng babae.

"No ma'am. Ayos lang po. The Perez and Aragon are considered VIP 's here, and we are actually happy that we're serving you."

"But still, its way passed your closing time. Hindi pa rin tama. We know that you valued us, but its unnecessary for all the employee of this boutique to adjust for us." saad ko, "If Markus cannot come within 10 mins, we'll leave so that you all can close the boutique. Thank you for adjusting for us," wika ko. Nakita 'kong tumango ang babae bago ako nito tuluyang tinalikuran.

Pagkatapos niyon ay sandali lang akong napahinga ng malalim bago agad na nilabas ang cellphone ko upang i-message si Markus. Its the first time that I would text him right after he left me that day. I don't know if my number is now on his block list, but still, I should try.

Muli akong napa-buntong hininga bago tuluyang tumipa ng mensahe.

To: Markus

Nasaan ka na? Have you forgot that today is our schedule for the fitting? We are all waiting for you to come. Its fine if you want to revenge or you are still angry at me, but don't include other people to our personal problems. Just text back if you wanna come here or not, so that we will not wait for you.

Sent.

I immediately hid back my phone after sending the message to Markus. I am not even expecting a reply from him because I know that he wouldn't do such thing. I guess, the better thing to do right now is to wait a bit more, and if he didn't appear after 10 minutes, then Its a sign that we should leave.

"Miss Aragon, the gowns are ready. You can start fitting them," the woman staff said that I just answered by a nod then stood up and followed. Iginiya nya ako sa isang bakanteng silid kung nasaan nakapaloob ang napakaraming damit pang-kasal.

From the corner, I immediately saw Madam Maurina, the designer.

"My very gorgeous bride-to-be! You really looks beautiful as you grow older, iha." Madam Maurine praised. I smiled at her before kissing her cheeks. My family and her's we're also close. Simula bata pa lamang ako ay sya na ang dumi-disenyo ng damit na gagamitin namin ni Kuya Rob tuwing may party sa mansion, or may dadaluhan kaming importanteng event. The Perez's also became close to Madam Maurine because of us.

"Thank you for the praise, Madam." I acknowledged.

The middle-aged woman laughed, "You grew older and you grown beautifully---except your height." dagdag nito, na tinawanan ko lang.

"I think I will never be as tall as Markus," I out of my mind said.

"Oh come on, at least you got Markus. If your genes and his genes combined, gotcha! A perfect looking childrens!" Madam Maurine jokingly said that made my smile turned a bit fake.

Childrens? Kami ni Markus? I almost laugh.

Di pa nga ako sigurado kung sisiputin nya ako sa kasal kaya usapang anak pa kaya?

"Natahimik ka, iha? Nasaan na ba ang fiancè mo?" Muling tanong ni Madam na nakakuha ng atensyon ko. I shrugged my shoulders. "We're still waiting for him. I gave him 10 mins to come," I said.

Madam Maurine just shook her head. "The soon to be married couple should do everything together. Dapat nga ay sabay kayong pumunta dito dahil pareho kayong ikakasal."

Sa halip na sagutin pa ang winikang iyon ni Madam ay pasimple na lamang akong lumayo upang maghanap na ng gown na una 'kong isusukat. Upon scanning, a long sleeve see through bridal gown caught ny attention. Hinawakan ko ang tela, at talaga namang namangha ako.

"I want to try this one, Madam..." I said before turning my head back at her direction. Madam smiled and gestured her staffs to assist me. And that day ended just like that, I tested every gowns I liked, but then, Markus refused to come.