Winter (Seasons of Love Series#2)

WINTER

Prologue

"Alright! Look at the camera, ladies."

The photographer even clapped his hands to catch our attention. Napatigil kami sa pakikipagbiruan kay Rain para paunlakan ang gusto ni Jiano. Hindi ko na nabilang kung ilang beses ng nagshutter ang camera o ilang poses na ba ang ginawa namin. Huminto na lang kami no'ng tinawag na kami para bumyahe papuntang simbahan.

It such a heartfelt moment seeing my sister walking in the aisle, getting married to the first man she ever loved and soon to have a baby number two. Inunahan ko na kahit hindi pa naman siya buntis ngayon. Of course, there's a honeymoon next to marriage. Nagkaroon na nga agad ng Hazen kahit hindi pa kasal, paano pa kaya ngayong legal na mag-asawa na sila?

"Hoy ung mga babaeng single raw d'yan na may jowa, tawag kayo!"

Salubong kilay akong lumingon kay Darius. Ibabash ko na sana siya pero nand'yan na ang mga barkada niya para ipamukha ang katangahan niya. Ikinahagalpak niya lang iyon kasabay ng pagdapo ng tingin niya sakin.

He smiled at me. Yung ngiting aso. "Long time no see. Napag-iiwanan tayo ah."

I rolled my eyes because I get what he's talking about. It was the reason why my eyes accidentally darted to a group of woman who's eager to catch Rain's bouquet. Pumirmi ang mata ko roon.

"Sungit. Porket CEO ka na, ginaganyan mo na ko. Parang hindi kayo nagmahalan ng pinsan ko ah."

Nabitin ang panunuod ko sa pagsalo ni Elaine sa bulaklak nang marinig ang huling sinabi ni Darius. He laughed. Perhaps he saw how easy and fast to steal my attention over that matter.

"There's always a right time for your childish acts, Mirabueno." Summer intruded. Mukhang nahalata ang pagiging apektado ko sa narinig. I even saw how hurt I am in her eyes and I hate it. I hate seeing how pathetic I am after so many years.

Sinimangutan ni Darius ang nobya pagkuwa'y dumapo ang tingin niya sakin. He didn't say anything but he has this intriguing looks. He's like trying to read what's on my mind. And before he could do it, I already excuse myself from them.

Kung hindi lang talaga related ang pamilya namin sa Mirabueno, baka kahit si Darius na pinakaclose ko ay hindi ko na rin papansinin. I might seemed immature but that's how I feel and I couldn't do anything about it. Seeing the faces from my past, it hurts me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hanggang ngayon, nandito pa rin ang sakit. Like wtf! Five years na ang nakalipas at ito pa rin ako, tinatamasa pa rin ang sakit ng kahapon. Sakit na ako naman ang nagdulot.

"Really? Wow! Congrats!"

"I can't believe either that he would propose to me." Kuwento ni Cindy na halata ang kilig sa mukha habang inaalala kung paano nagpropose si Yohan na two years niya pa lang na boyfriend.

They are my friends from MIU and we're already in reception hall. Kakatapos ko lang din magbigay ng speech sa kapatid at dito ako dumiretso pagkatapos na dapat kina Summer. I don't want there though. Tama na ang isang beses na hinalungkat ni Darius ang nakaraan ko. Kaya dito ko piniling makisit in sa mga old friends kahit puro kasal at tungkol sa boyfriend ang usapan.

"Yohan is kind and gentleman. I'm sure, you're safe to him so just go! Have a wedding."

"I know that's why I didn't hesitate even a second." Biro pa niya na s'yang dahilan para matawa ang mga kaibigan.

"Baliw ka talaga!"

Pagkalipas ng ilang sandali, dumako ang tingin sakin ni Cindy. "You can come right?"

"I'll try."

"Oh come on, Winter! Don't be as busy as bee. Be a flower. Bloom and pollinate." Komento ni Hydia na agad kong ikinataas ng kilay. I remembered that I'm the one who said that to them back then. I can't believe that they are using it against me.

Kapwa natawa ang mga kaibigan namin, mukhang naalala rin na ako ang nagpasimuno no'n.

"I can't believe that you've changed a lot. Parang dati lang, magaslaw ka pa sa bulateng inasinan. But look at you now! You'd turned into a modest and busy woman." Margot commented too.

"Kayo rin naman. Look at you all now! Two of you committed in serious relationship, one is getting married soon and one is having a baby. I don't think, I'm just the one who changed a lot."

"Indeed, you always get your way to escaped from everything." ani Lily na isinawalang bahala ko lang. Instead, tumayo ako para magpaalam.

"Restroom lang ako."

And I leave right away before they could come up to an idea to intrigue me. It were obvious to their expression. The urgency to reminisce everything from the past. Kaya kahit wala kong balak na magrestroom, ginawa ko na para makalayo roon.

"Ouch!"

Mabilis kong dinaluhan ung batang babae na bigla na lang sumulpot sa harapan ko. It was the reason why we bumped to each other. Siya lang itong bumagsak sa sahig since hanggang hita ko lang siya. Agad akong umupo para pantayan ang height niya at para matulungan na rin siyang tumayo.

"Sorry. I didn't notice you."

After niyang magpagpag ng kanyang suot na red cocktail dress, tiningala niya ko na s'yang dahilan para makita ko ang kabuuan ng mukha niya. I found her cute because of her pinkish cheeks and set of big eyes. But I felt something odd about her.

"Ow! You look like Tita Rain and Tita Summer."

My side lips rose up. "Of course because they are my twins."

"But I never saw you hanging out with them."

"I only went her for wed—" I replied that got to interrupt because of her sudden shout.

"Daddy!" Then she immediately run towards my back. I let out a deep sigh in disbelief as I stand up.

"Hey!"

Ngunit napapitlag ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses.

"You done with your food?"

Wala kong pinalagpas na oras, nilingon ko iyon at nadatnan ang taong inaasahan kong makita. I just don't expect that he's lifting the little girl like she's his greatest possession.

Now, I understand why I resent the girl when I just met her today.

After a couple of seconds, he gazed back at me and written all over his face was shock. It didn't took a lot of time though. Perhaps because of Darius' whistle.

"Muling ibalik ang tamis ng pag-ibig," he even sang.

A sarcastic smile escaped from my lips and I don't care if hate and rage was plastered in my face. I don't care either if the child saw it. He also throw a sharp stares at his cousin that made him shut his mouth and stand up properly. Bago pa man niya mabalik ang tingin sa akin, tinalikuran ko na siya at umalis. I can't stand seeing him, them.

Kung pwede lang hindi na bumalik rito sa Pinas, ginawa ko na. I just can't miss my sister's wedding that's why I'm here after five years of staying in Australia. If I only have a choice, I won't bother to come back here anymore. Knowing that we breathe the same air, it made me sick.

"I know it. You can't miss a hundred invitations but not Rain's wedding." Si Aliah na hinarangan ako sa pagpunta sa table ng mutual friends namin ni Rain from elementary years.

"Sorry." I uttered upon remembering that I didn't attend her weds. "I couldn't make it because I'm quite busy that week."

"It's fine. I heard that you're the CEO in newly branch of your company in Sydney. I bet, you won't stay long here."

"For the first time, you won."

She chuckled then our eyes both drifted to those kids that running around.

"Baby, be careful."

"Ow? Anak niyo?"

I can't help but looked at Aliah with disgust and disapproval etched on my reaction. Mula sa peripheral view, nakita ko ang pagbaling ng mga kakilala sa amin pagkatapos ng ilang segundong katahimikan.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin ni Aliah, bakas sa kanya ang kawalan ng ideya. Kung hindi pa siya tinapunan ng masamang tingin ng asawa, hindi pa niya marerealize kung ano ang nagawa niya. Dagliang dumapo ang palad niya sa kanyang bibig, gulat at hindi makapaniwala. At bago pa man siya makapagsalita, inunahan ko na siya.

"What makes you think that she's my child?"

"It's..it's just her hair reminded me of your hair back when you were in third year," she answered. I laughed but it can easily notice as sarcastic one.

"You know what Aliah, you're one of the reasons why I want to leave right away?" I asked with a note of mockery crept into my voice. Natigilan siya at napakagat sa ibabang labi. Mukhang nahalata ang katindihan ko na sabunutan siya dahil sa katangahan niya.

"Did I ever told you what I hate most?" I added then looked at the little girl who's playing with Austin. "Those naive and innocent and..." Sinalubong ko ang titig niya pagkatapos kong sulyapan ang mga kasamahan na tahimik lang kaming pinapanuod na dalawa. "..those people who talks about something that never been existed."

And I shifted my eyes at him. Sinigurado na sa akin lang ang tingin niya. I want him to feel the coldness of my eyes, my heart and my words. I want him to realize what he had missed. And I want him to know that it is something he can't bring back anymore.

"She's not my child and...she will never be."

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