MY UGLY FIANCE

V. The Engagement

KINAGABIHAN, punung-puno ng mga tao ang paligid. She didn't realize that the Mondragons could know so many people. Napaka-engrande ng selebrasyon. Kinakabahan siya na hindi niya mawari. Nakita niya sina Wynona at Lemuel, matalim ang sulyap na pinukol ng dalaga sa kanya pero hindi niya pinansin iyon. May kumurot sa dibdib niya pero saglit lang iyon. Nakapagtataka na talaga ang mga reaksyon niya sa mga bagay-bagay. It's a good thing that she isn't that affected seeing those two people who hurt her most but what's not good is she feels like she's gonna pee in front of this huge crowd just because she's nervous. Talagang kinakain ng kaba ang dibdib niya. It's a fake engagement but she's so tensed she thinks she'd faint any moment. Masarap ang lahat ng pagkaing nakahain sa mesa pero wala siyang malunok. Bumabara lahat sa lalamunan niya. Panaka-nakang pinipisil ni Hercules ang palad niya kaya napipilitan siyang ngumiti.

Hercules' presence doesn't help. He has been making her nervous since this morning and the moment she saw him tonight the feeling just doubled. Was it his hair? Or his tux? Because he looked amazing. There's this glint in his eyes that makes him look younger everytime he smiles that causes her heartbeat to race. Pakiramdam niya'y para siyang bumalik sa pagka-teen-ager na hindi mapakali kasama ang ultimate crush. And the more she stares at him the more she realizes that nothing much has changed with Hercules. Something has changed in her. Because he suddenly looked so exceptionally handsome tonight. Something's definitely wrong with her.

Na-relax lang siya nang sumayaw sina Mr. and Mrs. Mondragon. Thirty years together and they are still in love. It's hard to believe that love can last forever after the relationship she has been through. But for Mr. and Mrs. Mondragon, it is real. Maaaring hindi perpekto ang pagsasama ng dalawa, but they are a perfect couple. Thirty years and counting, they're still in love. Naiiinggit siya habang pinapanood ang mag-asawa. Kung buhay lang ang Papa niya, natitiyak niyang isasayaw nito ang Mama niya ng buong pagmamahal. She knows that he is watching over them right now because he loved her mother until his very last breath. She knew that her mother loves her father so much, kaya hindi ito muling nag-asawa. It's true love. Makikita kaya niya ang lalaking mamahalin niya habambuhay? After thirty years, sino kaya ang kasayaw niya?

Marahang tinapik ni Hercules ang balikat niya. Buong akala niya'y makikipagsayaw ito sa kanya pero nagpaalam ito't isinayaw ang mama niya. Tumango siya sabay ngiti. Hercules is really something. Habang tumatagal nadadagdagan ang paghanga niya rito. One thing that she liked about him is that he truly cares for her mother. And that's sweet. Konti na lang ang katulad nito sa mundo. Napangiti siya habang tinitingnan ang mga itong sumasayaw. Hanggang sa dumami ang pares na nagsasayaw. Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Wynona at magarbong nagsayaw sila ng dating nobyo. Para bang ipinamumukha nito sa kanya na pag-aari nito si Lemuel. They were both dancers kaya agaw pansin ang mga ito. Ibinaling niya sa iba ang tingin. She doesn't care about them. Wynona can have Lemuel, she cannot care anymore.

Naging mabagal ang saliw ng musika. Nakita niyang inihilig ni Mrs. Mondragon ang ulo sa dibdib ng kabiyak. It was sweet. Halos lahat ng pares ay ganoon maliban kina Wynona at Lemuel. They were making out in the dance floor. Bigla'y gusto niyang masuka. Ibinaling niya sa iba ang tingin. Nang magpang-abot ang tingin nila ni Hercules ay nginitian siya nito. Ganoon na lang ang bilis ng tahip ng dibdib. Nang tingnan niya ang ina'y abot-tenga ang ngiti nito. She smiled back. Why is she so nervous about something that isn't real?

"May I have this dance?" Saka lang niya napansin ang lalaking lumapit sa kanya. "A beautiful woman like you doesn't deserve to just sit the whole night. Let's heat up the dance floor, babe." Nginitian siya nito at lumabas ang puting-puti at pantay-pantay na mga ngipin nito. May hitsura sana pero naasiwa siya sa paraan ng pagkakatitig nito sa kanya. And, Babe? Hindi rin ito masyadong presko. Akmang tatanggihan niya ito nang dumating si Hercules.

"Sorry, but she's exclusively mine." buong pagmamalaking deklara nito. "Shall we, love?"

"I'm sorry," baling niya sa binatang nagyaya na isayaw siya. Tumango ito pero masama ang tinging ipinukol kay Hercules. Umigkas ang kilay niya. Kaagad niyang tinanggap ang kamay ni Hercules at tumayo nang makaramdam ng tensiyon sa pagitan ng dalawa.

"Who was that?" bulong niya kay Hercules nang magsimula silang magsayaw sa dance floor.

"That's Walter," tipid na sagot nito.

"Oh," tanging nasabi niya. Kumunot ang noo niya. Ang laki ng ipinagbago ng mukha nito. Oh yeah, plastic surgery. Buong akala nila'y sa susunod na linggo pa ito darating.

"Perfect timing, isn't it?" ani Hercules. "Why don't we show off?" bulong nito na ikinaangat ng kilay niya. At bago pa man siya makasagot ay hinapit siya nito palapit hanggang sa lumapat katawan niya sa katawan nito at walang paalam na inangkin ang labi niya. Hindi niya napaghandaan iyon lalo't tumagal ng ilang sandali ang halik na iyon. Awtomatikong napapikit siya't napakapit sa batok ng binata. Ganoon na lang ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya nang matapos ang halik. Lalo't tinitigan siya ni Hercules na para bang sila lang ang naroroon. She felt like drowning in those stares. And then again, he looked at her like she's the only thing that mattered in the world. She felt like he is so in love with her. And all she could feel is she wants to love him back. She tried not to look shocked. Ibinaon niya ang ulo sa dibdib nito at nang hindi niya makayanan ang titig nito. They spent the whole day rehearsing their gestures and the way they have to look at each other. They even kissed. But she can't get used to the feeling Hercules is inflicting on her. Naaapektuhan na yata siya ng masyado sa pagpapanggap nila.

What adds to the tension she already felt was Walter. Hindi ito parte ng plano . Nang sulyapan niya ito'y mataman itong nakatitig sa kanila. Maybe Hercules was right after all... that Walter is still in love with her. And by the looks of it, habang pinapanood niya ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Walter, Hercules had already won the bet.

HERCULES couldn't get his eyes off her. Not a second. She was so beautiful that he can't seem to stop himself from kissing her. He felt addicted to the sweetness of her lips that he can't get it off his head. Ilang beses ba niyang pinangarap na mahalikan ito? A thousand times? At ilang beses ba niyang pinangarap na maisayaw ito? Everytime there was a dance at school, he never wanted anyone to be her partner but Jane. Pero hindi siya nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob. So he would just watch her dance and endure the pain of keeping all the feelings he had for her. Holding her right now makes him feel the happiest man alive. He didn't even care of Walter anymore, or their bet. He wants Jane. All of her. Forever... If only he's not the same coward boy who is so in love with her and get to his feet and ask her to marry him for real... and if only she would just let him keep her.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. If Jane would know any of his thoughts right now, she would back off their deal for sure. Tila naramdaman nito ang pagbuntong-hinga niya't tiningala siya nito. Pinigilan niya ang sariling halikan ito dahil baka mahalata na nito na hindi na siya nagpapanggap.

"You're nervous?" tanong nito.

Tumango siya. You always make me nervous, sa loob-loob niya. Gumuhit ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito.

"Me, too." anito. "I know it's crazy but I feel that this whole thing is real. And it makes me nervous for real."

"It is." biglang nasabi niya. Nagtatanong ang mga mata nitong napatingin sa kanya. "You need to feel this is real. Because they have to believe that you and I is for real. Dahil kung hindi, matatalo ako kay Walter at hindi ko ibibigay ang pera mo."

Namilog ang mata nito sa sinabi niya. Pagkuwa'y nakaramdam siya ng pinong kurot sa tagiliran niya. Pinigilan niya ang sariling mapaigtad at mabilis niyang hinuli ang kamay nito. He gave her a stern look but she just smiled so sweetly it took his breath away.

"I won't let that happen," anito sa pagitan ng ngiti.

"You better do," aniyang tinitigan ito ng matiim.

"When are you going to propose?"

"Wait and see." Muling bumadha sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala.

"It's gonna be alright. All you have to do is say yes. Okay?"

"Okay," napipilitang sagot nito.

Lumapit ang mga magulang niya sa stage pagkatapos ng tugtog. Tumigil sa pagsasayaw ang mga tao pero nananatiling nakatayo sa bulwagan. Hudyat na iyon. He's going to propose to Jane. Napatitig siya sa magandang mukha nito. Kinakabahan din siya. He knew they're faking this. But it felt real. Because everything he feels right now is real. "Let's go get some drinks, para mawala iyang kaba mo."

"Yeah, that's a great idea," anito na nginitian siya. And try as he may, he just can't help himself from wanting to kiss her.

"One more kiss?" aniya at inangkin ang labi nito bago pa man ito makasagot. Her lips were soft and sweet and what drives him crazy is the way she responded with his kisses. He had to remind himself that she's doing it for the sake of the deal. But a part of him is daydreaming Jane could like him too.

SAGLIT na itinigil ang sayawan at lahat ay nakatutok sa gitna ng bulwagan. Napasulyap si Jane kay Hercules. His Dad and Mom just recalled their wedding day and said their wedding vows. It was so sweet.

"You're so lucky," bulong niya rito.

Ngiti lang ang isinagot nito, tila nasa malayo ang iniisip.

"I want to thank all of you who have come to this celebration. I shall call this celebration of love." Tumawa si Mr. Mondragon. "I have to thank my wife of course for the love that made my life worth living every single day in those thirty years. Thank you, Leonnie and I may not be a man of words but I love you. And I know I will do for all the days to come. Things may have changed but not this love that I have felt for you ever since the day I met you." Naluluhang napayakap si Mrs. Mondragon sa asawa. She was deeply touched.

"Let's hear from Hercules!" anang mga kaibigan nito. Kita niyang alumpihit ito bago tumayo. Pinisil ni Hercules ang balikat niya bago pumunta sa stage.

"Congratulations, Mom, Dad," anitong niyakap ang mga magulang. Napangiti siya. She's happy for Hercules. "I'll be honest that I'm not used to talk here. But I need to," Napakamot ito sa ulo. Lumuwang ang pagkakangiti niya. "I am truly grateful for having such wonderful parents. They made me who I am today. I am inspired by the kind of love I see and feel everyday. I could say, I've known love since I was a fetus. I understood how it grows and molds you into a better person. I owe that to you, Mom and Dad." Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao sa paligid. May ilang kantiyawan mula sa table ng mga pinsan nito na ikinangiti lang ng binata. "So let me thank you because my life would have been a lot different had I not known love. I-I have known love that when I saw it..." anitong napatitig sa kanya at tila kinakabahang napangiti. There was a long pause. Nanatili lang itong nakatingin sa kanya na tila ba walang ibang tao sa paligid kundi silang dalawa lang. Namula ang magkabilang pisngi niya lalo't nakatingin sa kanya halos lahat ng tao. "W-When I saw it, I never want to let it go. I wanna keep it. I wanna nurture it. I wanna stand up for it. I wanna protect it. And I wanna live my life for it." Binalingan nito ang mga magulang. "I just wanna let you know that I have found the love that was meant for me. Thanks to you. Sorry to take the limelight for a while, Mom, Dad, I just need to do say something while I'm in here." Maluwang na ngumiti ang mga magulang at iminuwestra ang kamay.

"Go ahead, son," ani Mr. Mondragon.

Ilang beses siyang napalunok. Oh my... baka matumba siya anumang oras. Naramdaman niyang may humawak sa kanya. It was her mom. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag. Napahawak siya ng mahigpit dito.

"Jane..." For a while Hercules looked sick like he's gonna throw up. "I still remember the first day I saw you. Your nose was red and your eyes were wasted. I felt sad seeing you cry. And I said to myself, I shall do all that I to make you smile. That's why I lend you my hand and gave you the chocolate bar I had in my pocket. You were a little surprised then but it stopped you from crying. When I held your hand for the first time, I knew I already found the one that I want to spend the rest of my life with." Humugot ito ng malalim na hininga na ikinangiti ng mga nanonood. Gusto niyang ngumiti pero hindi niya magawa. Dahil naaalala pa rin niya ang araw na iyon. In fact it is the only memory she had with Hercules. Sumikip ang dibdib niya sa emosyon na nararamdaman. She had to remind herself that all these are part of the plan. But she couldn't help but feel so sad. If it is true that Hercules had been in love with her for that long time, she will be deeply sad. Ikinurap-kurap niya ang mga mata dahil nagsimulang lumambong ang paningin niya. "That was twenty-five years ago. And here I am, I still feel the same. I wasted twenty-five years because I was so afraid that..." Nakita niyang nanginig ang mga labi nito. "I was so afraid that you will never love someone like me. I regret that I didn't do anything. I regret that I let fear rule over me. I wasted those times I was without you. I won't let that happen again. I want to be with you. So, Jane..."

Pumailanlang ang malamyos na tugtugin. No, you're not gonna sing, aniya sa isip. But he did sing. And his voice played around with the melody so soft that it made her heart ache for something beyond words to say.

"Forever can never be long enough for me

Feel like I've had long enough with you

Forget the world now

We won't let them see

But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted

Love has surely shifted my way."

Naglakad ito palapit sa kanya at kinuha ang kamay niya. "Marry me, today and everyday. Marry me, today and everyday. Marry me, today and everyday." Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi nito. Ibinaba nito ang mikropono. "I'm not gonna sing the whole song so this is the part that you'll say yes."

It's so beautiful. The song was so beautiful. Ilang beses siyang napakurap. Saka lang pumasok sa isip niya ang sinabi ni Hercules. At naghihintay ito ng sagot. Lahat ng tao naghihintay ng sagot.

"Do I have to sing my Yes?" inosenteng tanong niya na ikinatawa ng mga naroroon. "Yes," aniyang ngumiti at niyakap ito ng mahigpit.

"Yes?" anitong tila nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib.

"Yes!"

Nang maghiwalay sila sa pagkakayakap ay may kinuha ito sa bulsa. Hindi na niya kailangan pang makita para malaman kung ano iyon. Ibinigay niya kaagad ang kamay. Nasa mukha ni Hercules ang hindi maipaliwanag na saya. Everything looks real. Everything felt so real. As real as the diamond ring he slipped into her finger.

"I love you, Jane." There was so much love in his eyes that stunned her for a while. Nang yumuko ito para gawaran siya ng halik, tumingkayad siya para salubungin ang labi nito. Hercules lips claimed her lips like it was rightfully his. At wala siyang maramdamang anumang pagtutol. Because right then and there she felt she belonged to him.

"I love you, too, Hercules." namutawi sa labi niya nang maghiwalay ang mga labi nila. Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao sa paligid nila. Niyakap siya ng mahigpit ng ina na maluha-luhang pinagmamasdan sila. Nilapitan sila ng mga magulang ni Hercules at isa-isang lumapit ang mga bisitang naroroon para i-congratulate sila.

There was relief and happiness written in Hercules face. Muli nitong inangkin ang labi niya at buong puso siyang nagpaubaya. The night is over. She's engaged. And the weirdest thing is she's happy. She's so happy– like she is engaged for real to the man she truly loves.