Her Last Wish

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter 19

Both Jameson and Aia kept silent as awkwardness ruled over the atmosphere. Pareho na nilang gustong makalabas sa selda pero dahil sa kondisyon na ibinigay ng officer ay mas nagiging matimbang sa kanila ang pagpapasiyang hintayin na lamang na lumipas ng isang oras.

“Aish. . .” Napasapo sa kaniyang noo si Jameson ng mabasa ang text na natanggap niya mula kay Andrei. Ilang minuto na lang ang magsisimula na ang polishing practice nila, kaya kung hihintayin niyang matapos ang isang oras ay mas mabuti pang h’wag niya na lang pangarapin na makasali sa performance.

Jameson took a deep breath, mustering up courage to face Aia. “Aia, may practice kami. Malalagot ako kay Kuya Andrei kapag hindi ako makakasipot.” He sighed.

Aia looked at her with a hidden hint of pity in her heart. She wants to help him, but she just can’t imagine herself getting married to him. Not when he is her best friend’s boyfriend.

“O tapos? Ano namang magagawa ko?” may himig ng lamig na tugon ng dalaga sa binata.

Saglit namang ipinikit ni Jameson ang kaniyang mga mata at minasahe ang kaniyang sentido. He then took a deep breath as he tried to find another way, but there just wasn’t any option left.

Jameson bravely reached for Aia’s hand and gazed straight into her eyes. “Marry me,” he blurted out without a hint of remorse in his voice.

Aia’s eyes widened in surprise. Her heart began pounding so fast. Jameson had just proposed to her. Kahit na alam ng dalaga ang tunay ng rason ng binata ay hindi niya napigilan ang pamumula ng kaniyang mga pisngi.

“Marry me, Aia, and together let’s get out of his place,” pag-uulit ng binata.

Aia could feel Jameson’s eagerness. And though she initially thought that marrying him was the most awkward idea in the universe, she slowly brought herself to respond to his proposal by holding onto his hand, lightly squeezing it, and giving him a nod to signal a ‘yes’.

Slowly, as Aia felt her world go into a slow motion, Jameson’s lips began to morph into a happy smile. For a moment, Aia allowed herself to be stuck inside a happy bubble, forgetting about the world behind her. Sa unang pagkakataon, hinayaan ni Aia ang kaniyang sistema na makinig sa sinasabi ng kaniyang puso at aminin sa sarili niya ang sekretong noon pa man ay pilit niyang tinatago.

The marriage booth was indeed one of the hottest booths on campus. And it was for the reason na A for effort ang lahat ng organizer ng booth. They had made the whole classroom look like a chapel. One student was dressed as the priest, while the others looked like wedding guests. It resembled the set up of a mini-wedding.

The bride, Aia, was asked to wear a veil and changed into one of the white dresses that were provided by the team. Meanwhile, the groom, Jameson, was given a silver coat that had a small white flower bow pinned on the right chest side.

Aia bit her lower lip after glancing at her reflection on the mirror. She nearly looked like a real bride. Her long hair was styled into a low bun, and someone put light makeup on her face to help her avoid looking really pale.

Matapos ayusan ay dinala na si Aia sa kunwaring chapel. Aia’s heart pounded in mixed nervousness and glee when her eyes met with Jameson’s. Jameson stood by what seemed to be the altar, waiting for her like a true groom.

Little by little, Aia took small steps to approach her groom with a small nervous smile plastered on her lips.

As Aia and Jameson’s fake mini wedding commenced, Jane stood outside and watched from the window. When others would go and cause a ruckus after seeing their man get married with someone else, Jane was very calm and composed.

“Are you not going to stop the wedding?” asked Lilibeth, one of Jane’s distant friend.

“Sige ka, kapag hinayaan mo, baka maya’t maya matutong tumuklaw ‘yang best friend mo.”

Jane shook her head and let out a small chuckle. She then looked straight into Lilibeth’s eyes and smiled.

“Kilala ko si Aia. Hinding-hindi niya gagawin ‘yon,” pagtatanggol ng dalaga sa kaniyang best friend.

“Hindi tayo sure!” ani ni Lilibeth. “Sa teleserye, laging may ahasan na nangyayari. Tsaka alam naman na ng lahat kung gaano ka insecure si Aia sa’yo. It’s only a matter of time before she starts embracing her scales and taking things from you.”

“How sure are you that I am not the bad guy in their story?” Makahulugang tinignan ni Jane sa mata ang kaibigan.

“Eh?” Bahagyang umatras si Lilibeth. She slightly title her head to the side as confusion started creeping into her thoughts.

“What do you mean, Jane?”

Jane just shook her head and gave her friend a small smile.

“Nothing, Lilibeth. Nothing,” Jane said before shifting her attention back to the wedding.

Slowly, Aia steps towards her groom, shooing the distance between him and her. Renege ni Aia ang malakas na pagtambol ng kaniyang puso. Mas lalo pa itong lumakas nang nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata.

“Ganda naman this gurl. Medyo masungit nga lang,” nakangiting wika ni Jameson nang tuluyan nang nakalapit sa kaniya ng dalaga. Agad na nag-iwas ng tingin si Aia nang naramdaman niya ang pamumula ng kaniyang mga pisngi.

For a moment, Aia found herself looking back to the first time she met Jameson.

Eight years ago…

Aia was quietly sitting on the patio, watching how her Nana Ising raked the fallen dry leaves on their lawn. Mag-a-alas kuwatro na ng hapon kaya naman ay hindi na gaanong masakit sa balat ang sikat ng haring araw. Dahan-dahang itinukod ni Aia ang kaniyang mga paa sa sahig upang bumaba sa upuan at lapitan ang kaniyang Nana.

“Nana, tulungan ko na po kayo!” pagprepresinta ng sampung-taong-gulang na si Aia.

“Tapos na po ako sa summer class homeworks ko kaya puwede na po ako rito,” ani pa ng batang babae.

Saglit naman na tumigil sa pagre-rake si Nana Ising.

“Ako na rito, hija. Kayang-kaya ko ‘to,” nakangising saad ng matanda habang marahang tinatapik ang ibabaw ng ulo ng kaniyang alaga.

“Wala naman na po akong gagawin, Nana,” katwiran ni Aia. “Ayoko ko pong maupo lang do’n. Gusto ko pong tumulong,” pagpupumilit nito.

Napabuntonghininga naman si Nana Ising. “Hindi mo kailangang tumulong dito, hija,” ani ng matanda. “Ang dapat sa mga bata sa edad mo ay maglaro-laro sa labas.”

“Ayoko pong maglaro sa labas, Nana.” Pagiling-iling ni Aia. “Wala po si Jane, kaya wala lang din po akong makakalaro.”

“Ah. . . gano’n ba?” tanong ng matanda. “Pero kahit na! Dapat lumabas-labas ka para naman maarawan ka!”

Gustuhin pa man sana ni Aia na mangatwiran ay wala na siyang nagawa kundi ang sundin ang desisyion ng kaniyang Nana. Lumabas siya ng gate at sinubukang aliwin ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng mga bracelets gamit ang bulaklak ng santan.

“Wow!” puno ng pagkamanghang saad ng isang batang lalaki.

“Gusto ko rin gumawa ng bracelets gamit ang flowers!” ani nito bago nakiupo sa tabi ni Aia.

Bahagya namang nagulat si Aia dahil sa presensiya ng batang lalake. Napaka-kapal ng mukha nito dahil hindi man lang siya nito tinanong kung maari ba siyang maupo sa tabi niya.

Inis namang umusog palayo si Aia. Sinubukan niyang ipagpatuloy ang paggawa ng pulceras pero dahil na rin sa presensiya ng batang lalake ay nawala na ang kaniyang concentration. Akmang tatayo na sana siya para umalis nang hinawakan ng batang lalaki ang kaniyang braso.

“Aalis ka na? Turuan mo muna ‘ko paano gumawa!” ani ng batang lalaki.

Napakunot noo naman si Aia sa asta ng batang lalake.

“Close ba tayo?” may bahid ng sarkasmong tanong ni Aia sa batang lalake.

Saglit na natigilan ang batang lalake nang mahimigan niya ang pagsusungit sa boses ng dalaga.

“Hindi,” umiiling-iling nitong saad. “Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin no’n na hindi na tayo puwedeng maging close.” Pagngiti ng batang lalake.

“Hi, I’m Jameson!” pagpapakilala nito.

“Ikaw ganda na masungit, what’s your name?” tanong nito.