All The Bad Things

ATBT-1

Ang kapal ng mukha niya.

Ang kapal ng mukha nitong tumayo doon, in all his glorious maleness, na parang hindi nito siya sinaktan nang todo. Na parang hindi nito winasak ang puso niya, ang buong pagkatao niya. How dare he show up after five years and be this...She doesn't know how to describe him anymore. Pakiramdam niya ay nagkakasala siya sa fiance' niya just by looking at him. But how dare he?!

Hindi maipaliwanag ni Reagan ang nararamdaman niya nang panahon na iyon. She was hyperventilating. She was pacing back and forth the veranda overlooking the huge front yard of the Bramans. Kung saan ginaganap ang magarbo niyang engagement party. She wanted to smoke! She knew she quit long time ago but she badly needed a smoke.

Ngunit paano niya gagawin ang bagay na iyon dito mismo sa pamamahay ng mga magulang ni Isaac? They are conservative people. His mom almost busted a cap when she saw her drink scotch without making a face.

Isaac was aware of her past. Hindi naman niya itinago rito ang nakaraan niya. And it wasn't as morbid anyway. She wasn't a wild kid growing up. Noong mid-twenties niya siya nagkalat. She had her reasons. And part of those reasons is walking across the lawn right now as if he owns the place.

Chase Alcantara.

Ang kapal ng mukha niya na magpakita dito!

How did they describe himself before? A student in the morning, playboy at night. Minsan hanggang madaling araw pa?!

Again, ang kapal talaga ng mukha ng hayop na ito! How dare he show up in the most important day in her life?!

"I didn't know he would come, okay?"

Mabilis na pumihit si Reagan upang makita ang best friend niyang si Atasha na humahangos palapit sa kanya. They are both wearing formal attires, her best friend was wearing a pink halter style dress while she was wearing a red one shoulder number. They are both used to wearing just their scrubs kaya naman alangan sila sa mga suot nila. But the occasion demands that they both dress up, after all, this party is to welcome her to the Braman family.

"I don't want to ruin you night, so.." Itinaas ni Atasha ang dalawang kamay. May dala itong dalawang shot glass at isang bote ng Martini sa magkabila nitong kamay.

"What are you doing?"

"I think the situation calls for it." Ipinatong nito ang dalawang baso sa ibabaw ng terasa at saka sinalinan iyon ng alak.

Reagan tried to stop her. "Tash! We can't do that here!"

"Of course you can!" itinuloy nito ang pagsasalin ng alak at iniabot sa kanya ang unang baso. "Drink it!"

She couldn't do anything but to follow what Atasha just said. "Palautos ka!"

"Alam mo yan!" And then she proceeded to taking a shot of her own. "I swear to God, I didn't know he was coming! I only invited Seb! At alam ng damuho kong pinsan na engagement mo ang pupuntahan! Why would he even invite him? I mean, what was he thinking? How awkward is this?"

She started to pour another drink for herself when Reagan snatched the bottle from her. "Will you please calm down? Sa inaarte mo, akala mo ex mo iyong dumating sa engagement mo eh."

"Why are you so calm?! Please tell me hindi alam ni Isaac ang tungkol kay Chase! Please! Because I'm going to lose my mind right now! And again, why are you so f*****g calm?! Ako naii-stress sa'yo!"

Reagan let out a huge breath. She took a seat in one of the soft plush sofa in the veranda. Inilapag niya ang bote ng alak sa mesita at pinisil ang bridge ng ilong niya. "Of course Isaac doesn't know about him. We don't go around discussing each other's exes during our free time. Does Seb really know that this is my engagement?"

"Of course he does!" Napatapik ito sa noo nito. "Unless nakalimutan na naman niya? He's too busy with his kid. Oh, I swear I'm going to kill him! I'm really sorry, Ree. I know I shouldn't have invited him. Kung alam ko lang na kakarayin niya ang demonyong Chase na 'yon! Ugh! I wanted to smash his face with a Richardson!"

Pigil ang ngiti na nilapitan niya ang kaibigan. "You know you should seat down and relax. Stop drinking, Atasha. Mas stressed ka pa kaysa sa akin."

"How can you remain so calm, Ree?" she looked at her helplessly as she took the seat she just vacated.

Alam ni Reagan na hindi siya kalmado. But years of working in the Emergency Room has taught her how to remain composed and calm under stressful situations. Having your ex-boyfriend s***h ex- FuBu attend your engagement party is not an exemption. Although, she couldn't quite figure out what to do now. Paano siya bababa doon para pakiharapan ang mga bisita niya knowing that he's looking at her.

Bold of you to assume that he would have his eyes glued on you.

Mas makatotohanan pa siguro kung makita niya itong nakikipag-flirt sa kung sinu-sinong babae sa party. Typically Chase. He never knew how to behave. Wala itong pakialam kung nasaan man ito o kung sino man ang nakakakita rito. He just go around his life, flirting with everyone who wears a skirt.

Muli niyang sinilip ang kaganapan sa ibaba. She found her fiance with his usual crowd. Mga surgeon na kagaya nito. They were large men and they are all loud. Ipinakilala sa kanya noon ni Atasha si Isaac. She was newly transferred in the operating room at that time and he offered her a chance to scrub in a rare case in exchange of introducing her to him.

After introducing them to each other, Isaac asked her out on dates. They developed feelings for each other and it quickly blossomed into a relationship which ultimately leads to him proposing to her. Alam naman niya na doon rin ang hahantungan ng relasyon nila kaya naman agad siyang umoo sa proposal nito.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa terasa habang pinapanood naman si Chase na masayang kausap ang mga kaibigan nito. Si Seb na pinsan ni Atasha, ang asawa nitong si Jazz at ang isa pa nilang matalik na kaibigan mula pa college na si James. He looked so handsome in his black three-piece suit. He holds a champagne flute on his right hand while the other is inside his pants pocket. Reagan sighed.

"How long do we get before Isaac looks for you?" tumabi sa kanya si Atasha.

That's when her phone rang. Mabilis na tiningnan niya iyon at nakitang tinatawagan na siya ng kanyang nobyo.

"Apparently, two seconds." they both exchanged panic looks. Hinanap ng mata ni Reagan ang mapapangasawa mula sa crowd sa ibaba. Natagpuan niya itong nakatingala habang nakatingin sa kanya. Itinaas nito ang isang kamay upang kawayan siya. Sinagot niya ang tawag nito.

"Why are you hiding in there? Come. Let's greet some of our guests."

"Okay. I'm coming." walang nagawa na sabi na lamang niya. Nanlulumo na tumingin siya sa kaibigan niya.

She offered her another glass of drink. "You need this."

NAKANGITING SINALUBONG ng kasintahan niya si Reagan. "There you are!" He extended his arm and wrapped it over her shoulder when she came near. "Are you not feeling well?"

"No, I'm fine." she answered timidly. Tumingin siya nang makahulugan kay Atasha. Her friend smiled back at her with a silent promise that she would remain by her side all night. "Medyo sumakit lang ang ulo ko kaya umakyat muna ako para magpahangin." pagsisinungaling niya.

"Is that so? Are you feeling better na? Do you want to lie down for a bit?" hinawi nito ang ilang hibla ng buhok na kumawala mula sa high ponytail niya. He looked at Atasha. "Thank you, Tash, for taking care of my baby."

"Its' nothing." Ikinumpas ni Atasha ang isang kamay.

"Baby?"

"I'm fine. But I think it would be best for me to rest. I think I'm having a migraine attack."

"My poor baby." He kissed the top of her head and she nodded weakly. Napatingin siya kay Atasha na bahagyang umiikot naman ang mata. Pinandilatan niya ito bago pa makahalata si Isaac na pinipeke lamang niya ang sakit ng kanyang ulo. "Anyway, some of your friends came, have you seen them already? Maybe we should greet them first and then you can go inside to lie down."

Napipilitang tumango na lamang si Reagan. Alam niyang hindi niya maiiwasan ang mangyayaring kasunod. She has to face Chase, one way or another. She's just crossing her fingers that he would behave himself in front of her fiance.

Malayo pa lang ay natatanaw na niya ang grupo nila Seb. They walked towards them slowly. Panaka nakang lumilingon siya sa best friend niya na tahimik lang na nakasunod sa kanilang dalawa ni Isaac. Kumakabog ang dibdib niya habang papalapit sila sa mga bisita.

What the hell, Reagan? You shouldn't be feeling like this. It's been five years. You've moved on, right? Nakalimot ka na sa lahat ng sakit na dinanas mo sa demonyong ito!

Except she didn't forget. Minsan may mga gabi na napapaisip pa rin siya kung saan siya nagkulang. Kung paanong halos baliktarin na niya ang buhay niya para kay Chase ngunit hindi pa rin siya nagawang mahalin nito.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ni Isaac na para bang kumukuha ng lakas mula roon. He smiled down at her reassuringly. All these years, he became her anchor. He helped her get through her tough times, specially when both her parents died. Noong mga panahon na nilamon siya ng depresyon at tanging si Isaac at Atasha lamang ang nanatili sa tabi niya. There was no Chase. Not even a single message from him asking if she was okay. He was just gone. And now here he is. Strutting around here as if nothing happened. As if those five years of absence didn't happen. Here he is, looking at her as if he expected her world to turn once again kasi nagbalik na ito. What a f*****g asshole.

"Hi! Are you guys enjoying yourselves?" bungad ni Isaac sa mga bisita niya. Everyone turned their heads towards them. Except Chase na kanina pa nakatingin sa kanya papalapit pa lang sila.

"Hey!" Nagpaunlak si Seb ng isang mahabang pagbati. He started towards them, hugged her and offered Isaac his hand. "It's been so long, Ate Ree. Nagulat na lang kami nang biglang sabihin ni Ate Tash na ikakasal ka na."

Atasha and her are three years older than Seb and his friends. Nagkakilala sila nang minsan siyang nagpunta sa bahay nila Atasha at nagkataon na naroon din ang magbabarkadang Seb, Chase at James para bumisita sa mama ni Tash na may sakit noong araw na iyon.

She smiled at him. "Oo nga eh. Pasensya ka na at hindi ako naka-attend sa kasal mo." She smiled apologetically at his wife, Jazz, standing beside him. "By the way, this is my fiance, Isaac Braman, he's a neurosurgeon."

"I always thought you'd marry a doctor!" bulalas ni James matapos niyang ipakilala ang mga ito sa mapapangasawa niya.

"I actually thought she'd marry someone who doesn't work in the medical field." nagulat siya sa biglaang pagsingit ni Chase sa usapan. He's been standing behind them all the time, pretending not to care about the introductions. "Besides, she's the one who's always so opposed about mixing business with pleasure."

Napaubo si Seb sa sinabi ni Chase. James on the other hand looked so uncomfortable that he started sipping on his champagne.

Chase stepped around Seb so that he's face to face with her fiance. He extended his arm towards him. "Chase Alcantara. Reagan's—"

"Cousin." mabilis na putol ni Reagan sa sasabihin nito. "He's my cousin."

He smirked at her. "Cousin. That's right."