Lost In His Arms

Lost 2

Time flew by; today was his cousin's wedding. It is a church wedding. Together with the groom's men, he is standing still in the corner, looking at Raye, whose eyes have evidence of genuine happiness.

Heaving a sigh, he saw how nervous and excited his cousin was. He suddenly remembered; he was like that at his wedding back then.

Nervously, but the excitement overwhelmed him. He thought that it was the best day of his life—it became his worst.

Worst experience, worst love, and worst married life.

David heaved a deep sigh again. He just found himself standing beside Raye as a best man. It was supposedly Zach, his brother, but he declined the offer, so as Raye's good and supportive cousin, David just grabbed the offer, and the latter just grinned and thanked him.

"I can't wait to see her, couz..." Raye uttered as he kept gazing at the church's still-closed door.

David just tapped his cousin's shoulder. "Relax, she will."

Kung dumating. He knows that he's a bad man to think about that. Mukhang nadala na yata siya.

Then, for a short moment, the door opened, and the bride appeared wearing a long white wedding gown. Her veil covered her face down to her shoulder, and that didn't get in the way of seeing how beautiful the bride was and how happy she was. The moment the bride and groom held hands, David and the other groom's men and bride's maids were seated on the long chair in front.

The ceremony started. The priest asked them both, "Raye Diego Monteverde, do you take Gianna Ashley Cruz to be your wife? In sickness and in health, 'till death do its part?"

My cousin sincerely, with tears, said, "I do, Father."

"And, Gianna Ashley Cruz, do you take Raye Diego Monteverde to be your husband? In sickness and in health, 'till death do its part?"

And Gia, smilingly with tears, responded, "I do, Father."

Then, when the priest told them to make a vow, that's when David remembered his vow.

"I take Nesiayada Aliya Carter as my wife. I vow to make you happy and care for you. To love you unconditionally, to give you everything you need. To respect you and give you my everything. I love you," he tearfully and sincerely said to her.

Then it's Nesi's turn.

"I take Davidson Riley Monteverde as my husband. I vow to love you all the way I can. I will give you everything, and I will fight our love no matter what. I'll love you infinitely, and even through ups and downs that might fall upon us, I'll not give up. I love you..."

Not giving up, huh? He thought. But then, what happened? You just gave me up, Nesi... You hurt me.

A lone tear from his eyes rushed down to his cheeks, and he quickly wiped it away. f*****g love.

"You may now kiss the bride," ani ng para sa bagong mag-asawa matapos ang lahat.

Raye cupped his now-lovely wife's face and gave her a passionate kiss. The cheers uproared at that very moment.

Sabay-sabay rin silang nagtayuan habang pumapalakpak para i-congratulate ang dalawa.

The newlywed couple happily waved at them. David sighed. He's hoping that the two find true love in each other's.

Iyong kahit dumating man ang problema na susubok sa kanilang pagsasama, hiling niya'y makita at matagpuan pa rin nila ang pagmamahal. Hindi iyong mapapagod kaagad at iiwan na lang.

*****

Dumating ang reception. Marami ang mga bisita ng bagong mag-asawa, habang panay naman ang inom ni David sa gilid na halatang walang pakialam sa paligid.

The ambiance was so lovely, opposite of what he was feeling right now. Pakiramdam niya ay sumisikip ang dibdib niya. The wedding, the reception, and the two newlywed couples remind him of those days. When he and Nesi had the same look in each other's eyes, all of those memories were slowly coming back to him.

Wala sa sariling tinungga na naman niya ang laman ng bote ng alak. Ni hindi nga niya namalayang umiiyak na pala siya.

Ano ba ang pagkukulang ko? Why did Nesi leave me? Why?

David was too oblivious to his surroundings. Hindi na niya namamalayang pinagtitinginan na pala siya ng ilang mga bisita sa reception.

"Kuya," said Zacharias, his brother. "Stop this, please. You're already drunk."

Mabuti na lang ay nakahabol ito sa reception. Heto nga ay pinipigilan ang kapatid na uminom ulit. Zacharias was so patient with David. Even though his drunk and broken brother didn't want to let go of the liquor. Kanina pa niya ito minamatyagan at nangyari na ang ayaw niyang mangyari.

Alam ni Zacharias ang nangyari sa kapatid niya, at sa pinagdadaanan nito mula nang dineborsyo nito ang asawa. He was there when David filed the divorce papers. Siya at ang pinsang si Raye ang unang taong sinabihan at naging testigo nito.

Zacharias will never forget that. Dahil sa loob ng gabing iyon, David divorced Nesi. Hindi iyon pinaabot ng pagsikat ng araw ng kapatid.

"Come on, kuya, tama na. Umuwi na tayo. Stop drinking," pagpupumilit ni Zacharias.

But David was so stubborn. Tila wala itong pakialam sa paligid at pilit na uminom muli. He's feeling bitter, sad, and resentful. Nakakatawa lang na isiping nawala na lang lahat ang pinagsamahan nila ng dating asawa. Davidson didn't know why Nesi cheated on him. Is it his fault that he couldn't give her the child she wanted and that she hurt him like this?

Yes, it has been two years since he divorced Nesi, but he was the one who was hurt more.

"Why?" he questioned himself. "Why did Nesi leave me?" His teary eyes looked at his brother.

"Kuya..."

"Am I not enough? Is our love really that shallow?" Davidson didn't know what to do.

Hanggang ngayon masakit pa rin. Maaring sabihin at kwestiyonin ng iba na, bakit hindi siya lumaban? Why did he let go of the woman he loved? Yes. It was really hard that night to let go, Nesi, but she was the one who let go first. Davidson couldn't watch his ex-wife kissing and being intimate with another man. Hindi na niya kaya pang makita ang dating asawa na may kayakap ng iba, habang siya ay miserableng nakikita ang tagpong iyon.

"David, tara na. You're drunk. You have to rest." It was Raye. "It's not your fault, couz. You just love her, that's all."

It was his day, but he couldn't see David being miserable like this. Raye told Zacharias to help him carry David. Raye looked at Gia and nodded as she understood it. Sa ngayon kailangan nilang tulungan si David na makapagpahinga.

Raye and Zacharias help Davidson rest inside the car. Si Zacharias na ang maghahatid sa kapatid papunta sa bahay nito.

"Are you sure, you're okay? Medyo malayo pa ang uuwian niyo," tanong ni Raye, matapos nilang ipasok si David sa loob ng sasakyan na ngayon ay mahimbing ng natutulog.

"Yeah. Thanks for the help. Ayos na kami rito. You have to go back to your wife, baka naghihintay na 'yon." Napatango-tangong sabi ni Zacharias sa pinsan.

Raye looked at his sleeping cousin. He looks miserable.

"Akala ko nakalimutan na niya si Nesi. Hanggang ngayon pa rin pala ay kinekwestiyon niya pa rin ang halaga niya." Nasabi na lang ni Raye.

Nasasaktan siya para sa pinsan. Davidson has been his supporter since childhood. Together with Zacharias, the three of them have each other's backs. Si Davidson din ang buong sumoporta sa kanya, noong may pinagdaanan sila ni Gia, noong girlfriend pa niya ang asawa. Davidson was his savior when he was nothing.

At ngayon na may pinagdadaanan ang pinsan, susuklian niya iyon katulad ng ginawa ni David sa kanya noon.

"Well, that's love." Komento ni Zacharias. "Sometimes, it gives you butterflies, but at the same time, it f*cks you up. It messes you up big time."

Napatingin naman si Raye sa sinabi ni Zacharias. Unlike Davidson, Zacharias has a no-emotion face. Parang walang pakialam kung titingnan. Pero ngayon ay nakita nitong may pumuslit na emosyon sa mga mata nito.

And Raye knew that look—that emotion.

Mukhang hindi lang si Davidson ang may pinagdadaanan ngayon.

Raye just tapped Zacharias' shoulder. Hindi naman umimik si Zach sa ginawa ng pinsan.

"Sige na, bumalik ka na sa asawa mo. Ako na ang bahala kay kuya. This is your day, man." Pagtataboy sa kanya ni Zacharias.

Napailing na lang si Raye sa pagpapaalis nito sa kanya. "Ingat kayo sa daan. And thanks for coming. Kahit sa reception ka lang nakaabot."

Zacharias just nodded and signed him to leave already.

"Yeah, yeah. Congratulations on your wedding. We're happy for you."

Raye nodded and ran back to reception. Siguradong naghihintay na ang asawa niya. At habang pabalik, Raye wished that David would be okay again. He wishes that if David loves again, Raye hopes that the woman will be David's right woman this time.

A man can hope.