DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #5: KREIGE

Kreige They said accidents don't happen. That everything we encounter in life is meant to cross our paths. Hindi ko naman inakalang kailangan dalawang beses akong daanan bago ko makuha ang mensahe ng pangyayari. All I know is the first time I met her, she was Wednesday Addams. The second time, she's already the bomb Wednesday loves to drop on her brother. "I'm gonna propose. Tonight." My brother, Keeno threw me a glance before he continued cleaning his camera. "You've been dating her for only a couple of years. How sure are you that you wanna marry her?" "She's hot? She gets my vibe?" Tumaas ang kilay ni kuya Keeno. "And you're marrying her because she's a trophy to you, hmm?" He pointed Mama and Daddy's most recent wedding photograph which we could clearly see hanging by the living room from where we're seated. "What did Dad tell us? Never get down on your knee unless you can ball your eyes out in every single church where you'll vow to love your girl." I sighed. "Why don't you wanna believe that Crystal is the one for me?" "Because you only see her as someone who'd look perfect next to you." Dinampot niya ang kanyang mango juice. "Dad said it once. He wouldn't allow us to spend money on annulment papers the way he wasted money on his annulment with your mother." "Nanay mo, ah," asik ko. Ngumisi si kuya. "Nanay ni Klinn at Keios." "Dinig ko na naman pangalan ko," inis na sabat ni Keios na akala namin ay nakatulog na sa sunlounger. He's having a terrible hangover. Nag-inom ba naman kagabi dahil nabalitaang may bago nang nobyo ang ex niya. Kuya Keeno pointed me. "Pagsabihan mo 'tong kapatid mo. Gusto na raw mag-propose kay Crystal." Umismid si Keios. "You wanna end up like Klinn? Tinakbuhan pagkatapos mag-propose?" "For the record, I still believe Cassandra didn't run away," si kuya Keeno. "They love each other." Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Oh, yeah? The way you and Mona loved each other, too hmm?" Kuya Keeno showed me his middle finger. Ngumisi na lamang ako't tumayo na para iwanan sila sa pool area. Bahala sila kung ayaw nilang maniwalang magpo-propose na ako. I went to my room and got dressed. Nag-message na rin ako sa jeweler kung saan ko ipinagawa ang proposal ring. I also messaged Crystal and told her that I'm excited for our dinner date. She's still doing a shoot for her new teleserye but I know she's coming. She always will. "Thanks, man. Appreciate you doing this for me," I said after getting the ring. Ngumisi ang kaibigan kong si Matt. "Mukhang seryoso na talaga 'yan, Kreige. May singsing na." I smirked. "Can't let the big fish go, can I?" Mahina siyang natawa. "Swerte rin ni Crystal sayo. Congrats na kaagad." I thanked him before I left his shop. Dumiretso ako sa resto kung saan kami magkikita ni Crystal at naghintay. Pagkalipas ng tatlompung minuto, hindi naman ako nabigo. I saw my girlfriend slaying in her tiny red dress, her long brown hair was flowing on one side. Tumayo ako kaagad at hinalikan siya sa mga labi saka ko siya ipinaghila ng bangko. Crystal smiled. "Sorry, I'm late. Muntik na akong hindi makatakas sa after-party. By the way, I've got big news!" "Really? What is it?" "I'm gonna have a big role for a huge film!" "Oh, wow." I smiled. "That's good to hear. You know I'm always your number one fan." "I know, babe." Our conversations are mostly that... shallow. We share good news about our lives but never really spoke about the bad ones like how painful it is for me to see my younger brother lose his mind over his ex or how Crystal feels so insecure about the other actresses that she ends up doing plastic surgery just to be the most beautiful star in her generation. "Listen, baby." I cleared my throat. "I know we've only been together for a couple years but I hope you know that I am serious about us." Crystal smiled. "Thank you, Kreige. Thank you for always giving me the assurance despite all the rumors going around that you're a playboy." I groaned. "You know I could never cheat on you." Hinaplos niya ang aking hita. "I believe you." "Good. We need that trust especially if we will finally settle down." Napatigil siya sa akmang pag-inom ng champagne. "What?" Nilunok ko na ang inhibisyon ko't inilabas ang singsing. Nang ipakita ko iyon sa kanya ay natulala siya sa singsing at hindi halos nakagalaw. "Crystal, you know I love you. I know it's so sudden but--" "Kreige, stop." She looked at me wearily. "Don't do this... please." Ako naman ang napatigil. "Sorry, what?" "I love you but I can't do this." "But you said you love me, right?" "Yes, but I'm about to get my biggest break and my new leading man, we have this great chemistry on screen. Paano kikiligin ang fans ko kung alam nilang may asawa na ako? Kung magpapakasal ako sayo?" Napapikit ako sandali. "So you care more about what your fans would feel, hmm?" Natawa ako nang mahina. "What about how I'd feel? Hindi naman kita pinagbawalan sa mga kissing scenes mo. Kahit noong nagpa-sexy ka para sa isang magazine, wala ka namang narinig. My opinion never mattered to you. Bakit 'yang sa fans mo parang napaka-big deal?" Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "Kreige, please. You know this is my dream and... I cannot let what we have ruin my chance of becoming the star I deserve. Mahal mo ako, 'di ba? You're supposed to support me." Binawi ko ang kamay ko. "I don't get it. Pwede ka pa rin namang magpatuloy diyan sa career mo kahit na maging mag-asawa na tayo. Why are you refusing right now?" "Kreige..." "Fine. I'll let you decide. Either we'll settle down next year or let's just forget we ever dated," hamon ko. Crystal's tears begin to form. "I'm sorry. Please, don't do this. Give me more time--" "That's it." I smiled bitterly. "So let's break up then, hmm?" Humihikbi siyang tumango. Sa galit ko ay itinapon ko sa pond ang kahon na naglalaman ng singsing. Maybe I am being irrational. Imbes na irespeto ang desisyon niya ay umalis ako ng resto at nagpunta ng club. I don't understand why she's refusing to marry me when all I did is support her. Kinain ko na nga ang pride ko bilang boyfriend niya noong nagkaroon sila ng sandamakmak na kissing scene ng isa niyang ka-love team. Tapos ngayon ipamumukha pa niyang mas mahalaga ang mararamdaman ng fans niya kung magpapakasal kami? I hate that I feel like I don't matter to her. Yes, she loves me but I only land on the second place when it comes to her list of priorities. Alam kong hindi ako dapat ganito mag-isip pero ang hirap labanan. "Give me another shot," I told the bartender. A woman on pigtails and black dress sat next to me, her mascara made a total mess on her face as if she's been balling her eyes out since yesterday. "Give me something hard," anang babae saka suminghot. Curiosity and alcohol made me turn to her. "Hey." The girl threw a glance at me. "Hi." Dahil napaparami na ako ng inom at nagsisimula nang umikot ang paningin ko ay mas nagkaroon ako ng interes makipag-usap. Or perhaps this is my way of covering up the pain Crystal is causing me right now. "What's with the Wednesday Addams outfit?" Nagpunas siya ng pisngi. "My boyfriend, I mean ex, just married my bestfriend today." "Tragic." Nakipag-cheers ako. "My girlfriend and I broke up tonight just because I want us to get married next year." "Sad." She sniffed. "Cheers." Napasarap ang kwentuhan at inuman namin nang hindi man lamang namin nagagawang tanungin ang pangalan ng isa't isa. We've talked about the worst things that happened in our lives; the very things that I never had the guts to discuss with Crystal. At nang magsimulang tumama ang alak, natagpuan na lamang namin ang aming mga sariling magkahawak-kamay na naglalakad sa daan habang may bitbit na bote ng alak. We were laughing and giggling about our terrible fates. Mayamaya ay huminto kami sa paglalakad at lasing na lasing na nagkatinginan. As if we were able to read each other's minds, we crashed into each other's arms and started kissing roughly. That sultry kiss led us to booking a room, and the next thing I knew, she's already moaning underneath me while I'm sucking her boobs. Isa, dalawa, tatlo? Halos hindi ko na maalala kung ilang beses naming ginawa. Basta nagising na lamang ako kinabukasang wala na akong kasama sa kwarto at mabigat ang ulo ko. Memories of last night came rushing inside my head, and when I realized that I've had a one-night-stand with a real-life Wednesday Addams, a groan escaped my lips. "Tangina..." I immediately picked up my phone, but the moment I saw the news that's been flooding the internet since last night, my heart almost stopped from beating. Crystal was shot, and the one who did it left a message that sent chills down my spine. Kreige Ducani is mine...