Her Last Wish

Chapter Twenty

Chapter 20

"Do you, Jameson Andrew Cruz, take Aia Marie Fuente as your wife?" The student, who was dressed like a priest, presided the pretend wedding ceremony.

"I do," Jameson swiftly replied, wasting not a single second, afraid that he'll be late for the dance troupe practice.

"Do you, Aia Marie Fuente, take Jameson Andrew Cruz as your husband?" The pretend priest then shifted his attention to Aia.

Aia slowly takes a deep breath and nods in reply.

"I do," she said.

"Then, by the power vested on me by the Beaumont University English Club, I shall now brand you as man and wife," the pretend priest announced, making the guests let out a happy squeal as they showered the newlywed couple with a round of applause.

Matapos ang ikinasal ay agad na nagpaalam si Jameson kay Aia bago umalis.

"Here na po 'yung marriage certificate niyo, ate," ani ng isa sa mga organizer ng marriage club sabay abot ng isang pirasong special paper kay Aia.

"Hindi po nagana 'yung printer namin, kaya kayo na lang po bahala magsulat ng names," saad pa ng organizer. "It was nice having you try and visit our booth po!"

Tipid namang ngitian at tinaguan ni Aia ang organizer matapos kunin ang papel na ibinigay nito.

Bahagya namang napakagat labi si Aia habang binabasa ang nakasulat sa papel: Marriage Certificate. This is to certify that _______ and ________ have been married on ___ day of ________.

"Aia Bestie!" Dali-daling itinago ni Aia ang hawak na papel nang marinig niya ang boses ng papalapit na si Jane.

“J-Jane!” nauutal-utal na bati ni Aia pabalik sa kaibigan.

“Hindi ka naman na bored ‘no?” Dahan-dahang isinukbit ni Jane ang kaniyang braso palibot sa braso ni Aia. “‘Sorry if I had to leave you alone, may slight changes kasi sa program ‘eh,” nakangiting saad ni Jane.

Palihim namang napahinga ng malalim si Aia dahil sa tanong ng kaibigan.

“A-Ah. . . I’m fine,” ani ng dalaga. “I just got stuck in a little. . . mess.” Aia lightly chuckled as she recalled what had happened earlier.

“It would be better if she doesn’t know,” Aia whispered in her thoughts, plastering a small smile on her lips to show Jane.

“I’m sorry, bestie. I’ll pretend that I do not know.” Jane smiled back, and thought.

“So, where do you want to go?” Jane chirped. “Is there some booth that you want to visit?” she asked.

“Before anything else, kunin mo na ‘tong mga doughnut mo.” Aia handed the box of dessert to Jane.

“And note that from this day onward, I won’t be bringing things for you anymore.” She then shook her head as the look of exhaustion became visible in her eyes. “Nothing good comes from bringing boxes.”

“Laki ng galit mo sa box ah!” Jane chuckled in reply.

“Oh right, what time na ba?” she then asked.

“May lakad ka?” Aia asked in return.

-

“Luh! Ang gara naman dito!” Namamanghang nilibot ng tingin ni Venus ang kabuuan ng school field.

“Parang pangmayaman lang!” ani pa nito. “Dali picturan mo ‘ko, Wallace!” Naeexcite na iniabot ni ng dalaga ang kaniyang cellphone sa kaibigan bago tumayo sa tabi ng balloon tower at nag-pose.

Wallace rolled his eyes and sighed. He boredly turned the phone on and took pictures of his friend, Venus, who was confidently striking some poses.

“Kung maka-pose ka naman parang candidate lang sa Asia’s Next Top Model.” Wallace chuckled, earning him a glare from Venus.

“Heh! Inggit ka lang!” Venus childishly stuck her tongue out to Wallace, taking her phone from his hand to take a look at the pictures he had taken.

“Ang panget naman nitong mga kuha mo!” Venus hissed. “Bakit kasi hindi sumama si Joseph?” She pouted. “Wala tuloy akong photographer.”

Wallace just shook his head and sighed. “Lagi na lang si Joseph,” he whispered to the wind.

“Venus! Wallace” Jane called as she stood from afar, waving her hands up high.

“Jane!” Venus shouted back before running towards Jane’s direction for a hug.

“Grabe! Ang laki-laki ng school niyo!” Venus said after pulling away from the hug. “Tapos ang instagrammable pa ng mga decors!” she added, and Jane chuckled.

“I’m glad to know that you’re enjoying your visit.” Jane smiled. “Kayo lang ni Wallace? Hindi niyo sinama si Joseph?” she asked.

“Mas magtaka ka kung sumama ‘yon,” Wallace chipped in. “Hindi talaga mahilig gumala ‘yon. At isa pa, may family gathering ata sila,” he then explained, and Jane nodded.

“Oh. . . anyways, this is my best friend, Aia,” pagpapakilala ni Jane sa kaibigan. “Aia, there are Venus and Wallace. The friends I have made at the hospital.”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” tipid na binati ni Aia ang dalawa. “I apologize for what happened last time.”

“Uy, hi!” Venus smiled. “Ikaw ba ‘yung sa video call?” she asked. “Oks lang ‘yon, uy! No hard feelings.”

“Hi rin sa’yo Aia,” Wallace greeted Aia, and smiled.

“Salamat nga pala sa pag-invite sa ‘min dito sa school niyo. Lahat dito maganda pwera lang kay Venus.” He giggled.

“Ikaw ang panget!” Inis na siniko ni Venus ang tagiliran ng kaibigan.

“Wow, they seem to bicker a lot,” pabulong na saad ni Aia sa kaibigang si Jane. “Talaga bang magkaibigan sila?”

Bahagya namang natawa si Jane sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Pasimple niyang ihinilig ang kaniyang ulo papalapit sa kay Aia para bumulong pabalik. “It’s Wallace’s way of covering up his feelings for her.”

“What?”

-

“Ang sarap naman nitong mga doughnut!” Muling kumagat sa hawak na doughnut ang dalagang si Venus. Ninanamnam niya ang tamis ng asukal at lambot ng dough.

Nawe-weird-uhang pinagmasdan ni Aia ang kaibigan. Bahagya siyang umusog palayo sa dalaga. Nakita iyon ni Jane kaya naman ay palihim niyang siniko ang kaibigan dahilan para tapunan siya nito ng masamang tingin.

“What?” Aia hissed at Jane.

“Don’t look at her like that,” Jane replied. “She’s just allowing herself to get lost in the sweet sensation of sugar. Mabait siya, Aia.”

“She’s just like us. . . like me.” She smiled.

“Except weirder.” Aia rolled her eyes, and Jane chuckled a little.

“Hinay-hinay lang sa pagkain at baka mabilaukan ka!” mahinahong pagsaway ni Wallace sa dalaga sabay abot ng bukas na mineral water dito.

“Shhh! Minsan lang naman ‘to eh!” saad ni Venus bago kinuha ang bote ng tubig mula sa kamay ni Wallace.

"Kahit na. Kapag 'yang sugar level mo tumaas, malalagot ka na naman kay Nurse Kim!" Buntonghininga ni Wallace.

"Malagot man o hindi, isa lang din naman ang ending ko 'eh."

Palihim na pinanood ni Aia ang dalawa. She secretly listened to their conversation as she helped Jane with cutting some of the tickets for the upcoming battle of the bands.

-

"Ate Jane, puwede raw po bang makahiram ng extension wire?" Mahinahong kumatok sa pinto ng council office ang isa sa mga junior year representative.

"Extension wire?" Saglit na tumigil si Jane sa pag-cut ng mga tickets.

"Feeling ko nasa stock room 'yon," saad ni Jane. Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo mula sa kaniyang kinauupan.

"Sa'n ka pupunta, Jane?" tanong naman ni Venus. "Sama ako!"

"Sa stock room lang naman, pero sure." Pagtango ni Jane.

"Wallace, tulungan mo na lang muna si Aia," bilin ni Venus sa kaibigan bago tuluyan sumama kay Jane palabas ng office.

Naiwang magkasama sina Wallace at Aia sa loob ng council office. Ipinagpatuloy ni Aia ang pag-gupit sa mga ticket. Dahan-dahang nilapitan ni Wallace ang dalaga at kumuha ng gunting para tumulong.

“Ipagpapatuloy ko ba ‘tong iniwan ni Jane o kuha na lang ako ng bago?” tanong ni Wallace sa dalaga. May bahid ng pagka-ilang sa boses ng binata.

“Uh. . . bago na lang siguro para hindi magulo?” tugon ni Aia.

Tumango-tango naman si Wallace at sinunod ang sinabi ng dalaga. Muling binalot ng katahimikan ang buong silid. Tanging ang mahinang tunog ng makina ng mga electric fan lamang ang bumabasag ka katahimikan.

Napakamot batok naman si Wallace at saglit na sinulyapan si Aia.

“Sorry pero hindi ko talaga kaya ‘yung tahimik lang. Mas sanay ako na laging may ma-ingay,” natatawang wika ng binata.

Saglit na tinignan ni Aia sa mata ang binata kaya naman ay nag-iwas ito ng tingin. Aia took a deep breath and plastered a small smile on her lips.

“It’s fine,” Aia spoke. “Jane can be pretty noisy and loud at times too. Minsan gusto ko na lang magsuot ng earplugs.” she lightly chuckled.

“Parang si Venus lang. Natatahimik lang ‘yun kapag tulog.” Wallace chuckled in reply. “O kaya naman kapag kakatapos lang ng. . .” He sighed.

Aia studied the look on Wallace’s eyes. The look of sadness lingered in Wallace’s brown orbs as he kept his head down, cutting the tickets.

“How do you manage to love her without her knowing?” Aia asked from out of the blue, leaving Wallace a little surprised.

“Huh?” Wallace slightly tilted his head to the side, confused for a short while.

“Ah. . . sinabi ni Jane sa’yo?” He chuckled, itching the back of his neck, and Aia nodded in reply.

“Ewan.” He shrugged. “Minamahal ko lang siya, and kung makikita man niya ‘yon o hindi, nasa sa kaniya na ‘yon.”

“Minsan feeling ko alam naman na niya. Parang nagkukunwari lang siyang wala lang ‘yon para okay lang kami.”