Bittersweet Choices

Chapter 15.2

Laxus Bryle

It was her. It was her that I remembered when I saw her who got almost hit. It wasn't Elaina. Sa reaksiyon niyang 'yon, ang batang babaeng minsa'y naging kaibigan ko rin dati ang naalala ko sa kaniya. Na siya pala.

I remembered it now. It's clear and not blurred anymore. Our very first meet in our childhood days was somehow the same on how we met on the second time around. Kaya pala, agad ring naging magaan ang loob ko sa kaniya dulot na rin ng pagka-close namin agad. It was because of our past.

"Happy birthday... Via," I greeted her right after I blew the candle na sinindihan ko rito sa gilid ng simbahan. Para ito sa pasasalamat sa Panginoon sa dagdag na taon na naman sa aming buhay... at wish na rin.

I am with her right now. Sabay kaming natapos kaya binati ko siya agad. It's just a coincidence na sabay kaming nagsindi ng kandila. Kaninang umaga pa natapos ang celebration ng birthday ko just like what my Mom said, they were invited with her whole family.

Hanggang ngayo'y 'di pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala. Yesterday, I was really totally shocked and dumbfounded seeing her being the debutant na tinutukoy ni Mommy... na siya rin palang childhood friend ko. My attention of the whole practice was just on her... and by that a memory of me with her flashed on my mind.

She flashed an awkward smile after I greeted her.

"Thank you... Bryle." There's still a hint of awkwardness in her voice. Kasi sino ba namang mag-aakalang magkababata pala kami sa munting panahon. "Happy birthday rin."

I smiled. "Thank you."

Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang tumawa sa'kin. My brows furrowed. Ganito pa rin talaga siya, ang bilis magbagong reaksiyon.

"Hoy, hindi ako sanay sa awkwardness na 'to, ah. Isipin na lang natin na hindi talaga tayo magkababata, ibalik nalang natin ang tratuhang kaswal."

I chuckled. "If that's what you want. Same as you, hindi rin ako sanay na ganito ka awkward ang tratuhan natin."

Umihip ang marahan na hangin, dahilan para matabunan ng kaunti ng kaniyang buhok ang mukha niya. I just found myself putting the strands of her hair on the top of her right ear.

"Nge, may kamay ako, uy!" natatawang aniya. Sinabayan ko siya ng tawa. I miss those days.

"So, anong oras nga ulit ang party mo mamaya?" I asked. Though I already knew it, I just want to prevent the awkwardness again.

"Alas syete."

I nodded. I took a glance at my wristwatch. It's still 3 o'clock in the afternoon, maybe I still have a time to chitchat with her. It's not my thing, but if it's her, I'll be fine.

"Did you really wait for me?"

I want to talk about our past. We sat on the usual bench na inupuan namin nang ma-trap kami rito noon dahil umulan.

Sadness is evident on her eyes which made me feel guilty.

"Oo. Naghintay ako pero hindi ka dumating. Pero, ayos na 'yon! Past na, focus na lang sa present."

I smiled because of what she said. "I want to explain my side. Kaya hindi na ako nakabalik dahil wala nang time ang parents ko to book a flight papuntang Maynila. Saktong nagtayo na rin sila ng negosyo kaya mas lalong busy. I really wanted to see you again that time but I guess that was our fate for those years. Today, destiny made a way para mag-cross ulit ang landas nating dalawa... I'm glad seeing you again after a decade and three years."

Napangiti siya. "Ako rin. Teka, first time ko yata marinig na ang haba ng sinabi mo, a?"

Tinawanan ko lang siya. Ganoon ba talaga katipid ang mga salita ko para sa kaniya? I didn't say anything. Wala na rin akong masabi.

"So, see you later sa inyo? We still need to prepare, lalo ka na," I said. Hindi ko alam kung bakit naiisip ko na kung gaano siya ka-ganda mamaya.

"Sige. Alis na ako, bye!" huling aniya bago mawala sa paningin ko. Doon ko na lang ulit napakawalan ang tinatago kong malaking ngiti. Umiling-iling ako dahil hindi ko na naman maintindihan ang sarili ko.

Umuwi na rin ako sa amin at napagdesisyonang tawagan sila Lloyd at Klein. I'm gonna tell them about this. Siguradong magugulat sila, lalong-lalo na si Lloyd, lalaki ang butas ng ilang nun.

I saw my mom fitting a small gown yet just fit on Laxine's small body. Yellow and blue theme ang party para mamaya. Girls should wear a yellow or blue night gown, while boys should wear tuxedo. Nakalagay na rin sa invitation card ang mga kailangang suotin kaya aware na ang mga guests mamaya.

"Hi, Mom." Lumapit ako kay mommy at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko kay Laxine na malaki ang ngiti.

"Oh, anak! Masayang-masaya, ah? Ano, kumusta ang usapan niyo ni Via?"

"Just a normal kumustahan, Mom... and yeah 'yon lang. I also explained to her what was really the reason why we weren't be able to come back to Manila," sagot ko.

She smiled. Laxine giggled.

"Sabi ni Mommy, Kuya, you also promised to ate Via that you will marry her paglaki n'yo! Kakilig!"

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Sinabi ko ba talaga 'yon? Nakakahiya.

"Magpapari ako, Laxine... so maybe that won't happen," sagot ko sa kaniya kahit na sa loob-loob ko'y iba ang sinasabi, parang nanghihinayang. Hindi ko alam.

No, you need to stop that feeling. That's your passion, right? Wala pa akong muwang noong mga bata pa kami kaya ko siguro naisip noon na simpleng salita lang ang kasal. Hanggang kaibigan lang talaga dapat.

I promised to my grandfather's brother which is also a priest, na magpapari ako. I even promised to him inside of the church. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako nang may imposibleng parang posibleng naisip. Ano bang nangyayari sa 'kin?

Ilang sandali pa'y narinig ko na ang ingay nila Lloyd at Klein. Imbitado rin sila. We invited them kasi sabi ni Tita Astraea, mama ni Via, na I can invite my close friends.

"Oh, dude? May bagong chismis ba? Sa pagkakaalam ko ikaw raw ang escort ni Via mamaya? Uyy!" pang-aasar niyang bungad. Nagulat ako roon kasi hindi ko naman sila sinabihan. Pero magtataka pa ba ako? Chismoso ito.

"Paano nangyari, dude?" tanong ni Klein. Nakaupo kami ngayon sa couch ng sala. Umakyat na sila mommy at Laxine sa taas dahil may aasikasuhin pa.

"Hindi siguro kayo makapaniwala agad sa sasabihin ko... even me, it was so hard to absorb right away," panimula ko.

"Bakit?" sabay nilang tanong. I shared what happened and what I discovered. Magmula sa sinabi ni Mommy sa pagiging escort ko sa anak ng best friend niya at ang pagiging childhood friend ko ni Via na nakalimutan ko.

Like I expected they were totally shocked that is comparable to how did I look like yesterday when I swayed together with Via sa sayaw para sa kaniyang cotillion. Nanatili sila sa bahay hanggang alas singko. Inaasar na nila ako kay Via matapos nilang mahimasmasan. I don't know but instead of getting irritated like how I used to react, I just laughed at them. What's wrong with me?

Umuwi na rin sila ilang sandali pa kasi maghahanda na kami para sa party. They were also included for the 18 roses of Via.

I was wearing a white long sleeve with a black ribbon neck time sa may kwelyo. Sinapawan ko ito ng isang blue tuxedo at blue slacks sa baba. I looked myself in the mirror. I put a gel on my hair to make it look formal because it's always in its messy look.

Nauna na sila Mommy, Daddy at Laxine. Nagpahuli ako dahil inaayos ko pa ang sarili ko. Checking if I really looked good on this suit. I want to impress her— what the hell? No, no, I'm just doing it for myself.

Makikisabay sila Lloyd at Klein sa kotse ko. Although, they also have their own cars, gusto pa raw niya ako asarin habang nagda-drive. Tsh, mga abnoy.

"Woah! Ayos na ayos, ah? Baka mahulog sa hagdanan si Via 'pag makita ka niyan!" biro agad ni Lloyd nang nasa sasakyan na kami. What he mean is, sa grand staircase kasi kami sabay na maglalakad ni Via for the first part sa party.

"Baka ikaw mahulog, dude!" suporta ni Klein sa pang-aasar ni Lloyd. Sinamaan ko lang sila ng tingin.

Nang makarating ay namangha ako sa ganda ng paligid. Sa labasan pa lang ay ang ganda na paano na lang kaya kung sa loob na? Mixed yellow and blue ang design. Marami na ring mga tao wearing their formal night gowns and tuxedos.

Nakabukas ang malaki at engrandeng gate kaya tuloy-tuloy kaming pumasok. Sila Lloyd at Klein naman ay katulad ko'y namangha rin. Malaki ang mansion nila. You can feel the spanish era dahil ang structure ay pang-sinauna talaga but most of the things are modern.

There were a lot of chandeliers above. Maraming nakahilerang long rectangular tables na may blue na mantel, may mga maliliit na chandeliers sa bawat espasyo at mayroon ding yellow, blue and red roses na nakalagay. Utensils were already prepared. I looked above again and there I saw a lot of long aesthetics yellow flowers that were hanging next to every chandelier that were being illuminated by the blue lights.

Sa may stage naman kung saan nandoon ang mahabang couch para sa debutant ay puro blue ang lights, beside of the stage ay ang left and right na staircases. Mixed with yellow and blue ang mga bulaklak na nilagay sa bawat gilid nito.

"Dude, tawag ka ng Mommy mo."

Nabalik lang ako sa kasalukuyan nang tapikin ni Klein ang balikat ko. Nakaupo na pala kami ngayon sa isa sa mga rectangular table na may mga upuan. Nakipag-high five muna ako sa ibang mga kasamahan kong sakristan kasi imbitado rin pala sila. I guess, halos lahat ng mga naninirahan sa Santa Dalia ay kilala ng mga Altarejos.

I stood up at agad na umakyat sa kaliwang hagdan nang makita sila Mommy roon na parang hinihintay ang pagdating ko. I put my hands into my pocket.

"Anak, ang tagal mo naman! Malapit nang magsimula," ani Mommy na agad sinang-ayunan ni Daddy.

"You're fixing yourself too much, son? For her?" Dad chuckled. My brows furrowed.

"It's for myself, Dad. Kayo lang naman ang nag-iisip niyan, eh," nakasimangot kong sagot. They just laughed. Nakita ko naman si Laxine na ngiting-ngiti. She was wearing a yellow gown which really suits her. She said that her favorite color is yellow kaya hindi niya pinili ang blue.

"So, what are we doing—" My words were left hanging on the air when suddenly the door of one of the rooms there opened.

Oh God.

Lulan nun si Via. Her face looks anxious. My lips parted when I saw her... she's wearing an off-shoulder yellow ball gown, at na-depina rito ang maputing balat. Light makeup suits her soft feature so much. Naka-bun nang maayos ang buhok. She's... beautiful. Really beautiful.

Her eyes widened when she saw me right in front of her, looked amused on how she looks like tonight. My lips rose for a smirk when I saw her shocked face again, just like the old days. Lalong-lalo na ang namimilog niyang mga mata.

I smiled at her, she did the same. I offered my right arm to her. Nagtaka pa siya noong una pero kalaunan ay na-realize rin sigurong ako ang escort niya. Nang mailagay na niya ang kaniyang kamay sa braso ko ay parang may dumaang kuryente sa braso ko... nakakapaso. I just shook my head to brush that thought away from my head.

"Tonight is a celebration of adulthood and a thanksgiving of the life God has given to our lovely celebrant. Let us put our hands together as we welcome the main highlight of this celebration and as she stepped into a higher level of life, ladies and gentlemen our debutant, Via Elianna Altarejos! Together with her escort!" the host announced.

Masigabong palakpakan agad ang sumalubong sa amin nang maglakad kami sa hagdan. A song entitled The Climb played.

"You look... beautiful, Via." I threw a compliment at her.

I saw her smiled. I smirked.

"Ikaw rin..."

"I am beautiful, too?" Umismid ako.

She looked tensed, but still... beautiful.

"H-Hindi! Baliw. Gwapo mo," pairap na sagot niya dahilan para tumawa ako.