The Wrong Wedding [Filipino]

1: THE START

|Katherine|

“WOHOOH!!”

I immediately put my hands up in the air at the drop of the beat. I jumped and swayed with the ocean of people inside the club. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata at ninamnam ang musika.

Ang nakakabinging hiyawan ng mga tao sa club, ang nakakaenganyong tunog ng musika, ang nakakasilaw na probe ng disco lights, and mix scent of alcohol and smoke exploded the entire club.

I downed the remaining amount of tequila on my glass before I mixed with the crowd. Lalong umingay ang dancefloor ng tumutok sa akin ang spotlight. Siguro’y nakita ako agad ng DJ, lalo pa nang binanggit nito ang pangalan ko. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi matawa at naglakad patungo sa stage kung nasaan siya. We immediately do a hive five at mas lalong umingay ang musika. I started dancing on the stage at iilan na rin ang umakyat at sumabay sa akin.

The heat trickled on my skin. I could the sweat forming on my forehead, my neck and even on my back.

Party. Travel. Shopping.

This is how I define my life. Hindi magiging buo ang buhay ko kung wala ang isa sa mga tatlong ‘yan. Naantala ako sa pagsasaya kapag may gustong magpapicture sa akin. Hindi naman ako ganoon kadamot para hindi sila pagbigyan. Nakawala lang ako sa dagat ng tao para makabalik sa kinauupuan ko.

“Iba talaga ang party kapag nandito ka Kath!” sigaw ng mga kaibigan ko nang makita akong pabalik na sa lamesa. Inabutan naman ako ni Caleb ng inumin at tinaggap ko naman iyon. His quickly snaked on my waist at hinila na ako paupo sa tabi niya.

“Well, party is me, Gi,” I said back to my friend. Natawa ito sa sinabi ko. Naramdaman ko naman ang maliliit na halik ni Caleb sa aking balikat. I am wearing a midnight blue tube dress. Hapit na hapit iyon sa katawan ko. Pinarisan ko iyon ng itim na strap heels. My make-up was my usual party make-up, light and almost natural. Hindi ko naman kasi kailangan takpan ng makapal na foundation ang mukha ko. I proclaim that I am beautiful…inside and out. Napangisi ako sa naisip.

Ininom ko ang alak na binigay sa akin ni Caleb. Masiyang nag-uusap ang mga kaibigan ko at pinsan sa aming lamesa while Caleb, who’s still beside me, is busy kissing my bare shoulder and neck. His one hand is caressing my back, like he was insinuating something to me. I have an idea playing in my mind, at mukhang tama ako ng iniisip ng maramdaman ko ang mainit na hininga ni Caleb na tumatama sa aking tenga.

“Let’s go somewhere?” he whispered. Ang garagal na boses nito ay nagpangiti sa akin. I know he’s already hot for me. Nilapag ko sa center table ang baso na walang nang laman bago ko nilingon si Caleb.

At kahit madilim ang buong lugar, the blazing desire in his eyes was too noticeable. The way he swallowed hard was sexy. Well, every physical attributes that Caleb possesses is sexy. His sapphire-blue eyes, his thick brows and long lashes, his cupid’s-bow-shape lips, his strong jaw…and oh, his good physiques. Everything in him is sexy, especially his tight-pack abs. But… that’s all.

“Nah. Enjoy yourself here, Caleb. I’ll be back in the dancefloor after five,” I said and put my hand on his thigh. Hinagod ko iyon ng dalawang beses bago bahagyang binaon ang mga kuko. I saw how desire crossed his eyes after I did those. Inilapit nito ang mukha sa akin at handa na akong halikan sa mga labi nang mabilis kong iniwas ang mukha ko. He ended up kissing my cheeks. He groaned in frustration because of that.

“Is it true that you such a tease, Kath?” tanong niya habang pinaglalaruan ng kanyang mga labi ang tenga. I feel hot all of the sudden pero hindi talaga tumatalab sa akin ang mga ganitong galawan.

“I don’t know? Am I?” painosente kong tanong nang muli ko siyang nilingon.

His burning passion for me was dripping as he stared at me. Ganoon naman palagi kaya hindi na rin ako nagugulat minsan kapag maraming nagpupumilit na maikama ako. But as a veteran in subtly rejecting this kind of advances, alam ko na ang mga dapat gagawin.

“Kath…” he whispered. Kaya imbes na pagbigyan siya ay bahagya akong dumukwang para bigyan si Caleb ng halik sa pisngi. He groaned in frustration after that. Pinikit nito ng mariin ang mga mata bago muling iminulat at halos matupok ako sa nakikita ko ngayon. Lumawak na lang ang ang ngiti ko

“Sorry, it’s a no. Caleb. Bumalik ako dito para uminom dahil nauhaw ako,” I tell him pagkatapos ay tumayo na sa kinauupuan. I felt his hand wrapping my wrist, stopping me and pulling me back. I shriek a bit at what he did, hindi ko inaasahan sa pagiging marahas niya.

“Caleb—”

“Wala ba talaga Kath? I’ve been courting you for a month now,” he whispered on my ears once again. Pero dahil nga sanay na ako sa mga ganitong pangyayari, and sometimes, I encounter some scenes that are too aggressive than this, I handled the situation expertly.

“Nothing, Caleb. I hope you’ll be fine and cool with it,” I tell him as I looked directly into his eyes, not showing any emotions at all. Ilang segundo kaming nagkatitigan bago niya binitawan ang braso ko. He heaved a deep sigh and leaned his back on the sofa, reaching the bridge of his nose like he was trying to control the sudden headache he was feeling.

“Damn it. I know the rumors about you but I still took the risk. Tama nga talaga sila, mahirap kang mapaamo,” he said with exasperating sigh. Tipid akong napangiti sa sinabi niya.

“I’m really sorry, Caleb. I tried, okay? But…I don’t really feel anything for you,”

“But I somehow made you happy in those weeks, right?” he asked, his head remained on the edge of the couch as he glanced at me. I smiled genuinely at him and even cupped his face for him to know that I am being honest.

“Yes. Of course, you’re fun to be with,”

“Tch. Stop it, Kath,” he said as pulled my hands away from his jaw. Bahagya akong nasaktan sa ginawa niya.

“You’re rejecting me so stop seducing me,” he tells with honesty at muling iniwas ang tingin sa akin. Kumawala na ang tawa sa aking mga labi dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know,”

Pagkatapos ng tagpong iyon ay nagpaalam na ako at bumalik na sa dance floor. Everyone who knows me screamed my name upon seeing me. Kaya naman nakihalubilo na ako sa dagat ng tao para magpatuloy sa pagsasaya.

But who could have thought that, this night would be the last day of my freedom?

Groaning in annoyance, nagising ako dahil sa maingay na ringtone ng aking cellphone. Gustong-gusto iyong itapon pero dahil pamilyar sa akin ang ringtone, at kahit pumipitik ang ulo ko sa sakit dahil sa hang-over, ay sinagot ko ang tawag.

“Yes, grandpa?” I grumbled as I answered his call. Nakapikit pa rin ang mga mata habang nakadapa sa malambot kong kama.

[“Mabuti naman at kilala mo pa ako, Katherine,”] ang kanyang baritonong boses, kahit na may katandaan na, ay maawtoridad pa rin.

“What is it grandpa that you had to bother my sleep early in the morning?” maktol ko.

[“Aba! Anong oras na Katherine at tulog ka pa rin!”] he bellowed.

“Tumawag ka ba para pagalitan ako? I’ll end the call dahil sumasakit ang ulo ko, grandpa,” I say and was about to end the call nang marinig ko na naman ang kanyang boses.

[“Subukan mong patayin ang tawag Katherine at mawawalan ka ng mana sa akin,”] he threatened, and that made me opened my eyes and the dimness of my room greeted me.

“What is it nga?” I complained.

[“Umuwi ka. I have something to tell you,”] aniya nang walang pakundangan. I rolled my eyes after hearing that and scoff.

“You know my response, grandpa. Hindi ako uuwi diyan sa Iloilo! You’ll put back those annoying bodyguards! Hindi mo ba gusto na nandito lang ako sa Manila?”

[“At ano? Nagwawaldas ka na naman diyan? How many times I tell you that our company is failing—”]

“Yeah, yeah. And pigs can fly, grandpa,” I interrupted.

[“Katherine! Take the situation seriously, hindi na tayo katulad noon na hindi mamomroblema sa pera—”] and he continued on warning me about how our company is in brink of bankruptcy. Hindi ko naman sini-seryoso kasi, bakit naman ako maniniwala?

Our empire is big, I mean, my grandpa’s empire is big. The Lopez Incorporation is one of the leading construction companies in Iloilo, and it also making its name here in Manila! Kaya imposibleng mag-bankrupt ang kompanya namin sa hindi malaman na dahilan!

I heard grandpa’s deep sigh which made me taken back to reality.

[“Please, Katherine. Umuwi ka muna. I have something to tell you in person that’s why I want you to come back here right now—”]

“Hindi mo ba ‘yan masasabi through phone call?” putol ko ulit sa sasabihin niya.

[“No. I want it in person. Masyado itong importante para sabihin sa pamamagitan ng tawag,"] aniya.

“I’m sorry granpa. I think I can’t. Dadalo pa ako sa kasal at—”

[“Nino? Stop making excuses, Katherine! Ilang birthday ba at kasal ang dinadaluhan mo sa isang buwan, ha? Can’t you sacrifice a little time to come back here!”] at mukhang naputol na ang pasensiya niya sa akin.

I sighed heavily. Well, he was right. I always used that kind of excuses to him, para hindi ako makauwi sa probinsiya. But what can I do? This reason is totally legit and I am not making an excuse. Pupunta ako sa kasal ng kaibigan ng kaibigan ko. Isn’t that amazing? Plus, the wedding is a beach party kaya dapat na dapat na dadalo ako!

“Calm down your heart grandpa,” I reminded him. “Pero kahit anong pagpupumilit mo, hinding-hindi ako uuwi ng Iloilo. Dito lang ako,” I said with conviction and without even thinking the consequences, I end the call. Naiirita ako sa tuwing pinipilit niya akong umuwi ng Iloilo!

Why would I go home to that…little city. Mas gusto ko dito sa Manila! I just can’t leave the party, the travel, and oh…my shopping! Hindi ko maisip kung may maayos ba na bar doon? Oh ‘di kaya ay kung may LV store ba sa mga mall? Of course, no, right? And most of my friends are here! Kaya bakit ako pupunta sa maliit na lugar na ‘yon? And I have some grave memory in that province so mas mabuting huwag na lang.

I was raised at Iloilo at my young age. Pero nang tumungtong ako ng high school, sa isang prestigious school na ako pinag-aral ng mga magulang ko. Until I finished my college, I chose to study here.

Sinubukan ko ulit na matulog pero hindi ko na magawa lalo pa nang patuloy na nag-ingay ang phone ko sa tawag ni grandpa. Pero hindi ko ‘yon panansin at in-airplane mode ang cellphone para hindi na niya ako ma-contact. Kaya sa huli ay naisipan ko na lang na bumangon at maghanda sa umaga.

I was having my time on taking a warm bath nang maisipan kong ibalik ang cellphone ko sa dati. But my eyes widen in shock when I checked the time before I could even do it.

Fvck it.

It’s one thirty in the afternoon? Kaya pala ako nakakaramdam na nang gutom? Ang damn it. Mahuhuli na ako sa flight ko to Cebu!

In-off ko agad ang pagkaka-airplane mode ng aking cellphone. Sunod-sunod na messages ang dumating, and at agad ding rumehistro ang pangalan ni Gianna sa aking cellphone. I quickly answered the call as I walked out of my bathtub.

[“Finally, Kath! You answered! Nasaan ka na? We’re already here na sa airport! We’ll leave in thirty minutes!”]

“I’m sorry, I overslept!” rason ko. “Damn it. Susunod na lang ako. Magbobook ako ulit ng flight,” I tell them.

[“Alright. But make sure you arrived before four! We still have some photoshoots to do!”] paalala niya.

“Yes, yes. I’ll be there,” I ensured her and then the call ended. Hindi ko alam kung iyon na ba ang pinakamabilis kong pagtatapos sa pagligo ko at pag-iimpake ng damit. At nang makaalis ako at nakasakay na nang taxi patungong airport, halos pagalitan ko naman ang driver dahil naipit pa kami sa traffic. And the fact that I can’t pay my ticket online thru my credit card! I only have a one thousand bill right now and my credit cards are my only source of funds! Goodness, is the grandpa’s way of warning me?

Oh my gosh! What kind of hassle is this?! I will be totally late for the wedding?!

I quickly went to my recent calls and tap Gianna’s number. One ring after calling Gianna’s number ay nasagot niya ito.

[“Hello Kath! Malapit ka na ba? Have you booked your ticket?”] she informed before I could even say my hello.

“Gosh, Gi! Could you please book me one? Hindi ko ma-access and cards ko!” I complained.

[“Wait, I’ll do it quick. Lilipad na ang plane after five minutes,”]

“Thank you. And I don’t even know why my entire day is suddenly ruined! And I’ll probably be late at the photoshoot! Sa kasal na mismo ako makaka-attend,” I complained.

[“Ano bang kamalasan ang natatamo mo ngayong araw?”]

“Oh, ikukuwento ko sa’yo ang tungkol sa pagtawag ni grandpa. Gosh!”

[“Alright! We’ll talk that soon. I’ll just book your flight and email it to you!”]

“Thank you, Gi!”

Kahit paano ay kumalma ako dahil hindi na ako mamroblema sa aking ticket. Mabilis akong nagbayad sa driver ng makarating sa airport. Mabilisan lang din ang pag check-in ko papasok. At humaba talaga ang pasensiya ko sa pagpila. But only to be ruined when a man, probably a few older than my age, suddenly butts into the line. Kakalinya ko lang sa pinakalikuran kaya halos umusok ang tenga ko sa inis dahil sa mismong haapan ko siya sumingit!

“Excuse me, mister. I think you’re butting on the line,” I tell him. Pero halos maikuyom ko ang kamao ko para pigilan ang sarili na mainis dahil sa mukhang hindi niya ako narinig at ang buong atensyon niya ay nasa kanyang cellphone.

“Excuse me,” tinapik ko na ang kanyang braso para makuha ang kanyang atensyon. His broad back is facing me at kahit subukan ko namang silipin ang mukha niya ay hindi ko naman magawa. “Excuse me,” I called once again, tugging his shirt to get his attention.

“Yes?” he finally answered and faced me. Halos maptulan naman ako ng hininga dahil nang tumambad sa akin ang guwapo nitong mukha.

I shot my one brow up as I control my mind rampaging on giving the man a compliment how handsome he is.

“Well, gusto ko sanang sabihin sa’yo na sumisingit ka sa pila,”

Kumunot lang ang noo niya sa akin, na para bang hindi nito naiintindihan ang sinasabi ko. What? Is he a foreigner or something?

“I said, you’re butting in the line, mister. I hope you the decency to know that fact?” I tell him.

“Naiintindihan kita miss. But I am not butting in the line. Kanina pa ako pumipila dito,”

Halos mamula ang pisngi ko dahil mukhang nakakaintindi naman pala ito ng Tagalog!

“Kanina pa? Kakarating mo nga lang,” I pointed out, inis na inis sa hindi malamang dahilan.

Pumagilid ito at may tinuro sa sahig. Bumagsak naman ang tingin ko doon at nakita ang isang duffel bag.

“This is may bag. Nakisuyo lang akong bantayan ang linya ko dahil kailangan kong mag-CR. Okay na?” he explained. Doon ko lang din napansin na may iilan nang mga mata ang nakatingin sa amin. Kaya imbes na sumagot at magmaktol, tumahimik na lang ako at tinalikuran siya. I folded my arms against my chest as I tried to calm down myself from heating up in anger.

Gosh! I fvcking hate this day! Kung bakit pa kasi tumawag si grandpa!