Chapter 22

"Hey!" 

"Ano ba!" I said then hinampas ko si Tofer. Bigla naman kasing nanggugulat!

Nagpout pa siya tapos sumandal sa sit niya. Kanina pa kami dito sa restobar niya at kanina pa rin ako nagbubuntong hininga. It's been three days simula nung tinanong ako ni Drake... and I haven't slept, normally that is. And I feel like a hypocrite kasi iniiwasan ko rin si Tripp. S-hit I feel so guilty!

Para akong nakikipaglaro sa kanilang dalawa... but I know I shouldn't. Nung sinagot ko si Tripp, sinigurado ko sa sarili ko na kami na. Walang in betweens, walang reason to doubt. I gave myself fully, committed fully. 

"Ano ba kasing problem mo?" asked Tofer.

Oh, Tofie. How I wish I could tell you... 

I shook my head and smiled at him instead. "Wala, stressed lang ako sa kasal ni Drake at Cristine," I said. And truthfully, pagod ako dun.

I spent every waking moment planning and arranging their wedding.

Somewhere inside my head, umaasa ako na sana umuwi na si Cristine. Please, Cristine, ayusin mo yung fiance mo. He's making me insane!

"Kapos ka na ba sa pera, Alys?" he asked.

"What?"

He stared at me. "Ang alam ko kasi mayaman ka... bakit ka pumayag na maging wedding planner ng sarili mong ex? Kapos sa pera? Or masochist lang talaga?"

I huffed. Siguro nga masochist ako. Kasi deep inside my head, I imagine Drake and Cristine getting married. I imagine na once na makita ko with my two eyes na kasal na sila, I'd be finally free from the shackles of my past. Call me desperate and pathetic but that's just how I am. Seeing him settle down with someone will really put an end to all this madness.

Siguro kung ibang babae, I'd feel doubtful. Drake is a great person, I know. It's just that we had our moment at the wrong time. He loved me a great deal. And Cristine? She has all my blessings. She's wonderful... 

"I have my reasons, Tofer. Don't butt in."

Nagpout na naman siya. What a girl!

"Di ba wedding planner ka?" he asked again, I nodded. "Pwedeng humingi ng invitation?"

My brow shoot up. "Wala kang invite?"

He shook his head. "Alam mo namang Bonnie and Clyde kami ni Drake, e. Hehehe. Isingit mo naman ako sa guest list!"

Grabe! Now, I'm really getting curiouser than ever! Ano ba ang ginawa ni Tofer kay Drake para kainisan siya ni Drake ng ganito?

"Ano muna ang dahilan bakit inis na inis si Drake sa'yo?" I asked him, fishing for information.

Sobrang tagal ko na kayang gustong malaman yung reason! Nasa States pa lang kami, gusto ko ng malaman but neither Tofer nor Tripp would tell me! Stupid bro code! 

Bigla namang umiling si Tofer. "Hah. Asa ka pa, Zyril."

"Kasi naman! Ano nga?"

Umiling ulit siya.

Tsk. Fine, whatever.

"Fine. No invites for you. Mag gate crash ka na lang," I said, nanghihinayang sa information sana!

He shrugged and sipped his milk shake. "Whatever, Alys. Sure ka bang totoong kasal yan? 'Di kaya scam lang yan?"

"Ano?" 

Nababaliw na ba siya? Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng scam wedding! Ano namang meron sa ganun? And... bakit magkakaron ng scam wedding si Cristine and Drake if ever na nageexist nga ang scam wedding? Ah, thoughts!

"To tell you honestly, wala sa pamilya namin ang may alam na ikakasal si Drake..." he said.

"What? Ano? Paliwanag mo naman ng maayos!"

God, ano na naman 'to?! Three days before the wedding tapos parang mababaliw na naman ako!

Tinaas niya ang kamay niya and motioned me to chill. "Chill. Kasi po, Miss Perez, I asked my mom and my dad pati na sila Nana, walang may alam sa kasal. Akala nga nila nagjojoke ako e! At alam mo..." he said, nambitin pa!

"Ano ba ituloy mo! Hilig mambitin!"

Natawa siya ng kaunti sa reaction ko. Gah! Swear, sasakalin ko na 'tong half half na 'to!

"Sabi ni Nana nung tinanong ko kung ikakasal na ba si Drake, 'Si Drake? Hindi ko alam, hijo. Ang alam ko lang e sabi ni Steve e hinihintay yung girlfriend niyang nag-aaral sa ibang bansa.' Di ba! Di ba! Naku! Buti talaga wala si Tripp nung nagtanong ako kay Nana, kung hindi magkaka world war 2 na naman sa Palma family!"

Okay, wait. 

No, Alys. Hindi lang ikaw ang nag-aral sa ibang bansa. Don't assume.

But damn! Wag ka na ngang stupid, Alys! Halata naman na ikaw yung tinutukoy ni Drake! Ugh! Drake and his crooked world!

"I'll really kill him!"

Tofer tsk-ed at me. "Akala ko talaga si Shaira na yung pinaka pag-aawayan nila. Ikaw pala! Grabe, Alys! Penge naman ng kagandahan!"

Napatigil ako. "What? Kagandahan?"

Oh, no, Tofer. Please wag ka ng dumagdag. Isantabi muna natin yung pagiging curious ko sa totoo mong sexual orientation. 

--

After talking to Tofer, lumabas ako agad at pumunta sa hotel room na pinareserve ko para sa mga gamit ni Cristine. Medyo malayo 'to since sabi ni Cristine sa akin, gusto raw niya ng beach wedding. I drove for hours. I opted to drive para mablanko yung isip ko. Puro na lang si Drake at si Tripp ang naiisip ko. It's really getting out of hand.

Pagkadating ko sa hotel room sa Batangas, pumasok ako sa comfort room and stayed there for a while. I don't know why but I find staying inside the comfort room very comforting. I just sat down and think.

My phone kept on ringing. Tumatawag si Tripp. 

You're such a bad girl, Alys. Pano mo nagagawang lokohin si Tripp? You had the audacity to lie at his face over and over again. Yet nakukuha mo pang sabihin na mahal mo siya. Just... you're a freaking coward.

With trembing hands, I picked up the phone.

"Tripp..."

("Zy?")

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." I sobbed. 

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako umiiyak. I feel so terrible. Ayokong saktan si Tripp, ayoko. Pero...

"Tripp, I'm so sorry... Mahal kita, okay?"

("Ano? Hindi---")

I ended the line before I could pour my soul. Ayokong pag-usapan yung mga ganitong bagay sa telepono. I'd rather face him and tell him about my lies. He's Tripp. He's my Tripp. I'd rather look like a terrible person and tell him everything than to feed him with my lies. He doesn't deserve any of this. Sobrang bait ni Tripp. I'd rather break Drake's heart than Tripp's. I just... I just can't afford.

And I hate explaining and thinking and hurting. I hate everything that's happening right now. Hindi ba pwedeng magrewind na lang nung wala pa akong problema?

I was about to come out of my comfort zone ng makarinig ako ng boses.

"Gah! I missed Philippines! Di kita namiss, Drake! Panget mo pa rin!"

Napahinto ako sa pagbubukas ng pinto. Si Cristine. At si Drake.

I carefully closed the knob and stayed near the door, listening to every word they say.

"Stupid."

"Heh! Stupid ka jan! Ikaw na nga 'tong ginawan ko ng favor, e! Alam mo bang ayokong nagpupunta sa Canada but for you!! Kainis ka!"

My heart was beating fast twice than its normal rate. Bakit ba ako nagtatago dito? Pwede naman akong lumabas. 

"Then you should've gone to other place. Stupid."

"Hmp! Ikaw na nga ginawan ng favor! Ingrate!"

"Tattletale."

"Bastard."

"Flirt."

"Hindi a!"

"Shut up."

"Weh! Oo nga pala may nakilala ako dun, si Fier. Hihi ang ganda niya! I invited her nga na magvacay sa Philippines. Gusto mo rin siya ifriend para dalawa na kaming friend mo?"

"No. Shut up, that would be better."

"Meh. Sungit! Oh, eto na ba yung gown? Ang pretty niya! For sure malalaglag mata mo kay Alys nito!" 

Wait what?

"She's always beautiful."

"Nuxx! Improving! Di ka na stoic, medyo na lang!" Then I heard her laugh. 

Please, please. Ano ba ang nangyayari? I wanted to crawl out and ask them but I can't... Natatakot ako sa pwede kong marinig. All these things... Damn it all makes sense.

The gown...

The place...

Na hindi alam na ikakasal siya kay Cristine...

Na akala nila ako pa rin ang girlfriend...

All the chasing and the screaming...

Damn.

"Hay, Drake. I just wish na hindi mag backfire yung plano mo. I've done my part and you did your begging. Now, it's up to Alys. If she'll say yes. And I do hope she'll say yes."