Hawak ni Davide ang baso ng alak pero hindi iyon magawang inumin. For some reason, he cared about how Aguida would find his breath later when he kissed her. The last thing he wanted was for that little witch to tell him his breath smelled of alcohol. Parang nakikinita na niya kung paanong kukunot ang ilong nito at kung paano siya pipintasan.

"The big wedding is gonna happen next year?"

Napatingin si Davide kay Zauro. "The hell are you talking about?"

Itinaas ng lalaki ang balikat. "Well, why not? Your grandmother is not here."

"Yeah, but she will understand. I hope so. Mas maganda ngang wala siya dito. It's hard to lie to her." Napailing siya, saka inabot ang bote ng tubig. Iyon ang kanyang tinungga.

Today was the big day, but it didn't feel it. In fact, nothing about that day was like any wedding he had ever been to. He was wearing a pair of black trousers, a white button-down shirt, and a pair of leather shoes. He had to admit that he never thought his first wedding was going to be like this. Noong ang inaasahan niyang pakasalan ay si Janet, naisip niyang isang malaking kasal ang mangyayari at ang groomsmen niya ay ang limang kaibigan. His best man was going to be his brother. Pero dahil maliit na kasal lang iyon at ni walang kasama si Aguida kundi ang ama nito at madrasta, isang kaibigan lang ang niyaya niya sa kasal, kahit pa alam ng lahat ang tungkol doon.

The boys all told him he was crazy. Wala siyang inilihim sa mga ito tungkol sa sitwasyon dahil high school pa lang ay alam na ng lahat ang tungkol kay Janet. They were surprised to find out that he was marrying Janet's sister instead. Pero ano ba ang nakakabigla doon kung tutuusin? Nagkaroon lang ng substitution.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" patuloy na tanong ni Zauro. "We weren't even able to give you a proper bachelor's party."

"I don't need it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still going to be a bachelor."

"You have some serious problems, man."

Nakalimutan niya, si Zauro nga pala ay hopeless romantic. Zauro had a list of playmates but he had always expressed his dream of becoming a father and starting a family like his own. Paano niya ito masisisi kung lumaki sa isang masayang pamilya? His father still gave his mother roses and love letters to this day. His parents were the exception to the rule.

"I'm just saying, give this marriage a try," giit ni Zauro.

Hindi umimik si Davide. Mahirap mangako. Isa pa, ipinarating na sa kanya ng mapapang-asawa na diring-diri ito sa kanya. That got into his nerves. To be completely honest, he wanted to take it slow with Aguida. Iyon ang antimanong naisip niya nang makilala ang babae dahil halatang hindi ito sanay sa laro kung saan expert si Janet. The sisters couldn't be more different. While Janet was worldly and sophisticated, Aguida seemed old-fashioned and loved the simple life. Sa siyudad lumaki si Janet, habang sa probinsiya naman si Aguida. Recently, he found out that Aguida didn't pursue her studies. Janet finished college though he doubted she did well because the woman traveled a lot, even before. Dahil malinaw sa kanya na magkaiba ang magkapatid, ang una niyang plano ay ang "ligawan" si Aguida.

He had to admit that that excited him at first. Just imagining himself slowly seducing her was enough for him to think that he will take his time when he was sure she will give consent. Even with consent, it seemed wrong to take her. He wanted her to feel real desire to do it with him. Hindi rin niya kayang ipaliwanag ang inisyal na atraksiyon sa babae dahil higit iyon sa normal. He had been with countless women and no one made him feel such strong physical attraction before. But Aguida made sure he knew that she didn't want to have sex with him. It was absurd that she suggested a doctor to get pregnant. That woman knew how to inflict pain on his ego. He will stand by his words though. He had no plans of backing down. Let her go to a doctor if she preferred that. She had no idea what she was missing. He could've pleasured her until she begged to be taken but she preferred artificial means. Fine by him. Huwag lang nitong asahang hindi siya magkakaroon ng ibang karelasyon dahil wala siyang balak na huwag pakinabangan ang lahat ng bahagi ng kanyang katawan.

Nagpatuloy si Zauro. "Who knows, maybe Janet having eloped was the best thing that ever happened to you, man?"

Natawa siya. "Will you please stop with your bullshit, man? I told you, we don't share the same beliefs in relationships. And by the way, how's that woman you wanted to marry? You know, before you realized she was scamming you?"

Nalukot ang mukha nito. "She will pay."

"You're not yet done with her?" Iyon ang hindi niya maintindihan sa kaibigan. Why was he obsessed with one woman? That will never happen to him. Napakadaming babae sa mundo para sayangin ang oras sa isang ayaw sa 'yo, kundi man ay iba ang motibo. Any strong feelings for a person was counterproductive.

A lot of people devoted their time and energy to one specific person. A lot of times, they wasted their time with a person who wasn't even interested in them. Tulad ng kanyang mapapang-asawa. That was the bad part, he guessed, that the woman who didn't want him was going to be his wife. Parang nanunuksong nakita niya sa isip ang mukha ni Aguida. The fact that the woman didn't seem to know how beautiful she was just made her even more attractive. Her simplicity made her special in a world where everything was so goddamned filtered. But her being a part of a world different from his only made things more complicated.

"And I'm the one with serious problems?" aniya sa kaibigan, nakangisi.

"Don't you fall in love with your wife then."

"Not gonna be a problem, myman. Not gonna be a problem." 

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