Eighteen

After my session with Dr. Siang, my phone rang as I was walking down the pavement. Pangatlong session na namin ito, and so far, he is helping me a lot to cope up with my depression.

The fish thing worked. I now have a variety of Neon Tetra, Danios, Guppies, and Cherry Barb swimming inside a small tank my mother have placed inside our living room.

I fished the phone out of my satchel and automatically smiled when I saw Harry's name flashing on the screen.

Sinagot ko kaagad ang tawag.

"Hello, beautiful." he said in a deep voice. My heart automatically melted.

"Sira, nambola pa to." wika ko pero ang laki-laki na ng ngiti ko sa mukha. "Napatawag ka?"

"Can I steal you for a while? There's something I need to show you."

I glanced at my wristwatch. It's quarter to three in the afternoon. My father is not expecting me until five.

"Sure." I chirped. "Nasaan ka ba?"

"3 o'clock, baby."

I turned to my right and saw him parking on the side with the windows down, a lazy smile tugging on his lips. I stopped for a while in order to admire his features. His tight jaw and menacing eyes when he pulled the sunglasses off his eyes and placed it on his disheveled hair. Pinatay ko kaagad ang tawag at patakbong lumapit sa kanya.

"Hey."

He leaned in closer to place a quick kiss on my lips from his seat. Nauntog pa siya pabalik kaya tumawa ako.

"Hop in." He said.

I circled around the car and climbed inside. Harry rolled up his windows. Before I could even buckle my seatbelt, he leaned in closer and covered my mouth with his. I smiled against our kiss, running my hands through his hair.

Gumapang ang kamay ni Harry sa dibdib ko. He gave me a squeeze before he pulled away. I was about to open my mouth when he kissed me again.

"Seriously?" I laughed.

"I can't just get enough of you." A boyish smile appeared on his lips. I stared at it in admiration. How could he be so effortlessly handsome?

"Well? Where are you taking me, Mr. Kidnapper?" I teased.

He inserted the key into the engine and chuckled. "Let's see, Mary Grace."

---

Moments later, we arrived at the same diner I recognized we dine in years ago. Yun ang mga panahon na pinagbabawalan pa ako nina mommy na makipagkita kay Harry kaya dumadaan ako sa bintana para makita siya. I feel like an idiot back then. A stupidly inlove teenager.

I glanced at him and smiled to myself.

Well, until now. I still am.

"So here's the thing." may dinukot si Harry mula sa bag niya. I caught glimpse of a pastel pink scented paper with intricate decorations pushed against the right corner. "We received a wedding invitation."

"Really? Sinong ikakasal?"

He placed the thin paper between his two fingers. "Guess who?"

I scowled at him. "Stop with the guessing games, mister."

He threw his head and laughed a little. "Danielle."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. "Danielle?" hinablot ko kaagad ang wedding invitation mula sa kanya. My eyes hungrily scanned the information.

"Damon?" I said out loud. I couldn't believe my eyes. Danielle is smiling widely with her arms linked to a handsome young man. Anong nangyari sa girlfriend niya dati?

"She talked to me and she wanted to make up things with you." The waitress approached us with our tray of foods. She gently placed it down the table and retreated to the kitchen afterwards. "You should talk to her after the wedding."

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nababasa ko. Inilapag ko ang invitation card sa lamesa. "Wow." I exclaimed breathlessly.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Pati ako nga ay nagulat eh."

"Well, who wouldn't be?" I grab my greasy burger and sighed in pleasure when I took a bite. "Danielle is a lesbian. Tapos ngayon ay ikakasal na siya?"

"Na-realize niya siguro na mas masarap ang talong kaysa sa tahong." Biro niya kaya sinipa ko siya mula sa ilalim ng lamesa habang namumula ang aking pisngi.

---

I couldn't wait for Danielle's wedding. I keep on staring at the white dress my mother bought for me when I told her about my friend's wedding. The pretty diamonds line the neckline of the dress sparkles everytime it makes contact with the rays of sun.

"Sigurado ka bang ayaw mong ihatid na kita?" my Dad frowned as my mother continued to apply me some eyeshadow.

"I'm sure, Daddy. Harry will fetch me." kaswal kong wika.

Natahimik si Dad sandali. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay bumuntong-hininga siya. "Mary Grace, aminin mo nga sa amin ng mommy mo. Are you dating Harry?"

My mom stopped applying make-up and looked at me for confirmation. Alam kong gusto niya ring malaman ang estado namin ni Harry, hindi lang siya nagtatanong.

I chewed on my bottom lips and lowered down my gaze.

"It's okay, sweetie." My mom said softly. "Hindi naman kami magagalit ng Dad mo." Then she glared at my father.

Dahan-dahan akong tumango.

My father looked really uncomfortable. "But... are you sure? I mean, I know that kid is good. Pero boyfriend pa rin siya ng Ate Annie—"

"Thunder," my mother said in a warning voice.

Bumuntong-hininga si Dad. "Fine."

Mom looked at me and gave me a small smile. "It's okay, honey. We're just glad you told us."

---

My father couldn't stop staring at Harry when he came to pick me up. Alam kong tutol siya sa aming dalawa pero hindi lang siya nagsasalita. I think it's only my mom who understands me.

Tahimik akong pumasok sa sasakyan ni Harry.

"Are you okay?" tanong niya nang matapos siyang makapagpaalam sa mga magulang ko at pumasok na siya sasakyan.

"It's just Dad." I sighed. "He's judging me."

Harry started the engine. "He just needs some time, Mary Grace."

I shrugged one shoulder. "I think so."

"Stop scowling, baby. You're too pretty today to be sad." Then he ran an appreciative gaze over my dress. "Besides, I can't wait to strip that dress off tonight."

Hinampas ko siya sa braso, a smile slowly forming on my lips. "Sira ka talaga. Mag-drive ka na nga."

We arrived at a classic chapel that reminded me of Roman abbey after a few minutes. We chatted casually until we reached our destination. Women dressed in white and pastel pink gowns are roaming outside of the chapel and men are in their best suits and tuxedos.

"Shall we?"

I linked my arm through his and we started walking towards the chapel. I was greeted by a series of unfamiliar faces. Someone assisted us to our seats. After a few minutes of chatting, the ceremony started.

Damon seems like a good guy. He's tall and handsome and has a friendly smile. I'm really itching to know how he managed to have my lesbian of a friend.

The doors of the chapel opened up for the bride. I turned around and saw Danielle. A small gasp escaped from my lips. I never saw her this beautiful! She gained some weight and looks so healthy. She's wearing a beautiful smile on her face as she strode down the aisle. Her eyes searched the seats and it landed on me.

My heart just did a flip when she smiled at me before she continued walking down the aisle.

I have never been so happy for her.

As I watched her exchanged vows with her soon-to-be husband, I imagined myself wearing the same ivory white wedding dress. I glanced at Harry sitting next to me. He looked so handsome and alluring in his gray tux. Until now, I couldn't get over how his long eyelashes cast a shadow on his cheekbones. It makes me melt every time.

Napansin niya atang nakatingin ako sa kanya. He glanced at me and smiled, his hand taking over mine. He gave me a light squeeze before dragging his gaze back to the couple who are now exchanging their vows and I do's.

---

The venue of their reception is just like I imagined of my dream wedding to be. It's a barn house, decorated with fairy lights and retro vases on every table. We settled ourselves into a single table and watched in amusement as the couple danced around.

When Damon let go of Danielle, she went to tap the mic and smiled at everyone.

"Words cannot express my gratitude for everyone who has come and celebrated a very special day of my life." iginala niya ang paningin. Huminto ito sa akin. "But before anything else, allow me to steal a few moments of your attention and let me dance with my old friend, a sister, and a person so dear to me, Mary Grace."

All eyes turned to look at me. Siniko ako ni Harry kaya napatayo kaagad ako. I smiled at her as I approached her. Danielle went back into the dance floor and hugged me when I reached her.

"I miss you so much, babe." She whispered.

I hugged her tighter. "Me too, Danielle. Me too."

Nagsimula nang tumugtog ang Perfect by Ed Sheeran as Danielle guided me into the dance floor. Our heels are clicking in unison as she gracefully danced and held my hands.

"Where have you been?" nangingilid na ang mga luha niya. "You don't have any idea how worried I was when I learned that you went missing."

Napangiti ako sa kanya. "I was in Davao."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Davao?"

Tumango-tango ako. "Yeah."

Then her eyes traveled to my inked sleeve. "And what's with these cool-looking tats?"

Tumawa ako. "A favor from my artist of a friend. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

It was her turn to nod her head. "Yeah. I would love to have some but I'm sure my husband would freak out kapag nalaman niyang nagpa-tattoo ako."

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Damon na nanunuod sa aming dalawa. He sat next to an old happily-married couple of what I assumed are his parents.

"So tell me, paano kayo nagkakilala ni Damon? Where's Bea?"

She sighed in pleasure, as if remembering how their love story started. "It's such a long story, babe. But one thing is for sure. When I was in my lowest, Damon arrived and swept me right off my feet. I just realized that my heart yearns for a man like him all these years. Bea is happy for me, though. But not happy enough to attend my wedding."

Napangisi ako sa sinabi niya. "I'm really glad you turned out so well, Danielle."

"Yeah, me too." She let go of me. "I'll talk to you after the wedding. We have a lot of things to catch up!" she winked and the program continued. Bumalik ako sa table namin ni Harry.

"So, how was it?"

"I've never been this happy for Danielle." I beamed. "Look at her, she's so lucky."

Inilapit ni Harry ang mukha niya sa akin. He stole a quick kiss on my lips. "Don't worry, you'll be wearing your own wedding dress a few years from now."

My cheeks flamed because of his words. Napatawa nalang ako sa sinabi niya. He scooted closer and wrapped his arms around my shoulder as we listened to the newly-wed couple.

After a while, I spotted someone entering the venue from the corner of my eyes. Lumingon ako at nagulat sa nakita. It's Jeremy and Mariah. Mariah looked so worn out carrying their son while Jeremy looked as if he doesn't want to be here in the first place.

I tensed when Jeremy's eyes wandered and landed on my direction. Harry noticed my sudden discomfort because he casted me a glance. Sinundan niya ang paningin ko. Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa balikat ko.

Jeremy ran to our direction. Parang sasabog ang puso ko sa kaba. I keep on imagining the horrible things he've done to me before. Parang gusto kong magtago ulit.

"Mary Grace!" He pulled me up from my seat and engulfed me into a tight hug. Nagtagis ang bagang ni Mariah na nakatingin sa amin. Nanigas lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko. "Holy shit, it's really you."

Wala pang ilang segundo ay naramdaman ko ang malakas na kamay na tumulak palayo kay Jeremy mula sa akin. Harry looked so pissed. He clenched his jaw and wrapped his arms around my shoulder blades, even tighter this time around.

Then in a low, dangerous voice, he said slowly. "Back off, man. She's mine."