Kelvin didn't want to be part of the entourage. Ayaw nga rin niyang pumunta sa kasal if it would mean that he will see Celine again. Kaso ay walang habas siyang pinagsasapak ni Janelle nang sabihin niya sa kaibigan ang desisyon.

She'd obviously pair him up with Celine for the walk. Iyon ang ayaw niyang mangyari. He doesn't want her hand on his arm. He doesn't want to be near her. Because it would suck to be that close to her knowing that she will soon go away and she will go away because of him.

"So, ano'ng gusto mo? Si Yuan ang i-partner ko sa kanya?"

Humalukipkip siya. "No."

"O, e 'yon naman pala. E, di sumama ka na!"

He let out a grunt. Sobrang bilis lang ng 6 months. After the wedding, maghahanda na si Celine sa pag-alis. She won't even be there for his birthday. She will spend her time with her family, tapos sa January, after New Year, aalis na ito papuntang Chicago.

It sucks! Why did she pass those exams anyway? And why was she even qualified? Alam niyang masamang hilingin na malasin ito, but his selfish heart wants her to stay within his reach. Pero ano nga ba naman ang magandang maidudulot noon? If she doesn't want him, then kahit araw-araw pa silang magkasama, hindi na mababago 'yon.

Maybe they really need this time apart. Hindi lamang talaga niya matanggap.

--

Janelle's wedding was a week before Christmas. Only fifty guests were invited to the ceremony. Ang iba ay sa reception na tumuloy. It was a bit cold during that time at the island, pero nataon noong araw na iyon na maaraw. They took it as a good sign and the last minute preparations went smoothly.

Kelvin had no choice but to agree to walk with Celine. Gusto niya na ayaw rin niya. He thinks that he might do something stupid at lalo lang mapalayo ang loob nito sa kanya.

They arrived at the island one day before the wedding. They even made bonfires last night. Walang bachelor or bachelorette party na naganap. The bride and groom chose to spend their last night as singles with friends and family instead.

And bummer, Yuan was there too.

--

Masaya si Celine na inimbitahan ni Janelle si Yuan. Na-appreciate siguro nito ang pagtulong ni Yuan sa pag-aasikaso ng mga dress para sa bridesmaids. Ito kasi ang tumutok at nag-follow up sa mga iyon dahil busy siya.

He wasn't invited at the ceremony though. Sa reception lang. Limitado kasi ang bilang ng mga imbitado sa mismong ceremony. Kahit sina Jace at Jake, sa reception lang din kasama. But that was okay with everyone.

She thought that she'd be walking with Yuan because Kelvin's still wasn't talking to her. Even last night, during the bonfire. Nasa kabilang parte ito, kung sinu-sino ang kausap. Kauusapin sana niya ito pero palapit pa lamang siya nang umalis naman ito sa pwesto nito, halatang umiiwas. He didn't even bother to pretend that he wasn't avoiding her.

Kaya nagulat siya nang sabihin ni Janelle na ito raw ang kasabay niya sa paglalakad.

--

You don't need to talk to her, Kelvin reminded himself. Kailangan lamang niya itong sabayan sa paglalakad. He doesn't even need to smile.

But he almost showered her with compliments when Celine walked out of the rooms where they did the hair and makeup. She looks so beautiful in her pink dress. Halos kakulay ng pisngi nito ang suot nitong damit.

Her hair's tied up in a messy bun and she's wearing a flower crown above her head. Isang long-stemmed pink rose ang hawak-hawak nito. Janelle wanted it that way. Gusto nitong ito lamang ang may hawak ng bouquet.

She gave him a smile when she noticed him looking. He almost smiled back. Almost. He stopped himself before it happened.

--

Suplado.

Pinagsisihan ni Celine ang pagngiti kay Kelvin nang ismiran siya nito. Sure, he doesn't want to do this, but does he have to be rude? Para tuloy ayaw na rin niyang maglakad kasama ito. Kung hindi nga lamang siya ang maid-of-honor, baka sumama na rin siya kina Yuan sa paggagala hanggang mag-reception.

Kinumbinsi na lamang niya ang sarili na sandali lang ang paglakad na iyon. It won't take two minutes. The aisle isn't very long. Kailangan lamang niyang indahin ang presensya nito ng ilang minuto.

--

Nilapitan lamang ni Kelvin si Celine nang magsisimula na ang ceremony. Itinaas niya ang kaliwang braso at hinayaan itong kumapit doon. She wasn't smiling. Mukhang nainis ito sa ginawa niya kanina. Kahit siya naman, nainis din sa sarili niya. But he couldn't do anything about it anymore.

Nangyari na, e. He just has to endure this walk with her. Sandali lamang naman iyon. Wala pang dalawang minuto.

But he didn't know that it would take that long. Parang bumigat ang mga paa niya. Napakabagal naman yata nilang maglakad? O siya lamang ba ang nakaramdam noon? Parang biglang nag-slomo.

Siguro nga ay nasa isip lamang niya iyon. But it felt like it took them thirty minutes to reach the aisle. Nang malapit na sila roon ay agad na bumitaw sa kanya si Celine. Diretso pa rin ang tingin nito. Ano pa ba ang inaasahan niya?

--

The ceremony went well, sakto pang sunset nang matapos iyon. Celine regretted not having her phone with her. She could have taken pictures! Mabuti na lamang at may official photographer. Hihingi na lamang siya ng kopya ng pictures kay Janelle. Minsan din lang siyang mag-ayos. Dapat may souvenir.

They took a lot of pictures before heading to the reception area. Iyong daan papunta sa reception, naiilawan ng mga lanterns na nakasabit sa mga puno. And when they reached the venue, everyone was in awe. It's like stepping into dreamland.

Ang stage ay punong-puno ng fairylights. Ang dance floor, an escalated square platform, ay may ilaw sa ilalim. Ang ibang area naman, na damuhan, ay may nagkalat na mga rose petals.

Nakaikot ang mga table sa dancefloor. They were all covered in white cloth. Tapos ay may puro pumpon ng pink roses ang center piece. The chairs have pink seating cushions to match the motif.

Once they're all settled down, the hosts introduced the newlyweds. Janelle looked so happy. Sa ilang taon nilang magkaibigan, noon lamang niya ito nakitang ganoon kasaya. It topped that time when she met Marlon and the time when he proposed. They just look so in love, it was almost inspiring.

Her favorite part was when they cut the cake. Ilang beses na rin siyang nakapanuod sa TV noong mga kakakasal na nagpapahiran ng cake sa mukha, pero iba pala ang feeling kapag kakilala niya iyong gumagawa.

They all laughed when Marlon smeared the cake on Janelle's face. The latter knew it was coming, but her reaction was still priceless. Ginantihan nito ang asawa, with a bigger piece of cake. Marlon took it like a man.

And when they kissed, she heard a loud 'awww' from the crowd.

They cleaned their faces after that and then headed to the dance floor for their first dance as man and wife. Then when they're done, people took the cue and danced. Of course, she stayed in her seat. She doesn't like dancing. Para kasing ang awkward niyang tingnan kapag sumasayaw. Kahit hinihila na siya nina MJ, hindi pa rin siya sumama. Alam naman kasi niyang tatayo lamang siyang parang tuod sa gitna.

Imbes na makigulo sa gitna, hiniram na lamang niya ang camera na dala-dala ni Jake, na alam niyang kay Kelvin. She knew that he won't take it from her, at least not personally, since umiiwas nga ito sa kanya. Pinagkaabalahan niya ang pagkuha ng pictures ng mga taong sumasayaw, ng bride and groom at ng mga dekorasyon sa paligid niya.

She kept on snapping pictures until her lens landed on someone sulking on one corner. Him.

Kunot ang noo nitong nakatingin sa kanya. Itinutok niya ang camera sa ibang direksyon, but she couldn't get his face out of her mind.

Ang tagal na mula noong huli nilang usap. Maybe she needs to take initiative on this one.

--

Making up her mind, Celine walked towards Kelvin, who looked shocked but didn't move an inch. Naupo siya sa tabi nito.

"Hello."

"Hi."

Good. He responded.

"Bakit hindi ka makigulo sa gitna?"

"I don't want to," he replied curtly.

She lifted his camera. "Hiniram ko 'to, a."

Tumango lamang ito.

She got up and smiled. "Sige," paalam niya.

--

"P're! Ano ka ba naman? Ikaw na ang nilapitan, pinalayo mo pa!"

He rolled his eyes. Napuna na naman siya ni Jake.

"Aalis na 'yan." Itinuro nito si Celine na nagpi-picture sa hindi kalayuan. "Gusto mo bang pag-alis nya, hindi pa rin kayo maayos? Hindi biro ang two years, Kelvin. Baka kapag nagkita kayo ulit, strangers na lang kayo. Sige ka."

His eyebrows furrowed, but he pretended not to hear Jake.

It was not until the band played a slow song that he was forced to get up and walk up to Celine. Nakita kasi niyang palapit dito si Yuan. Inunahan na niya.

Celine was surprised when he asked her to dance, but she didn't say no. Hinayaan siya nitong kunin ang mga kamay nito at ilagay sa mga balikat niya, the camera left dangling between them.

They didn't talk for the entire song. Nang magsimula na ang sunod na kanta, nilapitan sila ni Yuan, asking if he could dance with Celine.

"Can I have her for one last song please?" he asked. Yuan nodded and walked away.

Celine was looking up at him, frowning.

"What?" taas-kilay niyang tanong.

Umiling ito. "Akala ko galit ka pa."

"I am still angry."

"Gano'n ba? Sabi ko nga."

He sighed. "I don't want you to go."

"Alam ko. Pero kailangan kong umalis."

"I know." Pinagdaop niya ang mga palad sa likuran nito, pulling her closer. She didn't seem to mind. "Where will you stay there?"

"Binigyan nila ako ng listahan ng apartments na pwede kong upahan. Malapit lang sa workplace."

"And how will you pay for that?"

"Binigyan nila ako ng allowance. Pang-down saka advance," sagot niya.

"How about food?"

Celine shrugged. "Ewan ko. Bahala na. Sinabihan naman nila ako kung saan pwedeng makabili do'n. Saka ng murang damit."

"Winter clothes?"

"Bumili ako sa ukay-ukay."

He didn't comment on that. He kept on asking questions until the song ended. Yuan came up to them again, but he said that he'll keep Celine for a few more songs. Nang upbeat na ang pinatugtog, dinala niya ito sa gilid para doon kausapin.

--

Hindi alam ni Celine kung ayos na ba silang dalawa. But she took it as a good sign na kinakausap na siya nito. He was almost back to his old self. She was pretty sure that she even caught him smirking at one point.

Hindi na muling lumapit sa kanila si Yuan nang gabing iyon. Mukhang nakaramdam na rin ito na kailangan nila ng oras ni Kelvin para makapag-usap.

"So wala ka sa birthday ko?" Kelvin asked.

"Kailangan kong umuwi, e," dahilan niya.

"How about my gift?"

She grimaced. "Naipambili ko na ng damit, e. Saka nitong dress," sagot niya. "Hayaan mo, babawi ako pag-uwi ko."

"You better do."

"So okay na sa 'yong aalis ako?"

Kelvin shook his head.

"But if you really have to..."

"I really have to."

"Then I have no choice but to be okay with it." Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya and gently squeezed it. "I guess I'll see you after two years?"

--

End of Part 1