Kelvin didn't like it. Alam niyang para sa pamilya ang gagawin na pag-alis ni Celine, pero alam din niyang aalis ito para makaiwas sa kanya. First, she gave him a chance and then she took it back. Ngayon naman ay aalis ito. Ganoon na ba nito ka-ayaw sa kanya at mas gugustuhin pa nitong mangibang-bansa para lang makalayo?

"She's doing this for her family," Janelle explained to him.

"That's bull, Ja. We both know it. She's going there because she wants to get away from me."

"Kelvin, don't make this about you," saway nito sa kanya. "Okay, maybe you're one of the reasons why she's going, pero alam mo ring mas maganda ang opportunity nya sa Chicago kesa rito."

"Why? She's already earning enough!"

Janelle heaved out a sigh and looked at him sternly.

"Marami silang utang. May mga kapatid siyang pinapag-aral. May sakit ang tatay nya. Tapos gusto niyang bumili ng lote at magpatayo ng bahay na sarili nila. Sa tingin mo ba, kakasya ang sweldo nya para sa lahat ng 'yon?"

"Magkano ba ang kailangan nya? I'll give her the money. She doesn't need to leave," he said indignantly.

Janelle's face went grim. "She's not a charity case. Subukan mong sabihin sa kanya 'yan. Tingnan natin kung hindi ka nya masampal."

Alam naman niyang hindi tatanggapin ni Celine ang offer nya. Baka nga mas lalo pa itong magalit sa kanya kapag nagkataon. Sure, he could always visit her there, but he knows that she won't allow it. Magagalit din sa kanya si Jace at ang daddy niya kung babae ang uunahin niya. Jace even told him one time na sobra na raw siyang nagpapakatanga kay Celine. Hindi naman siya gusto nito.

He hated those words kasi alam niyang totoo.

"Just let her be. And use your time apart para isipin mong mabuti kung mahal mo ba talaga sya o hindi."

"I do love her."

"Then let her be," pag-uulit nito.

--

Celine already talked to her mother about her plans. Hesitant ito sa pagpayag, but in the end, she was able to convince her to allow her to go. Kaya agad niyang inasikaso ang mga papeles at certificates na kailangan niya para maaprubahan ang paglipat niya sa Chicago.

She studies at night, two hours before her shift and an hour after work. Matutulog siya ng ilang oras pagkauwi tapos ay mag-aasikaso naman ng ilang documents sa hapon. This became her routine for two months.

Nagbunga naman ang pagpupuyat niya araw-araw dahil nakapasa siya sa unang security exam na kinuha niya. She got her first certificate but there are two more to go.

Hindi na siya nakakasama sa mga lakad ng mga kaibigan niya. Hindi na rin siya nakakauwi sa kanila. Laking pasalamat na lamang niya at walang nanggugulo sa kanya ng mga panahong iyon.

Yuan understood her side and he even helped her with her reviews. Si Kelvin naman, hindi nagpaparamdam. Nang malaman kasi nitong aalis siya, mas lalo itong nagalit sa kanya. She wanted to talk to him about it but she just couldn't find the time. Tingin din naman niya'y hindi siya nito kauusapin kapag nagkataon.

Si Janelle naman, mukhang ipipilit pa rin na matuloy ang kasal nito sa December dahil gusto nitong nandoon siya para maging maid-of-honor.

"Wala nga akong ipapalit sa 'yo!" dahilan nito sa kanya.

Dahil sagot na rin naman ni Kelvin ang venue ng kasal at reception, pati na rin ang pagkain, naging posibleng matuloy ang kasal ng December. Janelle's gown is already covered. Kelvin's designer uncle, Vico, gave her a ready to wear gown from Mitch's collection. Mitch is Vico's partner.

Ang naging problema na lamang ni Janelle ay ang isusuot ng mga bridesmaids at iyong invitations sa kasal. Kaunti lamang naman ang imbitado. Janelle wanted to make sure na intimate ang kasal.

At dahil siya ang maid-of-honor, kailangan din niyang tumulong sa preparations. Janelle gave her only one task though, and it is to find a good dress for the bridesmaids. Iyon lamang ang gagawin niya pero nahihirapan pa rin siyang humanap ng oras na ilalaan doon.

She was supposed to study during weekends for her other IT security exams but she freed one weekend to look for dresses for the wedding. She had no one to go with since Janelle's also busy taking care of other things and Kelvin's still not talking to her. Sigurado siyang wala namang masyadong alam si Yuan sa fashion, kagaya niya, but since he's free and he's willing to go with her, ito na lamang ang isinama niya pamimili.

And she was right. Kung ano ang alam niya, iyon lang din ang alam nito. The trip to this one boutique was overwhelming for the both of them. Information overload. Who'd have thought na kahit neckline ng damit, napakarami rin ng klase? There's the sweetheart, the square, the straight-across, boat neck... Sa dami nang sinabi ng consultant sa kanila, wala na siyang natandaan. Each neckline suits a certain upper body type. One cannot go with a fuller bust. One won't look good on girls with bigger arms, etc.

Isa lamang sa mga bridesmaids ang kilala niya. Iyong kapatid ni Marlon na babae. Halos kasingkatawan lamang niya ito. The other two, childhood friends ni Janelle na hindi pa niya nami-meet dahil ang isa ay sa Tarlac naglalagi at ang isa naman ay nasa abroad.

It's a good thing that Yuan suggested that they bring notepads and pens. He dutifully took notes while she talked to the consultant.

Bukod sa neckline, the length should also be considered. Then, there's the color.

She was horrified when the consultant asked her what shade of pink she's looking for. Ang sabi lang ni Janelle sa kanya, pink ang gusto nitong kulay. Alam naman niyang maraming shades ang pink, but she didn't know that there are too many. Na-overwhelm siya sa choices.

The consultant asked her to try some dresses instead. Blush pink daw ang kulay noon. Hanggang tuhod ang tabas noon at sweetheart ang neckline. May design iyon na bulaklak sa tagiliran. She made an awkward pose as Yuan took pictures. Kailangan kasing makita ni Janelle kung maganda ang damit na pipiliin niya.

Next, she tried on a satin gown. May spaghetti straps iyon at design na satin belt na naka-ribbon sa likuran. Knee-length din.

"Mas bagay sa 'yo 'yong isa," Yuan commented.

"Hindi lang naman ako ang magsusuot, e. Kung ano 'yong bumagay sa aming lahat, 'yon 'yong pipiliin nya."

He nodded and asked her to try some more.

Naka-limang gowns pa yata siya bago siya umayaw sa pagsusukat. With their notes and pictures, they headed to a food chain to eat habang pinag-uusapan nila iyong tungkol sa nalalapit kasal. She's pretty sure that Yuan's not invited. But she still has her fingers crossed. Sana ma-appreciate ni Janelle ang pagtulong ni Yuan para isama ito sa kasal, kahit sa reception lang.

--

"Pili ka. Alin ang maganda?"

Janelle gave Kelvin her phone. Nasa isang coffee shop sila, nakatambay after ng cake tasting kanina. Kinabukasan pa kasi ang uwi ni Marlon galing sa seminar nito kaya si Kelvin na lamang ang isinama niya. She would have taken Celine pero hindi ito pwede. It was Marlon who suggested na si Kelvin na lamang ang isama niya. Tutal malaki raw ang utang na loob nila rito. Bigay na nila ang flavors ng cake kay Kelvin.

Napangiti siya nang kumunot ang noo nito.

"What are these?"

"Bridesmaid's dresses," sagot niya. "I asked Celine to model them, para makita ko kung maganda. So, alin ang maganda?"

"Why are you asking me? I'm not the one who's going to wear them," iritado nitong sabi.

"Bakit badtrip ka? I'm just asking for your opinion."

"Well, I don't know. I don't have any."

"Maganda ba lahat?" nakangisi niyang tanong.

"Shut up."

Tumawa siya. "Ang cute mong mabadtrip!"

He responded with a glare. "I don't find it amusing." Ibinalik nito ang phone sa kanya. "Who took these pictures anyway?"

"Si Yuan."

He looked like he wanted to flip the table when she said that.

She held up her hands. "Don't look at me. Wala syang ibang makasama kaya nagpasama sya kay Yuan. Sisihin mo ang sarili mo. Kung kinausap mo lang sya, e di ikaw sana ang kasama nya do'n."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. He knew she was right. Of course, she was. Pwede namang magkaayos ang dalawa, e. Celine still considers Kelvin as her friend. Alam niyang hanggang doon lamang ang kaya nitong ibigay, sa ngayon. She's still not abandoning her ship. They could still happen.

That is, if Kelvin would stop acting like a brat and learn to wait for the right time.