"Speak now... or forever hold your peace," the preacher said.

I looked at you. Your face was half-expectant. Hinihintay mo bang may tumutol? Na-realize mo na ba na hindi kayo bagay? Look at her... she looks like a wedding cake na may kandila sa ulo.

Her dress looks horrible... kasing-sama ng ugali nya.

Alam mo bang kanina, sinigawan nya ang mga bridesmaids nya dahil nagpaganda sila masyado? What can they do? Eh hindi naman kase sya kagandahan.

I was there. I saw her. And when she saw me looking, pinagtaasan lamang nya ako ng kilay.

Alam mo bang masama ang ugali nya? That she's a fake? Na nakailang botox na sya bago magmukhang ganyan and still, she doesn't look pretty?

Alam mo bang matapobre yan at mapangmata ng tao? Na sa sobrang kaartehan nya eh hindi na sya umiinom ng tubig na nakabote kase daw cheap?

Bakit sya ang papakasalan mo?

I've known her since we were kids. She use to bully me back in elementary. What can I say? She hated scrawny kids with brains bigger than hers. Ayaw na ayaw nya rin na nasasapawan sya sa mga larong pambata kaya never nya akong sinali sa mga laro nya.

But we became friends when I caught her once... crying. Hinabol nya ako, alam mo ba? And when she finally caught me, she threatened to kill me kapag may pinagsabihan ako na nakita ko syang umiiyak. Sa laki ba naman nyang yun... hindi ba ako matatakot?

I told her that I won't. I swore to my life... I will never tell.

Akalain mo nga namang nagkakagusto rin pala sa lalaki ang tomboyin na katulad nya? And guess what? She got rejected. Gusto ko nga syang pagtawanan noon eh. Ang babaw ng problema nya.

It's not as if she's not going to forget him. It's not as if he's the only guy in the world. I'm sure as hell she'll find someone else.

Did you know that I tried to comfort her that day? And what did she do? She pushed me. She pushed and slapped me in the face! Pero hindi ako umiyak. Ayokong mag-iyakan kami... Nagulat sya noon at parang medyo nailang.

Simula noon ay hindi na nya ako inaway.

At simula rin noon ay ako na mismo ang lumalapit sa kanya. Ilang beses nya akong itinaboy pero ilang beses din akong bumalik until finally... I have broken her barrier.

And we became each other's confidante. Kapag may umaaway sa kanya, ipinagtatanggol ko sya. And she did the same for me. I realized that she just need a friend who'd understand her... nabawasan ang pagiging palaaway nya.

She became more open to people... and in the process, she had neglected me.

Dumami ang kaibigan nya... She became sort of popular. Gone were the baby fats. Gone was the greasy face... She became more of a lady... and guys started to notice her.

Still, she told me that all this time, she was still into that guy who rejected her from way back.

She still wants you.

And just like any other perfect love story... you two have met again... through me. Hinanap kita para sa kanya dahil alam kong sayo lang sya sasaya.

And while you two were getting to know each other, I started getting to know you too.

And in the process of knowing you, I accidentally fell for you.

Oo mahal kita. Ikaw na mahal at nagmamahal sa best friend ko. Ikaw na unang nagpaiyak sa kanya. Ikaw na naging tulay para maging magkaibigan kami. Ikaw na sana ay hindi ko na lang hinanap.

Siguro, maiiba yung mangyayari. Siguro there's a chance na ako ang kaharap mo ngayon sa altar at hindi ang best friend ko.

Speak now... or forever hold your peace, it echoed in my head.

I raised my hand.

I saw your eyes widen. I saw her glare. I heard them whisper.

I stood up... There's the silence.

Here's my last chance.

All eyes are on me.

I looked at you and only you.

"I'm sorry for interrupting the service. Can I please go to the bathroom? Sasabog na po kase talaga ang pantog ko eh," I said.

I saw her sigh and then she rolled her eyes.

"Kristal! Don't do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!" she said to me from across the altar.

"Sorry Mindy," I said as I smiled sheepishly. I excused myself and headed out of the church. I heard from the crowd na agaw-eksena raw ako. I didn't mind them.

I continued walking down the aisle.

Nang makalabas ako ng simbahan ay saka ko na lamang pinahid ang luha na kanina pa pumapatak mula sa mga mata ko.

I wish I could be her on that ridiculous wedding gown.

I wish you could marry me instead.

I wish I could have voiced out what I really wanted to say.

Pero hindi ko magawa... kase alam mo ba... mahal kita. Pero hindi naman ako ang mahal mo eh... If I said that I want to stop the wedding, would you go after me and marry me instead?

Hindi naman di ba?

She makes you happy. I can't do that.

Napasandal ako sa gilid ng simbahan ng marinig ko ang matamis mong I do. Wala na. I lost my chance. Kasal ka na. Pag-aari ka na nya.

Sabagay... dati pa naman di ba?