WINTER

"It's already monday!"

This is the day that we really waited the most. The day that the two of them would finally getting tied in each other and vow their self in front of god.

Lexie and Zeus wedding!

"Omygosh! excited na ako'ng makinig sa wedding vows nila!" Tuwang tuwa na sabi ni Rai.

"Excited ako don sa you may now kiss the bride." Sabi naman ni Kaycee.

"Best friends lang daw sila tapos kinasal in the future, weh di nga talaga ba?" Sabi ni Kate na inaayos ang dress nya.

"Sabaok kinakasal how about us naman." Nakasimangot na sabi ni Himari.

I chuckled. "We will stay alive pa rin naman kahit hindi tayo ikasal."

Kunot noo naman silang apat na binalingan ako ng tingin. Kinunutan ko 'rin naman sila ng tingin dahil kung makatingin sila sakin akala mo naman may nasabi akong masama. Umupo naman sa harap ko si Kaycee at sinapo pa ang noo ko na para bang nilalagnat ako.

"Wala ka nama'ng lagnat pero bakit mo nasabi 'yan, ha?" Tanong nya sakin.

"What? di kita gets," Sagot ko lang.

"Kaya mo siguro nasabi 'yan kasi isa ka 'ring paalis na sa kalendaryo at tanggap mo ng wala na talaga. Pero dapat be positive think positive!" Sabi ni Himari at nag pamewang pa.

"Hindi kona talaga iniisip 'yan, wala sa isip ko ang kasal kasal na 'yan." I shrugged my shoulder. "Well ewan ko lang sainyo."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Ilang buwan ka ng nakauwi dito baka gusto nyo'ng gumalaw galaw?"

"Need pa ba 'yon?" Tanong ko.

Rai walk towards me and cupped my both cheeks. "Need 'yon, Winter bebe. Isa sya sa dahilan kung bakit ka umuwi, diba? so why don't the both of you try again?"

"Try again? may girlfriend na nga 'yon dinala nya pa sa subic, di nyo alam?" Tanong ko.

Kumunot naman bahagya ang mga noo nila at nag katinginan. Kaycee wanted to say something pero hindi nya nasabi dahil bigla'ng pumasok si Cary na hawak ang mga bulaklak na dadalhin namin mamaya.

Cary is Kaycee and Darius other cousin and also Achi's girlfriend. She has an angelic face but she's turning into evil one when she got mad. Mabait naman sya at maalaga kaya nga alaga'ng alaga si Achi e. Wala sa sariling natawa ako sa isip ko ng maalala na akala ko mag c-comeback si Kate at Achi, pero nabalitaan ko nalang nung nag aaral ako ng college sa france, sinabi sakin ni Lexie na may nililigawan daw 'tong si Achi and it turns out to be Kaycee and Darius cousin.

"Hi, girls." Bati nya samin.

"Aicary, Buti nakapunta ka! matutuwa 'yon si Lexie!" Halos pumalakpak pang sabi ni Kaycee.

"Syempre hindi ko naman pwede'ng palagpasin 'to 'no baka bigla akong gerahin ni Lexie." Natatawang sabi ni Cary.

"How are you and Achi? okay na ba kayo?" Tanong ko kaya napalingon sya sakin.

She nodded and smiled. "Lakas bumawi e,"

Kate laughed. "That's not the Achilles that we know. But thank you for being with him."

"Hays, Gusto ko mainis kasi close kayong dalawa kahit mag ex na kayo pero i can't! kasi naman love din kita e." Nakanguso'ng sabi ni Cary at yumakap kay Kate na pinag tatawanan lang sya.

"Yung naging bestfriend mo 'yung ex ng Jowa mo, Cary entered the group." Sabi ni Rai.

"Okay lang naman, at least alam nami'ng dalawa kung saan kami lulugar." Sabi naman ni Kate.

"No one can beat the friendship between the Girlfriend and the Ex-Girlfriend." Umiiling na sabi ko.

"Bridesmaids, need to get ready. The wedding is about to start in a few minutes." Sabi ng Wedding planner na sumilip samin. Nginitian naman namin sya bago tumango na mag r-ready na kami.

Nakangiti naman kaming nag katinginan na anim dahil ito na 'yung pinakahihintay namin. Ang pinakahinihintay ng lahat na syang naka saksi kung saan nag simula at mag iisang dibdib si Lexie at Zeus.

Siniguro naman namin na naka handa na kami bago kami lumabas ng dressing room at pinuntahan kung nasaan ang room ni Lexie. Pag pasok namin nakita namin syang nakaupo sa dressing chair at nakakagat sa labi nya na halatang kabado pa.

She's wearing a white gown with full of crystals her hair is tied in messy bun while the diamond tiara is on the top of her hair. She looks like a queen there and that wedding gown is suits her very well. She stood up when she saw me and the girls. She smiled and pulled us all into a hug.

"I'm panicking!" Sabi nya.

"Don't panic you bitch, Kasal mo 'to kaya dapat i-enjoy mo." Sabi ko sakanya.

"Oo nga naman, you should chill. Saka kana mag panic pag honeymoon na." Pang-aasar pa sakanya ni Himari.

"Actually tama naman," Sang-ayon ni Kate.

"You should wear a red lingerie with a red lipstick to seduce him. Anyway you looked hot on that way, just a piece of advice." Sabi naman ni Kaycee.

"Ikaw 'yung ikakasal pero bakit ako 'yung mas excited? hayst kakainis! pero masaya ako for the both of you, ha." Pag-dadaldal ni Rai.

I just pulled her into me. "Don't mind this talkative woman beside me. Just relax and chill until the wedding starts."

The girl laugh when Rai is trying to speak but i always cutting her and scolded her. Masyado syang maingay ngayon at ngayon din na sya ang next target namin na aasarin buong araw walang titigil hangga't hindi namin sya napipikon.

***

"Time for the speech!"

Pumalakpak naman kami ng i-announce 'yon ni Cary sa microphone doon sa stage. Pag katapos kasi ng kasal sa simbahan ay agad kaming dumaretso dito sa reception. Ang laugh trip pa nga dahil mas nauna pang dumating si Kaycee at Himari dito kesa sa mag asawa, gutom na daw kasi silang dalawa.

Also when we are still in the church kanina ang akala ko sila Kate ang katabi ko pero nagulat nalang ako ng isang tao'ng hindi ko inaakala ang nakatabi ko doon, nginingisian pa nga ako ng mga traydor kong kaibigan at inaasar asar pa. Kasasabi ko lang na may girlfriend na 'tong kumag na 'to alin ba don ang hindi maintindihan ng mga baliw na 'yon.

Sa isang table mag kakasama kami nila, Kate, Rai, Kaycee, Himari at Cary na nasa stage pa din dahil sya ang emcee. Sa kabilang table naman na sa tapat namin ay sina Achi, Jasper, Kuya, Ian, Darius at si Owen na ngayon ay tumayo at nag punta papunta sa stage kung saan nandon si Cary.

"Now let's hear the groom's best man!" Cary announce at full of energy.

Owen held the mic. "Hello sa mga kababayan ko dyan sa La union!"

"Shout out mo naman kami!" Hiyaw ni Jasper.

"Binabati ko nga pala 'yung mga kamag anak ko dyan sa bahay, Shout out 'rin sa lima'ng pogi'ng kasama ko sa table! pati na 'rin sa mga nurses na nag asikaso sakin sa ospital ang gaganda nyo po labyoy!" Sabi ni Owen kaya umugong ang tawanan sa lahat ng table.

Kate leaned closer to me and whispered. "I smell that someone is jealous here."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko at binalingan ng tingin 'yung nginunguso nya. It was Himari murmuring something that we didn't hear. Wala sa sariling natawa ako dahil halata nga'ng nag seselos sya, Sino ba nama'ng hindi diba? she had a crush on Owen kaya kahit crush lang mag seselos at mag seselos pa rin 'yan, Himari is a jealousy one.

"De joke lang ito na talaga," Owen clears his throat and glance to Zeus and Lexie who's smiling on him. "First of all congrats to Mr and Mrs Legaspi, the couple that we protected many years ago, insert Rai and Darius we also protected. So ayon nga 'no, i'm so happy for the both of you of course, I noticed how the both of you through a lot on your relationship there's also a hard time and years for both of you but still you keep fighting and love each other, me and our friends are proud for the both of you. Hays, bigyan nyo 'ko ng tatlo'ng pamangkin, ha? hoy, Zeus galingan mo! 'yun lang best wishes mwa mwa chup chup!"

We ended up laughing because of Owen's speech. He also give everyone here a flying kiss na hindi natanggihan ng mga kababaihan, may ilan pa nga'ng nag tanong kung single sya.  We all say our speech and Kaycee is the last one, mukhang mas malala pa nga ito kesa kay Owen.

"Yow yow wazzup mga kapipols! Zeus, Lexie congrats, ha? hindi namin in-expect na aabot kayo sa punto na 'to pero i'm glad naman umabot kayo. Gusto ko sana pahabain speech ko kaso nasabi na lahat ni Owen 'yung mga gusto kong sabihin pero, Zeus, Ayoko ng tatlo'ng pamangkin lang! gusto ko lima, ano sa palagay nyo? Lima dapat dapat lima diba?" Tanong nya samin at itinapat pa ang mic.

"Yes! Lima!" Everyone answered.

"Parang engot si Kaycee e," Natatawang bulong ni Rai.

"Sinabi mo pa kahit kailan lakas ng tama." Dagdag pa ni Himari.

"Well, Kaycee is being Kaycee." I commented.

Kaycee glance at the couple. "Papano ba 'to ngayon? Lima ang sigaw ng tao'ng bayan."

"Noted, Ms Torres." Sabi ni Zeus kaya natatawa syang hinampas ni Lexie.

I watched them giggling and teasing each other. They are really a perfect couple since we're still in high school and now, they are happily married. I'm so happy for them they deserve this wedding i hope it could be last forever.

Bigla nama'ng nahulog ang purse ni Rai kaya naman bahagya akong yumuko para pulutin ito sakto'ng pag angat ko ng tingin ay hindi sinasadya na mapatingin sakanya doon ko pa nahuli'ng nakatingin rin pala sya sakin. His lips rose up so i just snob him.

Papansin ampota.

Masyado na syang papansin this past few weeks. Ano 'yon nag talo sila ng girlfriend nya'ng dinala nya sa subic tapos ako naman 'tong ginagambala nya? eh kung iumpog ko nalang kaya ulo nya? dami dami nya pang sinasabi dati na blah blah blah bulok naman.

Wait, why do i suddenly sounds like a bitter
ex-girlfriend here? wala naman ng kami kaya bakit ako nagagalit o nag bibigay ng side comment? pwede naman mag bigay ng comment pero bakit ako galit? bakit ako nag rereklamo?

Natatanga na ata ako.

Kanina hinagis ni Zeus 'yung garter tapos si Ian ang nakasalo hindi pa nga maipinta ang mukha nya ng makita nyang sya ang nakasalo ng garter kahit ang ginawa nya lang naman ay tumayo sa gitna.

Nabigla naman ako ng bigla akong hatakin ni Kate papatayo at nag punta kami sa gitna para mag tipon tipon. Pumwesto naman si Lexie sa harap habang hawak ang bulaklak, hindi nya kasi hinagis kanina doon sa simbahan dito nalang daw.

Bakit ba makikisali ako dito e sigurado na akong single ako hangga'ng mamatay.

"Winter, dapat ikaw ang makakasalo ng bulaklak para sayo isuot ni Ian 'yung garter." Sabi sakin ni Himari.

"Gago?" Sabi ko.

Rai and Kaycee giggled. "Yieeee, saluhin mo, ha? sige ka pag iba nakasalo 'nan pustahan balik france ka."

"Kung ayaw mong sa iba sya ikasal then make a move, you should be the one who can get the flower." Sabi naman ni Kate.

"Tama, kaya ngayon palang mag isip kana."

Natahimik naman ako at inisip ang pinupunto nila. He gets the garter, If i get the flower then it's mean i'm not ready to let him go and marry another woman. I know myself i'm not like this if i don't want to get what i want.

I prepared myself. Kailangan kong kumilos, kailangan kong makuha ang bulaklak tama naman si Rai at Kaycee, baka bigla akong mag walk out dito dahil sa iba napunta ang bulaklak at baka wala pang umaga nasa flight na ako pabalik ng france.

They started the countdown so Lexie turn her back on us while holding the flower.

"1,"

I won't let anyone to get what's mine.

"2,"

I need to get him back.

"3,"

I need to get the flower so i can get him again.

Lexie throws the flower, I focused my eyes on the direction where the flower would be landed so i can run towards that direction and gets the flower. But unexpected happened, A guy wearing a tuxedo without neck tie catched the flower so everyone here gasp, including me.

Me and my friends exchange glances. Bumagsak pa nga ang panga ni Darius, Achi at si Jasper na napabuga ng wine sa tabi ni Kuya Winston na nabigla naman. Hinawi naman nya ang ilan sa hibla ng buhok nya at pinagkatitigan ang bulaklak.

"Sorry but i really need to do this." Sabi nya at gave everyone an apologetic smile. "I don't want to marry somebody else."

"Dude, ano'ng trip 'yan?" Tanong sakanya ni Zeus.

"Ayaw mo ikasal sa iba kaya sa sarili mo nalang ganon? ah okay, Ian gets kona." Tumatango'ng sabi naman ni Jasper.

Ian just shook his head and chuckled. He looks at the flower again and then he glanced at me. He even smiled genuinely so he can attracts all the girls here. He started to walk towards me, I just stood up there while waiting for him to came closer to me.

"This flower is belong to this woman in front of me." He started and held my hand then he holds me the flower. "So i gave it to the right owner."

"She's Attorney Parker, right? Ian's ex." Dinig kong tanong ng katabi ko.

"Yohoooooo! come back is real!" Owen shouted.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked him.

"Giving you the flower instead? i can't afford to marry someone else, but if you are that someone then it's fine, i'm going to marry you in all churches that you want." He answered and pat my head just like what he was hobby to do before.

"Parang alam ko na kung sino ang susunod na ikakasal." Biglang sabi ni Kaycee.

"Pano ba 'yan, Darius and Rai? mukha'ng mauuna 'to." Sabi ni Lexie at tinuro kami.

"Grabe naman! ang intense whooo!" Si Himari na pinay payan ang sarili.

"Kainggit naman parang gusto ko nalang mag laho na parang bula." Sabi naman ni Kate.

"Okay lang na maunahan kami basta si Ian at Winter ang uuna." Nakangisi'ng sabi ni Rai.

Darius also agreed. "Muling ilayag ang bandila ng Wian Shippers!"

Imbis na mainis ako dahil sa ginagawa nila ay natuwa pa ako at nakitawa nalang din. Pabiro kong hinampas sa dibdib si Ian na tinawanan na lang ako at hinila payakap sakanya. I hug him back too, Miss na miss ko na syang yakapin.

***

Tahimik lang akong nakaupo habang sya naman ay nasa tabi ko at tahimik lang din. Gabi na rin at umalis na ang ilan sa mga bisita, wala na rin si Lexie at Zeus dahil honeymoon nila sa Singapore, kami naman naiwan dahil nag checked in din kami dito since may hotel naman.

"The scene that you did while ago is quite funny." Sabi ko.

"If i'm not going to move then nothing's gonna happen between us." Sabi naman nya kaya napalingon ako sakanya.

"Tulad ng?" Tanong ko.

"Like being together again." Sagot nya at nilingon na rin ako.

"You already have a girlfriend, right? are you going to cheat on her?" Tanong ko ulit pero imbis na sumagot ay tinawanan nya lang ako.

"I'm sorry but what? Girlfriend?"

"I heard that to Jasper, You also bring your "Bebeloves" sa subic."

"Oh, he's not talking about person." Sabi nya kaya tumaas ang kilay ko.

"So he's talking to what?" Taas kilay na tanong ko.

"He was talking about my brand new car that i bought last 3 weeks." Sagot nya at hinawi ang hibla ng buhok ko at inilagay sa likod ng tenga ko. "Your new hairstyle suits you well."

"Thank you," I said.

I heard he clicked his tongue. "So, Attorney Parker. Let me ask you."

"Okay sige ano?"

"If i take you to a date, would you come?"

Natawa naman ako dahil straight forward na sya ngayon, hindi na sya 'yung kung ano ano pang sasabihin bago sumagot o kung ano ano pang echetera ang sasabihin bago nya sabihin ng daretso 'yung balak nya sabihin. He's also smiling and laughing hindi katulad dati, he's now being a randomly guy.

"Hmm i think so?" Natatawang sagot ko.

"Then, can i date you?" Daretso'ng tanong nya.

"Kaagad? so speed naman, Doc." Sagot ko.

He chuckled again. "Being slow is not part on this world, for me, Attorney."

"Wow, talaga lang, ha?"

"So what now? i need your answer now."

Hinampas ko naman sya sa braso nya kaya bigla'ng nag seryoso ang mukha nya kaya natigilan ako at napatingin na naman sa mga mata nya'ng naging kahinaan ko noon kahit mag pa hangga'ng ngayon. Without saying any words, i leaned closer to him and gave him a smack kiss.

"Let's make it slow muna, hmm?"

He smiled and cupped my face. "I guess that kiss is a Yes for taking you to the date."

I guess too that our ending is not today, because we can make another story of our love again. We can make better story again and that story will definitely be perfect this time.