Fresia woke up the next morning with a throbbing head and a sore throat. She couldn't remember most of what happened last night. Nabablangko talaga siya kapag lasing. That is why she only drinks with people she knows.

Naabutan niya ang mga kasamang nag-aalmusal sa kusina. She could tell by their faces that she did something weird last night. Kakaiba ang tingin na ipinukol ng mga ito sa kanya.

"Morning," bati niya sa mga ito.

Aika gave her a huge mug of coffee. Nginitian niya ito saka siya humanap ng pwesto. She spotted an empty chair next to Bullet. Lumapit siya rito at akmang uupo nang bigla itong tumayo. With a plate of food on one hand and a cup of coffee on another, he marched to the living room.

She looked to her friends for some explanation.

"Na-trauma yata sa 'yo kagabi," sabi sa kanya ni Mona.

"Why?" kunot-noo niyang tanong. "What did I do?"

"Wala kang maalala?" amused na tanong ni Felix.

She shook her head. After she gets drunk, things don't make sense anymore.

"You kissed him," Brandi told her.

Her eyes widened in horror. Napatingin siya kay Bullet na noon ay nangangasim ang mukha. "I-I did?"

Tumango silang lahat.

"And did I do something else?"

Aika shuddered. May halong takot at amusement ang tingin na ipinukol nito sa kanya.

"You did that thing..." Mona answered. "...the thing that you always do after you kiss someone while you're drunk."

Lalong nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "I did that?!"

"Let's not talk about it. Nawawalan ako ng ganang kumain kapag naaalala ko," sabi ni Brandi.

Brandi opened another topic while she rinsed her mouth and washed her face in the bathroom. Since her stomach couldn't handle the food on the table, cup noodles na lamang ang kinain niya.

Right after breakfast, naligo na siya at naghanda para puntahan ang resort kung saan gaganapin ang kasal. Dala-dala na rin niya ang wedding gown nito na ilang araw nang nasa bahay ng tiyahin niya. Izzy wanted to get the gown sooner, but she knew that her cousin would just try it on and find something to complain about so she said no. At least, kung mismong araw ng kasal nito iyon maisusuot, wala na itong magagawa kahit magreklamo pa ito. And if she cancels the wedding because of her petty tantrum, then bahala nang mag-away ang bride and groom.

--

Izzy wanted a destination wedding but her parents insisted on having the wedding at their hometown instead. Mamayang hapon ang kasal nito. They'll be wed at sunset, at a private resort. Inarkila ng mapapangasawa ni Izzy ang buong resort.

The reception will also be held there. The venue was the least expensive among all the wedding details. Everything else is too much for any humble heart.

Nang makarating siya sa lugar ay agad niyang naamoy ang libu-libong rosas na nakakalat sa paligid. Plano yata ni Izzy na magtayo ng sarili nitong garden dahil halos matabunan na ng mga bulaklak ang reception area.

Umaga pa lamang ay abala na ang mga tao sa pag-aayos ng venue. It's hard not to notice the sparkly chandeliers hanging above the ceiling. Kahit ang mga lamesa, may mga makikinang din na dekorasyon. The centerpieces were branches filled with orchids, roses, and crystals.

"Fresia!" Kinawayan siya ng mommy ni Izzy mula sa malayo. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ang kasal ay bihis na bihis na ito. She's wearing a dress, high heels, and a bunch of huge accessories.

Nilapitan niya ito at hinalikan sa pisngi. "Hi, Tita."

"Is this the dress?" Itinuro nito ang dala-dala niya.

"Yes, Tita." Inilibot niya ang paningin sa paligid. "Where's Izzy?"

Her cousin didn't even tell her which room she'll be staying in. Nakakahiya naman kung isa-isa niyang kakatukin ang mga bisita. It's good that she chose to follow her instincts. Alam kasi niyang ang mommy nito ang magiging punong-abala sa kasal.

"Halika. Sasamahan kita."

--

Her aunt was nice. She's a little bit rough around the edges, but compared to some of her relatives, Izzy's mom is a saint. Kinwento siya nito habang naglalakad sila papunta sa kwarto ni Izzy.

"Did you hear about Richard?" may pag-aalala nitong tanong.

"Yes. He's staying at my parents' house."

"What about you? Where are you staying?"

"Sa bahay po ni Tita Simone," sagot niya nang may ngiti.

"I told Izzy not to invite him since you two have broken up, pero alam mo naman ang pinsan mo, matigas ang ulo." Kumapit ito sa braso niya. "Will you be okay with him around?"

"Oo naman, Tita," pagsisinungaling niya.

"But he's bringing a date."

She smiled sweetly. "I'm bringing a date too."

"Oh! Do we know him?"

Umiling siya. "I'll introduce him to you tonight."

They stopped in front of a room. "Be patient with Izzy, okay?" Hinalikan siya ng tiyahin sa pisngi at saka pinagbuksan ng pinto. Umalis na ito pagka-anunsyo sa mga nasa loob na nandoon na siya.

Nakahilera sa isang mahabang upuan ang mga bridesmaid at maid-of-honor. Nagpapamasahe ng paa ang mga ito. May mani-pedi session pala. Hindi sya imbitado. Nakabukod naman ng upuan si Izzy na noon ay may kung anong klase ng cream sa mukha.

When she heard that she's in, pinalapit siya nito at inutusang ipakita rito ang gown. A staff helped her get the gown out of its dress bag. Iniharap nila iyon kay Izzy.

Her cousin looked at every detail and asked about a lot of things. She thought that she would lose her temper instantly, but fortunately, Izzy seemed satisfied with the alterations.

"Can I go now?" tanong niya pagkabalik ng damit sa lalagyanan nito.

"Okay," Izzy answered dismissively. "But make sure to come to the wedding, ha. You're my maid in waiting."

"I'm your what?"

Her cousin sneered. "You heard me."

--

Fresia almost didn't go. How can you make someone your maid-in-waiting on the spot? Pinakukulo talaga ni Izzy ang dugo niya. But if she won't go, then she will be disappointing a few people. At isa pa, baka mainis ang mga kaibigan sa kanya kung uurong siya. She dragged them all the way here.

Kaya naman kahit buong pagkatao na niya ang umaayaw ay napilitan pa rin siyang mag-ayos. She decided not to go early dahil baka utos-utusan lamang siya ni Izzy. Sayang ang ayos niya kapag nagkataon. Izzy doesn't need a new maid-in-waiting because she already has too. Gusto lang talaga siya nitong inisip.

At five in the afternoon, her hair and makeup are already done. Si Brandi ang nag-ayos sa kanya.

Brandi gave her a braided updo, but kept her bangs down. Light makeup lamang ang inilagay nito sa kanya para raw bumagay sa gown na isusuot niya. Her Grecian gown has straps that can be worn in many ways. And because it's built that way, of course her friends had to make a fuss on how she should wear it.

Gusto ni Mona na gawing short sleeves ang straps. But Aika thought that it would look better just wrapped around the waist. Si Brandi naman, halter ang gusto.

In the end, she chose Brandi's way. The straps were twisted and combined to form one rope down her spine.

"Teal suits your complexion," Brandi told her. "At siguradong agaw-eksena mamaya 'yang likuran mo."

Her back was exposed. Tanging ang straps lamang na magkahugpong sa likuran niya ang nagsisilbing takip. Izzy would totally freak out when she sees her. Ayaw pa naman nitong naagawan ito ng eksena.

Why else would her cousin make her poor bridesmaids wear those ugly dresses? Nang makita niya ang isusuot ng mga ito ay laking pasasalamat niya at hindi siya napiling maging abay.

Gray can either be boring or sophisticated. Depende siguro iyon sa style at sa materyal na ginamit sa damit. Izzy chose velvet. Who uses velvet on their wedding, anyway? The sheen on those dresses makes her want to vomit.

The bridesmaids were all pretty. Ka-close din ang mga ito ni Izzy, but they have no choice but to wear the forsaken dresses because they can't upstage the bride and her cousin paid for all the dresses. Well, her soon-to-be husband did.

--

Bullet was already dressed when she went out of the room. He looks so dashing in his suit. Inayos din nito ang buhok nitong palaging magulo. But truth be told, she prefers the unruly hair more. Siguro dahil na rin neat freak ang ex niya. Sometimes, there is beauty in chaos and disorder.

"If you want to back out, I'd happily be your proxy for tonight," bulong sa kanya ni Mona.

"And what would you tell my parents?" pabalik niyang bulong. Hindi pa nga niya nakikita ang mga ito mula nang dumating siya. Lalo lamang maiinis ang mga ito sa kanya kapag hindi siya sumipot sa kasal.

Ngumuso ang kaibigan niya. "Hmp! Kung hindi lang kailangang humarap sa mga kamag-anak mo, e..."

Lumayo sa kanya si Mona nang lumapit si Bullet. He smiled and said something she didn't understand.

"Ano na naman 'yan?"

"Wala. Ang sabi ko... ang ganda mo," nakangisi nitong tugon.

Pinaningkitan niya ito. "Kapag talaga ako natutong mag-Kapampangan..."

Bullet laughed. "Bakit kasi ayaw mong maniwala sa sinabi ko?"

Why would she believe him? The last time that he said something in Kapampangan, ibang-iba ang tunog sa sinabi nito ngayon. He's teasing her, that's for sure.

"You have to go, lovebirds. The wedding's about to start," panghahayo ni Mickey sa kanilang dalawa.

Bullet took her hand and placed it on his arm. He was playing the boyfriend role so well; he even opened the car's door for her. Before they drove off, he leaned towards her and whispered, "By the way, please remind me never to kiss you when you're drunk."