It was really cold. Sising-sisi si Fresia na hindi man lamang siya nakapagdala ng jacket. The August weather had been too temperamental. It was drizzling yesterday when they arrived and it rained hard last night. Laking gulat nga niyang hindi umulan sa kasal ng pinsan niya. Either Izzy's lucky or the heaven didn't want to bless the marriage.

"Do you want my coat?" Bullet asked. He must have noticed that she's shivering.

"No," sagot niya. She can't cover her back. Gusto niyang maging agaw-pansin iyon mamaya sa ceremony at reception. Izzy will be fuming mad!

Sinamahan sila ng isang usherette papunta sa dalampasigan kung saan may set-up para sa wedding ceremony. May mahabang puting telang nakalatag mula sa entrance hanggang sa dalampasigan. May mga nagkalat na rose petals sa ibabaw ng tela at string lights naman sa tigkabila nito.

Halos naroon na ang lahat nang makarating sila. Occupied na rin halos lahat ng upuan. Knowing Izzy made it easy for her to know where she will be sitting. Fortunately, it wasn't next to Richard. Nasa bandang gitna ito at ang date nito. He's sitting beside her parents.

Sa bandang hulihan sila ni Bullet pumwesto. She saw a card on one chair with her name on it. Nasa pinakadulo at pinakasulok ang upuan niya. As expected of Izzy... kahanay niya ang mga taong hindi nito gusto.

She's okay with it, though. Kaya lamang ay iisa lang talaga ang upuan. Where the hell would Bullet sit? Hindi naman sila kasyang dalawa roon.

"I'll ask for another chair," she told him.

"There's no need for that." Naupo ito sa upuan at saka tinapik ang hita. "You can sit here," he said with a smile.

Napansin niyang tumaas ang kilay ng ilang nakarinig sa sinabi nito. Babatukan sana niya ito nang maalala niyang boyfriend nga pala niya ito ngayon. So she just smiled sweetly and pinched his cheek as hard as she could. "Aww... honey, you're so sweet," gigil niyang sabi.

Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya at inalis sa pagkakakurot. "I don't mind that you're heavy. Come on. Sit."

Gusto niyang sapakin 'yong tumawa. Gusto rin niyang sapakin si Bullet na ngiting-ngiti at mukhang proud na proud sa sarili nitong kalokohan. But there's no time for that. Pinaayos na sila ng organizer dahil magsisimula na raw ang kasal. Akala niya ay wala na talaga siyang choice kundi ang maupo sa kandungan ni Bullet. Mabuti na lamang at may staff na kumuha ng extrang upuan para sa kanya.

--

May kaunting awang naramdaman si Fresia nang maglakad sa aisle ang mga bridesmaid. The gray was too dull against the setting sun. Kung siya ang papipiliin ng damit na isusuot ng mga ito, she would have chosen chiffon as the material and maybe have the dresses with the same hue as the afternoon sky. They would look a lot better against the setting sun.

But the material was too heavy for the beach wedding. She could tell that the girls were just smiling because frowning will only make them look worse.

"Mas mukha pang pang-abay 'yang suot mo," bulong sa kanya ni Bullet.

"I know, right? My cousin has poor taste kasi."

Even with the man she's going to marry, Izzy chose poorly. The groom looked older than forty two. Mataas na ang hairline nito at medyo malaki na rin ang tiyan. She thought that maybe the man was so hot that Izzy didn't mind the age gap and just went on marrying him. It's clear to her now that the only thing that attracted Izzy to this man was his money and social status.

Or... could it be true love? Pinigilan niyang matawa. No, it can't be that.

The only person that brightened her mood from the entourage was her aunt. Tuwang-tuwa siya sa malalaking batong nakapaikot sa leeg nito. Her aunt has a flair for the dramatic. Naglalakihan ang suot nitong jelwelries. Masyado kasing flashy. But her heart certainly is bigger than her accessories because she was able to love Izzy unconditionally.

And speaking of the bride... parang pinilipit ang sikmura niya nang makita ito. She hates to admit it, but Izzy looks like a princess in her gown. The cathedral veil was even longer than the dress' train. And of course, it has sparkles.

Napatingin ito sa gawi niya bago ito maglakad. Maybe Izzy knew where she was going to sit. Or maybe it was Bullet who made her look their way. Nang makita ni Izzy na nakatingin din siya rito ay bigla itong umirap, ngumiti, at nagsimulang mag-martsa.

--

Bullet gave her his coat when the ceremony started. Anito, wala naman na raw titingin sa likuran niya dahil nasa altar na ang bride. She took the coat because it was really cold. Thankfully, the ceremony didn't take too long.

After the photoshoot near the beach, the guests were taken to the reception area. Hinanap niya ang pangalan sa mga card na nasa lamesa.

"Table thirteen," she muttered. Her eyebrow raised in amusement. May pakiramdam siyang malas ang table na 'yon.

And when they were ushered to their table, that's when she realized that her assumption was correct. Kasama niya sa table ang mga magulang niya, si Richard, at ang date nito. Her father eyed her coldly while her mother was already pursing her lips.

"Let me take this off of you, honey," Bullet whispered in her ear. Kinuha nito ang coat na nakayakap sa kanya saka iyon muling isinuot.

Tumaas ang kilay ng babaeng kasama ni Richard. Nginitian niya ito.

"It's nice to finally meet you," sabi niya rito.

She knew the woman was eyeing her date. She noticed the glances from the women around earlier. Mabuti na lamang talaga at gwapo ang kasama niya. At least meron siyang pang-inggit sa mga babaeng nandoon na wala raw pake sa looks.

"You made it. We didn't think you'd come," sabi sa kanya ng ina.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Mother." Nilapitan niya ito at hinalikan sa pisngi. She did the same with her dad. Tapos ay ipinatong niya ang kamay sa balikat ni Richard. "Hi, Ex."

Bullet pulled a chair for her. Naupo naman ito sa tabi ng date ni Richard.

"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name," sabi niya sa babae.

"I'm Felicia," pakilala ng babae sa sarili.

"Ah." Katunog pa ng pangalan niya. Nananadya yata talaga itong si Richard. "When did you two meet? Was it during our second year or earlier pa?"

Alanganin itong napatingin kay Richard, mukhang hindi alam ang isasagot. Luckily for him, her mother was there to his rescue. Itinuon nito ang atensyon kay Bullet. "Aren't you going to introduce your date to us?"

"Oh... I'm sorry, Honey," sabi niya kay Bullet. Itinuro niya ang mga magulang. "These are my parents. Parents, this is Bullet."

"It's nice to finally meet you, mom... dad."

Pasimple niyang tinapakan ang paa nito. Mukhang nahintatakutan naman ang mga magulang niya sa pagbati nito.

Bullet laughed nervously. "I'm sorry. Is it too soon?"

"Too soon?" Richard sneered. "Depends. Naging kayo ba habang kami pa o hinintay mo munang mag-break kami?"

Kumapit siya sa braso ni Bullet at nginitian ang ex-boyfriend niya. "Well, unlike you, Richard, I don't cheat."

"Fresia!" saway sa kanya ng ina.

Binalingan niya ito. "It baffles me that you're offended by my honesty but you condone his cheating."

"Watch your tongue, young lady!" singit ng daddy niya.

"Oh, like you watch yours, Dad?" Noong bata pa siya, palagi siyang nagtataka kung bakit ni isang beses ay hindi niya nakitang mag-away ang mga magulang kahit alam niyang parehong malaki ang ego ng dalawa. But when she got older, she realized that her mom holds her dad on his neck. Under the saya ang daddy niya. Mas pinipili nitong manahimik kesa makipag-away.

It would have escalated further had it not been for the announcement of the newlywed's arrival.

Kung magarbo na ang ceremony dress ni Izzy ay hindi naman papahuli ang reception dress nito. It's a tea-length poof dress, the perfect imitation of Kenley's design on Project Runway during the wedding dress challenge, complete with the feather hat.

"I need a drink," she whispered to Bullet before getting up.

Pumunta siya sa bar area at humingi ng coctail drink. Before she could drink it, though, naagaw na iyon sa kanya.

"Oh no, you don't. You can't drink on my watch," Bullet told her.

She gave him a dead stare. "You've met my parents, right?"

"Yes?"

Kinuha niya ang baso rito. "Then you know I need this."

"Okay, but after this, no more."

Sinimangutan niya ito. "I want to say that you sound like my father... but he doesn't really say things like that." She exhaled. "Fine. This is my one and only glass for tonight."

"Great! I don't want you turning your stomach inside out in front of all these people."

She made a face. "Was it that bad?"

"I threw my shirt away," he said with a nod.

She didn't know why she has low alcohol tolerance. Instead of passing out after getting drunk, her friends say na nanghahalik daw siya. She already kissed Mona once. Then she puked all over her.

That's why they never let her drink over her limit.

But last night, this guy gave her drink after drink until she's drunk. Hindi na niya alam ang kasunod na nangyari. There were bits and pieces of it, but she couldn't string them together. Hindi nga siya makapaniwalang ito ang hinalikan niya kagabi. She was pretty sure she was aiming for Aika.

"Let's go back to our table."

She groaned. "Do we have to?"

Hinawakan siya nito sa braso at inakay pabalik sa table nila. They all have sour expressions on their faces. She grumpily sat down.

"What do you do, Bullet?"

A doctor, she reminded him mentally. Tumingin ito sa kanya at ngumiti. "I'm an interior designer."

Her heart dropped. Right then, she knew she wouldn't stand a chance against the other four people sitting on that table.

Richard snickered. "An interior designer?" tanong nito na may halong panunuya.

"Yes," Bullet answered with a smile. "And I'm pretty good at my job."

Napasapo siya. They don't care about how well he is on his job. They stopped caring the moment they learned what his job is.

"Why interior design?" tanong ulit ni Richard. "Mahina ka ba sa math?"

Bullet raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what interior designing is?"

"Yeah. Don't you just... draw stuff on paper? I don't think you even need a degree for that."

She looked to her parents for some scolding, but they didn't stop Richard from talking. She could have sworn she even saw her mom smile a little.

Tumikhim si Bullet. "Well, if that's how you see it, then I think you should go and educate yourself. My job may not mean much to you but I'm proud of it. And I think that's what matters the most. That you love what you do and you take pride in it."

He's super calm. He wasn't even rattled by Richard's mockery. She was impressed. It's hard for other people to hear that and just take it in without wanting to lash back.

"Richard here is a neurologist," she heard her mother say. Her voice rang with pride. "One of the youngest too."

Richard waved his hand dismissively. "Let's not talk about that, Tita. Bullet might think that you're bragging about me."

"And why won't I? You have something to brag about!" Bumuntong-hininga ito at may lungkot sa mga matang nagpatuloy. "If only Fiona was here, I'd set you two up. You make such a powerful couple. Imagine, a cardiologist and a neurologist?" sabi nito kay Richard.

It hurts a little whenever the Fiona card is used. Her parents like everyone to know that they still favor Fiona more than her. Kung sino pa iyong wala, siyang palaging hinahanap.

"But don't you worry, Dear. I also favor you," bawi nito kay Felicia na biglang sumimangot nang mabanggit si Fiona. "A nurse and a doctor is a good combination too."

"Didn't you say you don't like nurses?" paalala niya sa ina. "Ano na nga ba 'yong sinabi mo noon? Nurses are just slaves to doctors?"

Nagdilim ang mukha ng ina niya. Si Felicia naman ay halatang nasaktan.

"At least it's not a made up profession!" her mother hissed.

Food disrupted her thought. The appetizers just arrived and the smell of it filled the air. Sumama ang timpla niya nang makita iyon. It's shrimp.

"Hey... are you okay?" alalang tanong ni Bullet.

Agad siyang umiling. "I need to get some air."

"All right." Inalalayan siya nitong tumayo. "It's nice to meet you all. We'll be going now," nakangiti nitong paalam sa mga kasama sa table.

Bullet removed his coat on their way out. Wala na siyang pake kung mukha man siyang nasaktan sa sinabi ng ina. She just needs to get out of there.

--

Tiningnan ni Bullet ang kasama. She looked so shaken. No wonder she got drunk last night. It's the first time that he met parents who are cruel to their own kid. Fresia's mother was relentless. Nandudurog talaga ito ng pagkataon. What's with the obsession with doctors, anyway?

Her dad was no better. Hindi nga ito nagsasalita pero hindi naman iyon nakatulong. He didn't even try to defend Fresia. He was on his phone the whole time, pretending that he isn't involved in the conversation.

He almost lost it when Richard mocked his job. It's not like it's that easy. But if his grandmother was there, she'll just tell him to let it slide. To be the bigger person. To not stoop down on someone else's level.

Kaya kahit nilait-lait pa ang dating propesyon ng yumaong ina ay pinanatili niyang kalmado ang sarili. He took interior design because it was his mother's job when she was alive. He wanted to be as good as her. Gusto rin sana niyang sundalo kaso ay natatakot siyang mamatay nang maaga so he chose the second best thing to do. It turns out that he was pretty good at it.

"Gusto mo na bang umuwi?" tanong niya kay Fresia. Nakatitig lamang ito sa unahan.

They planned on leaving early because they would still be hiking that night. But he didn't think that they would be this early. Wala pa silang isang oras sa reception ay napaalis na sila kaagad.

"Can we eat first? Nagugutom na 'ko, e," sagot nito.

"Sa bahay na tayo kumain."

Umiling ito. "I want to be on a better mood before we go home. My friends will be asking a lot of questions. Kapag gutom ako, baka sila ang mapagbuntunan ko ng inis."

"All right."

Sa paglalakad nila ay nakakita sila ng isang grilling stall sa tabi ng daan. He's not into street food. His grandma doesn't think it's healthy so he rarely eats it. Pero sa gana ni Fresia sa pagkain noon, para tuloy naengganyo na rin siya.

Naka-tigtatlong stick sila ng isaw, dalawang stick ng barbeque, isang stick ng tenga para sa kanya at isang stick naman ng atay para rito. After that, she dragged him to another night store. Kumain naman sila ng lugaw.

She really has a huge appetite... and he's starting to find it cute.