Chapter One: Kasal?

Waking up with an aching head, I slowly open my eyes while trying to converse with my memories I had last night. The loud metallic sound, neon lights and humping bodies are the ones that goes inside my mind this time—none those ones after dancing with few acquaintance and Lorraine. Wait, Lorraine…

Upon my sudden realization, I opened my eyes wide to check if where I am despite the fact that my head is still throbbing from the hangover. I kind of panic nang makitang nag-iisa lamang ako sa kwartong ito but the interior of the place looks manly and halatang may kaya sa buhay ang may-ari. That thought made me groan when I realize as well na I never been inside this kind of lounge dahil kahit ang mga kaibigan ko ay walang kwartong katulad nito. Tinapik-tapik ko ang aking mga pisngi nang sa ganoon ay mahimas-himasmasan naman ako kahit konti and para makapag-isip na rin. 

“Lorraine…” Bulong ko at dali-daling hinahanap kung nasaan ang mga gamit ko pero halos nahalungkat ko na ang buong kwarto ngunit wala akong nakita na kahit isa man lang sa mga gamit ko.

I face palmed. Did I messed up with someone last night? Gangster? Oh baka may nakaaway ako kagabi ta’s dinala at tinago ako sa lugar na ito? I put my right hand on my chest, making a face. Sossy naman ng kidnapper ko, yayamanin. Dagdag ko pa sa isip ko.

Nang makadaan ako sa harap ng malaking salamin, I got the chance to see a glimpse of myself from last night. I still look the same pa naman and I am wearing the same clothes from last night, except from the fact na medyo masakit ang buong katawan ko. 

“Baka naman binugbog ako last night and nawalan ng malay?” Dagdag ko muli pero agad din namang binawi ang kaisipan na iyon. Kung binugbog nga ako last night, I would not look the same but maayos pa naman ang mukha and walang pasa o galos man lang. “And Lorraine would not let me get in to trouble naman.” I whispered again before picking the four-inched heels ko na nakapwesto sa paanan ng kama. 

Not wanting to stay here for another minute, I hurriedly fix myself and comb my hair using my fingers while looking myself in front of the mirror. Halatang galing pa ako sa malanding party from last night but wala na akong pakealam at least naenjoy ko naman ang Rockwell kahit na nagpapalibre lang naman kami sa mga nakikilala namin.

Humagikik ako sa isiping may maipopost na naman kaming photos sa I*******m namin mamaya. I am sure na our friends from Mindanao will think na we are living our best life, kahit na medyo nahihirapan naman kaming mag cope up sa mamahaling pagkain and bars dito sa Manila.

Nang mabuksan ko ang pinto, I slightly move my head out to check if someone is in the hallway but as expected, there isn’t a single person outside so agad-agad naman akong lumabas at sinigurado muna na naka-lock yung pinto bago ako umalis. Kahit na I slept in someone’s place, I still know how to have decency naman inside me. Baka may mawala pa sa lounge na iyon if ‘di ko i-lock, ako pa ang gagatungan ng may-ari ‘nun.

When I saw the familiar stairs na alam kong nakita ko na kagabi, a wave of realization hits me. So does that mean na nasa Rockwell Center pa ako?!

I panic and continue walking down. Unlike kagabi, the place is calm now but there are still few people walking around, serving food and drinks to other people who seems to be customers ng place. Moving my eyes to skim the area, I then found the exit and immediately walk out from that place. The green palm trees and other greeny plants welcomed me as I step a foot outside that dimmed place. Hindi ko pa rin mapigilang mapamangha sa ganda at linis ng lugar na ito. I saw some people walking in the side walk and most them are wearing their suits already and they are seem in a hurry. But some are also just jogging comfortably while listening music through their Airpods. 

Mukha man akong out of place dahil sa suot ko today, I still tried my best to look good naman as I joined other people on walking confidently in the sidewalk. 

Nang makarating ako sa dulong bahagi ng lugar kung saan ang national higwhay, agad naman akong pumara ng Taxi kahit na alam kong wala akong dala kahit piso. I told Manong my apartment’s address and thankfully, inuwi naman niya ako ng buo kahit na napapansin ko na sumisilip siya sa akin sa backseat. 

“Manong, wait,” I asked him bago dali-daling binuksan ang gate ng apartment. 

Lorraine, who seems busy around the room, saw me kaya agad din naman niya akong tinulak patungong CR at hinagisan ng towel. “Fix yourself! We have somewhere to go!”

“Ha?! Abusado, ‘di ko pa nababayrana yung Tax—“

“Ako na! Bilisan mo na lang diyan!” Tugon niya na pasigaw mula sa labas.

I heard a fast moving pace from her footsteps mula sa labas  ng banyo and even despite the fact na confuse ako on what is happening, I still showered myself and clean myself up dahil ramdam na ramdam ko pa yung lagkit ko sa katawan mula pa kagabi. I scrub myself to clean myself up at bago pa man ako maka pag lagay ng conditioner sa buhok ko, Lorraine knock on the door once again, urging me to move fast.

“Oo nga! Bakit k aba nagmamadali?!” Pasigaw kong tugon sa kaniyang habang nagbabanlaw na.

“Hurry up na lang!” Sagot niya lamang bago umalis muli.

“Hurry up na lang…” I mimicked her bago nag-banlaw muli para mawala ang iba pang mga bula na nasa katawan ko. 

The moment I went outside, Lorraine is dressed up well now and she is handling me a white long dress while grinning at me at the same time. My brows creases as I skim my fingers on the soft fabric before looking abck up at her. “Bakit ka may ganito?” Tanong ko.

She giggle before she push me to my room. “Basta! Come on, suotin mo ito!”

“Ha? Bakit ako magsusuot ng ganiyan? Alam kong social climber tayo pero bakit ako magsusuot ng ganitong damit? Para namang pupunta ako sa pambaranggay na kasalan niyan.” Biro ko pa na tinawanan naman ng kaibigan ko. 

“You’ll love it, promise.” She muttered as she pull a chair for herself. 

After wearing my undergarments, I then remove my towel around my body bago ko kinuha yung dress na bigay ni Lorraine. I kind of groan upon checking once more na medyo exaggerated nga magsuot ng ganito but I still wear it dahil maganda naman yung style.

I stand in front of our mid-length mirror and saw how the dress looks on me. It is a long cut in the chest part, showing a little skin of my bo0bs but it doesn’t look bastos naman. The sleeves are made up of chiffon at kitang-kita ang manipis kong braso. Lorraine stand behind me and I saw her smiling while looking at my reflection in the mirror. 

“You look so pretty!” She exclaimed kaya napalingon ako mismo sa kaniya. Medyo mataas siya kumpara sa akin kaya pataas ako kung tumingin sa kaniya.

“Oa ka masyado. Dress lang naman.” I said bago humarap muli sa salamin.

She ushered me to move back kaya sinunod ko naman siya, and now I am looking at my whole physique in front of the mirror. Ngayon ko lang napansin na there is a slit on the left side of the dress pala, showing my long-tanned leg. 

I shriek a little, giggling as I make little dances in front of the mirror which made Lorraine laugh as well. “Gosh, ang ganda ko!” I complimented myself bago ako pinaupo  ni Lorraine sa upuan. “Why the sudden make up by you? Masyado ka nang mabait today, bestie!” I exclaimed jokingly na ikinatawa lang niya.

After a couple of minutes, she finally lend me a white four-inched sandals. Even though I look at her with so much confusion, she did not bother to explain and just walk out from my room with her bag and told me to hurry up.

I look at myself for the last time. My natural curls are making me look good, given the fact na I have tanned skin. The minimal headband with pearls on it added a great fashion sense kaya hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti. “Exaggerated but I look great today.” I murmured bago lumabas sa kwarto ko.

Lorraine and I rode a Taxi and she just instructioned the driver where the address is. I am browsing on my phone right now dahil isang gabi ko rin itong hindi nache-check. Lorraine got my things kagabi pala and she told me na I left it in the bar counter last night. I saw some messages from my Thesis group mates but nothing so important naman about their messages. We are already done with it naman, and we are just waiting for our thesis defense, probably enxt month. 

“Nandito na tayo,” Lorraine said kaya napalingon ako sa labas.

Kumunot ng husto ang noo ko nang makitang nasa harapan na kami ng isang malaking simbahan. Lorraine ushered me as we go out from the Taxi then she face me after paying the driver.

“Thalea, listen. Can you help me today?”

“H-Huh?”

She look behind her so sinundan ko ang tingin niya, I watch how my best friend looks anxious but she is still smiling at me—gone those smiles she was showing me earlier kaya kinabahan naman ako bigla.

“I know na you will like it. You just have to walk down the aisle and imagine na you are marrying a rich man.”

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko matapos marinig ang pinagsasabi ng kaibigan ko. I am about to protest but a woman called our attention kaya napatingin ako sa babaeng paparating mula sa likod ni Lorraine.

“You must be the bride. Come on, kanina pa naghihintay ang groom.”