Akala ko narinig niya ang sinabi ko kagabi. Na titira ako kasama niya habang narito ako sa Navas. Ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit tila wala naman siyang narinig. He didn't even say a word. Kaya inisip ko na lamang na hindi nga niya iyon narinig.

Nasa loob ng kwarto ko si Dwight ngayon. He's wearing a black stripe tuxedo and a black slacks. Ang may kahabaan niyang buhok ay pormal na nakasuklay hanggang sa kanyang likod. Nakatunganga siyang nakatingin sa akin habang nag-aayos ako.

"Hindi ka ba hahanapin sa reception, Dwight?"

He tilted his head.

"No. Maybe."

"You shouldn't came here, you know! Alam ko naman kung saan ang bahay niyo," nakangiting ani ko.

"Yeah, I know."

"Can you hand me my earrings, please?"

Kinuha niya iyon sa kama ko. Inabot niya iyon sa akin at tinanggap ko. Agad ko iyong isinuot sa tainga ko. It's a circle white pearl earrings.

Tumayo na ako at kinuha ko ang purse ko. Inilagay ko roon ang foundation, lipstick at selpon ko.

"I'm done. Let's go?" pagyaya ko.

Tamad siyang tumayo sa sofa na naroon. He gaze me from head to toe. Inilagay niya sa baba niya ang daliri niya.

"Hmm, by the way,"

"Bakit?" I asked.

"Did you met already? I mean... Realtor?"

Nabigla ako roon. Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot sa tanong na iyon ni Dwight.

"Oh!" he beamed.

Maybe he got the answer for his question through my silence. Nagkibit na lamang ako ng balikat ko.

We went out from my room and headed to the elevator. Siya na ang pumindot ng ground floor. I stayed by his side. I saw his face reflecting the wall of the elevator. It was lack of emotions. His eyes were lifeless.

Nagtaka ako roon. But I didn't ask him. Dwight always open a topic even if it is about his personal life if he wanted it to share with me. But I guess, it's different now. Dahil tahimik lamang siya.

Tumunog ang elevator senyalis na nasa baba na kami. Naunang lumabas sa akin si Dwight. I was just looking at his back. I know that something's off.

Binuhay niya ang kotse niya. He didn't open the door of the car for me. Mas lalo akong nagtaka sa ikinilos niya. Ngunit hinayaan ko na lang din.

Nakarating kami sa mansion nila kung saan ang venue ng kasal. I saw lot of people. Kulay dilaw ang ilaw na ginamit nila. Alas sais na ng hapon kaya medyo dumidilim na.

Dwight's held my back as we walked towards the table that was on the right side. Medyo malayo iyon sa unahan. We were both sitting when the groom approach us.

I saw Aiden wearing a white tuxedo and a white slacks. His cleancut hair was fixed making him look so rugged and handsome. Ang matalim at malalalim niyang mga mata ay nakatingin sa amin ng kasama ko. His sharp and pointed nose was defined as his thin lips were pressed in a thin line.

"Raquel," banggit ni Aiden sa pangalan ko.

I gave him a smile.

"Thanks for inviting me here, Aiden."

Bahagya siyang ngumiti sa akin.

"How's Dwight?" lingong tanong niya sa kasama ko.

Lumingon din ako kay Dwight. Nakita kong matalim siyang nakatingin sa kapatid niya. Nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba sa pamamagitan ng tinginan nilang iyon.

"Fuck off, Aiden," Dwight said in a firm voice.

A scary smirked appeared on Aiden's lips. Napakunot ako ng noo ko.

"Don't be like that. I'm even trying to win her yet you're angry," it was Dwight's older brother, Aiden.

Nagtitigan lamang sila. Nagkunwari akong tumikhim para agawin ang atensiyon nilang pareho.

Dwight was the first one to look at me.

"Enjoy, Raquel," Aiden left us after that.

I stared at Dwight. Kita ko ang galit sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa kawalan. I even saw him clenching his fist.

Hinawakan ko siya sa balikat niya.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He stared back at me. He nodded his head.

"Restroom lang ako," turo ko sa bahay nila.

Tumayo na ako at iniwan siya sa puwesto namin. Naglakad ako papunta sa loob ng bahay nila.

I instantly saw tita talking to a middle aged woman. Nakita ko rin si tito sa tabi ni tita. Lalapit sana ako sa kanila ngunit hindi ko na ginawa. Dumiretso na lamang ako sa banyo na nasa baba ng bahay nila.

Papasok na ako sa banyo nang may marinig akong nagsisigawan sa taas. Napakunot ang noo ko sa narinig ko.

"Baby, please... l-let's stop this, hmm?" I heard a familiar voice.

"I told you before that I don't want this, Aiden! I-I told you that w-we shouldn't do this!" sigaw ng pambabaing boses.

"I promise. I promise I'll do whatever you want but please, please not this. I-I don't like what you are talking," Aiden's voice seems pleading.

"But I don't also like what you wanted to happen! T-this is the last, Aiden. I'm begging you..."

Hindi na lamang ako tumuloy sa gagawin ko sana sa banyo. Mabilis akong umalis doon at naglakad palabas. I wasn't looking in the way when I bumped into someone.

"Pasensiya na," paghingi ko ng tawad.

Kaagad kong naamoy ang pamilyar na pabango na iyon. Bigla kong naramdaman ang kakaibang pakiramdam sa tuwing malapit si Realtor sa akin.

I looked up. Only to see his face that was staring at me.

"Careful, Kel," he said.

Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya. Inayos ko ang pagkakatayo ko at tumingin ng diretso sa kanya.

"Narito ka rin pala,"

He slowly nodded his head.

"Uh-huh,"

Palihim ko siyang pinasadahan ng tingin. He's wearing a black plain tuxedo. His hair was still in a mess like the first time we meet the other day.

"M-mauna na ako..." paalam ko.

I didn't wait for his words. Umalis na ako at naglakad palayo sa lalaking nabangga ko. Bumalik na lamang ako sa puwesto kung nasaan kami kanina ni Dwight. But when I got there, I didn't saw Dwight.

Kinuha ko na lamang ang selpon ko purse na dala ko.

I texted Papa. Saying that I'm currently attending the wedding. Hindi ako nakatanggap ng reply kay Papa. Kaya binuksan ko na lamang ang instagram account ko. Photos of the wedding that I'm currently in flooded on my news feed.

Monderondo's publicity...

I was scrolling and reading some articles when I felt someone sit beside me. Naamoy ko na naman ang pabangong iyon.

Really, Realtor?

Nilingon ko siya.

"Bakit narito ka?"

He just smiled at me.

"You don't have anyone to accompany you so..."

"Tsk."

Pinatay ko na lamang ang selpon ko at ipinasok iyon sa purse ko. Uminom na lamang ako sa wine na naroon. I felt him taking glances at me. Binalewala ko iyon. I just keep on drinking the wine that was on our table.

Nang malapit ko ng makalahati iyon ay kinuha ko ulit ang selpon ko. I just texted Dwight that I'm going. Inaantok na kase ako. Hindi na ako naghintay sa reply niya at tumayo na lang. Realtor stood up next to me.

"Where are you going?" Shutting my brows, I asked him.

He also shut his brows at me.

"You're going. I'm going too," napanganga ako sa kanya.

T-too?

Okay. Relax, Raquel. Aalis lang siya kagaya mo but it doesn't mean that he's going with you. So relax...

I took a deep breath and looked at him.

"O-okay."

Naglakad na ako palabas ng mansion ng mga Monderondo. Nasa labas na ako ng gate nang maisip ko na wala pala akong dalang kotse! It's already midnight kaya malabong may sasakyan pa.

Oh, great!

I was in the middle of thinking if I should walk until I got myself in the hotel when a beep of the car suddenly got me. Napalingon ako sa likod ko.

Sumalubong sa akin ang headlights ng kotse na iyon kaya hindi ko makita kung sino ang nasa loob. But the moment he turned the headlights of his car off, I saw the face of the man.

Si Realtor.

He opened the window of his car.

"Get in," utos niya.

Ikiniling ko ang ulo ko bago magdesisyon na pumasok.

Tinitigan niya ako nang nasa loob na ako. Umirap lang ako. I heard him laughed. Mas lalo kong inikot ang mga mata ko. But I couldn't contain the smile that crept on my lips. Napangiti na rin ako.

"Your seatbelt,"

Agad ko iyong isinuot nang marinig ko siyang sabihin iyon. I just don't want him to have the idea that I didn't wore it purposely so that he'll do it for my sake. Nakakahiya lang.

Nakatingin ako sa bintana nang buhayin niya ang kotse niya. Pinaandar niya iyon paalis sa reception at nagmaneho papunta sa hotel kung saan ako nag-book.