Acquiescence of Diamond

Chapter 17

Warning: Explicit content (Language, Depression, Anxiety, Cheating, Theft, Rape, Suicide)

             We all cheered when the newlyweds favoured us a sweet kiss as they finished their first dance as a married couple. Kitang kita sa mukha at mata ni Hiraya ang kasiyahan na nararamdaman niya ngayon. That with no doubt, she deserves. She's been always a strong but stubborn woman who matured so well.

             I smiled seeing the way the couple looked at each other. The stare of pure love, contentment, and happiness that I don't think I will experience anymore.

             "Sino kaya ang susunod na ikakasal?" Rai's question made me blink and become mute.

             Nagkatinginan na lang kami ng pinsan kong si Alvara dahil alam naming hindi isa sa amin. "Baka si Nola?" sabay pa naming baling kay Nola na napipi rin sa amin.

             "Sige si Eos na lang," tawa ni Rai kaya't nakangiting napabaling na lang rin ako sa isa sa upuang kasama namin sa mesa. Bakante talaga iyon dahil nakalaan para kay Eos. "Ikaw Daya?"

             "Ha?" napapakurap na balik tingin ko dito. "Anong ako?"

             "Kung hindi ka pa daw ba ikakasal," nang-uuyam ang tono ng pag-ulit ni Alvara kaya inirapan ko ito.

             Then I just get my glass of wine before answering Rai, "I don't know? I'm still busy with my career. Wala rin akong natitipuhan."

             Rai tsked at me saka kinuha na lang din ang wine glass niya, "Abangan ko na nga lang sinong makakuha ng bouquet ni Hiraya mamaya."

             "Good luck!" Hiraya hugged us before going back to a distance from where we were, ready to toss her bouquet. Kami naman ay mga nakaabang.

             Readying ourselves to catch Hiraya's bouquet, all of us cheered when she tossed it into the air and gasped when it didn't land on us dahil may humarang doon. The dashing Hermes Castellano was the one who catches it who is the older brother of Hiraya. Siya rin ang kapareho ko kanina sa paglakad sa wedding entourage bago ang wedding ceremony.

             All of us blinked at dismay but laughed as Hiraya cutely whined at his brother's doing. "What? I'll guess who's going to be the next bride," paliwanag pa nito sa kay Hiraya na nagsitawanan na lang ang lahat.

             "I swear, brother. You better do that right," ani pa ni Hiraya dahil ayaw magpatalo ng kapatid niya.

             Yet ng lumakad na ito papunta sa amin ay kinakabahang nasalubong ko ang mata nito to which I gulp. People and even the groom and bride cheered as Hermes stopped in front of me.

             Napakurap na lang ako ng ilahad nito sa akin ang bouquet dahilan para magpapalit-palit ang tingin ko sa bouquet at kay Hermes. There's no enough reason for him to give this to me aside from pure fun. I barely knew him dahil kanina ko pa lang naman siya nakasama sa wedding entourage. Yet the way he smiles at me says like he knows me.

             "Get it!" Hiraya even shouted happily kaya ngumiti ako kay Hermes ng kuhanin ko ang bouquet. People cheered and applaud as I receive it lalo na ang mga kaibigan ko.

             "Ikaw naman pala kasi talaga," Rai chuckled with me that got interrupted by a call.

             "Excuse me," paalam ko sa mga ito saka pumunta sa gilid ng cruise ship. Si Kenvil iyon na siguradong nasa La Douleur na ngayon. "Oh?" I let my sage green bridesmaid gown got blown by the ocean wind.