Our Sisters and a Wedding

Chapter 6

"Sorry talaga, lab." Bulong ko sa sarili habang pinapanood ang pag-alis ng sasakyan ni Rhian.

Nung hindi ko na matanaw ang sasakyan, bumalik na din ako sa loob. Sinalubong naman ako agad ng kapatid ko.

"Ate, anong nangyari kay ate Rhian?"

"Nalasing na yata. Medyo napasarap sa wine." Natatawang sagot ko kay Gabbi.

Natawa din ang kapatid ko. "Hala, sana okay lang si ate."

Ngumiti lang ako kahit deep inside, nasasaktan pa rin ako sa naging usapan namin ni Rhian. Nasasaktan ako kasi totoo yung mga sinabi niya sa akin. At masakit dahil wala akong magawa.

Ang malas ko lang, kilalang-kilala din ako ng kapatid ko. Alam niyang nagpapanggap lang akong masaya.

"Ate, may hindi ka ba sinasabi sa akin tungkol sa inyo ni ate Rhian?"

Tinignan ko ang kapatid ko ng matagal. Inisip ko kung kailangan pa ba niyang malaman ang nakaraan namin.

Tumango na lang ako. Wala naman akong maitatago kay Gab. Kaming dalawa lang naman talaga ang magkakampi simula noon.

"Sabi na ate eh. Iba yung tinginan niyo kanina. Parang may lalim. Parang may something."

Hindi ko alam ang kung anong sasabihin ko. Napakunot na lang ng noo ang kapatid ko sa akin.

"Magkagalit ba kayo ate?"

Huminga lang ako ng malalim. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapaliwanag sa kapatid ko ang lahat. Tumango na lang si Gab at ipinatong ang ulo niya sa balikat ko.

"Kuwento mo sa kin bukas ha?"

Nginitian ko si Gabbi at inakbayan. Buti na lang nabiyayaan ako ng mabait at understanding na kapatid.

"Oo bukas na lang. Ayokong masira ang special night niyo ni Khalil ng dahil lang sa nakaraan."

Tumango at ngumiti din si Gabbi sabay yakap sa kin.

Sana lang maintindihan ako ng kapatid ko kapag sinabi ko sa kaniya ang totoo. Sana lang hindi maging katulad ng reaksiyon ni Nanay ang reaksiyon niya. Niyakap ko din ng mahigpit ang kapatid ko. Hindi ko yata kakayanin kung ganun din ang magiging reaksiyon ni Gab sa akin.

"Tara na dun. Tayo naman uminom ng wine." Yaya ni Gabbi sa kin nang nakangiti.

"Wag masyado ha? Baka pauwiin ka din agad kagaya ng ate Rhian mo." Biro ko kay Gabbi.

Nagtawanan kami habang papabalik sa mga pamilya namin.

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I woke up in my room with only a little memory from last night. I knew for a fact that my my little brother got engaged, and also for the first time in five years I saw Glaiza again.

But how I got into my room, I couldn't remember anymore. I looked at the clothes I was wearing and, yup, it was still my dress from last night.

I heard a knock on my door and grumbled. "Come in."

The door opened slowly and I saw my brother took a peek into my room. When he saw me, he didn't even bother to hide his laughter.

"Oh wow, you're a mess."

"Good morning to you too, Lil Bro."

He went inside the room carrying a tray with pancakes and juice and placed it on my bed. I took a deep breath and sighed at the scent of hot-off-the-stove pancakes. Suddenly my stomach grumbled.

"This isn't for free." Khalil pointed at the food as he sat down on the chair near my bed.

I narrowed my eyes at my brother before taking the food.

"So, care to share?"

I held out my fork to him and he shook his head. "Yon, you know what I mean."

I swallowed my food and groaned. "Kailangan ko pa ba talaga mag-kwento? That was already in the past."

Khalil grinned at me. "But clearly, you're not over it. Do you even remember what you said to ate Glai last night?"

I shook my head and felt a little dizzy.

"From the look on her face, what you said to her had hurt her."

I took another forkful of pancakes and swallowed before speaking again.

"She deserved it."

"Yon."

I gulped down on my juice and pushed the food aside. "Fine, I'll tell you. But don't judge me, okay."

Khalil raised his right hand. "Promise."

I took a deep breath before speaking.

Author's Notes: sorry for the cliffhanger! Malay niyo ipublish ko din bukas yung next part ;)