RJ's POV
Daddy left me in my room pondering about the possibility of Charm and I have met long ago to the point of I had a one night stand with her. But how shall I ask her about Celestine's father, ngayong araw lang kami hindi nagbangayan, baka sabihin naman nya abusado ako. Wala ngang pakialamanan di ba? Yung tungkol nga sa tukmol na si Jacob, tipid na tipid ang sagot nya nung tinanong ko what more kung itanong ko pa ang tungkol sa Daddy ni Celestine.
But this curiosity is killing me, what if tama ang Daddy ko. The way we talk earlier, sinasadya nya na hindi mapunta ang discussion tungkol sa kanya, lahat tungkol sa pamilya nya and a bit about how Celestine grows up, walang tungkol sa kanya at sa background ng anak nya. How would I know her more kung sa mga simpleng information about her ay madamot sya, ang hirap naman nito.
On the other hand, why would I bother to know her more kung after the wedding, yung annulment naman ang aasikasuhin namin. To know her deeply would be a waste of time because I'm sure, hindi namin gugustuhin na makita pa ulit ang isa't-isa. But this would mean, I can no longer see Celestine again. Obviously, hindi sya iiwan ni Charm sa akin, unless mapatunayan kong anak ko si Celestine but what shall I do? Ang hirap talaga ng ganito.
I am in deep thought when my phone vibrates for a text message. As I check on it, the message is from Charm, I quickly read it baka kasi importante. "Can we please move our meeting with Chloe at around five tomorrow? I need to go to Celestine's school in the morning therefore I have to move my practice in the afternoon."
"May problema ba sa school ni Celestine?" I asked in reply.
"Wala naman, I just need to talk to her teacher about their coming event"
"Ok, tawagan ko si Chloe. I'll ask her if ok lang na ma-move ang meeting natin with her."
"No need, I called her first before ako nag-text sa yo, ok lang daw sa kanya"
"Ok, I'll just see you around five tomorrow."
She did not reply anymore after my last message, palibhasa nakuha na nya ang gusto nya. I really have to get use to this attitude of this Mendoza Girl, dahil kung hindi malamang kahit sobrang liit na bagay pag-aawayan namin.
Ahhh … ubos na ubos ang oras ko sa yo Charmaine Mendoza, ano ba itong ginagawa mo sa akin, bakit dati sobrang dali lang ng mga bagay para sa akin, bakit ngayon, pagdating sa iyo, ang hirap-hirap na.
///
Now I regret agreeing on moving this meeting at five. I should have suggested an earlier time, hindi ko man lang narealized na rush hour na ang five in the afternoon, siguradong late na naman ako nito. Paglabas pa lang ng building build-up na agad ang pila sa exit, malamang lalo na sa labas. True enough, late na naman ako. I found Chloe and Charm at the table reserved for us.
"Next time, kapag five ang appointment, sasabihin ko sa yo three o'clock." Charm said without even saying Hi first.
"Hello Charm, nice to see you again. Hello Chloe." I greeted.
"Hi RJ, don't worry we did not wait long naman." Chloe said.
"Three minutes lang naman akong late, nahirapan kasi akong kumuha ng parking." I explained.
"Anyway, maybe we could start kasi I need to leave agad. My husband and I are going out on a date today. Wedding anniversary kasi namin ngayon." Chloe said.
"Huh? Sana sinabi mo agad so we just moved this meeting, maybe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. But, Happy Anniversary, Chloe." Charm said.
"Thanks. Ok lang naman, this meeting will not be as lengthy as what we previously had. Mag-update lang naman ako sa inyo at reminder na rin dun sa iba pang documents na need sa church." Chloe said.
"That reminds me, can we do away with those wedding seminars and marriage counselling sessions, we all know we don't need it" Charm said.
"I tried Meng, pero ayaw dun sa church eh. But I was able to reduce it to one session na lang. Hindi na kayo sasabay dun sa mga ibang ikakasal, you will have a special session for the marriage counselling, isasabay na ring i-discuss dun yung iba pang details ng wedding at ng family planning." Chloe said.
"Family planning?" Charm and I said in unison
"Sorry guys, part of the package. Malay nyo naman kailanganin nyo." Chloe teases while meaningfully beaming. "Also, nakausap ko na si Sir Ricky and Sir Teddy kaninang umaga, we are reducing the invited guest from 500 to 300." Chloe said.
"300???? Hoy Faulkerson Jr., bakit 300 ang guests usapan natin simple lang di ba. Sabi mo pumayag si Tito Ricky, niloloko mo ba ko?" Charm reacted again.
"Wag mo akong pagbibintangan, wala akong kinalaman dyan." I replied.
"Eh bakit 300 pa rin, ang dami pa rin bisita, usapan natin simple lang ah." Charm protested.
"Ah Meng, si Tito Teddy kasi ang may gusto na 300. Sabi nya hindi daw kakayanin ng 100 lang." Chloe explained.
"Oh ano na, sige angal pa, baka imbes na mabawasan yan, bumalik pa sa 500 dahil dyan sa mga complains mo." I said daring her to protest more.
"Parang wala namang nabago sa pinag-usapan nating simpleng kasal lang." She said while pouting and I find it really cute, para syang si Celestine, ang sarap panggigilan.
"Hindi na rin kasi natin mababawi yung mga binayad natin Meng, sa number na lang ng guests talaga tayo mag-aadjust if we want to make this a simple wedding lang." Chloe said. "I'm sorry, mahirap nang mapagalitan ni Sir Teddy eh."
"Hayaan mo na Chloe. Wala naman na akong magagawa eh." She said.
"Next week pala we are going out of town. Since mahilig si Meng sa beach, sa La Union namin naisip na gawin yung pre-nup photos nyo. Ok lang ba yun sa inyo?" Chloe asked.
"Why not in Baler? Dicasalarin is a beautiful place." I suggested.
"Pero mahabang byahe yun RJ, almost six hours." Chloe said.
"I have been to Dicasalarin too, maganda talaga dun. Pero sayang ang one hour and a half na travel difference, ok lang naman sa La Union, marami din naman magagandang beach dun." Charm said.
"Ok it is two against one, the girls won this argument." I said.
"Thanks RJ. Last na, I don't see Charm wearing her engagement ring. I suggest you wear it all the time Meng lalo na sa photoshoot. Sana nga may picture kayo ng ring during the proposal." Chloe said.
"How can I wear one if I don't have any." Charm replied.
"What, wala kang engagement ring?" Chloe asked.
"Wag kang OA Chloe, you know that we don't need one. Walang proposal therefore walang ring" Charm replied.
"Yes we don't need it, if we are to flaunt that this is just an arranged marriage. But that is not how we want the people to see this right?" Chloe uttered.
"It's alright Chloe, I'll take care of it" I said.
"O sige pero make sure na sa photoshoot may suot kang engagement ring, Meng." Chloe said.
"O sige, hihiramin ko na lang yung engement ring ng Nanay ko" Charm said and I could not help but chuckled.
"Anong nakakatawa Faulkerson, Jr., wag mong sabihing bibili ka pa, sayang ang pera." She said.
"As much as I wanted to stay longer because the two of you are already started bickering, I really need to go. Sayang mami-miss ko ang palitan nyo ng kuro-kuro." Chloe said, teasing. "Babay na muna for now, don't forget the engagement ring Charm, hindi ko itutuloy ang photoshoot kapag wala yun, you don't want another re-scheduling right?" She said while giving us her goodbye kiss before she leaves.
"Seryoso ako Faulkerson, Jr., hihiramin ko na lang yung engagement ring ng Nanay ko." She said.
"Tapos makikita ng mga kamag-anak nyo at itatanong kung bakit engagement ring ng Nanay mo yung suot mo." I said.
"Sasabihin ko, pass on, gusto ni Nanay na yung engagement ring nya ang gamitin ko para mas sentimental, heirloom baga." She reasoned out.
"Or pwede naman nilang sabihin na pinikot mo lang ako kaya wala kang engagement ring." I said.
"Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo eh, hoy hindi komo pumayag akong ituloy ang kasal na 'to ibig sabihin friends na tayo at pwede mo na akong biruin hanggang gusto mo." She said.
I did not answer anymore because it will just lengthen a senseless discussion. Instead I took out my Mom's engagement ring from my pocket and hand her the box.
"Here, eto ang gamitin mo." I said. She took it and I saw how her eyes widens when she sees the ring inside it.
"Ang ganda naman nito." She said then she gave it back to me.
"Hindi joke yun Mendoza Girl, yan na ang gamitin mong engagement ring, wag mo nang pag-interesan yung singsing ng Nanay mo." I said.
"Siraulo ka ba, hindi ako mahilig sa alahas pero alam kong tumingin kung mahal o hindi. This jewelry is really expensive Faulkerson, Jr., ayokong isuot yan kasi baka mawala ko lang, nakakatakot." She said.
"Honestly, hindi ko alam kung magkano yan." I told her.
"Gago ka saan mo kinuha 'to?" She asked.
"My Dad gave me that, it is actually my Mom's engagement ring." I said.
"Lalong ayokong isuot yan, baka ako pa ang makawala nyan multuhin pa ako ng Mommy mo." She said.
I took the ring out from the box and kneel beside her so I can grab her left hand. "Sabi mo nga wala naman na tayong magagawa di ba, then just let's just go with the flow, tutal pumayag ka nang magpakasal sa akin, gawin mo na rin kung ano ang mga dapat gawin." I said and quickly puts the ring on her finger.
"Paano na kapag nawala ko 'to?" She asked.
"I'm sure you won't, my mom will not let you loose it, tingnan mo nga parang isinukat sa yo, mukhang destined kang isuot ang engagement ring ng Mommy ko." I said.