"I want this, babe!" maktol ni Elai sa fiancé na si Thor. They were in the process of finalizing the wedding details. Nasa kalagitnaan sila sa pagdedecide kung anong centerpiece ang ilalagay sa table.
Napailing na lang si Thor. "Anything you want, babe! Hindi na ko kokontra," ani Thor na tila pinipikon pa ang fiancée.
"That's my problem," inis na turan ni Elai. "You seemed not to care. Wala ka bang ifefeedback?"
Napatanga si Thor, napalingon sa mga kaibigan. Tinotoyo ata ang fiancée niya.
"Give it a rest, Elaija," singit ni Wallen na tatawa-tawa sa arte ng kaibigan. "Masanay ka na. Wala talagang kokontra sayo."
"Take it from us, kahit anong pagpapa-cute mo sa fiancé mo, hindi yan magrereact. He'll just go whatever you wish for," komento naman ni Terrenz habang nagbabalat ng apple which the guys are eating.
"I don't get why we have to be so fuzzy over wedding details, when you can have all you want," dugtong pa ni Thor.
"See, they won't care," ani ulit Terrenz. Humarap ito kay Ally na busy naman sa pagflip ng magazine for wedding gowns. "Kaya ikaw din? Masanay ka na. 3 na kaming pagbibase-san mo ng experience."
Ngumiwi lang si Ally. "Well, the wedding still due early next year. Madami pa kong time."
"Sweets, I can marry you anytime now. I don't see the point that we have to wait till next year," turan ni JV.
"Excuse me!" apila ni Elai. "We've been through this. Our weddings are special, ayaw namin ng may kaagaw ng attention. Tsaka what happened to your Sukob rule? Eh di ba kayo nagpauso niyan. Hindi naman kayo magkakadugo but you all insist on not marrying the same year."
"Mabuti nang sigurado or sumunod sa pamahiin," sagot ni Buboy. "Mahirap na baka may effect sa brotherhood ang sukob."
"Eh pano naman yung isa dun?" turan ni JV. Everyone turned their heads sa nanahimik na si Matt sa isang sulok ng salas. He's reading a book.
Matt didn't looked back at his friends pero dinig niya ang usapan ng mga ito. Hindi sa ayaw niyang makipag-usap. It's just that hindi iyon ang topic na gusto niyang pag-usapan. And after what happened to him, tila wala pa siya sa mood na pag-usapan ang kasal.
3 months ago, nagising siya to a very beautiful dream...
****
He was so happy to see na makitang nasa tabi niya ang babaeng pinipili niyang makasama habang buhay. She was peacefully sleeping beside her. Nakayapos ito sa kaniya with her naked self. He can help but to feel the warmth of her attractiveness. He kissed her forehead. Naalimpungatan ito and twitched. Umungot ito and looked up at him. She pouted her lips na parang batang umuungot ng halik. He smiled and obliged.
"What time is it?" anito sa groggy voice.
"I don't know and I don't care," sagot niya and pulled her tighter in a hug.
"I'm hungry, can we still do breakfast?" anito in a cute tone.
"Is that your way to induce me? Because I might fall for it," biro niya.
Hinampas siya nito. "As much as it's fun to do, I'm serious. I'm starving." Uminat na ito atsaka bumangon. Napakilos na rin si Matt.
"There's no food here, we have to go outside," ani Matt habang nag-aayos ng sarili. Via was looking inside wardrobe. Naghahanap ng maisusuot for she was still wearing the princess gown last night.
"I don't think we can do that," ani Via wearing a large white shirt na nakita sa loob ng wardrobe. "You better call yacht service or something."
Matt smiled. He loved how Via comfortably wore his white shirt. Nagmukha iyong maxi dress sa dalaga. He can't help but to admire Via's alluring beauty. He jumped accross the bed and lumapit sa kaniya. He hugged her.
"I really want to stay in bed and have you as breakfast." He intimately gave her a kiss. Via kissed him back. Naglambitin pa ito sa leeg niya. But she pushed her eventually.
"I know I am that seductive and you're lustful, but I really want to eat real food. Mahirap na baka maubos kita," biro ng dalaga. Bumitiw na ito sa kaniya and took his phone. Inabot iyon ni Via sa kaniya and pushed him to call food delivery.
***
"KUYA MATT!!!!"
Napaangat sa binabasang libro si Matt at napalingon sa direksyon ng sumisigaw na si Belle. Napatingin din ang mga kaibigan niya.
"Kuya Matttt! Come herrree!!!" Sigaw pa rin ni Belle.
Napatayo si Matt. At mabilis na tinungo ang entertainment room kung nasan si Belle, kasunod ang mga kaibigan niya.
"Why?" he asked worried.
"Look!" ani Belle in an excitement saka itinuro ang TV. "It's ate Via!"
Ganun na lang ang pagkatulala ni Matt nang mapagtanto ang tinuturo ng kapatid. Hindi ito nakahuma. Natigilan din ang mga kaibigan niya. Sabay-sabay silang napatitig sa TV. Pinanood ang palabas kung san naroon si Via. It was a talk show probably in London. Via was guesting.
"Wow! You did look beautiful!" turan ng british host.
"Thank you!" simpleng tugon ni Via as she sit on the lounge chair.
Indeed she was beautiful. For 3 months, tila ito nagbloom. She was smiling as if she's really contented...
***
Inabot na ulit sila ng gabi sa yate. But it seems Via doesn't want to leave yet. Maghapon na niya itong kasama and it was a very wonderful day for Matt.
They were lounging again sa itaas ng yate looking over a starry sky, drinking wine.
"I just wish this day lasts forever..." ani Via in a serious tone. Nakatihaya ito at nakatitig sa kalangitan.
Tila sa buong maghapong kasama niya ito, naikwento na nito ang buong buhay niya. She was eager to tell it all na para bang matagal niya ng gustong gawin iyon but no one dared to listen. He felt Via's happiness opening up herself. But somewhere within, alam niyang tinatago pa nito ang bigat ng nararamdaman.
"But I guess, I can't hide forever," anito not looking at him. Nakatitig lang ito sa kalangitan.
Matt reached her. Yumakap ito sa kaniya. "Are you scared to go back? We can't stay here long but I know a place na walang gugulo sayo."
Matt wants to protect her. He knows na if Via decides to go back to reality, she will be in a lot of trouble. And he's very much willing to protect her. He wouldn't let someone else hurt her again.
"That's tempting," ngiti ni Via sa kaniya. Bumangon ito. "What do you think will happen?"
Matt sit up as well. "Well, why worry? We could simply admit," Matt said not even blinking. It's as if he really meant what he said.
Via's faced weakly smiled. "I wish it was easy..." she said in a whisper. Napayuko ito. She is smiling but Matt can feel her sadness. Nanatili itong nakayuko. Then, bigla itong humikbi.
Matt got alarmed. Napatuwid ito and held Via's face up. He saw tears. She must've been hiding her pain all day long. But she can't take it any longer.
"Hey, hey, hey..." Matt held her face dahil iniiwas na ito ni Via. She was heavily sobbing now. "I didn't mean to scare you." He seemed to think that way.
Umiiyak na umiling si Via. "I'm sorry for crying again. I've been trying so hard to hide out sa maghapon. Honestly, I'm so happy that you're here. I really wish this day won't end," She wiped her tears and took a deep breath. "No matter what I do, I can't hide the reality that I have to go back and face it. I have to clear my name. Hindi ko na matatanggap na basta na lang mag-let go. They have to pay me back," turan ni Via in an almost clenched fist tone.
Matt can't find the right words to say. Sa maghapong kasama niya ito he did not thought of the reality that Via was still hurting. She gave herself to him. He didn't thought that Via might just be trying to forget the pain. He felt selfish about it. He enjoyed so much not knowing, he's also hurting Via. Imbes na maprotektahan niya ito, lalo niya lang itong pinahamak.
Via was a public figure. She got hurt with made up lies. She tried to ran away and hide. But she ran away with him. Siya na itinuturong dahilan sa made up lies na nakapanakit rito. If people would know that they stayed together sa isang yate buong magdamag and maghapon, para na rin nilang pinatunayan that the made up lies were true. That would hurt Via even more.
"I love you, Matt. I really do," amin nang umiiyak na dalaga. "But this is not the right time to admit it. You understand that, right?"
"Via..." he sounded pleading. Nararamdaman niya ang gustong tukuyin ng dalaga. He looked at her straight in the eye. Tila naluluha na rin siya.
"I'm asking you to wait for me. Wait for me, Matt. I promise it'll better next time," ani Via looking back at him.
He didn't respond. Instead, she reached out to her and kissed her intensely. Longing not to let her go...
***
Matt turned the TV off.
"Aguimatt!" sita ni Terrenz. Napatingin sa kaniya ang mga kaibigan.
"Belle, go to your room muna," mariing turan ni Matt sa kapatid.
"But Kuya, that's ate Vi," apila ni Belle.
Lumapit si Elai sa bata at inakay ito, "Let's go, Belle. Dun na lang tayo sa room mo manood." Hawak ang kamay na sumunod si Belle kay Elai.
Matt was clenching his fist. He felt raging. But anong rason para gawin niya yun? Just because she saw Via again.
She told him to wait. He did wait! Pero wala na itong sinabi pagkatapos nung gabing iyon 3months ago. He didn't know how long he should wait. For 3months wala siyang narinig dito. He only heard news about her on media. But she didn't even dare to call him. He wanted to reach out to her but he couldn't muster the courage na abalahin ito.
"Bro?" ani Thor. "Are you ok?"
"Tell me, does she looked happy? Or is it just me thinking?" ani Matt sarcastically.
"Bro, she must've her reasons," ani Buboy.
Matt smirked. "You see, I've been feeding myself that for 3months now. Alam niyo, I am trying my hardest eh. To understand her, to understand the situation!" ani Matt clenching. "But seeing her that way, I don't know... Baka ako lang naman talaga ang naghihintay," It is evident in Matt's tone how painful it is to him. It's a picture of a lost true love.
"Matt..." ani Wallen, wanting to hug Matt.
Hindi na napigil ni Matt. His tears fell. But he wipe it off immediately and in a dignified tone, he said...
"If she's happy, let her be. I no longer care." Then he left the room.
Nagkatinginan ang apat na miyembro ng Warrior Five. Then JV voice out what they were all thinking...
"We badly need to do something now..."