Chapter 2: 1.25: who left versus who stayed

Monica was desperate. She wants me to attend my ex boyfriend and my friend’s wedding.

“Balak mo ba talaga akong saktan?” tanong ko sa kanya. “Ayaw ko siyang makita, Monica. Kuntento na ako na masaya na siya kay Laurel. Wala naman akong sama ng loob sa kanya kasi ako naman ‘yung nang iwan, eh. . .”

She didn’t answer, she just drived.

It’s their wedding day. I didn’t even get an invitation but I even had the nerve to attend! It’s because I was forced to!

“Bakit ayaw mo? Akala ko ba nakamoveon ka na?” she asked me. “You’re a pathological liar. You know?” she rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I haven’t moved on yet! Is that reason enough for you to stop the car and drop me off anywhere here just so I don’t have to see his face?” I frustratedly asked my friend. “I don’t want to ruin such a happy day, Monica. Let’s leave them alone!”

“How are you so sure they’re happy? Have you forgotten, Miss Lynelle Chevan, our friend Laurel is a lesbian!” She looks frustrated and more stressed about my own love life than hers.

“Paano kung nagbago na siya? People change.”

Lumabas siya ng kotse. Huminto kami sa tapat ng malaking pintuan ng simbahan.

“Mauna kang pumasok sa loob.” utos niya sa akin.

Gulat ko siyang tiningnan. “Bakit ako? Ikaw ang nag-isip sa planong ito! At nakakahiya! Baka may makakilala sa akin doon bilang dating nobya ni David, baka sabihin nandoon ako para manira ng kasal!”

“E ‘di ako na! Basta, ikaw na ang bahala sa mga susunod na mangyayari. . .”

My friend sighed and nervously nodded before slowly opening the church window.

I expected everyone to look at us and that’s what happened. All eyes are on me and my best friend opening a wedding's closed church door.

My ex boyfriend whom I love the most, was offering his hands to his bride, my own trusted friend.

He looked at me with confusion.

“D-David. . .” I whispered his name.

“Lynelle? Lynelle!” Kahel’s eyes widened.

Nagkagulo ang mga kaibigan na ngayon lang ako nakita pagkatapos ng ilang taon. I disappeared without any traces left.

They ran towards me with shock on their faces. “You lived! How are you alive?” Hannari’s voice filled the whole church.

They're all saying things I can’t hear. But my eyes are only on David and Laurel, holding each other’s hands.

“What are you doing here, Lynelle?” David’s face darkened.

“I-I just want to attend your wedding--”

“You’re here to ruin our wedding, right? You can’t! We’ll get married here and now and you have nothing you can do to stop it!” Laurel says. Pinulupot niya ang kanyang braso sa matitipunong braso ni David bago ako binigyan ng masamang tingin. “Baby, tell her to get out of here! I feel uncomfortable seeing your ex here!”

David glanced at his fiancee before facing me again. “Please get out.”

Monica stepped in. “David, wala naman siyang ibang gagawin--”

“Get out,” David repeated. “please.”

Tumingin ako sa mga kaibigan ko pero hindi manlang nila ako tinulungan o ipinagtanggol. They just stared at me with pity.

“Lychie, let’s go,” Monica loses hope she held my hand so we can turn back but I stopped her.

“I want to stop this wedding,” I said with confidence. “I will not leave this place!”

“Huwag ka nang mag-eskandalo, Lychie!” saway ni Nirca sa akin. “Leave them be. Let them be happy! We’re okay without you! You left us first!”

“I just want to talk to David,” my eyes watered.

“I don’t want to talk to you,” David turned his wife and his back at me.