18 - Carry on with the Wedding Preparation

Charm's POV

Since tuloy ang kasal, eto na naman kami sa walang katapusang fitting, food tasting, souvenir shopping, entourage meeting at marami pang iba. Kung alam ko lang na ang ibig sabihin ng simpleng kasal para sa Tatay ko at Daddy ni RJ ay pagbawas lang ng guest from 500 to 300 sana sinabi ko na lang na sa judge na lang kami nagpakasal. Pareho din ang stress, napapabayaan ko na yung online trading ko, dagdag pa na malapit na ang competion ko, kaya ang nanay ko praning na praning at kung anu-anong kasabihang ang nililitanya sa akin.

"Tigilan mo na kasi yang motocross driving na yan eh, ano bang maganda ang idudulot nyan sa yo?" She rants the same while I am fitting my gown.

"Nay, masaya po ako sa sports ko na 'to, hayaan nyo na po ako." I said

"Masaya ka? Masaya kang nag-aalala ako at halos mamatay sa nerbiyos kapag may competition ka?" She said while Chloe is silently listening to us. "Kaya ayun pati si Celestine, natututo nang magtago sa akin para lang mapanood sa internet yung mga videos mo" She continue ranting and ignoring other people might hear her.

"But Mommy is good at it Lola, why are you stoping her?" Celestine asked.

"Really Celestine, your Mom is good in motocross driving?" Chloe asked my little angel.

"Yes Tita Chloe, would you like me to show you her videos? It is in her phone." Celestine said.

"Tingnan mo yang kalokohan mo bata ka, pinatigil ko kaka-internet yang anak mo para hindi na panoorin ang videos mo, eh nasa phone mo naman pala. Wag mong lasunin ang isip ng apo ko Charmaine Dei, hindi ko yan papatirahin sa inyo kapag nakasal ka na kay RJ." Nanay continuously rants.

"Baka naman nasilip lang ni Celestine habang nanonood ako ng mga stunts ko Nay, hindi ko naman ipinapanood sa kanya yung mga jumps ko." I said.

"But you show it to me once, Mommy. Remember, we watched it together." Celestine said.

"Really baby, I don't remember that we did that." I denied.

"You did Mommy, you show it to me and Daddy RJ." Celestine said, nakakaloka, hindi ko napigil ang katabilan ng anak ko ha.

"Kita mo na, mabuti na lang hindi ko tinuruang magsinungaling yang anak mo." Nanay said.

"Ikaw naman kasi Charm, bakit ba kasi ipinapakita mo pa sa anak mo yung mga extreme jumps mo, nagagalit tuloy si Nanay." Chloe naughtily said while chuckling.

"Isa pa yang si RJ, kunsintidor din. Wag ko na kayang payagang tumira ang apo ko kasama nyong dalawa, mas matindi pa ang nerbiyos ko nagkataon." Nanay said.

"Relax ka lang Nay, alam ko naman ang mabuti para sa anak ko" I said before I went to the changing room.

"Siguraduhin nyo lang na hindi lalaking spoiled ang apo ko, kapag nangyari yun ako mismo ang kukuha sa batang yan sa Laguna." She never stops ranting while I am still in the changing room

"Noted Nay, copy po" I said just to end the conversation.

"Good evening Tita Mary." I heard a familiar voice greeted my mother. Buti na lang nasa loob ako ng changing room, kaya ako lang ang nakakita ng pamumula ng mukha ko.

"Daddy!" Celestine exclaimed.

"Hello baby, how's school?" He asked while I am contentedly listening to their conversation.

"Look, I've got another star." I heard Celestine said.

"Ang galing naman talaga ng baby ko, anong price ang gusto mo?" He asked Celestine.

"Burger and fries Daddy." Celestine replied.

"No burger and fries baby, you already had one earlier" Nanay butts in, na-imagine ko ang mukha ng anak ko, malamang pouting lips na naman ito.

"You know the rule baby." I heard RJ told Celestine. Several weeks after we told Celestine about the wedding, she and RJ became good friends. Mas magkaibigan pa silang dalawa kesa sa amin ni RJ. I have never seen Celestine before, as vibrant as when she is with RJ. At isa yun sa ikinakatakot ko, kawawa naman ang anak ko kapag naghiwalay na kami ni RJ.

"Ang tagal mo namang magpalit ng damit Charmaine, nakatulog ka na yata." Nanay said

"Eto na po Nay, lalabas na po." I replied. When I came out of the changing room, I saw RJ carrying Celestine while waiting for me.

"Sana last adjustment na yung ngayon, Chloe." I told Chloe.

"Don't worry, I already called their attention. Nasisira kasi ang schedule natin kakapabalik-balik dito. Yung kay Nanay ok na, pati yung kay Celestine pwede na nating dalhin pauwi. Yung sa mga friends mo dalhin na rin natin, anyway we will be meeting them for dinner tonight to give them their invitations." Chloe said.

"O sige. So 'yung gown ko na lang ang babalikan natin?" I said.

"Yes pero hindi ako pwede this weekend, may wedding event ako." Chloe said.

"Ok lang ako na lang ang kukuha after ng practice ko." I said.

"Pasensya ka na Charm, hindi kita masasamahan." Chloe said.

"I can go with you, this weekend samahan na kita." RJ volunteered.

"Ayan naman pala eh, si RJ na lang muna ang sasama sa iyo." Chloe said.

"Ay hindi pwede si RJ, hindi nya pwedeng makita ang gown ni Menggay. Si Dean na lang ang sasama sa iyo." Nanay again butts in and here comes her superstition again.

"Nay, anong pamahiin na naman po yan?" I asked.

"Walang pamahiin, para lang surprise kay RJ." Nanay said. Hindi ko alam kung nagpapatawa ba itong Nanay ko sa mga sinasabi nya, pero hindi talaga ako natawa.

"Nay, masyado na po kayong nadadala ng emosyon nyo, alalahanin nyo po …." I said but Nanay quickly interrupts and whispered to me "Itutuloy mo talagang sabihin yan sa harap ng anak mo?" She asked and I choose not to say anything anymore.

Celestine is a smart girl, itatanong at itatanong nya ang lahat ng naririnig nya at hindi nya naiintindihan. I still don't know how shall I explain this set-up to her.

"Shall we go now? Baka matraffic tayo" Chloe said.

"Mauna na kayo, kami na lang ni Celestine ang maghihintay sa Tatay mo, malapit na rin naman daw sya. Kami na lang rin ang mag-uuwi nung gown namin ng apo ko." Nanay said.

"Why can't I go with you Daddy? Mommy said you will be meeting my Ninang Hannah and my Ninang Camila." Celestine said.

"I agree, why can't Celestine join us tonight, it's her ninangs that we will be meeting anyway." RJ seconded while Celestine continuously nods with wide smile that reaches her eyes. She is really pretty when she smiles, and I admit that in a short period of time RJ was effortlessly able to make Celestine smile like that.

"Celestine cannot join us because the venue where we will be meeting her ninangs are not for kids. Also, she still have class tomorrow morning, therefore she need to hit the bed early." I uttered.

"We can change the venue." RJ insisted. Ang kulit ng anak araw na 'to, sinabi nang hindi pwede eh.

"Hindi pwede, Celestine will go home with Lola because she still have class tomorrow." I said and took Celestine from him and give her to Nanay. "Wag mo nang ipilit Faulkerson, Jr. hindi ka mananalo sa akin pagdating sa anak ko." I firmly whispered to RJ.

This Faulkerson, Jr. should know his boundaries, not because I allowed Celestine to address him as Daddy, meron na syang say sa mga desisyon ko para sa anak ko.

"Suggestion lang yung sa akin, wag kang bumuga ng apoy." He said as if he was able to read my mind.

"Mabuti pa umalis na kayo para makauwi kayo ng maaga, Bulacan at Laguna pa ang uuwian nyo, baka masyado na kayong gabihin." Nanay said while Celestine does not insist on going with us anymore despite RJ's support in her request.

On our way to the venue where we will be meeting my girl friends, RJ never stops asking about my friends, para syang papunta sa isang blind date na takot madisappoint and ka-date.

"Si Hannah and Camila, matagal na ba kayong magkakaibigan?" He asked.

"Yes, since high school, apat kaming magkakaibigan, Si Hannah, si Camila, si Olga at ako. Si Hannah and Camila mas close sila palibhasa neighbors sila eh, while mas close naman ako kay Olga, palibhasa pinsan ko at halos kasabay ko nang lumaki." I said.

"Madalas naman ba kayong nagkikita?" He asked again.

"Hindi na masyado kasi naging busy na rin kami sa mga trabaho naming. But there were times they watch my competition, para naman kahit dalawa may papalakpak sa akin." I replied then Chloe and him chuckle.

"Do you think they will like me?" RJ asked.

"Wow ha, parang boyfriend meets his girlfriend girl friends ang tanong mo RJ." Chloe teases

"Ayan ka na naman Chloe, will you stop linking RJ and I romantically, tantanan mo kami. And to answer you Faulkerson, Jr., you don't have to worry if they will like you or not because they are not interested in construction business, yung isa chef, yung isa manager ng hotel therefore they could not do business with you." I replied.

"Maybe that is your notion Meng but I feel otherwise, ang pula kaya ng tenga ni Faulkerson, Jr. mo oh." Chloe never stops teasing.

"Shut up Chloe" I straightly told her.