The Reception

"Where are you?" bungad ko kay Lila ng sagutin nya ang tawag ko. It's been hours since matapos ang kasal, and here we are at reception. Lumalakas na din ang tugtog dahil sayawan na, since im not good in dancing. I decided to call her since naboringan na ko.

"At home! How about you? How is Allen's wedding?" tanong nya sa akin. I heard her chuckles kaya napairap ako.

"Bored." maikling sagot ko. I got bored easily when it comes to party. But since loud music can make me calm, Im always at bar.

"You know what? You're just bored, why don't you enjoy that loud music to make you calm?" she asked again. Lila always like this, she knows me very well. Lila is not just my friend, she's my childhood friend too.

"I tried but this trumpet dress makes me irrate." parang bata na sumbong ko. Im always like this!

"Whatever! By the way, gonna call you later. I have something to do! Goodluck to you and to Allen!" I heard her laugh kaya binabaan ko na sya.

I took a deep breath before akong pumasok sa mansion. Everyone is busy to dance kaya umakyat ako sa 2nd floor. It's been 8 years since umuwi ako dito sa pilipinas, this mansion has a lot of memories.

I grow up here with my grandmother. My mom is died when I was 14 years old and my papa is in Los Angeles. My grandmother decided to live there when I was 17 years old.

Napapailing ako habang nakatingin sa mga bisita na nagsasayawan hanggang ngayon. The music is about love kaya lahat ng couple ay nagsayawan.

"Im glad you here, Tala." Hindi na ako nagulat when I heard his voice. Nakangiti siya sa akin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. I hug him back.

"I miss you!" he said. Im just smiled and carries his back.

"I thought you were not going here?" takang tanong nya at kumawala sa pagyakap. Kumamot lang ako sa batok at natatawang tumingin sa kanya.

"I thought so, Allen! But our grandmother forced me to go here!" nakangusong sabi ko sa kanya kaya ginulo nya ang buhok ko. Buti na lang nakahair-spray ako kaya hindi nya basta-basta magugulo.

"You still haven't change!" he chuckles kaya hinampas ko sya sa balikat.

"By the way, saan ka pala tutuloy?" takang tanong nya sabay inom sa hawak niyan alak na nasa champagne.

"To my condo. Oh! Since your here, I can go now? Im sleepy na kase." I lied. Im not sleepy pero gusto ko na magpahinga. Napagod ako sa byahe kanina, gusto ko na rin tanggalin ang suot kong sobrang fit sa akin.

"Why don't you spend your night here? This is your house too, babygirl." He said. I just show him my smile at tumingin ulit sa mga bisita.

"This house has many memories of mommy, Allen." Nakakalungkot lang dahil maaga kaming iniwan ni Mommy. Maybe she was to kind kaya ganun.

"Stop calling me, Allen! Im older than you, Tala." natatawang sabi nya kaya natawa din ako. Yes! Magkapatid kami. He was five years older than me! I used to always call him brother but now, it is awkward to call him brother because we are both adults now.

"Whatever, Kuya!" I chuckled. It's really awkward, kaya nilibot ko ang tingin sa buong mansion.

Maya-maya pa ay sabay kaming napatingin ni Allen ng marinig namin ang isang yabag ng hindi kalayuan sa amin.

Agad akong napaayos ng tayo at pilit na ngumiti. I smiled at him but he just give me a death look pero agad siyang ngumiti ng napatingin siya kay Allen.

"Hey, Liam! How's my reception?" tanong ni Allen sa kanya. Biglang nawala ang ngiti niya at napalitan agad ng irita.

"Not good!" maarte na sabi nya sabay tingin sa akin kaya ngumiti ulit ako pero sinamaan nya lang ako ng tingin.

"What a joker, Liam! By the way, I need to go to my wife. She might be looking for me!" Agad na sabi ni Allen kaya iniwan niya kaming dalawa.

"The flirtation really has not place to choose, right?" mataray na tanong nya sa akin habang nakataas ang isang kilay. Bigla naman akong napalunok.

"Kung balak mong agawin si Allen kay Venice, binabalaan na kita. Ako lang ang aagaw sa kanya, not you and Venice!" Hindi ko maiwasan matawa sa sinabi nya. Si Venice? Aagawin si Allen? They are married already!

"You're so funny." I said without looking at him.

"I saw you and Allen while ago! I really don't know you but you are so close to Allen. Are you his first love or fubu?" tanong nya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

Fubu?!

Fuck buddy?!

"Im not his fubu nor his first love! Why don't you ask him who I am?" natatawang sabi ko. I need to calm right now dahil hindi ko na gusto yung nararamdaman ko.

Parang gusto ko siyang tadyakan dahil sa sinasabi niya.

"I don't care about your name! Just get out on his sight dahil hindi ka naman niya magugustuhan!" He used his gay tone kaya napangiti ako.

"Why would I?" asar na tanong ko sa kanya. Sinamaan naman niya ako ng tingin.

"Tala? Liam? What's happening here?" bigla kaming napatingin kay Allen habang kasama ang asawa nya. She's beautiful.

"Nothing, Allen! By the way, I need to go now. I'll be back tomorrow or two, wait for my gifts. Bye Allen, Bye Venice. See you again!" paalam ko sa kanila. Niyakap ko si Allen ganun din si Venice.

I know who is Venice. She was my schoolmates when Im highschool student. Venice is one of most popular in our University, a lot of men attempts to court her but she was a school girl type back then kaya maraming lalaki din ang nababaliwala.

I really don't know why Allen hit her. I know my brother, he doesn't like that kind of woman kaya nagulat ako nung malaman kong ikakasal na sila.

"Hǎo de! Zàijiàn!" Okay! Bye! I said using mandarin language. I know he knows what I mean kaya nagpaalam na ko.

Pero bago ako tuluyan bumaba, tumingin ulit ako sa kanila at sa kasama nila. He just staring at me na parang naiirita kaya ngumiti ako. I waved my hands kaya mas lalo siyang nairita dahil naiinis na umalis sya.

Whatever!