"Are you sure that you'll be okay here?" 
I chuckled, "Relax, Maeve. I'll be okay, bumalik ka na lang agad," I said. Para hindi na siya mag alala pa. 
She gave me a nod, "Yes, I will. I'll just talk to—” I gave her glare, she only gave me a nervous smile. 
Kung ako rin naman ay kakabahan kung kakausapin ko ang taong minsan naging parte ng buhay ko.  
Ngumiti ako sa kanya, "Go ahead. I'll will not go anywhere. Tsaka nandyan lang naman si Drienna sa tabi-tabi," tinuro ko ang paligid. 
Naiwan akong mag isa sa pabilog na lamesa. 
Lahat ng kasama ko kanina ay nasa unahan, sumasayaw. They wanted me to join, but I refused. My feet are swollen, I don't think I can still stand up and dance my hips there. 
"Hey," 
Umangat ang tingin ko, my face immediately became faint when I saw who it was. But because I am me, I was able to stand up. 
“Hey,” paunang bati ko sa babae. She's familiar yet feels like a stranger. My heart aches because of the thought. 
Sobrang ganda niya sa kanyang puting damit at mahabang belo. She blooms like a flower.
Tumawa siya nang mahinhin, "I'm sorry. Nagulat ba kita?” Her voice sounded worried and at the same time, amused. 
I waved my hand, “No, it's okay. Hindi naman ako nagulat,” I gave her a smile to assure her. “Here, have a seat,” pinagpag ko ang upuan na nasa aking gilid. 
“Okay ka lang?—You look beautiful,” tugon ko nang umupo siya sa aking tabi. 
Binigyan niya ako ng ngiti. Ngiting masakit makita. Nagkunwari akong kinuha ang baso ng tubig at pagkatapos ay uminom. Seeing her smile makes my heart swell in pain. Not only because she was a good friend of mine, but because I loved her like my own sister. 
I froze when she suddenly held my hand. Malamig at nanginginig ang mga ito. Binaling ko ang tingin sa kan’ya. 
“I’m—” someone approached us. It's her brother, Rafael. Hawak nito ang maliit na camera.
Mukhang nagulat din ang kapatid niya dahil hindi niya rin natuloy sabihin ang buong pangalan ng kan’yang kapatid. 
“Hi, Ate Maeve–” he waved his free hand to me. He seems shocked when he saw me here, seating with her sister. 
I gave her a small nod, and a smile. “Hi, Rafa.” 
Tumitig pa ito sa aking ng ilang segundo bago ibinaling ang tingin sa kan’yang kapatid. "Ate, picture na muna raw. Uuwi na rin kasi sila Lolo at Lola," he then look at me, again,"Okay lang ba, Ate Maeve? Ibabalik ko na lang po siya pagkatapos,” he gave me a guilty smile. 
I smoothly removed my hand from being held by her sister. I nodded. "Oo naman, go ahead! It's fine with me." 
‘I felt so relieved when you came.’ q
Tinignan ako nang babae na nasa aking harapan. She looks so sad, and apologetic. Mapupunit na ang aking labi dahil sa pekeng ngiti na aking binibigay.  
"It's okay." 
Nang makaalis sila, para akong natanggalan ng tinik sa dibdib. My breath feels heavy. Ngayon ko na lang din napansin ang panginginig ng dalawa kong kamay. 
Suddenly, the whole place suffocates me. Kailangan ko munang lumabas upang makalanghap ng sariwang hangin. So that's what I did—I stood up, carrying my bag while I exited the suffocating hall. 
Sobrang sakit pa rin pala. Akala ko sapat na ang dalawang taon para maka-move on, hindi pa rin pala. Pero bakit parang mas lalo pang sumakit, bakit parang mas lalo lang lumalim ang sugat na akala ko ay humilom na. 
I walked myself to the balcony. Wala masyadong tao dahil lahat ay nagsasaya sa loob. I heard that they rent the whole place just for the wedding. Halos kasi lahat ng kamag-anak nang bagong kasal ay dumalo. 
Naglalakad ako habang yakap ang aking sarili. I'm wearing my sleeveless silky dress. I bought this dress on the way here. Galing din kasi ako ng conference, and I had no time to buy something extravagant. My friends said I look decent, and I trust them, kaya hindi na ako na bahala pa. 
The wind blew, some strands of my hair flew. Nasira na ang bun ng buhok ko dahil sa ihip ng hangin. I didn't complain though, because I feel like the wind is comforting me from all the pain that I'm feeling. 
I stayed on the balcony. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nakatayo at nakasandal sa malamig na railings. Naramdaman kong tumunog ang aking cellphone mula sa aking maliit na bag. Mabilis ko itong kinuha at sinagot nang makita kung sino ito. 
DR. Dreanna Lee On Call…
"Drei," I answered the phone. 
"Maeve! Thank God! Where are you? Bakit hindi ka sumasagot kanina? Are you okay?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong. 
Tumawa ako, “Okay lang ako. At tsaka, ngayon ka lang tumawag—” 
“Anong ngayon lang? I called you a hundred times! Sinong kasama mo?” She sounds strict. 
Umiling-iling ako. She over reacts over everything when it's about me. Napaka-oa talaga nang babae na ito. 
“Wala akong kasama. At nandito lang ako sa balcony, nagpapahangin.” 
She sighed. “Okay, Meave. Please, go back when you feel okay na. And—” she fake cough, making my brows furrowed. “Zene’s here… with her date,”whispering the name, ‘Zene’ 
My lips shaped ‘O’ knowing who that person is. Mukhang sumakses ang aking kaibigan ngayong gabi. The way she mentioned her name, it feels relax. 
"Okay, Drei, I'll be there," we hung up the call after she said ‘okay’
As I was about to go back. A man wearing a white shirt and blue jeans looks surprised when he saw me. Kahit ako ay nagulat din nang makilala ang lalaki. 
"Hey!” A smile slowly appears on his lips. He take a step forward. 
He’s back? Kailan pa? Is he okay, now? Ilan sa mga tanong na gusto kong itanong. But my mouth turned me down. . 
He still look the same. Charming, neat, but he got more matured with his stubble and refined body. The last time I saw him— halos hindi ko na siya makilala. 
"Hey," hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti at makaramdam nang saya. 
‘Finally! He's okay, now. 
Sinuklian niya ako nang matatamis na ngiti. The same smile he gave when I last saw him. “Maeve,” his sweet baritone voice filled my ears. "Long time no see," he added, making the pain I felt earlier vanished.