#andoryang

Beata and Oryang had insisted on her wearing something feminine-looking and she had no more qualms. Weddings were rare and it had been a while since she’d worn something that made her look like a girl. For the past months, she’d been running all over the provinces (Bulacan, Manila, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija in no order),  in her Katipunero uniform, and straw hat. Today, Oryang had taken the pains to dress her in her formal baro’t saya, heavy lace with complex designs, and her hair had been put up. It felt stuffy, but she had taken a look in the mirror. She looked like a human being. Reminded her of the time she was Reyna Elena. The outfit was a Maria Clara.

Now, who would be the first to come? The sun shone brightly, and she fanned herself, as she looked out for the incoming visitors.

“Oy. Mukha kang tao ngayon.” A hand on her shoulder and she looked up. Vicente Enriquez, much younger than her by two years, had grown taller. He looked…. So grown-up in his barong. Vicente was Anacleto’s younger brother. Beside Vicente, stood Goyong, who was effortlessly stylish, as always.

Adela shrugged. “Wala na akong magagawa, kailangang magmukhang tao. “ She laughed, and checked the names on the list.

“Para sa kuya ko,” said Vicente. “Ako rin,” added Goyong.

Hmm. Proxy. She checked Anacleto’s name off the list.

“Sige.”

Vicente smiled and Goyong nodded.

Nothing like her two close friends to be seen with her, she supposed, as she greeted more visitors by the entrance and checking the names. The Enriquez brothers, check, Goyong the gago, check, Oryang, check, and many more. More names checked off the list; the groom arrived, looking handsome accompanied by the Supremo by his side.

“Mukha atang tao ikaw ngayon,” laughed the groom, as he walked over to his spot.

“Hoy! Wag ka!” Adela snorted. No need to joke about looking like a human being today; everyone knew she ran errands for the Katipunan in her uniform or typical baro’t saya with messy hair. She waved him away, and looked back at the paper. Apolinario Mabini had come in, with Emilio Aguinaldo in tow; the former was carried by the latter’s guards, as the former was physically invalid. Adela’d managed to muster a stiff smile at Aguinaldo but flashed Mabini a genuine smile. Aguinado had laughed at how neat she looked today, and she’d almost yelled at him until she reminded herself she wouldn’t make a scene at Beata’s wedding. His sister, Felicidad, had been in tow, and she’d given Adela a long inspection.

Adela had stood her own, of course.

And by now, her feet were aching from the heels. Felicidad was throwing her more strange looks. Was the idiot Ga/go/rio the cause of this now? :^) She took another look at the guests sitting in the pews. Goyong was casually sitting, in gorgeousness and idiocy mixed into one, while Vicente was surveying the roof. Pingkian was beaming, while he and the Supremo were talking. Oryang was with them, of course – they looked like a family, as always. SO CUTE.

Okay, the flower girls, check. The ringbearers, check. Adela sighed in relief. Hmm, what else was lacking? Mabini and Aguinaldo were huddled together, heads close to each other, as if in deep discussion. Hilaria Aguinaldo smiled on them, from her seat. Felicidad and Hilaria were talking casually, in hushed tones. The other Katipuneros seemed excited. Who wouldn’t be? One of the best and brightest members would be getting married. Pingkian. Inflammeable. Beata. Blessed.

What else was missing? Oh, right. Anacleto. She bit her lip. Of course, these were the fortunes of war. She looked again. Nope, no Daniel either. The boy who’d asked her to run away with him, the boy who had gotten tortured for her sake, the one who smiled on her in the camps. Gotten shot for her. Both died. Dead. Just another collection of names of men she’d sent to their deaths.

Okay, what else was missing? Hmm. A glance at her list. Almost everyone was here. The bride.

“Pinagpapawisan ka,” said a voice at Adela’s ear and she glanced. Vicente again! He bent down and wiped the sweat from her brow.

“… akala ko kausap mo si Gagorio…”

“Nakita ko mukha kang nag-aalala. Tsaka, linapitan ako ni Pingkian.” Vicente chuckled. “Gusto niya tayo ang… magkasama.”

Wait. WHAT. Was Pingkian playing a practical joke on her? Vito had offered to be her partner; even Gagorio had offered just for the sake of being Anacleto’s friend. Vicente was… too young. Uh. No way. This had to be some sort of practical joke.

“…. Namumuti ka.”

“Ano ba.” She laughed. “Ano ibig sabihin mo?”

(What-Do-You-Mean.mp3) Vicente blinked at her.

“Tayo. Tayong dalawa.”

WHAT.

“… namumula ka.” He leaned closer and put a hand on her forehead. Puñeta. Was this a joke?! “May sakit ka ba?”

“….” She stared at him. “Sige, sige.”

“Tatabi na lang ako sa iyo. Nakakaawa ka raw tingnan, sabi ni Goyong.” “ANO?!!!” Wow.

Vicente laughed.

“Mag-isa ka pa nakatayo diyan. Ang ganda-ganda mo ngayon, tapos mag-isa ka diyan. Inisip ko samahan kita, para hindi ka gaano nag-alala.”

“Masyado ka atang mabait sa akin, Vicente.” She snorted. Vicente had been the ones breaking her fall. The one she slept on, when she napped during battles. The sane one who called out Goyong’s bullshit.

“Para sa iyo, isang daang beses.”

WHAT.

She blinked.

The doors opened, and both of them turned.

The bride had finally arrived, and she looked like a goddess, indeed. Beata’s eyes were lined with kohl, her lips rouged, her face powdered. Her hair had been braided and tied up, and the veil made her only more alluring. Lovely and kind and smart and sweet-tempered and inspiring, it was not hard to imagine why Pingkian fell for her.  Her eyes shone and brighter did they shine when they found Adela, beside Vicente.

“Bagay kayong dalawa.”

Adela sighed.

Not again.

Vicente snorted in amusement. Eighteen to her twenty. YECH. Talk about feeling old; Goyong was two years older than her. It would have been less embarrassing if Pingkian had asked Goyong to be her partner, but nope. The march commenced; music played. Emilio Jacinto’s face lit up when he saw Beata walking, and beside him, Andoy and Oryang bought out their own handkerchiefs. Well, the cuteness was infectious. Adela watched how everyone regarded the bride – lovely. Mabini smiled; Felicidad scanned the bride cautiously, Hilaria beamed, the wives of the other Katipuneros , some of them started crying, being witnesses to the love story of the to-be wed couple today. Then came in the bridesmaids; Adela was first, partnered with Vicente, and followed by the relatives and so on and so forth.

The ceremony, then. The Supremo read, impressive as always, the First Reading. For the sermon, the priest told them of love and all that kind of sappy stuff Adela couldn’t stand with cringing, and then the wedding vows. Obviously, no one could deny the love between the couple, who answered their vows.

AND THEN.

THE KISS.

Pingkian lifted Beata’s veil off her face; she looked at him, happy. And then they kissed. It was a sweet kiss, their noses almost bumping with each other. Adela beamed; they were now officially married and later they would be married under Katipunan rituals, too. This would be a tiring day for the bride and the groom, maybe tonight, they wouldn’t have the burden of consummating the marriage, Adela thought with a mental laugh. Some women cried when the bride kissed the groom. The children closed their eyes, and Felicidad’s eyes widened; her eyes wandered to Goyong, who was just watching the whole thing casually.

Time to pan out to the reception, in the house of the Supremo; due to the generous funding of Adela’s 5-peso daily collection as well as the Reyes family and the Supremo, festivities were generous. Wine, liquor, and fresh fruits; roast chicken, tinola, nilaga, menudo, afritada, served and cooked by Oryang. Rice. Kakanin and other delicacies. It was a wondrous thing; the house was decorated, courtesy of Oryang and Adela’s hard work.

The bridesmaids, and the best men, gathered outside; Adela was first in line, standing with Vicente. Some women were there, and she smiled, as the newly-married couple came out. Pingkian and Beata’s hands were tightly intertwined together, and they were laughing together. Married life, ah. They smiled at the young women and men in front of them: Adela, Vicente, Goyong, and the others.

Beata let go of her husband’s hand and stepped forward.

“Ginang Jacinto,” said Goyong, polite. At the jab, she rolled her eyes and laughed harder.

Adela managed to smile through her teeth. Her feet were aching, there were probably blisters, thanks to the heels. So much for looking decent.

Beata tossed her bouquet of white roses and sampaguita and gumamela into the air – and Adela just stared as it was in the air. Now who would catch it? What was the point –

“Bakit mo initsa yon sa may hangin?” asked Goyong, frowning.

“Kung sino ang makakuha siya ang sunod na ikakasal.”

Felicidad rushed to be able to catch it; behind her, her brother and Mabini were watching. Adela just froze in her place, while Vicente and Goyong took steps back to avoid the throng of women who were itching to catch the fallen bouquet.

Then it landed onto Adela’s hands.

Eyes stared at her. “Ako?” she squeaked.

“Si Adela ang sunod na ikakasal,” announced Beata sweetly; her husband was laughing. Adela surveyed the faces around her, to see how they would react. Goyong looked like he was ready to burst into laughter; Andoy the Supremo seemed very amused; Felicidad was gaping open-mouthedly at her like a fish; Oryang seemed delighted, and the others…. Were just amused.

“Kailan naman ang iyong kasal, Hannibal?” chuckled Pingkian.

Adela shrugged, the bouquet on one hand.

“Sino naman kasi pakakasalan ko naman eh :^),” Adela laughed. Like she would ever get married. She poked the flowers in the bouquet awkwardly. This was… embarrassing. Like she’d ever get married.

“Wala ka bang manliligaw,” sighed the Supremo.

“Lahat ng mga lalaking lumalapit sa kanya tinatakot kasi niya,” Manolo snorted. “HINDI KAYA!” Adela practically hissed. She sighed. “Walang kasalan yan :^)))))))))”

“Sayang naman,” cut in Aguinaldo. “Gusto ko sana makita ang kasal.”

“WALA YAN, sabi ko nga.”

“Ano ba,” said Beata, snorting. “Ang dali-dali niyan.”

Goyong blinked.

“Wala yan.”

“O, TIGNAN NIYO! SI GOYONG NGA RIN SUMASANG-AYON SA AKIN! WALANG KASAL!” E di wow. Adela laughed. This was highly amusing. “Hindi pa ako tapos,” cut in Beata, ever the lovely bride.

“ANO!”

She took a step near Vicente and pushed him near Adela.

“Ayan! Si Vicente…. Di ba naman, bagay silang dalawa!”

“….. seryoso ka ba :^)”

“Ang galing mo, Beata!” Aguinaldo gasped. “Hindi ko ito napag-isipan –“ “SAYAWAN NA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The music came on, and it was time for dancing. Relieved, Adela took her shoes off and occupied one chair.

“Walang kasal para sa iyo,” Goyong laughed, as he observed her rub her swollen feet.

“Wala talaga. Masyadong bata si Vicente. Gaga rin minsan si Beata eh.”

“Kayo ni Vicente?” Goyong blinked, as if amused by the idea. “Pero seryoso, Hannibal… Baka, pwede na rin. Sa tingin ko nga baka magustuhan nga ni Anacleto yung ideya.”

“ANO.”

“Oo.”

“Magkaibigan lang kami. Ulul ka rin eh. Ay pasensya. Matagal ka na palang ulul.”

“Baka naman… magkaibigan ang ibig sabihin mo.”

“GAGO!”

“Sinasabi lang.” The young man shrugged, then took a look at the dancing. Pingkian was dancing happily with his new wife, who was obviously enjoying the attention. They were glowing, both of them. Happy. In bliss. But then again, Beata was made for him. And vice-versa. They were complementary. That was the thing with him. Beata was traditionally beautiful. Pingkian had his wits and smarts and industry.

As for Adela herself… Her talents were loved by Mars and Athena and Bellona. “Pag-isipan mo, Adela,” added Goyong cheekily. “Ang pag-ibig ay ang unang ipinagkaloob ng Panginoong Diyos….”

She shooed him away with her hand. “Layuan mo ako.”

“Sige, sige. Pero pag-isipan mo.” He smiled, and joined the dancing. He danced with the bride, who seemed to be enjoying stepping on his foot, only to have her husband grab her by the waist and go dancing again.

** “Hannibal.”

She took a look up.

Vicente, looking good in his suit, holding ice.

“….para sa iyong mga paa.”

“Salamat.”

She took the ice from his hand and pressed it against her feet.

“Gusto ko sana….”

“Ano?”

She didn’t look up from her foot, when he patted her shoulder. “Gusto ko sana isayaw ikaw.”

She put the ice down. “E, isayaw mo ako?”

His lips curved.

“Sige!”

He put his hand on her arm, and he followed her as she grabbed him, pulling him towards the dance floor. It didn’t matter if her feet hurt anymore; she’d slipped on the heels, and there, they were, lost in the sea of dancing people. Felicidad was laughing, dancing with Goyong; the bride and groom couldn’t let go of each other, and Mabini was watching Aguinaldo dancing with his wife in the dance floor. Vicente put his hand on her waist, and they danced.

**

She enjoyed the dance with Vicente, she supposed, after the reception and the Katipunan marriage rites.

By now, most of the guests had left; the families were left and Goyong and Vicente, who had offered to take Adela home, since Vito and Manolo had left early on some pretext. The Supremo, and Lakambini would also be watching. The bride had changed into her nightclothes, her face washed off of any makeup. She still looked beautiful, and by now, in the bedroom, she lay on the bed, smiling, the coverlet over her. The wedding night, Adela thought, better not be awkward.

And then the men had pushed the door open, and came in the groom, who blushed, at the sight of his new bride sleeping. He slipped inside the covers and the candle was blown. Doors were closed, and some put their ears to the door.

“Gusto mo na bang umuwi?” Vicente asked.

“Gabing gabi na,” Goyong mumbled. “Sabi ni Fely –“

“Hindi ikaw yung kausap ko.”

“… medyo antok na ako,” admitted Adela.

The three of them bade their farewells to Andoy and Oryang, who wished them well, and now were walking on the streets of Tondo, hailing for a carriage. Eventually, they got one, and the three of them squished inside.

Adela yawned, and put her head on Vicente’s shoulder.

Goyong sighed.

“Magpakasal na nga kayong dalawa! Manghihingi nga ako ng limang piso mula sa mga ibang mga sundalo para isang araw, kung kayong dalawa na ang ikakasal, may pondo na tayo.”

“TUMAHIMIK KA DIYAN!”

“Magpakasal na nga kayong dalawa!”

“Isang araw,” said Vicente, in a whisper. ** BONUS: Oryang and Andoy were having breakfast. It had been a tiring night, indeed. What time was it? 8:30 in the morning and the newlyweds must have been so tired.

“Sa tingin mo, gisingin na natin si Emilio?” Andoy asked.

Oryang smiled.

“Pabayaan mo na.” She giggled. The festivities were all rather tiring, she had to admit. A wedding in a time of war was highly unavoidable. Besides, Emilio needed some time to spend with his new wife. They were both young.

In the stairs, there were foosteps; it must be Emilio and his new wife, Beata. And indeed they were. Beata’s hair last night had been in a loose braid and now…. It was sort of messy. Her skin was flushed, and her husband was accompanying her, ever the gentleman.

“Kamusta naman?” Andoy asked.

“……” Beata blushed red and so did her husband.

“Maayos.” Beata grinned.

Oryang sighed in relief. It wasn’t too awkward.

“Nag-usap kami ni Emilio kagabi……” Beata’s cheeks and ears pinked. “Kung iilang anak ang gusto naming. Gusto ko ngayon taon magkaroon ng isang anak muna.”

“Sigurado na ba kayong dalawa?”