Hibang

It was Stacey's birthday. She just turned 30. That means the pact will be effective. 

A pact between her and Aiah.

“If we haven't found the right one yet, once we turn 30, tayo nalang magpakasal.”

It was a childish, cliché, a little bit cringe pact. Who could blame them, they were young. It wasn't even a big of a deal if you ask them. 

They forgot about it the next day they made the pact. It was a fleeting word–not supposed to last and not supposed to weigh anything.

But a year before they turned 30 they realized that finding the one was a bit hard and time consuming. 

It was not easy for them. They've been in relationships they thought will last. 

Well, it didn't.

And the reality of it all is eating them up. They don't wanna be alone. They are very much ready to settle down and build a family or just a shelf from Ikea. Nonetheless, if they don't do it now, it's gonna be too late for them.

So they activated the pact that has been sleeping from their chains of memory lost.

“Aiah, is our pact still available?”

“What pact?”

“That we'll get married once we turn 30 if love hasn't found us yet.”

“Oh…

Do you think tayo nalang?

It has always been platonic. There are flirty banters, that's for sure. But, it has never come to a serious romantic flirting–not even close.

So when they made that pack 10 years ago, they didn't really foresee that it would actually happen. 

Now they are thorned. They really can't force these kinds of things to happen. Falling in love. 

One more year. 

They decided that if next year–on Stacey's birthday– they are still single, then they will get married. 

And so her birthday came. After celebrating with her friends, Aiah, the ever demure lady, took out a ring and offered it to Stacey. 

No grand gesture. Just the two of them in front of Stacey’s apartment.

“Stacey, let's get married. I've seen your attempts to mingle. Puro kupal naman dinedate mo. 

Ako nalang. Marry me.”

“Hay, finally. I'd rather be with you than be with those dumbass. 

And I also got a ring.”

Stacey took out a ring “Marry me, Arceta.”

They put the ring in each other's finger, once they made sure it perfectly fit, they looked at each other’s eyes and thought of how ridiculous this is. 

They laughed so hard, no sound was coming out anymore. 

“Ano ‘to sis? Exchange gift?” Stacey is bawling her eyes out from laughing.

“Magka-ulo nga tayo. Both of us got a ring.

This is so romantic, it's wierd.”

They laughed until there was no air in their lungs. 

Tomorrow they will figure out their new setup. But tonight a laugh wouldn't hurt anything but their stomach.

—

No one can believe it. Even their friends. I mean who would have thought? Eh halos araw araw nga silang magsabunutan at mag-away sa gamit.

Just 6 months after Stacey's birthday, they got married. It was intimate. Just family and closest friends.

Aiah and Stacey decided not to tell anyone about the pact. They'll just say that they are soulmates. No lie in that. They didn't say they are romantically in love. So, technically they are not lying. Because they really are soulmates.

“Ate Aiah, ‘wag na kayong magsadabunutan hah?

Huling ginawa n’yo yon nagkapoknat ka."

One of their friends, Sheena, said in her speech on their wedding day. It earned a laugh from everyone in the venue.

At their house warming party, Colet and Gwen bought pillows as a gift.

“Ayan unan, para di na kayo mag-agawan.” Colet practically threw the pillow on their faces.

Their marriage has witnessed four full moons. At katulad ng buwan, hindi laging puno at buo ang buhay nila. At kagaya rin ng buwan hindi naman sila mawawala. 

The day after Stacey's 31st birthday, they've talked about how they will make this work. They said that if they are gonna do this, they're gonna do this properly. So, they come up with three absolute agreements.

First agreement: They will act romantically in love in front of everyone. If no one is looking they will love each other the way they want.

Second agreement: bills, chores, and other expenses will be split fairly. In terms of dates, that will vary depending on the occasion and who invited whom.

Third and last agreement: They can fall in love with each other. 

Falling in love in this setup is better, they said. This is not a fake dating trope. They will be living together forever so why not try and fall in love, right?

But you can't really force these things. They are not in a forced marriage trope either. So, no, no, pilit. 

This only means, pwede nilang subukang pormahan ang isa’t isa.

—

Kahibangan.

That is the only explanation for what is going on right now.

The other one wants fried chicken and the other wants tinola. The other one wants pink, the other wants green. 

Leather sofa vs. sofa bed

Porcelain vs. Ceramic

Calamansi vs. Lemon

Cat vs. dog

Stacey vs. Aiah

They are not entirely enemies. They love each other, they really do. They have been best friends for half of their life. And that's the reason. They are platonically in love.

They have platonically (emphasis on “platonically”) love each other more than they have loved anyone romantically.

So you can't really downplay their love as “just platonic and nothing more”.

And the cherry on top?

They married each other.

This has been bothering them, they can't really act as a couple. Because, despite their love, giving romantic treatment to each other gives a chill down their spine.

They are in their kitchen counter standing side by side, both holding the poor chicken no one wants to let go.

“Aiah, sinampalukan na ang ulam natin kahapon. May sabaw nanaman ngayon? Di pa nga ubos yung sabaw kahapon eh.” 

“Staks, puro ka fried! What about kaninang lunch, anong inulam natin? 

Diba fried tilapia. Sobrang unhealthy.”

“Edi gawa nalang tayo ng salad for side.” 

Stacey looks at Aiah straight in the eyes. And with puppy eyes and a pleading baby voice Stacey pleaded. “Please, Aiah. ‘Di ka ba naawa sa asawa mo? Monthsary naman natin bukas.”

“Ughh! Fine.” Aiah rolled her eyes and submitted.

Stacey is not really sure if Aiah really submitted because she's cute or she just let it be so Stacey could stop making that face. Either way, it gets the job done.

Stacey smiles, her eyes disappearing by the act. “Yung lang pala kahinaan mo ah”

Aiah looked at Stacey with a confused look. “The heck do you mean?”

“Asawa ko~”

“What the fuck, baliw ka na.”

“Baliw sa’yo.”

“Girl, shut up.” If they get a peso from every eye roll Aiah did, they'd be a billionaire by now. 

Stacey on the other hand chuckles , she knows that Aiah doesn't like the idea of being romantic with her.

And then an angel passed by...

Stacey then suddenly broke the silence.

“Aiah, do you think we'll get used to this?”

“This…what?”

“Married life.”

Aiah looked at their hands still holding the chicken and smiled. “Yeah, I guess.” 

Maybe tonight's chicken fiasco catalyzed a shift to their feelings.

Maybe tomorrow Aiah will buy a bouquet of lilies for Stacey.

Maybe, like the flower’s message, they will dare to love each other. 

Oh, that poor chicken.