engagement party

engagement party

Kevin looks at himself in the bathroom mirror and adjusts his tie, his fingers tracing the edges of the fabric as he begins to zone out. 

I can’t believe my little sister is engaged 

Kevin inhales, takes another quick look at himself and sighs before stepping out into the lively festivities. The room is filled with family and close lifelong friends. The chatter is lively and everyone is crowding around Melissa, Kevin’s younger sister, oohing and aahing at her shining engagement ring. Melissa’s fiance, Daren, retells the engagement story to the aunties who listen, entranced by the romantic tale. 

Kevin likes Daren for Melissa. He can tell that it was truly love. Kevin was there for his sister when all the other guys broke her heart. He remembers her begging her older brother to not drive over to Michael Donovan’s house to beat his ass. He wasn’t really gonna do it. He was just upset that this white dude had the audacity to hurt his sister. So when he saw the way Daren looked at Melissa as he told this story, Kevin knew that Daren would take care of his little sister. 

The room radiated happiness. Everyone was dressed in bright pastels of periwinkle and peach and smiled while they spoke. In one corner of the room was a makeshift photo booth with a flowery background and banner that read “Congrats D+M!” hung above it. Next to the photo booth was a table of drinks and snacks. Mom and Melissa got a little too excited as they poured out the mimosas and Grandma shook her head disapprovingly at the sticky mess they made. The engagement party was supposed to be held in the backyard on a bright April Saturday, but the spring showers rolled in out of nowhere. Despite the grey skies, it was as if the room was the source of light in the world. But Kevin felt a sinking pit in his stomach as he looked on at the houseguests. 

Kevin was happy for his sister, really. But he was the kuya, the older brother. Kevin was supposed to be the man and find a wife of his own by now. It had been three years since he and Candice had broken up. Kevin wasn’t in a rush to find someone new after the break up. In fact, when Daren first came around he had offered to set up Kevin with an old classmate of his, but Kevin declined. He needed some time to heal and sort out his life. Candice was a great woman, the one that got away if anything. If Kevin wasn’t so immature this engagement party could have been theirs. 

He was different now. 

Despite his maturation, there was no going back no matter how hard they try. They tried. 

“At least they stopped asking about you-know-who,” Melissa said as she approached with a glass of mimosa.

“Sure, but I think everyone asking me when it’ll be my turn is just as bad,” Kevin grunted as he took a sip of the bubbly beverage. 

“It’s a valid question, yknow,” Melissa said lightheartedly. Kevin’s face dropped. A solemn reply of silence. 

“I’m sorry, yea? C’mon! Don’t be so grumpy, Kuya! It’s a party! My party! You can be sad later when we bring out the Magic Mic!” Melissa said as she elbowed her brother. 

“I’m happy for you kid, I really am,” Kevin sighs “but you can’t blame me for being jealous, do you? I’m pushing 30 and I don’t even have a girlfriend!”

“You’re literally so dramatic. 30’s not even old!” Melissa rolled her eyes as she sipped more mimosa. This was half true. Thirty isn’t old, but the siblings grew up aspiring to marry young, so she knew her brother was spiraling. She looked on at the party guests, her eyes studying the crowd. “Daren’s cousin is cute, don’t you think?” 

Kevin looks up to see a young woman bouncing one of the many babies in her arms. Her eyes widened as she sang to the baby, “close open! close open!” A classic Filipino song that aunties sang to children. She swayed side to side, shifting her weight between her hips in rhythm as she sang. The baby giggled and obediently closed and opened her hands as the song told her to do. A smile crept up to Kevin’s face as he watched her. 

“Yeah, she is cute,” Kevin said coolly. He was getting ready to reject his sister’s attempt to set him up but it was already too late. Melissa called over Daren’s cousin to introduce the two. Protesting at this point would be obvious and expose the sibling’s plan, not that Kevin was planning on anything. 

“Kevin, this is Janelle; Janelle, Kevin,” Melissa smiled as she stood between the two. 

Janelle smiled, “Nice to meet you! I’d shake your hand but,” she gestured at the now bored baby in her arms. 

“Likewise,” Kevin smiled in return. Janelle was a typical Filipina-American beauty. Typical brown skin, typical dark hair and typical dark eyes. But there was something about her. Her brown skin glowed, her dark hair danced, and her dark eyes sparkled. Perhaps it’s just the allure of a new person. How long will the shine caused by infatuation last, really? 

Kevin tried to shake the cynicism. Would he like her out of desperation due to fear of being alone? Is he being crazy for thinking this about someone he had just met? Melissa would say yes. For now, Kevin will just enjoy small talk with this pretty girl that he had just met. Awkward silence doesn’t exist at loud Filipino parties. He’ll ask her what she does for a living and how she likes it and he’d explain what he does and how he likes what he does. Maybe he’ll find her charming and maybe he’d ask for her number. Maybe her looks are all that she’d have to offer. Maybe this situation will play out how they always do.