Kabanata 34

Unforgettable Escape

"WHAT THE HELL!! Hannah! Hubarin mo 'yan!" nagpapanic na sigaw ni Katelyn.

Kung mayroong isa sa pinaka overreacting na tao siya iyon. Hindi ko pinansin ang kanyang sentimento at masayang pinagmasdan ang kagandahan ng aking gown sa salamin.

"Hindi ka ba natatakot sa pamahiin?" tanong niya na may kasama pang paghawak sa aking braso.

Tinawanan ko ito at inilingan, "Hindi naman totoo 'yon Katelyn, puwede ba? Hindi bagay sa'yo hahaha."

"Sis, kahit mga millenial ngayon naniniwala pa rin sa pamahiin. Wala namang mawawala kung maniniwala." she said after taking a deep, deep sigh.

I rolled my eyes cheerfully, "Ikaw naman masyado kang kabado, matutuloy ang kasal namin bukas. Mas kabado pa ako na baka hindi magkasya sa akin itong damit ko kung hindi ko susukatin."

"Bahala ka, sinabihan kita." aniya saka lumabas na ng kuwarto.

Alam ko naman ang mga kasabihan at pamahiin na 'yan, sadyang hindi lang talaga ako naniniwala. Dahil ang tao ang gumagawa ng sarili niyang kapalaran, iyon ang aking pananaw tungkol doon.

"Mama, you are so beautiful." matatas na sinabi ng aking anak. I just smiled at her and turned around.

"Talaga?" tuwang-tuwa kong tanong.

All of my life, I believed that I will never be able to wear a wedding dress. Who would have thought that tomorrow I will be married right away?

Tuwang-tuwa rin naman siyang tumango at tumakbo papalapit sa akin upang yakapin ako sa aking binti.

The door opened and it revealed my mother, who almost fainted seeing me.

"Jusko kang bata ka, ano bang naisipan mo? Hubarin mo nga iyan!" nagpapanic rin niyang sinabi.

Dali-dali niyang inilapag ang meryendang dala at saka lumapit sa akin ng may nakakunot na noo.

"Mama, para kang si Katelyn. What's with you guys? Wala naman sigurong masama kung susubukan kong sukatin ang damit na isusuot ko bukas, baka kasi hindi kasya." marahan kong paliwanag. She shooked her head in contrary.

"Basta, ano man ang dahilan mo. Hubarin mo na 'yan!"

"Ma namaaaan!" pagpoprotesta ko. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan bakit kailangan nilang maniwala sa mga pamahiin na 'yan.

"Hannah!" galit na niyang sinabi. Kaya wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod.

Dali-dali akong pumunta sa walk-in closet ng condo na tinutuluyan namin ni Vince at doon ay nagbihis.

I heard my phone rang so I immediately search it. I didn't brought it with me inside the closet kaya naman binilisan ko na lang ang pagbibihis.

Paglabas ay kinuha ko ang cellphone nasa side table. It stopped ringing kaya missed calls ang naiwan at isang text, from Vince.

From: Vince
Answer my calls, babe. I missed you.

He texted. My lips form a smile. Hindi rin makapagtiis ang loko.

I typed in and replied.

To: Vince
We can't see each other eh. Bawal daw :(( ewan ko ba sa kanila.

I throwed myself in bed and relaxed there. Resien's suddenly gone so I guess she's with Mama.

Wala pang isang minuto ay nakapagreply na siya. When did he become a texter? Hindi naman niya ito ugali.

From: Vince
Halos ikabaliw ko na nga iyong bachelorette party na isinet-up ni Rose sa'yo. Please, I really missed you :((

I almost laughed with his text. He even used emoji, it seems like he is the smitten one now.

To Vince:
Where's the 'You're the last person I'd fall inlove with?'

I chuckled waiting for his reply. But nothing came. I just texted him to take care of himself at magtiis na lang dahil bukas ay hindi na kami mapapaghiwalay pa.

Iba ang pakiramdam ko sa araw na 'to, iyong sakto at tamang-tama lang. Hindi sobrang excited, hindi rin naman iyong walang pakielam.

Masyado na kasi akong nasanay sa sayang dinudulot ng presensiya ni Vince sa akin. Sa ilang buwang pagpaplano namin para sa kasal na ito ay talagang pinakita at pinaramdam niya sa aking mahal niya ako.

There is nothing I couldn't ask for. Sa bawat araw na kasama ko siya ay parang sasabog ang puso ko sa sobrang saya.

My phone rang again so I immediately check it.

Someone is calling, but it is an unregistered number. Medyo nalungkot ako dahil akala ko si Vince ang tumatawag.

"Hello? Sino 'to?" tanong ko.

"Ouch!" oa na sagot ng isang pamilyar na tinig sa kabilang linya.

"Ezekiel?"

"The one and only." mayabang nitong sagot. Napairap naman ako kahit hindi niya nakikita.

"What?" taas-kilay kong tanong. Gusto ko na lang matawa sa sarili, kung makaarte akala mo kaharap lang ang kausap.

"Ikakasal ka na at lahat, hindi mo pa rin ako iniimbita. Hindi na nga ako inimbita ng fiancé mong hambog, pati ba naman ikaw?" nagtatampo kunwaring sabi niya. Bakas na bakas sa kanyang boses ang lungkot ngunit hindi ako naniniwala dahil sa malamang sa malamang ay pinaglalaruan lang ako nito.

Ngunit totoo iyon, wala akong alam sa mga inimbita ni Vince at masyado akong na-overwhelmed para maghanap pa ng wala. Bukod pa roon ay nagseselos siya rito.

"Baka kasi mabroken ka eh," biro ko pabalik sa kanya. Narinig ko naman ang singhal nito sa kabilang linya.

"The nerve of you, woman. Kung hindi ko pa malalaman kay Ate Gia." he said not giving the argument up.

"Hey, how are you related to Gia?" kuryoso kong tanong.

"She's kuya's almost forever haha." pabirong aniya. Lalong nabuhay ang kuryosidad sa akin.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Dami mong tanong, kahit wala akong imbitasyon bukas ay pupunta ako. Kapag hindi ako pinapasok, patitigilin ko ang kasal at sa akin ka babagsak." determinado niyang sinabi. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha pero gusto kong matawa sa mga sinasabi niya.

"Ang kapa—"

"Bye!" he said before dropping the call. Tignan mo nga naman ang kakapalan ng mukha, ako pa talaga ang binabaan ng tawag.

Natatawa na lamang akong umiling at lumabas ng kuwarto. Nagdidilim na ang kalangitan ng dungawin ko ito kanina sa barandilya.

Masyado yata akong nasanay na kasama si Vince sa bawat minuto ng buhay ko, tuloy ay hindi ko maiwasang mamiss siya.

Siguro ay hindi na rin nakakapagtiis ang lalaking iyon.

Naabutan ko si Mama na naghahanda ng hapunan. "Ma, si Resien?" I asked.

She took a glanced at me before answering, "Ayon natulog na, pagod kakalaro." aniya habang naghahalo ng niluluto.

I came close by her and hugged her from behind.

"Ma, i love you." I whispered.

Ganito ako kalambing sa ina, matagal ko ring hindi nakasama si Mama kaya naman bawat sandaling kasama ko siya ay gusto kong sulitin. Lalo pa't ikakasal na ako bukas.

Pinilit ko naman siyang manatili lang dito sa amin ngunit ayaw naman daw niyang makisawsaw pa sa aming bagong pamilya.

Ayaw niyang magpapilit.

She turned around and faced me, gently caressing my face.

"I love you more, anak. You are really a grown up woman now. Bukas ikakasal ka na." she said teary-eyed.

"Ma naman, para namang mawawala ako." wika ko saka mas hinigpitan ang yakap sa kanyang beywang.

"I am just so happy for you, anak." she stated before kissing my head.

After that, we ate the dinner together. Hinatid pa nga niya ako sa kuwarto para matulog, kailangan ko raw magpahinga ng maaga para makapagbeauty rest daw ako dahil bukas ay araw ko.

Hindi pa rin nagsisink-in sa akin, tomorrow will be a big day. At bukas, mapapalitan na ang aking apelyido.

Vince and I will be husband and wife, Resien will have his father whenever she wants, and we will be an official family.

That's when will I say that I am complete, that I have an ideal and complete family. Where my heart will rest, and find my own safe haven.

When I checked the time, I was already midnight yet I am still wide awake.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako makatulog, tila may hinahanap ang aking diwa.

Lalabas sana ako ng kwarto para uminom ng tubig ngunit napigilan ito ng makarinig ako ng isang mahinang kalabog mula sa labas.

Sa sobrang kaba ko ay binitbit ko ang lamp shade na nasa side-table saka dahan-dahang lumabas ng kuwarto. I made sure that the door in my room is locked so that Resien will be safe.

I am about to shout when I saw a shadow of a man reflecting because of the dim light but the man pulled me closer and covered my mouth to stop me.

"Hush, this is me." bulong ng isang pamilyar na tinig habang dahan-dahang inaalis sa aking kamay ang dala-dalang maliit na lamp shade.

I turned my head to him with narrowed eyes.

"Vin—" I was about to say that out loud but he shut me up with his lips.

At kung kailan lunod na ako sa mga halik niya ay saka naman niya napagdesisyunang lumayo at tumigil.

"Be quiet." he whispered.

"Why? I mean, what are you doing here?" I whispered back. He shouldn't be here, kapag nakita siya ni Mama ay magagalit ito sa amin.

He just smirked and pulled me hanggang sa makalabas kami ng unit niya.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" nagtataka kong tanong.

"Basta, magtiwala ka lang sa akin." aniya saka tumakbo kaya nahatak na rin ako.

Pareho kaming hinihingal ng marating elevator, saglit na pahinga lang ay tumakbo kaming muli hanggang sa maabot namin ang kinaroroonan ng kanyang sasakyan.

His car roared to life and I have no idea where he is taking me. Pero nang maging pamilyar ako sa daang tinatahak namin ay naiiyak ko siyang tinignan.

"Vince, ano ba? Anong ginagawa mo?" he glanced at me then got back in focus on driving.

He just gave me a sweet smile and say nothing.

Inihinto niya ang sasakyan sa tapat mismo ng simbahang pagkakasalan namin bukas. Umikot siya pagkababa ng sasakyan upang pagbuksan ako.

I was clueslessly following his instructions. I don't know what he's up to. But as he say, I trust in him.

"Just stay here until I reach the the altar. Then let me wait there for you, okay?" he said then ran in front of the altar.

He was grinning at me ng senyasan niya akong maglakad ng dahan-dahan.

Gaya ng ni-rehearse ay ginawa ko ang dapat na gagawin pa lang sa araw ng bukas.

Wala pa mang tatlong hakbang ay nararamdaman ko na ang pag-init ng gilid ng aking mga mata.

"I love you, keep going." he mouthed, without a sound. I was dramatically staring at him and mouthed back my i love you's.

At nang matunton ko na ang dulo, bukas ang palad niya ng tanggapin ako at hilahin papalapit sa kanya.

I'm in awe before getting back to my senses. Ang mga pakulo talaga ng lalaking ito.

"What's this, Vince?" paglilinaw kong tanong, pilit pinipigilan ang mga luha na pumatak sa aking pisngi.

"I want to marry you this day before our actual wedding. And mark this day as our official wedding." he gently said while keeping his eyes lock on mine.

"I-I have... no words. I just want to say that you made me the happiest woman alive."

"Make me the happiest man and be my wife," he said which made me nod immediately.

" I will about to say my vows to you so... stand still." panimula niya bago bago tumikhim at tinitigan ako sa aking mga mata.

"First, I am sorry for being an asshole back then." he chuckled. Napangiti rin ako sa nakakahawang tawa na iyon. "I admit that I didn't had the balls to fully accept you and our child in my life before because I was so busy loving someone else." his voice was so low, that it really came from his deep, deep insides.

"Thank you for letting me love you even after hurting you for so many times. Thank you for being so patient and forgiving with me. And I'm sorry for not being the sweetest, the ideal and the hopeless romantic fiancé you've ever had. But I promise to laugh and be happy with you, to lift you up when you are feeling down. I promise to be you weakness and your strength. The one that you'll see first in every morning that you wake up, I believe in the truth of what we are. And I promise to love you always, with every beat of my heart." madamdamin niyang sinabi na naging dahilan para sunod-sunod na magbagsakan ang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan.

Hearing these words from him always felt magical. Parang sa bawat magandang pangyayari sa pagitan namin ay isang pangarapan na natupad.

"I, Vincent Alcedrick Go, take you Hannah Avien Celestine. To be my wife, to have and to hold. For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer." his eyes also welled up in tears. Damang-dama ko ang bawat salitang namumutawi sa kanyang labi. "In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death... do us part. According to God's holy law, and this is my solemn vow."

"Can you state your vows for me, wife?" he demanded.

I smiled sweetly and nooded. Of course!

"Years ago, I am this lost, hopeless kolehiyala who happened to work as a janitress in AGC," I smiled then continued. " But before that, I became a damsel in distress who saved by a knight in shining armour who happened to be you." I said as I chuckled remembering that moment when I first met him in our village's famous karinderya.

He was just there, holding my hand, listening and looking at me intently.

"Even though meeting you feel like my life's destruction. I always dreamt of meeting you, over and over again. I feel like everything in my life has led me to you. My choices... m-my heartbreaks, my regrets. Everything." my voice is cracking. I couldn't contain the emotions I am feeling inside.

"And when we're together, my past seems worth it. Because if I had done one thing differently, I might never have met you." nakangiti ngunit lumuluha kong tinuran. The tears are slowly dripping in his cheeks as he silently cried with me there.

Hindi man inaasahan ang lahat ng ito, masasabi kong hindi ako nagsisising sumama ako sa kanya rito.

Adventure gives thrill in someone's life. Escaping is one of them, but some people have misconceptions in escaping. Like it is some of an illegal and inappropriate thing to do.

But this is my unforgettable escape. An unforgettable escape with him.

"I don't really believe in love for I didn't experience it even when I was a child. But when I met you, I realized that home isn't a place. It is a feeling. A feeling that can only be felt in your arms. Because you are my home.