Joaquin De Vera
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Heartbeat... I can still feel my heartbeat.

I slowly opened my eyes and the hospital lights above me were the first ones I saw. I breathe out, realizing it wasn't the after life lights yet. I clenched my fist five seconds and stretched my fingers after, confirming if I'm still a flesh and thanked God I'm still am.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag at pumikit. What happened to me was still fresh like it just happened yesterday. Though, I don't have any idea how long I'm laying in the hospital bed. I tried moving one arm when my elbow hit something beside me. Laking gulat ko nang masilayan si Keira na natutulog sa aking gilid.

I reached for her hair and combed it gently. Iyon lang ang kaya kong abutin ngayon dahil hindi ko maigalaw ang aking braso ng malaya sa sobrang sakit na nararamdaman ko gawa ng dextrose. Damn this thing. I want to remove it so bad now so I can hold her tight.

I remembered her voice crying for me to get out of the race, and that was the last thing I heard from her before my life flashed before my eyes. I never cared about winning anymore but Keira. "Thanked God, you're okay..." A tear fell on my cheek. Agad ko iyong pinunasan nang pumasok si Raven sa kwarto, gulat nang makita akong gising.

He told me everything, but it wasn't the whole story yet. I guess I need to wait for her to wake up, then.

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"Ay puke!"

Nang maramdaman kong aalis siya sa tabi ko ay agad ko siyang hinawakan. Nagulat din ako sa sinabi niya na para bang multo akong humawak sa kanya. Well, muntik na. The doctors did I great job for saving me. And Thank God, too.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit sila gulat nang magising ako. Ilang araw na ba talaga akong nakahilata rito sa ospital? "Marami kang utang na kwento sa'kin," sabi ko kaya napabitaw siya sa pagkakayakap. Nagbayad naman ako ng halik sa kanya. Consider it for now, I'm on the hospital bed, haha...

I knew some about what she and Agatha were up to, college pa lang sila. What shocked me was the revelations the two best friends did, and what boils me mad was Alva's a part of it. That's why she's always not around, but around the world taking innocent lives. No wonder now...

I'm proud of their tandem for facing that big, controversial issue. Especially my Keira Denise. She's hell fearless.

Thank the heavens again, me and my cousin are still alive, yet my life was at risk around Alva without even knowing. Kung wala rin si Raven ngayon ay baka walang nag-aalaga sa'kin nang makauwi na 'ko sa bahay.

Keira's back on the job and Ninang Thea let me rest and get back when I'm ready. Kapag nasa duty si Raven ay siya rin ang nag-aalaga sa'kin, kapalitan niya si Ninang Aramina. Mom, thank you for giving me these people. Promise to give back everything they had for me. I owe them big

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Lily of the Valley and red roses, always be her favorite. After assembling the bouquet I went straight to my godmother's company. "Sir Joaquin, kaylan po nga pala ang balik mo?" asked Ate Venus.

"Pinapatanong ni Ma'am Thea. Alam niyang pupunta ka rito ngayon kaso may importanteng lakad siya kaya hindi na kayo nagkaabutan," dagdag niya pa.

"I think, this Sunday. I finally feel better now." Ngiti ko saka nagpaalam. Sumaglit lang ako ro'n at pinaabot ang bouquet para kay Keira. I still have things to do with Womenscape. The business is getting bigger and bigger, and I need to hire more staff and produce more products. I'll just see her on Saturday.

And before that... From Responsibility to Wife. I wonder what's my name on her contacts...

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"When's the wedding?" asked Raven.

"Hindi pa nga kami engage, maghintay ka. Eh, kayo ni S—"

"Maayos. Dalian mo na, baka ma-late ka sa date mo. Mahiya ka naman kay Keira," putol niya agad sa sasabihin ko.

"Ayaw mong pagusapan?"

"Ayoko. Baka ma-jinx mo na naman, eh. May sumpa pa naman bunganga mo." Napailing-iling na lang siya habang pinagtatawanan ko. "Just hurry up and get married already." Mahina niyang suntok sa likod ko saka lumabas na ng kwarto ko.

Matapos kong mag-ayos ay dumiretso na 'kong byahe papunta sa kanya. And there I saw her wearing a blue silk dress. Next time, you'll be wearing white. Naalala kong hindi kami natuloy sa isang museum sa Milan noon dahil sa mga nangyari kaya sa museum ko siya dinala, just before we had dinner. After that... Oh, you know what's next. I love the blue dress on her but I prefer it on the floor for now.

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Different worlds they say. Keira Denise, she was more than just an ordinary girl in the crowd, living differently from the world I lived in. She is special. Like a light guiding me on the track. A kick that I never knew I needed, and a peaceful palm that holds me in the darkest hours. She saved me. She saved me from following some footsteps on getting out of this world.

I tried living a life after a tree lost its leaves, one after another. I focused on flags and spotlights that I never thought I would find love in the long run. Well, I never cared about being single. Then yet again, here I am, planning and ready to propose to someone I least expected.

I know my friend has a sister, but I never plan on being Kean's brother-in-law not until he asked me one night. That fucking night when he asked me to babysit. That was the most unexpected plot twist I ever encountered in my life. A twist with having a girl in the plot! How I ironically said I want peace rather than love confessions.

I'm captivated by something I couldn't even explain. Basta, isang araw, hulog na 'ko. The chaotic crowd suddenly went silent in my head when she came. It's like I'm driving on calming roads when I'm with her.

Deep breath in, deep breath out, as I was looking at the box on my hand. Sinabi kong may kalesa akong nakita kahit wala naman talaga para lang kunin ang atensyon niya. Wala na kasi akong maisip na paraan paano ko sisimulan ang gagawin ko! Kung hindi siya makapaniwala, ako rin! Baka magulat pa siya lalo na hindi talaga si Raven ang mayroong ganap.

I bought the ring that caught my attention, just way back when we were still in Milan. Habang nagtitingin-tingin siya sa mga kwintas ay patago ko iyong binili.

"Gago!" mura niya sa'kin. Mabuti na lang at malapit-lapit na lang ang simbahan dito. Pwede siyang mabasbasan kahit saglit. My plan was to propose in front of the San Agustin Church but the rain said just let it happen under Fort Santiago. It's also a perfect spot, too, anyway. I don't know. It just came to me, that I want to marry her inside that place.

And she finally wears the ring.

Finally...

The last time I carried her in piggyback, now soon I'll be carrying her in bridal, after meeting her at the end of the aisle.

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Remember her favorite movie and make it happen. All my life, I've been walking on a runway, driving myself to black and white checkered and earned another display for the shelves and it's always been the same feeling. Inakala kong habangbuhay na roon iikot ang mundo ko because I was so focused on distracting myself from the things that had happened to me.

But then, a swirl of emotions churning within me as I watch everything and everyone around. Lily of the Valley flowers and red roses everywhere, guests dressed up like how the characters dress in the movie, the reception with lots of arts looking like a museum, and everything being vintage. 

Bridesmaids and groomsmen already having their way on the aisle together with the music. Then, there are her brothers, smiling at me. Parang mga naglalakad na modelo sila sa gitna at manghang-mangha ang mga tao. And each step they took brought me closer to the moment I had been waiting for.

And there she is... Being escorted by Mrs. Risma. The main character of this chapter of my life, finally walking towards me. She was breathtaking, looking like she had stepped out of her favorite movie.

When our hands finally hold each other, I know this is it — a new beginning of us. I found myself lost in the depth of her eyes when it met mine, making me feel like it's only the two of us inside San Agustin church. The orchestra sounds like heaven as my heart sways with it, too. 

"Keira Denise..." 

Malapad siyang ngumiti kahit pangalan niya pa lang ang sinasabi ko. "I know you don't like me," nang sabihin ko iyon ay nagtawanan ang mga bisita, lalo na ang mga kapatid niya. "At gulat pa rin ako hanggang ngayon at magpapakasal ka sa'kin." Tawa ko habang siya'y nagpipigil at pinaniningkitan ako. 

"From seeing you never to seeing you here standing beautifully in front of me in a gown. All I want was your safety at first, but it went beyond that. A thing that I least expect to happen between us. But then again, destiny really brought us here."

Kahit ang destiny ay sinasabing  sa akin ka talaga babagsak at wala kang magagawa. 

"I was getting lost in the path I'm in when you came to light up the way unexpectedly. You are not just someone I bumped into one night but indeed there's an invisible string connecting us two, for a long time. Thank you for opening the door for me, for giving me a chance to be a part of you."

A tear fell and started to flow down on her cheek.

"I promise you; you will always be safe with me. I love you for who you are and what you can become. Thank you for choosing me to spend a life with, Keira." Haplos ko sa kanyang pisngi.

"Hinding-hindi ko 'yon sasayangin, and I will face any race of life with you. Kahit anong mangyari, palagi mong tatandaan na sa bawat dulo, sa bawat tapos ng araw, naroon ako, naghihintay at sasalubong sa'yo."

"Joaquin naman..." Patuloy pa rin ang kanyang pag-iyak. Partida, hindi ko pa sinusuotan 'to ng singsing. "Keira Denise..." I called her name once again, and it still gave me good shivers!

"Joaquin Dominic..."

Isinandal ko ang aking noo sa kanya. "I'm ready to be a husband now." I closed my eyes and smiled. I slowly take her hand and slide the ring on her finger with a red string connecting it together. When the priest pronounced us husband and wife, I kissed her forehead. "I love you, my sweet little grumpy curls," I whispered.

"Roads of forever with you." She hugged me tight and cried on my chest.

Roads of forever with you.

Keira, she always leaves me breathless. Her eyes, always captivating me, drawing me into understanding how to live in her world and found that there is so much about her.

Denise, my soft little palm yet punches every hatred away in me. Like a brave little kid who believes that there's always a reason to fight for things you love, even a life. She never gives up whether things are big or small.

Monteza, a sophisticated and firm, yet gentle, drawing me into a comfort space where tough times are silent. Keira Denise Monteza, my girl, my wife. A name that brings so many butterflies and roller coasters in me. A woman so strong, I'm head over heels for.

Keira Denise, having a string of everlasting runways of love with her is already a win, no game prizes could ever compare.

At the end of every checkered flag,

Joaquin Dominic De Vera
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