#CYECChapter28

"CIEM? Are you listening?"

I broke out of my trance when Adam called me. "Huh?" wala sa sarili kong sabi.

"I'm asking you what wedding do you prefer. Beach wedding? Church wedding? Anything will do, just tell me what you want." He smiled.

"O-Oh. Sorry. Nawala sa isip ko. Beach wedding na lang siguro? We used to plan our wedding when we were still in high school. And we both wanted a beach wedding," nakangiti kong sabi. Mas lumapad ang ngiti niya at tumango-tango.

"I'm glad you still remember that," he said, planting a soft kiss on my cheek.

I just stared at him, and I stayed like that for a few seconds. "I love you, Adam."

His lips curved into smile and gave me a soft kiss on my lips. "I love you, too."

"I hope you're not hiding anything from me," bigla kong sabi. That caught him off guard. I don't know why, but I saw something in his eyes that makes me think he's really hiding something from me.

"I . . ." He trailed off. "Honestly, I have to tell you something."

Sa 'di malamang dahilan ay nagsimula akong makaramdam ng kaba nang sabihin niya iyon. So, meron nga siyang tinatago sa 'kin.

"But this is not the right time, Ciem. You have to trust me, okay? No matter what happens, you have to trust me."

His eyes were begging me to trust him. His eyes were sincere. He was sincere. But I'm still hesitant about it. How could I trust him if he's not saying anything to me? Ano ba ang tinatago niya sa 'kin? Bakit hindi niya pa sabihin sa 'kin ngayon?

"May ibang babae ka ba?" mahinahon, pero madiin na sabi ko.

His eyes widened in surprise. "W-What? No! It's not like that. I will never do that. What made you say that?" Bakas sa mukha niya ang pag-aalala, pero umiling lang ako at pilit na ngumiti.

"That's all I want to know. Kung may ibang babae ka. Kasi kung meron, sabihin mo na sa 'kin. I'm willing to let you g—"

"Baby, that's not going to happen. Ikaw lang ang mahal ko. Ikaw lang ang meron ako. Walang iba."

Then why are you not telling me about Rysie? Why do you keep on seeing her?

I want to ask him that, but I couldn't. There's something inside me that wants to trust Adam no matter what.

Slowly, I nodded. I rested my head on his shoulder and stayed like that for a while.

"I trust you, Adam." I will always trust him. Siya lang ang pinagkakatiwalaan ko. Kahit anong mangyari, siya lang.

***

AS I sat in the dressing room with the make-up artist putting the final touches on my face, I could not stop thinking about how everything will look once I go out of this room. I know I was part of every planning stage, and I've already had idea to what the venue would look like, but still, I'm really excited to see how we put all this to reality.

When she was through, I stood up and hugged her. "Thank you for making me look so pretty on this very special day," nakangiting sabi ko. I'm just so happy right now. Walang mapaglagyan ang saying nararamdaman ko. Kahit na naging mahirap ang buhay ko, si Adam ang naging pahinga ko.

She flashed me a lovely smile and gave me my bouquet of flowers, so I thanked her again.

I headed towards where the groom and the entire audience were waiting. I clutched tightly to Sandro's hand as we slowly walked down the path leading to the gazebo. Yes, Sandro's the one who will walk me down the aisle to give my hand to my groom. Sandro was the only friend I have. I have no family left. I actually wanted Adam's dad to walk me down the aisle, but I also didn't want him to. Adam's dad was like a father to me, too. But Sandro saved me so many times, and I want him to be the one walking down with me on this very special day. If he didn't save me, I wouldn't be here today. I owe it all to him.

I have gone through various painful episodes in my life and I never that I would be happy this happy again. Adam and I are finally getting married today, and I couldn't explain the happiness I'm feeling right now.

A cool breeze rustled in the atmosphere giving a cooling effect to the wedding's invitees as each took a seat on the gazebo on either side.

Instrumental music played in the background and it has made everything even more dramatic. I could not believe that I am finally getting married to the love of my life, Adam. The only man I loved in my whole life. Who could've thought that I'll be marrying my first love whose heart was shattered by me? We parted ways, but we found our way back to each other again.

Streamers and balloons fluttered in enclosed railings with the vibrant white, beige, and brown colors radiating throughout the premises. Rows of luxurious cars stood parked on the far side of the venue's left and the overhead sun made them sparkle. Our guests were mostly Adam's friends. I didn't have much of a friend, so I had only invited Sandro.

I saw lawyers and different people from Adam's workplace. I saw our high school classmates that I honestly never thought I'd see again. It's very nice to see them again, though. Some of them was obviously a changed person, and some of them remained the same.

The background music started to fade slowly and was replaced by bridal choruses as heads abruptly turned towards the aisle's far end where I was making my entrance. At the far end stood Adam with Zack as the best man, Carlos and the priest who was to solemnize the wedding ceremony. Zack's the best friend of Adam since law school. They went through so much together, and it has made them unbreakable.

As I slowly walked towards Adam, I could not help but grin widely at my soon to be husband. He was always in a black suit and looked perfect every day, but seeing him today has simply blown me away.

I wore a white wedding gown that was strapless sewn with pearl beads and rhinestones. In addition, I wore a white veil, and in my hand was the silk bouquet of roses.

As we reached the last step of the walk, Sandro who had been holding my hand the entire time let go and told me, "I'm happy for you, Ciem. But you have to take this seriously. You're not fine, and none of this is fine. You have to go to the hospit—"

"Please, Sandro. Not today," I cut him off. Leaving him with no choice, he let out a deep sigh and gave me a nod.

"Thank you," I mouthed.

Bago ko pa man tuluyang mahawakan ang kamay ni Adam, natigilan ako nang maaninag ko si Calizo na nakatayo mula roon sa 'di kalayuan. Ano'ng ginagawa niya rito? Hindi ko naman siya inimbitahan dahil matagal ko na rin siyang hindi nakakausap.

Bakas sa mukha ni Calizo na hindi siya sang-ayon sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Para bang pareho sila ni Hope na hindi sang-ayon sa pagpapakasal ko kay Adam. Why are they acting the same? Why is everything about them the same?

I didn't even invite Hope to my wedding day, because I know he'll just make me change my mind about marrying Adam, and I didn't want that. I didn't invite them both, but why am I seeing Hope to where Calizo were standing few seconds ago?

"Oh my God! W-What the hell is that?!"

Parepareho kaming natigilan nang marinig namin ang sigaw ni Adlei na nakaupo roon sa puwesto ng Bride's maid. Nang lingunin namin siya ay nakatayo na pala siya habang nakaturo doon sa may bandang dagat. Dahan-dahan akong binitawan ni Adam at hinalikan sa pisngi. "I'll go check it out," paalam niya sa 'kin. Bakas sa mukha ni Adam ang pag-aalala at pagkalito sa mga nangyayari. Kahit ako ay naguguluhan na. Wala sa sarili akong tumango at hinayaan si Adam na puntahan muna ang kapatid niya.

No'ng lapitan niya si Adlei ay itinuro muli ni Adlei 'yong sa may gawing dagat. Binitawan ni Adam ang kapatid niya saka niya pinuntahan iyong direksyon na tinuro ng kapatid niya, at sa 'di malamang dahilan ay bigla siyang napahinto at para bang nawala siya sa sarili dahil bigla siyang natumba sa buhangin habang nakatitig pa rin doon sa dagat.

Nagsilapitan ang mga tao doon at maya-maya lang ay walang tigil na sigaw at mura ang lumabas mula sa mga bibig nila. Bakas ang takot sa kanilang boses. What's happening out there? I couldn't see it because they're all blocking the view.

Naguguluhan man ako sa mga nangyayari ay nagmadali akong maglakad at saka ako nakipagsisiksikan sa mga tao. I made my way to Adam, and I found him still sitting on the sand. "Is everything alright?" I asked, flashing him a worried look.

"W-What the f*ck is that?"

I was surprised by what he just said. I've never heard him curse. Ngayon lang.

It made me curious. What made him say that? What caused fear in his eyes? I have never seen him this scared.

Dahan-dahan kong nilingon 'yong tinititigan ni Adam sa harapan niya, at bigla na lang nanlambot ang mga tuhod ko nang makita ko kung ano iyon.

It's a closet with a dead body floating on the shallow part of the sea. Hindi gaanong tanaw 'yong buong bangkay, pero 'yong ulo at kamay niya na halos nakalabas na mula roon sa aparador ay sapat na para malaman ng lahat na bangkay nga ang laman no'ng aparador na lumulutang doon sa dagat.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't even move. Para bang kinain ng buhangin iyong mga paa ko at ayaw nitong umalis sa kinatatayuan nito.

Bakit kailangan naming makita ang ganitong bagay? Bakit kami? Bakit dito? Bakit ngayon? Bakit sa mismong araw ng kasal ko?