#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #PuppyCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 34: CHALLENGE

EMBER'S POV

I can feel Coal throwing me a worried glance. Parehas kaming nakatayo sa labas ng kotse at kanina niya pa rin pinipilit gawan ng paraan na mapaandar iyon pero talagang mukhang kakailanganin na ng tulong para mapagana ang sasakyan.

We couldn't be delayed anymore. The sun will rise soon.

"Kuya Trace is calling."

Napatigil ako sa pagpabalik-balik ng lakad at nilingon ko siya. "Huwag mong sagutin."

"But—"

"Mas malayo ang panggagalingan ng mga sasakyan. Iba ang daan na 'yon at hassle pa na lumabas. Sigurado akong magpipilit ang kapatid mo na sunduin tayo. Please just send him a message and tell him that we're on our way. Tell him that I'll be there on time."

I went back to pacing. Kailangan ko ng makapunta sa venue. Sigurado akong nandoon na silang lahat at sigurado rin ako na kahit ang confidence ni Trace ay walang laban sa pag-o-overthink kapag natagalan pa ako na hindi dumating. Bakit pakiramdam ko pinapakaba talaga kami ng mundo?

Kung confidence lang naman kasi ang pag-uusapan ay hindi lang naman si Trace ang marami niyon. Our only difference is that Trace is overly confident about everything, while most of my confidence goes to archery. Maybe we're both getting played to bring us down a notch.

Muli akong natigil sa paglalakad at napatingin ako sa isang direksyon na naringgan ko ng palapit na tunog. One sounded like the roar of a motorcycle, and another was the familiar sound of hooves.

Finally.

"Tropang CR to the rescue!" Inalis ng taong nakasakay sa motor ang suot niya na helmet at nakangising kumaway sa akin ang lalaki. "Hello! I'm Ram. Belaya's most handsome brother."

I haven't met him yet. Ang nakilala ko pa lang sa mga kapatid ni Belaya ay si Cross nang pumunta kami sa ospital para bisitahin siya nang manganak siya noong September. Hindi ko na naabutan ang iba pa niyang mga kapatid dahil kinailangan kong bumalik sa farmhouse dahil may virtual meeting ako.

"Stop flirting with the bride and give me my bike, Lawrence," Coal said to the other man. "Bakit nga pala wala ka pa sa venue? Imbitado ka rin ah."

"Galing pa ako ng trabaho. Kababalik ko lang nang utusan ako ng kuting kong kapatid na kunin sa farmhouse ang cellphone niya na naiwan niya. Naabutan ko si Cristiano at nasabi niya sa akin na may problema nga." Bumaba ang binata mula sa motorbike at tinapik niya iyon. "Iniwan ko muna ang sarili kong motor sa farmhouse at dinala ko na 'tong sa'yo kesa naman walang bestman sa kasal. Susunod na lang kami ni Cristiano kapag napaandar ko na ang sasakyan."

I could ride with Coal on the motorbike, but with all the fabric of my dress, it would be really difficult.

Inabot ko ang bouquet ko kay Coal. I thanked Ram quickly before I hurriedly walked towards Cristiano, who dismounted from the gigantic, beautiful brown horse. Choc Nut lowered his head, and his intelligent eyes met mine.

"Pwede ba nating kalimutan muna ang natitira mong sama ng loob kay Trace? I really need to marry him today," I told him softly as I pet his muzzle.

The horse made a sound that I will take as an agreement. I gave Cristiano a smile, and he helped me mount Choc Nut. Usually, I could do it alone, no matter how big the horse is. Pero dahil sa suot ko ay hindi naging madali iyon. Thank you, Ma, for the slit in this dress.

Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa taong ilang beses na akong sinagip mula sa isang sitwasyon. "Thank you for everything, Cristiano. You're really a life saver."

Cristiano just smiled and gave me a flick of his two fingers in a salute.

Binalingan ko si Coal. "See you at the wedding."

As an answer, he pressed the throttle to rev the engine. I cued Choc Nut to start walking, and I turned him in the direction I wanted him to face. I nudged him into a run, and he didn't delay. I could feel the train of my gown and the veil flying behind me as the wind whipped around us.

I turned instead of going down the path that everyone else took to reach the venue. I went straight to the farmhouse. We passed the house, and we galloped to the edge of the barn. Nakangiting kumaway pa ako nang makita ko na nasa labas ang mga alaga ko. I heard a 'moo' which I'm pretty sure came from Ruby.

Mabilis naming nalagpasan ang kural at dumiretso kami sa likod niyon. Choc Nut and I entered the woods, which had been daunting when I first tried to explore it. Ang pagkakaiba sa rancho at sa lugar na ito ay mas malaki ang sakop ng lugar na walang biglang pababa. The ranch has a lot of declines that make riding dangerous for not just the person riding but also for the horse.

Napatingin ako sa langit. The sun will rise any minute now, which means the procession has already started.

I stood up and leaned forward to allow the horse to be more free with his movements so that I could help him run faster. With the speed we're going, it wasn't a surprise when it didn't take long for me to find the first sign that we're getting closer.

Thousands of fairy lights are wrapped around countless of trees. There are also white flower garlands decorating the lodgepole pine trees I'm passing by. Hindi rin nagtagal at naririnig ko na ang mahinang tunog na nagmumula sa partikular na direksyon.

The sound started to become louder as I got closer to the venue. As soon as I caught a glimpse of an arc made of white flowers, I knew that the others had been made aware of my presence.

A sea of people wearing pale green dresses and black suits who were sitting on white wooden chairs stood up to look in my direction. I couldn't help but smile when I caught a glimpse of Potchi who's wearing a dress, and Bingo and Sir Francis Bacon with their tuxedos. Hawak sila ng mga nakatatandang kapatid ni Trace. Ellena, on the other hand, was the last person to walk down the aisle. She stopped in the middle and turned to look at me.

I cued Choc Nut to slow down until we gradually came to a stop right at the end of the flower-filled path.

Rinig ko ang pagpapalakpakan ng mga tao nang huminto ako sa dulo ng aisle. I could feel everyone's gazes, I could hear the sweet music more clearly, and the beautiful setting nestled in the middle of towering canopies of trees is breathtaking. But none of it filled me with an abounding amount of bliss more than the man standing at the end of the walkway.

Just in time, the sun finally graced us with its light. I could feel its warmth greeting my skin when its rays reached where I am. Tumama rin ang sinag no'n mismo kung saan naroon at naghihintay si Trace. The light coming from the sun illuminates the altar and the man who is waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

When I found this place while I was out riding, that was when I first imagined this day. But I should have known. It could never compare to the reality that is now in front of me.

Reality is so much better. With Trace, no dreams or imagination would be superior to what actually exists.

Magkatulong na ibinaba ako ni Coal na kararating lang at ni Papa na lumapit sa amin. Coal gave me my flowers back before he reached for the horse's rein. My father took me in his arms, and I looked up at him with a smile.

He watched the love of his life walk to him with this dress I'm wearing, and now he's witnessing the daughter they created wear the same thing.

"You look beautiful," he whispered.

"Thank you, Papa," I said with the same quiet voice. "For letting me have this, and for being here."

Puno ng emosyon ang mga mata na nagsalita siya, "It felt like I just had you back, and now some punk is trying to take you away." When I looked up to meet his eyes, I saw that the expression on his face didn't reflect the bite in his words because he was smiling. "But in a way, he was the one that brought you back to me."

Napangiti rin ako sa sinabi niya. It feels like that to me too. Since I met Trace, a lot of things have happened. Ang dami kong natuklasan sa sarili ko at ang daming mga 'sana' na naging 'ito na' na naging posible lang mula nang makilala ko siya.

"He's too clever. He knew that there's no way that I could stop you both, and that I wouldn't even want to try to because he already showed me that there's nothing he couldn't do for you."

"It's the bullet, isn't it?" I asked, half-joking.

"It is. Any man that would risk his life for you will instantly have my vote." His gaze, which was watching Ellena as she walked the rest of the walkway, went back to me. "But it wasn't just that. It was because he reminds me of myself whenever I catch him looking at you. It was what I used to feel when I looked at your mother. A tremendous sense of gratitude for having her in my life."

The music playing changed to "I Get To Love You" by Ruelle. Something that Trace and I decided on when Lia suggested a list of songs for us.

I tightened the hand I'm using to hold on to my father's arm when he started guiding me to walk forward.

One look at you, my whole life falls in line

I prayed for you before I called you mine

Oh, I can't believe it's true, sometimes

Oh, I can't believe it's true

I was worried, scared, and stressed out after the kind of morning I had, but it was nowhere near what I'm feeling right now. I wasn't nervous before. I didn't think I would be. But I guess there's nothing that could prepare you for this kind of day.

Something like this feels so monumental. It was at this point that you could feel your world shifting for the better. The world that once was yours alone will now belong to someone else, and what was his alone will become yours in return.

I get to love you, it's the best thing that I'll ever do

I get to love you, it's a promise I'm making to you

Whatever may come, your heart I will choose

Forever I'm yours, forever I do

I get to love you, I get to love you

Trace's light brown eyes met mine, and I could see them shining even from the distance. He was trying to keep the smile on his lips, but it's also obvious that it wasn't easy for him because he's beginning to get overcome by his own emotions.

It's a good thing that he has two people standing beside him. Coal, his best man, finally joined him, as did Lucienne, who's wearing the same darker shade of green that Ellena's wearing.

Except she's not my maid of honor, nor is she my bridesmaid. She's Trace's best woman.

The way you love, it changes who I am

I am undone and I thank God once again

Oh, I can't believe it's true, sometimes

Oh, I can't believe it's true

A single tear fell from the corner of my eye when I saw Coal give him a tap on the back while Lucienne rubbed his arm comfortingly.

I know that Trace and I were feeling the same thing. It wasn't that long ago that we were both living two different lives. Buhay na hindi naman masasabing malungkot kami. We were happy in our own way, but there were moments when it was too exhausting. We felt as if we were fighting a battle we had no idea about.

Life is a continuous journey, and when you travel alone, every step gets heavier and the distance becomes harder to cross.

Until this moment.

The moment where everything feels light because you finally have someone to share everything with. A person who makes the time spent wandering seem short because no time is ever long enough when there are two of you.

They say love is a journey, I promise that I'll never leave

When it's too heavy to carry, remember this moment with me

I get to love you, I get to love you

I get to love you

Huminto kami ni Papa sa tapat ni Trace na mukhang hindi na makapaghintay dahil nakahanda na kaagad ang kamay niya para kunin ang akin. My father shook his head before he planted a soft kiss on my cheek, and then he placed my hand on top of Trace's.

"Wala ng bawian 'to, Pa," biro niya.

Pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata ng ama ko. "Huwag mo ng ipaalala sa akin at baka magbago pa ang isip ko."

Trace grinned, and he pulled me towards him. Ikinulong niya ako sa mga bisig niya at imbis na kumilos para magawa na naming lumapit sa harapan ng altar ay nanatili lang siyang nakayakap sa akin habang pinagmamasdan ako.

"Were you scared I wouldn't come?" I asked him softly.

"No." His eyes are so clear, and they're glistening with the light shining right above us. "It took me a long time to find you, princess. There's no way I'd lose you like that when every direction I can see is only those that could lead to you." Inabot niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan ang likod niyon. "But I was a bit worried that something happened to you. Ipasusundo na sana kita."

"Susunduin ka na kamo niya mismo. Kinukulit na nga niya ang ate ni Belaya na pahiramin siya ng helicopter."

Napatawa ako nang magsalita ang sumisinghot at naluluhang si Lucienne. Nakaakbay sa kaniya si Coal na napailing na lang.

"Let's go. Bago pa may maisip si universe na gamitin laban sa atin at subukin na naman tayo," sabi ko kay Trace.

Hindi pa rin siya kumilos at sa halip ay pinakawalan niya ako. Nagtatakang tinignan ko siya pero inilahad niya lang ang kamay niya sa akin. "I want you..." His eyes twinkled and the corner of his lips tipped up. "To guide me."

My own lips spread into a smile when I recognized his familiar words. It was when I met him again after that night at the bar. The time when fate steered him back into my life once more when I thought there was no way that it would be possible.

Inabot ang kamay niya at mahigpit ko na hinawakan iyon. Most grooms will have their bride's arm hooked to theirs, but Trace and I stepped forward with both of our hands clutching each other.

When we passed Coal, Trace tipped his head up at his brother, and then he patted Lucienne's head, whose face crumbled again as if she was about to burst out crying.

I couldn't help but remember the video that Domino sent last night at their dinner. Si Lucienne lang ang natatanging babae at ang kambal na mga anak nila Lia. The parents played rock, paper, scissors to decide who would be taking care of the babies. Gun and Belaya lost, so Lia and Gun's twins stayed with him, and Belaya and Pierce's children stayed with us. Si Arctic lang ang wala dahil nag-stay siya mother niya.

Mas pormal ang dinner ng mga lalaki na kasama si Lucienne dahil sa labas pa sila kumain habang kaming mga nasa farmhouse ay nag-order lang ng pagkain dahil spa day namin kahapon. We all wanted to relax, so even Lia wasn't allowed to cook.

During the dinner, they decided to give Trace messages. Lucienne, of course, gave him hers. "Libangan ko ang bawasan ang confidence mo, at gusto kitang asarin hanggang sa mapaiyak kita. But you're my best friend, and I love Ember for you, so I wish that your life with her will be filled with the love that I know you've been waiting for all this time. I might enjoy the look of annoyance on your face, but I'm happier knowing that you are receiving the same amount of happiness that you unselfishly give to the people that matter to you. I'm one of the few people that were lucky to get to know someone like you, and I will always be thankful that when life led me to your brother, I also got the chance to have you as a family. Itatak mo 'to sa mga bagay na hindi mo dapat kalimutan dahil hindi ko na uulitin 'to. Siguro kapag one hundred and fifty years old ka na."

"Grabe ka naman Lush. Wala bang tawad 'yan?" tanong ni Trace.

"Dahil mabait ako, sige, kapag ninety-nine years old ka na at kumpleto pa ang ngipin mo."

Mahina akong napahagikhik dahilan para magbaba ng mga mata sa akin si Trace. Umangat ang kilay niya at may pagtatanong sa mga mata niya.

"It's nothing," I whispered.

Tinapunan niya ng tingin ang pari na nagsisimula na sa seremonyas at bumulong din siya. "Habang tumatagal lalo kang bumabagay sa akin."

"Bakit? Tumatawa ka rin na mag-isa?"

"Oo. Lalo na kapag nalilipasan ako ng gutom."

Napalakas ang tawa na kumawala sa akin dahilan para matigilan ang pari sandali. Sabay pa kaming umiling ni Trace habang nakapaskil sa mukha namin ang pilit na inosenteng ekspresyon. Mabuti na lang at hindi naman mukhang minasama iyon ng nagkakasal sa amin na nangingiting nagpatuloy.

The priest commenced with his sermon, addressing us and the guests from time to time. Trace and I listened attentively with our hands still clasped together.

"Ember Nile Calderon and Trace Dawson, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely, and wholeheartedly?"

"Yes, Father," Trace and I answered at the same time.

"We have gathered here today to witness these two people who wish to receive God's and the church's blessing and be united in Holy Matrimony." He gestured to our already connected hands. "You walked a long path to this day, where your half became a part of a whole. From this day on, you will have a friend by your side, a companion, and a family that will be tied to you for the rest of your lives." He regarded Trace and asked his question, "Trace Dawson, do you accept Ember Nile Calderon to be your wife, to live together as friends and mates? Will you love her as a person, respect her as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep her beside you as long as you both shall live?"

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Trace sa kamay ko bago siya sumagot. "I do, Father."

"Ember Nile Calderon, do you accept Trace Dawson to be your husband, to live together as friends and mates? Will you love him as a person, respect him as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep him beside you as long as you both shall live?"

I looked at the man standing beside me. The most beautiful man I ever met. And when I say that, it's not just his face I'm talking about. It is also his heart that has the capacity to love indefinitely. This amazing man who can make simple things feel a million times better. This man who could make me laugh even at the most inappropriate moments.

This man who captured my heart without the intention of ever letting it go.

"I do, Father."

The priest continued his ceremony, and not long after, he called for the rings to be given. Lumapit si Pierce na karga ang natutulog na anak na lalaki habang dala ang maliit na unan kung saan naroon ang mga singsing.

The official motioned for us to face each other while holding a simple gold wedding band. Inangat ni Trace ang isang kamay ko habang may kinang sa mga mata na sinalubong niya ang sa akin.

Trace is a naturally happy person. Kahit may mga pagkakataon na nalulungkot din siya at nasasaktan. I always wonder how he could face life the way he does. How he recovers so quickly from adversity and how he continues to give.

His mother was right. It was his gift.

A gift I vow to protect because his heart is my first priority. I know that he will always take care of mine, so I want to take it as my responsibility to take care of his too.

"Ember Nile Calderon, the woman that God finally directed to my life after years of begging Him to let me find you. I've watched my brothers meet the woman of their dreams. I've witnessed them fall in love, get married, and build their own families. Isa iyon sa pinakakinaiinggitan ko. I came from a big family. Laging maingay, laging may opinyon ang bawat isa, minsan parang wala ka ng privacy, pero lagi ring masaya. And yet there's a part of me that always longs to meet the person that I can call mine."

"I thought I was just tired of feeling alone, and I'm starting to get lonely, which is why I was hell-bent on looking for my The One. But then how can I feel alone when I'm surrounded by the people I care about? That's when I realized that I wasn't looking for you because I was lonely. I was looking for you because I was ready."

"I was ready to fall in love. I was ready to have someone that I could take care of. I was ready to be with someone who would let me be me. I was ready to find the one who could see me even for the things I didn't recognize in myself."

"Isang gabi ang bumago ng buhay ko. Who would have thought that I would meet the elusive 'The One' in a bar where she happened to be too and that she would dare me to a game that changed my life in a snap? Dahil mula ng gabi na iyon ay hindi na kita magawang makalimutan. I couldn't forget your beautiful face that seems like a sin to stare at for a long time, your sad eyes that I want to see filled with happiness, and I couldn't erase from my memories the feeling of your soft lips on mine."

"It was my luck that the universe decided to let us meet again. Pinangako ko sa sarili ko na gagawin ko lahat para manatili ka sa tabi ko. Not just because I want you to, but because you want to be with me too."

"Everything with you feels different. You amaze me with the things you do, you make me fall in love harder with the things you believe in, and I can't help but feel this sense of pride when I see you soar high because of your dedication. But more than that, I love that when you've achieved it all and you're surrounded by the cheers of the crowd around you, you still choose to look for me just to give me the most beautiful smile that I have ever seen. Pakiramdam ko hindi lang ikaw ang nanalo kundi maging ako."

"I've met a lot of great people. I dated and ended up with more friends. Lagi ngang biro noon na kung may iba na dumadaan sa friend zone, may iba na tumatambay, ako naman itong landlord ng lugar na iyon. Some separation hurts, I admit. But it was easy for me to find it in me to let them go. Until it was you I was watching walking away from me."

"It hurt more than the bullet that tore my skin. It burned hotter than the scorching pain of my injured flesh. It was like the way Cookie described us at that time. It felt like you took my heart from my chest, leaving me bleeding on the floor while I waited to be eaten by crows."

Nagtawanan ang mga bisita namin at nilingon ko ang kinaroroonan ni Cookie na pinanggigigilan ni Lucienne ng yakap.

"You see, my princess, no one could live a life without a heart. When you left, you took mine with you. The very first time I met you, mine had already become yours. To all the hearts that beat and exist, it was yours that my heart went home to. There was no going back. I will never want to. Not when I feel like I have been waiting all my life for you."

"You were like a princess locked inside a high, cold tower. I wanted to be your prince more than anything, but you didn't need one. So instead, I wished so hard that I became your reason instead. I wanted to be your reason to start living a life free of what holds you down in one place."

"Your eyes freed from sadness became my motivation to wake up, your smiles became my source of strength, the sound of your laughter became my purpose, and your heart became the one thing I'm living for."

"There's only one arrow created for you and me. We were meant to be connected from the very start. The one that pierced your heart struck me too. And on that sorrowful day, when the arrow that will take your life comes, it will take hold of me too, because this world will lose its significance when my heart and soul will always go to where you will be."

He cleared his throat, and my eyes started to water when I saw how he was fighting hard to keep his own at bay. "Naynay was right. Na malapit na kitang makilala. That fate will soon bring you to me. And I know that she was right too when she said that she and my parents would be happy for me. I wish more than anything that they were here... and maybe they are. Maybe they're up there looking at us right now and smiling because I finally found you."

"And in the name of God, I vow to take you as my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow."

Loving Trace changed me. He showed me that in happiness, pain could exist. Kahit gaanong kasayang tao ay nagagawa pa rin na makaramdam ng kalungkutan. He also showed me that there isn't always pain when there are tears. Katulad ngayon kung saan mabilis ang pag-agos ng mga luha ko habang pinapanood siyang isuot sa akin ang singsing na magiging tanda ng araw na ito.

He raised my hand and touched his lips to the band on my finger while his eyes didn't leave mine. When he straightened, he reached for my face and gently wiped my cheeks. Nang lalong bumalong ang luha sa mga mata ko ay yumuko siya. I felt his lips on my cheek, as if he wanted his kiss to wipe the tears away.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at katulad ng ginawa niya ay inangat ko ang isa niyang kamay.

"Trace Dawson, you were the man that took my breath away when I first met you. You were so beautiful that it felt like my brain lost the ability to function for a moment." I pointed at our guests with my thumb. "Hear that? No one's complaining."

Trace chuckled. "Pinagbibigyan lang nila ako dahil kasal natin."

Murmurs of agreement sounded around us, and I laughed despite the tears. "But you were you know? You were the most gorgeous person that my eyes have ever laid on. But more than that, something tells me that your heart surpasses your physical beauty."

"For years, I never dated anyone. I don't feel the need to, and I've never been interested in someone enough to be with them. That's why meeting you scared me. Dahil unang kita ko pa lang sa'yo, sandaling nakasama pa lang kita, alam kong kaya mong baguhin ang mga bagay na nakasanayan ko na."

"When we meet again, I want to put some distance between us. I was ready to list reasons why I couldn't be with you. But you didn't give me a chance, and now that we're here, I'm grateful that you didn't. Dahil kung hinayaan mo akong lumayo sa iyo ay hindi ko mararanasan na maging ganitong kasaya."

"You were always gentle with me, you understand me better than I understand myself, you are attuned to me in such a way that before I even had the chance to learn the language of my own heart, you already did. You were considerate of the things that other people might see as a hassle when it comes to me, and you were accepting even of things I couldn't accept in myself."

"But it wasn't always easy between us. Not when I convinced myself that I was undeserving of you. Pero higit sa lahat ay natatakot ako na mawala ka sa akin sa paraan na magiging permanente iyon. Kasi ayoko ng maiwan. Ayoko ng may masaktan ng dahil lang sa akin."

"It came as no surprise that it didn't take me long to find my way back to you. To wake myself up because I was being selfish. Leaving you just because I'm scared wasn't the right thing to do. I didn't realize that what was tying me down to that tower was already unraveling. When I first met you, when I had the opportunity to be loved by you... I was already learning how to free myself."

"You showed me how by letting me learn from you. From how you love me. Some people can teach you how to fall in love with them, but you loved me in a way that you also showed me how I could love me. Minahal mo lahat ng ako hanggang sa natutunan ko ring mahalin ang sarili ko. And because of that, I now know how to love you in the same way. Open and unrestrained."

"I promise those who love you, those that are watching over us, that I am here to stay. I will never let go of your hand again. Because I know that you're the kind of man that my mother would have loved for me."

"We were just stardusts in this vast universe, but something as small as a heart could be a vessel in which it could exist. In a heart that could love so much like yours does, the universe has no choice but to surrender."

"Here we both are. We're both winning. And it all started because of you, Trace Dawson, the man I will always choose as my favorite person in this lifetime, and the others that we get to share."

"And In the name of God, I vow to take you as my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow."

I slid the ring up his finger and it wasn't a moment long when he pulled me right into his arms. Naramdaman kong isinubsob niya ang mukha niya sa leeg ko dahilan para hindi na magawang mapawi ng mga nagbabagsakang mga luha ko nang maramdaman ko ang sa kaniya na bumabasa sa balat ko.

"Now that Trace Dawson and the newly Ember Nile Dawson have given themselves to each other by the promises they have exchanged, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Trace Dawson, you may now kiss the bride."

Trace straightened and I felt his fingers on my chin, gently tugging my face up. I stood on my tiptoes so that I could meet him halfway when he leaned down to claim my lips.

Rinig ko ang hiyawan at malalakas na palakpakan ng mga tao. But they all sounded like background noise against the thunder inside my chest as the kiss became deeper. Iniyakap ko ang mga braso ko sa balikat ni Trace at lalo niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa akin. I felt my feet levitate from the ground, and I didn't mind. I just held on to him as if my life depended on it.

Narinig ko ang boses ng nangangantiyaw na si Domino. "Hoo! Tama na 'yan!"

"Oo nga! Hindi pa kami nag-aalmusal!" segunda ng sa tingin ko ay si Coal.

But to my surprise, and maybe everyone else's, it was Lucienne that tried to stop them. "Hayaan niyo na. Palibhasa mga wala kayong love life."

"Wow," sabi ni Domino. "Pinagtatanggol niya na."

"Hindi naman. Naaawa lang ako kasi sa lahat ng kinasal, si Trace ang walang honeymoon."

I chuckled against Trace's lips, ending the kiss completely. Naiiling na ibinaba niya ako bago niya binalingan ang mga nanonood sa amin.

"Mga bitter." He wrapped an arm around me while we faced our family. "Who you na kayo sa akin ngayon. Hindi na ako single!" Napahagikhik ako nang ikinulong niya ang magkabila kong pisngi sa mga kamay niya at kinintalan niya ulit ako ng mabilis na halik. "Ang gwapo ko at hindi na ako single!"

"Yey!"

Nilunok ko ang tawa ko nang ako lang ang nakisali sa pagbubunyi niya habang nakangiwing nakatingin lang sa amin ang pamilya namin habang ang ibang mga bisita ay natatawa na lang.

Inabot ko ang mukha ni Trace at sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang nagkulong sa kaniya sa mga kamay ko. "Ang ganda ko at hindi na ako single!"

"Hala sila," narinig kong sabi ni Domino. "Wala na bang chance para ibalik sa mundo nating mga tao si Ember?"

"A quick annulment would do," my father suggested.

Humaba ang nguso ni Trace pero mukhang wala siyang balak magpatalo. Tumingin siya sa langit at sandali niya akong binitawan para idipa ang mga kamay niya. "Ano pa universe? Panalo na kami. Embrace couple for the win!"

Hindi lang ako ang napatili kundi maging ang mga bisita namin nang bigla na lang bumagsak ang malalaking patak ng ulan na para bang instant na sagot iyon sa naging hamon ni Trace.

"Nagtanong ka pa kasi," natatawang sabi ko sa kaniya at pagkatapos ay inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya. "Let's escape this place quickly."

Walang tanong-tanong na kinuha niya ang kamay ko. I pulled him, and I started running. Inabot ko ng mabilis ang bulaklak ko kay Ellena dahil hindi ko madadala iyon at pagkatapos ay muli akong tumakbo. Trace matched my much shorter stride, and I stopped when I reached the tree where Choc Nut's rein were tied to.

I mounted him as quickly as I could, and I felt Trace's hand on my hips, helping me up. Nang makaayos ako ng upo ay nagbaba ako ng tingin kay Trace at muli kong inabot ang kamay ko sa kaniya. Sa pagkakataon nga lang na ito ay hindi niya iyon kaagad kinuha at sa halip ay nagdadalawang-isip na tinignan niya ang kabayo.

"You've ridden him before," I told him.

"And he tried to throw me off every single time."

"Because he can feel that you're nervous. Come on. Ride with me—"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa mga oras na ito pa biglang pumasok sa akin ang ala-ala nang unang araw ni Trace sa rancho. The laughter bubbled out of me at the memory of that day.

"What?" Trace asked.

I wiggled my fingers instead of answering him. "Ride with me. If you do, I'll fulfill your dream of becoming a horse and ride you as well."

Trace blinks up at me. Ilang segundo na tulala lang siya sa akin. Seconds. That's all it took for him to climb on the back of the horse quicker than anyone I've ever seen.

Niyakap niya ang mga braso niya sa beywang ko at bumulong siya sa tapat ng tenga ko. "Are you challenging me, wife?"

A shiver ran through my spine when I felt his hot breath fan my skin. But I didn't let my body's reaction to him prevent me from being my competitive self.

"It's not just a challenge. It's also a promise, husband."

___________________________End of Chapter 34.