#HHFM Chapter 24:

Forever

* * *

"Magpapakasal tayo. Malapit na."

When Ryo said those words, I didn't expect that we would get married literally in a few weeks.

"Ngayon na?" I asked. I was halfway through buttoning up Raiko's sleep sack. Malamig ang hangin sa labas, at sigurado akong hindi siya titigil kaiiyak hangga't hindi nagigising ang mga kapitbahay kung hindi makapal ang ipasusuot ko sa kaniya. He seemed to not be fond of the cold.

Ryo looked like he just finished taking a bath. Nakapandong pa sa ulo niya ang tuwalyang gamit habang bahagyang pinipiga ang buhok para matuyo. He is already in his dark blue jeans and light gray polo shirt, while here I am with a department shirt from college and floral pambahay pants. Like always, he looks dashing. Parang nakahihiya siyang tabihan sa itsura niya.

"Oo," natatawa niyang sabi habang tumatango. "Maligo ka na kaya? Ako na ang magbibihis kay Raiko."

He walked towards the bed and picked up Raiko's socks. I remained standing on my spot, waiting for a punchline. Any minute now, I am sure that he will laugh at me and admit that he's just joking. Pero naisarado ko na lahat ng butones ng damit ni Raiko, wala pa rin. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin na parang walang pinaplanong kung ano.

I narrowed my eyes at him which made him chuckle. Parang alam na niyang pinaghihinalaan kong may kalokohan siyang iniisip. Malay ko ba kung masyado siyang natuwa noong nalaman niyang umasa ako sa singsing noong nakita ko kaya nilulubos-lubos niyang pag-trip-an ako ngayon?

"Ano, Kie?" he asked, one of his brows jerked upwards. His eyes roamed around the room and stopped at the wall clock. "Pero alas-sais pa lang naman e. We have two hours."

"Seryoso ka ba?" paglilinaw ko. May plano naman talaga akong maligo pagkatapos bihisan si Raiko, pero hindi ko alam na may pupuntahan kami ni Ryo ngayon. Hindi naman niya ako sinabihan kagabi.

He shook his head, smiling. I was forced to step aside as he carefully slipped a sock through Raiko's little foot. "Hindi kita binibiro. Mukha ba akong nag-jo-joke noong nag-propose ako sa 'yo?" Nilingon niya ako, nanghahamon ang tingin. I scrunched my nose.

I observed him with mouth agape, trying to see if he would slip. Baka makita ko siyang nagpipigil ng tawa o ano.

He asked, chuckling as he put on Raiko's hand covers, "Ano, Frankie? Baka ma-late tayo ro'n."

"This is not a good joke, Ryo. Magagalit ako," I told him, which obviously wasn't true. I wouldn't be mad because of something this petty. Pero kung nagbibiro siya, aminin na niya ngayon pa lang. Hindi iyong kapag nakabihis na ako, saka niya aaminin.

He breathed a quite heavy sigh. "Hindi nga kita binibiro." One of Raiko's fists reached his cheek. Iniwas niya ang mukha rito. "Maligo at magbihis ka na. Pupunta tayo sa munisipyo."

I checked the time. Ang sabi niya, alas-otso raw ang schedule. Judging by his get-up, mukha ngang may lakad kami. Still, I kept my eyes glued to his face as I opened my cabinet to get some decent clothes. Pero wala akong nakita kundi ang pagme-make face niya sa tapat ni Raiko na mukhang natutuwa sa lukot-lukot niyang mukha.

He frowned upon noticing that I was just standing there and holding my clothes. "Maligo ka na nga, Frankie. Ako pa ba ang magpapaligo sa 'yo?"

I rolled my eyes, then I heard him laugh. Mamaya, marinig siya ni Tatay, e di napagalitan kaming pareho. Tingnan lang namin kung makatawa pa siya.

Hanggang sa banyo, hindi pa rin ako kumbinsido na may lakad talaga kami sa munisipyo. I was so sure that there were documents that we needed to request before attending the counseling. Hindi ko rin alam kung naasikaso niya na ba iyon nang hindi ko nalalaman o ano.

Mahirap man, sa loob ng banyo na ako nagpantalon. Ang dating medyo maluwag pa sa aking blouse, medyo sumikip na sa bandang braso. It looked weird on the chest part, too. My bra kept on peeking through the spaces in between the buttons. I wasn't that bothered by the pregnancy fat I gained, but sadly, some of my favorite clothes don't flatter my current body shape anymore. And Ryo kept on playing with my now flabby arms whenever he would get the chance to be alone with me in my room. Good thing that it was cold outside; I had a reason to put on Raianne's gift. The loose fit of the cardigan hid my arms and chest.

"Ryo," sita ko sa kaniya nang makitang buhat-buhat niya si Raiko at nagpapaikot-ikot sila sa kuwarto ko. He stopped swinging our poor child, chuckling. Siya lang naman ang nag-e-enjoy sa ginagawa niya. Raiko was just silently watching him. Pinaikot-ikot niya ang batang hindi ko alam kung nahihilo na ba.

He carefully placed Raiko on the bed before plopping down beside our baby. Inayos ko na ang bedsheet ko kanina pero hindi ko na siya sinaway. The front of his shirt stretched over his pecs and his arm sleeves looked like they were going to pop when he scooped Raiko from the bed to put him above his chest. His arms looked like they could crush Raiko's small figure in a snap.

Raiko made a sound. I thought he was going to cry but Ryo was quick to shush him and kiss the top of his head.

They looked so comfortable that I was almost envious. Nang-aakit ang maliit na espasyo sa tabi nila at gusto ko na lang ding humiga roon. As much as I don't want to ruin their moment, we have to go downstairs to have breakfast if we want to make it on time for the counseling—sakali mang hindi talaga ako binibiro ni Ryo.

"Akala ko ba, aalis tayo?" I asked Ryo. His eyes were closed while one of his hands was lightly patting Raiko's legs in a slow rhythm. Baka makatulog siya.

He hummed. "Oo nga. Sabihin mo, kapag okay ka na, babangon na kami."

It seemed like Ryo wanted to get more sleep. Sa bagay, mula noong nagpunta kami rito, maaga na siya laging nagigising. Back at their house, he wakes up early only to jog, tapos matutulog na ulit kapag nakaramdam ng antok. If he doesn't feel like jogging in the morning, gumigising siya kapag may araw na. Iba rito. Maaga siya laging gumigising. Kung hindi, sisimangutan siya ni Tatay buong araw.

Busy na masyado si Tatay ngayon at naghahabol doon sa mga ipina-customize sa kaniyang furniture set. Kaya nga maaga na ring nagigising si Ryo, dahil ginagawa siyang alalay ng tatay ko. Sabi nga niya, sayang daw ang laki ng katawan kung tatambay lang si Ryo sa salas maghapon.

Ryo ended up falling back asleep in a few minutes. After combing my hair and prepping Raiko's bag, I had to pinch his nose for him to wake up.

Hindi na nagtanong sina Tatay kahit na nagpaalam akong may lakad kami ni Ryo sa munisipyo. Hindi na rin ako hinayaan ni Nanay na magligpit ng pinagkainan dahil baka raw ma-late kami. Kahit na nakasakay na ako sa owner, nanliliit pa rin ang mata ko kay Ryo.

He glanced at me before revving the engine. "Bakit ganiyan ka makatingin?"

"Are we going on a family date?"

A beat passed before the sound of his laughter fused with the roar of the engine. I don't think the nearest mall opens at eight in the morning, though. So, baka may iba nga kaming pupuntahan.

"Gusto mo ba? Puwede namang hapon na tayo umuwi. Hindi lang puwedeng super late kasi susunduin natin ang nanay mo sa palengke mamaya."

My forehead creased. Sa aming dalawa, ako ang mas mahilig magplano at mag-schedule. I always made sure that I had his schedule arranged back in college. He was often forgetful and would end up stressing himself out trying to juggle everything he had on his plate. Naninibago akong parang alam na alam niya ang gagawin para sa buong araw ngayon.

"Seriously, Ryo," I said in a stern voice. Both his brows shot upwards. "Where are we going?"

"Munisipyo nga," natatawa niyang sagot. "Eight to twelve, counseling; tapos lunch tayo. Sa hapon, bahala na kung saan mo gustong pumunta. Tawagan mo kaya si Cali? Sabihin mo, labas tayong apat. Isama niya 'yung Love niya." Nagawa pa talaga niyang mang-asar. "Basta 'pag five na, susunduin natin nanay mo."

I gaped at him. His eyes were set on the road, bright and alive with the soft veil of morning light grazing his skin. Hindi naman siya mukhang nakipaglolokohan. I knew he told me that we would get married soon, but I didn't expect it to be this soon. What about the papers we need to request? What about . . . Tita? Does his family even know that we're engaged? Saan kami ikakasal? Dito?

He shot me a glance after taking a right turn by an elementary school. It was as if he could read what was going on inside my head. "Okay na. Inayos na namin ni Tatay lahat. Hihintayin na lang natin 'yung requests. Siya na kumuha ng mga papel mo."

My head felt like it was going to spin. Fortunately, Raiko's small hand which touched my chin was able to keep it stable. I fixed his hand cover before turning my head back to Ryo. "Alam na nina Tita?"

The moment I got into a relationship with him, I knew that it meant getting in a relationship with his family, too. As much as he doesn't like saying it out loud, he is family oriented and is a mommy's boy. Kaya naman noong una pa lang, alam kong kasama ang pamilya niya sa lahat ng desisyon namin. How did Tita even react to this seemingly rushed wedding?

He clicked his tongue. "Alam na nina Daddy at Raianne. Ngayon lang sasabihin ni Daddy kay Mommy. Mamaya. Kaya pag-uwi natin, baka nando'n sina Mommy sa bahay n'yo."

I gasped. If my arms weren't full, I would have slapped him on the arm. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad kay Tita?"

He chuckled. "OA 'yon e. Ii-stress-in n'on si Daddy. Hindi 'yon mapapakali kung pa'no tayo ikakasal. Baka tawagan pa n'on 'yung personal shopper niya para sa damit mo." He shook his head. "Nga pala, tinatanong ni Raianne kung ano raw ang isusuot mo. Gusto niyang isama mo raw siyang mamili."

Napatahimik na lang ako nang matanaw na ang munisipyo. We passed by the church and parked at the adjacent plaza. Ang isang kamay niya, bitbit ang bag ni Raiko at ang isa naman, nanatili sa likod ko habang tumatawid.

"Is this for real, Ryo?" I asked as we walked on the steps towards the front entrance.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo pa ba? Nagbago na ba ang isip mo?" Tumigil siya sa paglalakad kaya napatigil din ako. He didn't sound disappointed nor mad. "Kung ayaw mo muna, e di . . . mag-date na lang tayo. Tara?"

Umiling agad ako. That's not what I meant. Napanguso ako. "Sinisiguro ko lang na hindi mo ako binibiro."

He grinned. "Hindi nga."

His head turned to the huge tarpaulin hung on one of the columns of the building which made my head turn, too. There was a picture of a huge bouquet of pink and white flowers, a clipart of wedding rings and the municipality logo. I was finally able to connect the dots on how we would have our marriage done after a very short preparation time. I almost felt the world spun beneath my feet, like the reality just started to dawn on me. So, this was what kept him and Tatay busy in the past few days. They were trying to beat the deadline for the requirements.

Hindi nga talaga siya nagbibiro.

"Seryoso? This wedding's okay for you?" I asked him.

He nodded, eyes earnest and lips curling upwards. The view was enough to make my chest hurt with all the pounding my heart was doing.

"Sabi ko sa 'yo e, kahit anong klaseng kasal, basta ba sa mahal ko, okay na."

* * *

The counseling ended before twelve noon. Raiko seemed to be in a good mood but at the expense of my already sleeping arms. Ryo had to scoop him out of my hold, pero pagdating naman namin sa sasakyan, ako ulit ang magbubuhat dahil hindi naman ako marunong magmaneho.

Sumaglit kami ng kain sa may tapat ng munisipyo para lang hindi malipasan ng gutom. We planned to go to the mall and walk around, pero pinasabog na ni Tito ang phone ni Ryo katatawag. Hindi na tuloy kami nakagala dahil nagmamadali na kaming umuwi. He didn't want to make Tita wait—who found out about the wedding earlier than he expected.

Pag-uwi nga namin, nadatnan ko si Tatay na kasama ang pamilya ni Ryo sa salas. Si Raianne ay kumakain ng palitaw sa isang gilid ng sofa. Tito remained standing just beside Tita, who got on her feet almost immediately upon our arrival. Hinigit ni Tatay ang kuna palapit sa kaniya at inilapag ko roon si Raiko. My arms felt numb.

"You're getting married?!" halos pahisterya iyon.

I looked at Tatay who seemed to not be bothered by Tita's reaction. Oras na ng tanghalian pero umiinom lang siya ng kape habang nanonood ng TV.

"Oo, 'My. Ngayon mo lang nalaman?" maang-maangang tanong ni Ryo. I almost laughed at that.

"Hoy, ikaw ang may sabing 'wag ko munang sabihin e!" alma ni Tito.

Ryo chuckled. I looked towards their direction and found him hugging his mom.

It turned out that they were just waiting for Louie. May dala itong lutong ulam pagdating at sama-sama na kaming nananghalian. Ryo sat beside Tita who looked so troubled about our wedding that she couldn't even swallow her food. Panay ang tanong niya sa amin ni Ryo kung paano ang gagawin. Parang siya pa nga ang ikakasal.

"Sakto, pito lang 'yung puwedeng bisita," ani Ryo. "Sakto lang. Si Daddy, ikaw, si Raianne, si Tatay, si Nanay, si Cali, si Nate."

Tita didn't have any traces of disapproval on her face. She merely looked bothered and worried that we didn't have enough time to prepare for the wedding. The conversation went to Ryo's clothes, my dress, our rings. Halos hindi naman kami makasingit ni Ryo sa usapan nila ni Raianne.

Raianne kept on whispering beside me to go with her and call Cali so we could buy my wedding dress. Hindi ko na alam kung ang sinasabi ba niya ang una kong pakikinggan o ang pagtatalo nina Tita at Tito sa harap ko kung anong kulay ang mas maganda. As Ryo predicted, Tita suggested that she'd buy my wedding dress—courtesy of her personal shopper who was currently staying in Paris.

"Parehas lang namang puti 'yan," Tito argued, pointing at the screen of Tita's phone where a photo of two wedding dresses were shown—one in natural white, one in ivory. Napakamot na lang si Ryo sa batok.

Si Tatay, nakatingin lang sa kanila habang lukot ang mukha, pero hindi naman nagrereklamo sa ingay. I was certain that he was weirded out on how Tita acts. I couldn't blame him. I was as baffled as him on why there would be a need for me to have a dress shipped from overseas with a price almost five times of my monthly salary.

"Kung parehas lang 'yan, e di sana, hindi na magkaiba ang tawag!"

I wasn't sure how Raianne convinced Tita to stop worrying about my dress. Sa huli, napagdesisyunang sumama na lang ako kina Cali at Raianne para mamili ng isusuot. Bumalik lang sa katahimikan ang bahay nang magsialisan na silang lahat. Tita looked like she wanted to bring Ryo with her pero nagpaiwan itong isa. And I think I have an idea why. Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang inis ni Tita sa kanilang dalawa ni Tito dahil kinontra nila ang lahat ng s-in-uggest nito.

"Bukas, doon ka muna sa inyo, ha?" bilin ni Tatay kay Ryo. I curled my tongue and held back my chuckles when I saw how Ryo wanted to argue but ended up agreeing to my father's request. "Huwag mo munang dikitan si Ceskang bago ang kasal."

I didn't understand my father's logic, but I didn't bother to argue. Sigurado naman kasi akong matatalo ako at baka ma-bad shot pa si Ryo.

The next day, Ryo and I went out to buy rings. The last time we were in a jewelry store, it was for Raianne's birthday, if my memory serves me right. At ang presyuhan doon, di-hamak na mas nakalulula.

The bracelet that I gave him for his birthday shimmered against his skin. I told him that I would buy a ring for him, but he insisted that we buy a set for the two of us together. When I asked what I would do with the ring in his luggage, he just shrugged and told me to wear both. I just smiled as he looked busy checking different wedding bands.

Cali arrived just in time after we've decided to buy a pair of platinum, solitaire rings. It didn't take long for Raianne to arrive, too. As much as Ryo wanted to tag along, his sister practically dragged him out of the mall and shoved him inside their SUV, saying that he wasn't allowed to see me try the dress on.

The main reason why Ryo didn't want to leave me yet was because starting tonight, he would not be allowed to step foot in our house. Batas iyon ni Tatay kaya hindi puwedeng kontrahin. He didn't even get the chance to kiss Raiko before leaving.

"Hindi raw magkakabalikan, 'sus," komento ni Cali habang inaayos ni Raianne at ng staff sa dress shop sa labas ng mall ang suot ko. We could have just gone to the department store and picked up a white dress pero ayaw ni Raianne. Still, I'd rather have this than let Tita buy me a ridiculously expensive dress.

"Shut up," I replied with a glare. Nakaupo lang si Cali sa may sofa at nakasubsob sa dibdib niya si Raiko habang sinusukatan ako kung hanggang saan ang puputulin sa dress na napili namin kanina.

"Ilan nga ulit kayo ro'n, Ate? Fifty?" Raianne asked. Tumango ako roon. Kita kong napaawang ang labi niya bago tumango pabalik. It would probably be their first time to witness a mass wedding, at sigurado rin akong hindi iyon ang ine-expect nilang magiging kasal ni Ryo.

Kahit na anong gawin kong apela, hindi pumayag si Raianne na hindi siya ang magbabayad, kaya naman nagpumilit na akong ilibre sila ng pagkain. Cali was carrying Raiko's bag while Raianne was holding the dress. We ended up at the eatery right across the mall since we were all too tired to find another place to eat.

"Kailan ang binyag niyan?" tanong ni Cali after Raianne volunteered to order food for us.

"Hindi ko pa alam e. Basta ninang ka at ninong si Nate," I answered. She nodded as she twirled the ends of her hair with her finger, eyes locked on Raiko who was half-asleep on my chest.

"Okay, okay. Sabihan mo lang ako. Basta ba mag-ninang ka rin sa 'min, ha?"

"Of course," I replied. Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa pagkatapos.

What?

It took me a while to process what she just said. Napangisi siya nang makitang halos lumaglag ang panga ko sa sahig.

"Buntis ka?" I squeaked.

Slowly, she nodded. I gasped at that. I knew something was different! I lightly kicked her leg under the table which made her laugh. Nagkatitigan ulit kami. I didn't voice out my questions but she sort of understood what my eyes wanted to convey.

Tumango-tango ulit siya, "Oo, alam na ni Nate. Sabi ko, 'wag siyang maingay kasi aasarin kami ni Ryo e."

I burst into laughter. She was right, though. Baka hindi na sila tinantanan ni Ryo noong nasa bahay sila.

Nate picked us up after we were done eating slash celebrating my wedding and Cali's pregnancy. Nga lang, hindi ako sa bahay agad nagpahatid at kay Raianne muna sumama.

If I weren't holding Raiko, baka dinambahan na ako ni Ryo pagkakitang-pagkakita niya sa akin sa labas ng kuwartong tinutuluyan niya. Lagot ako kay Tatay pero bahala na. Narito na kami e, wala naman na siyang magagawa.

"Dito muna ako, ha?" I managed to ask while he showered my cheeks with kisses. Nang matapos sa akin, ganoon din ang ginawa niya kay Raiko na parang ilang taon niya kaming hindi nakita.

We didn't stay long, though. Parang may radar si Tatay at tumawag sa akin. Wala pang isang oras ang nakalilipas, hinahanap na ako sa bahay. Mukhang gusto pa nga ni Ryo na sumama sa paghatid sa amin pero pinagalitan siya ni Tito Finn. Hindi talaga puwede dahil kapag nakita siya ni Tatay, baka magalit. Hanggang kanto nga lang ako magpapahatid at magta-tricycle na lang papuntang bahay para hindi makita ni Tatay ang sasakyan nila.

"Mag-iingat kayo, ha. Magpapakasal pa tayo," he whispered.

Tito, who was standing just a few feet in front of us, heard it and snorted. "Corny."

Napasimangot si Ryo roon. I held back my chuckles. Ryo kissed the top of Raiko's head before kissing me on the temple.

"I love you forever, Kie," bulong niya, mas mahina kumpara sa kanina. It quickly drew a smile from my lips.

"I love you, too," I whispered back. Until I run out of tomorrows.

After a few more days of signing papers and of waiting, the mass wedding day has finally arrived.