This chapter is for Lyra Albo!

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Vow

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"This is my brother Alexandrei de Vera. Xan, they are Anne's parents." Pinakilala ko ang kapatid ko sa mga magulang ni Anne. Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa mga mata ni Anna Martin.

"Alexandrei? Are you related to Franco de Vera of De Vera Industry?"

"Yes, ma'am. He was my father." Magalang na yumuko ang kapatid ko. Nag-abot naman ito ng kamay sa ama ni Anne. "It's nice to see you again, Mr, Martin. I'm glad you came to my brother's wedding."

Tumikhim ang ito at tinanggap ang kamay ng kapatid ko. "As if I have a choice." Mahinang sabi nito.

Pinigilan kong mapangisi. Yes, Sir. I won't give you any other choices. I'm marrying your daughter whether you like it nor. An objection is going to be useless. I suggest that you let your guards down and let me marry your princess.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ng Mommy ni Anne sa akin at kay Xandrei. "I'm sorry but I can't contain my curiosity. How did you two become brothers?" Litong tanong nito.

"I was Franco de Vera's son outside his marriage." Sagot ko. Napatingin sa akin si Xandrei na parang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko.

"You're still a de Vera." Marahan ngunit mariing sabi ni Xandrei. "I'm sorry for my brother's way of answering, ma'am. He's not really good at it, must be his weakest point. He's always like that, degrading himself. I wished I could change the way you think of him. His words doesn't mix with his action most of the time-"

Kunot-noo ko siyang siniko. "Hey, stop it." Stupid, Xandrei. What was he planning to do?

Ngumiti lang siya nang nakakaloko sa akin. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin bago bumaling sa mga magulang ni Anne. Her mother's smile was soft and gentle. Nakatingin siya sa akin na parang may ipinaparating. While Daniel Martin's face was blank and unreadable. Mukhang dapat na akong masanay.

I would rather like it this way than treating me with fake adoration and fondness. I won't change the way they think about me. Ang gusto ko ay kusang magbago ang tingin nila sa akin at makita nilang totoo ang nararamdaman ko para kay Anne.

Speaking of Anne, tapos na kaya sila? Sa naisip ko ay bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. I'm excited yet it also feels like my heart was going to explode any minute from now.

"We have two other sisters. Hindi makakadalo ang mgd kapatid naming babae dahil hindi namin naipaalam agad." Napatingin sa akin si Xandrei. "Hahabol daw ba?"

"Hahabol si Xandrea sa reception."

Tumango si Xandiei. "Good. What about Xandra?"

Umiling ako. "Malabo."

Sunod-sunod na nagsipagdatingan ang mga inimbita ko sa pribadong kasal namin ni Anne.

"Hey, dude. Long time no see!" Nakipag-fist bump si Joey sa akin. Ngisi ang sinalubong ko sa kanya. "I'm glad you didn't forget to invite me here. It has been years. . ."

"Yeah." Nilagay ko ang aking kamay sa bulsa. "I thought you won't come. Ang sabi ng manager mo ay may mall tour ka raw."

Ngumisi siya sa akin. "Not until afternoon. The fans can wait. Can't miss this ,though you missed all my concerts. You should thank me, dude."

Joey became a singer. A sensational one. Who could have thought that he would get fame years after we disbanded? I'm glad he didn't settle with just playing instruments. Ang alam ko ay napabilang muna ulit siya sa isa pang banda bago naging solo artist. Umabot na sa ibang bansa ang kasikatan niya. Dalawang taon na siyang solo artist nang magkita kami ulit at sa DVI pa mismo. He invested. Then, we rebuild the friendship that had been destroyed years ago. He has been sending me ticket on his concerts pero binibigay ko lang kay Xandrea iyon dahil wala akong libreng oras sa tuwing sumasapit ang concert niya.

Tumikhim si Joey. "Where's Ram? I should give your bride a scare before she remarries you." He joked.

Nawala ang ngisi sa labi ko. Huminga ako ng malalim. Iba nga pala ang pagkakaalam ni Joey. Yes, he knew Ram. I introduced Ram to him once as my wife. He didn't know the reasons behind our marriage. We didn't have much time to talk about personal matters, so I couldn't blamed him. "Ram isn't my bride."

Nanlaki ang mata niya. "What?"

"She's not here. We got divorced. She went back to Cebu."

"Your marriage with her didn't work?" Kunot noong tanong niya.

"Not that it didn't work." Napailing ako at marahang ngumiti. "I didn't had a chance to tell you that my marriage with Ram is somehow different from what the world have seen. I guess, we got too busy with our careers and talking about personal matters were least on the list. Despite those reasons, I'm beyond glad that you still came to sing on my wedding day."

Napabuntong hininga siya. "Come on, man. It's nothing. Para namang hindi mo ako tinulungan noon. But pardon me for asking repeatedly, who's going to be your unlucky bride? Do I know her?"

"I don't know if you remember but she was my girlfriend when I we formed the band years ago."

Nanlaki ang mata niya. "An ex-girlfriend? Wait, hindi ko na maalala ang pangalan niya."

"Remember, Anne?" Humalukipkip ako nang nakangisi pa rin.

"Ohh, yung kursunada dati ni Rush?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Speaking of that asshole, where is he?"

"Inimbita mo rin ba 'yon? Kung inimbita mo si Rush, panigurdong hindi makakapunta 'yon. Ang alam ko nasa Britain 'yon at kakaalis niya lang nung nakaraang araw."

Tumango-tango ako. "It's okay."

"Hey , about your wedding song, hindi mo sinabi sa akin kung ano ang kakantahin ko mamaya."

"It's one of your song, you idiot. The one I gave you years ago. It's going to be a piece of cake for you."

Natigilan si Joey. I gave him one of my song composition bago pa ma-disband ang banda namin noon. Nang magkita ulit kami ay pinagkatiwala ko sa kanya ang ilan pang kanta na ako rin ang gumawa. No hard feelings from me. I gave it for free. Pasasalamat ko sa kanya sa pagtulong sa akin noon. After a week or so, his album became a best-seller and the song I've written reached the top charts of seven countries. That was the start of his fame as a solo artist.

Kung meron man akong natutunan noon sa mga kapatid ko ay pagbibigay importansya sa mga taong tumulong sa akin sa panahon na walang-wala ako, gaano man kaliit o kalaki ang naitulong nila, sapat na dahilan 'yon para magpasalamat ako.

Though, I'm not use to say 'thank you', I managed to show my gratitude in other ways. Isa na ro'n ang ginawa ko kay Joey.

Lumipas na ang tamang oras pero hindi pa rin ata sila tapos sa pag-aayos kay Anne. Bumaba si Heira at pinaalam sa akin na medyo matatagalan pa.

"Don't get too nervous, my dear brother-in-law. Nasa taas lang ang bride mo. Hindi 'yon tatakas sa araw na 'to. At nasa taas rin naman ako. As if naman hahayaan ko siyang takasan ka." Pinagpagan niya ang puting tux ko. Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Ano pa bang ginagawa niyo? Ba't ang tagal?"

Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata. Inirapan ko siya. "Ang atat mo naman. She's going to be a gorgeous. She'll take your breath away. Makita mo. Humanda ka na mamatay sa sarili mong kasal." Heira laughed. I just heard a devil-woman's laugh. God. How did I fall with this girl years ago? Tss. Remembering it was annoying. I couldn't believe it.

Sinabi niyang magbibigay na lang daw siya ng signal kapag pababa na sila. Nasa labas na ang mga bisita. Naro'n na rin ang pari. Nanatili muna ako sa sala dahil hindi ko ata kakayanin ang kaba pag nasa altar na ako.

"Sir, hindi pa po kayo lalabas?" Tanong sa akin ng wedding organizer.

"Can I have a minute or two?"

Marahang tumango ang babaeng oraganizer. Nag-ring ang phone ko. My mother is calling. . .

"Gelo?"

"Mom. . ."

"Congratulations, hijo. Tapos na ba ang kasal mo? I'm sorry for not being there."

"It's okay. Magsisimula palang ang kasal. I wish you are here, though." Napangiti ako.

"I wish too, son. Nakausap mo na ba ang magulang ni Anne? Did you invite them?"

"Yeah. They came."

"Oh, great God. Gusto ko sanang humabol pero kakapa-book ko lang ng flight. Baka pagdating ko dyan ay wala na kayo ng asawa mo. I'm excited to see her."

"You'll like her."

"I already loved her through your stories, my dear son. I'm happy for you."

I told her everything years ago. At sa tuwing tumatawag siya para kumamusta, hindi ko napipigilang ikwento sa kanya ang nangyayari sa buhay ko. We started again. Tinanggap niya ang pagkakamali niya. Pinatawad ko siya. Nagsimula kaming gumawa ng bagong ala-ala bilang mag-ina.

"Thank you, mother."

I could see all the changes, realize all the difference between my past and my present. It was like water and blood, moon and sun, darkness and light. Napakalaking pagkakaiba. Pero kahit gaano kalaki ang pagkakaiba ng ngayon sa kahapon, magkarugtong pa rin 'to. Hindi ako mapupunta sa sitwasyong 'to kung hindi ko napagdaanan ang lahat ng hirap na dinanas ko noon. I learned to be gracious when things don't go my way, and be grateful when they do.

Nang bumaba ang dalawang stylist mula sa taas ay sinabihan na akong lumabas. Nang makita ako ng mga imbitado ay ngiti ang sinalubong ko sa kanila. Ngiting may pinaghalo-halong emosyon. May pinagsamang kaba, saya, excitement, at iba pang hindi ko na mabigyan ng pangalan.

Pumwesto ako sa dulo ng platform na nagdudugtong sa edge ng pool at sa man-made stage na hindi halatang madaliang inayos. Damn. Maski ako ay hindi umasam na ganito kaganda ang kalalabasan ng lahat lalo na at wala pang isang araw ang paghahanda.

But everything I could see right now surpassed all my expectations. Mas maganda pa sa inakala ko. Well, there's nothing impossible for me when it comes to the girl I promised to treasure. I just proved it.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Pumikit ako sandali at tahimik na nagdasal. As I've said earlier, I wasn't the type of person who used to show gratitude by words. And I cannot remember when was the last time I thanked God for all the blessings He gave me, even in my mind. When I was too hurt, I've blamed Him. When I was too happy, I've forgotten Him. Those were the tendencies. I even reached the point where I turned my back on Him. I've forgotten that there was The One who's superior than me.

Maybe, trials weren't given by God. Maybe, it was the consequence of our actions ,same for the people who surrounds us. Or maybe, trials are blessings, too. Because if you surpassed the trials which are given to you, you'll become wiser, stronger and better compare to what you were back then. A blessing in disguise.

Thank you, God, for giving me this chance. For sending one of your angels to marry me.

Napadilat ako nang marinig ko ang pagtugtog ng piano.

And there she was, standing meters away from me, wearing the gown I've carefully and personally chose for her. Nanikip bigla ang dibdib ko. The frantic beating of my heart suddenly stopped as I realized how beautiful she was. Napalunok ako. Damn, Heira must be right. She was breathtaking. I. . .can't literally breathe. Shit.

I smiled at her. A warm emotion spread in my system. It was like a contagious virus scattering inside me. At least, in a good way. I could feel my own tears as it starts to form in the corner of my eyes as I watched her walk towards my direction.

Nang tumayo ang kanyang ama ay natigilan ako. For a moment, I thought he would stop Anne. Lalo na nang hawakan nito sa braso si Anne. Napatuwid ako ng tayo. Handa na akong sumugod sa kanila ngunit nang makita kong niyakap nito si Anne ay muli akong napatigil.

Anne hugged her father back. Do'n ako nakahinga ng maluwag. Nakita ko si Anna Martin na umiiyak habang nakatingin sa mag-ama. Ngumiti sa akin si Xandrei at Heira.

Anne looked at me. She caught me staring at them. I could see tears streaming down on her cheeks yet it doesn't make her less pretty. Those tears weren't from pain. It was all because of joy. Pure joy. She gave me one of her brightest smiles and mouthed, "Thank you."

"I love you." I mouthed back. I couldn't even imagine how much, angel. It's bigger than my love for myself and anyone else.

She walked with her father. Abot-langit ang ngiti ko sa nangyayari. Damn. This is all I wanted to see, a sight of chance. An approval. He could easily drag Anne if he really wanted to . Pero hindi niya ginawa. Hinahayaan niya na kami. Finally.

Nang ibigay ni Daniel Martin sa akin ang kamay ni Anne, nanginginig ito. Nanlalamig naman ang akin. Gano'n rin ang kay Anne.

"Take a good care of her or I'll kill you." He threatened me. Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay natawa ako. Anne laughed with me.

"You don't have to kill me if I ever hurt your daughter, Sir. I'll shoot myself." Marahan kong pagsagot kasabay ng paglingon kay Anne.

"I'll have the gun." Pabirong sabat ni Anne. I laughed again. And for the first time , I saw her father smile.

"Thank you, Sir." Yumuko ako bilang pagrespeto. Kinuha ko ang kamay ni Anne at inakay siya patawid sa platform na nagdudugtong sa stage kung saan nando'n ang pari.

Hinalikan ko ang ulo ni Anne. Napalingon siya sa akin.

"Finally. . ." I whispered.

Tumango siya. "Finally. . ."

Nang sa harap na kami ng pari ay hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa kanya. Kahit nagsasabi na ito ng verses ay nakatitig pa rin ako sa kanya.

"Cy, listen to the priest." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at pinisil.

"I'm listening."

"No, you're just staring at me." Sumulyap siya sa akin.

"Your fault. You're too beautiful, my bride."

Namula ang kanyang mukha. Natawa ako ng marahan. "That's my most favorite reaction from you. Blushing."

"Stop it, Mr. De Vera."

"Can't help it, Mrs. De Vera." Nakangisi kong sabi.

"Children, you must listen." Singit ng pari. Natawa ang mga guest namin. I chuckled while Anne blushed once again.

"Father, stop my wife from blushing first. I can't resist it."

Lumakas ang tawanan ng mga guest.

"Cy. . ." Anne was biting her lip. Alam kong hindi pa siya sanay at nahihiya pa siya ngayon. Bumuntong hininga ako. Iba ang naiisip ko sa pagkagat niya sa kanyang labi.

The priest continued. This time ay mataman na kaming nakinig. At nang magbibigay na kami ng vows ay kinalimutan ko ang presensya ng ibang tao. Nasa kanya ang buong atensyon ko. Siya lang ang nakikita ko. Wala akong ibang gugustuhing makasama sa buhay kundi ang babaeng 'to. She'll be my everything.

No. She's already my everything. Mula pa noon. Mas tumindi lang ang pangangailangan ko sa kanya ngayon.

"We aren't good in preparing, are we? I was too busy with everything and I totally forgot doing a sample for this speech. I didn't had a chance to practice and I don't even have a single idea what is a common phrase in a vow." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at tumikhim. "So, I'm gonna do it my way. I hope everyone who's present here has a high tolerance on corny shits because I believe I'll say not just a one paragraph vow. Endure it, people, or just cover your ears if can't take it any longer." Nagtawanan muli ang mga bisita. Anne giggled.

"Well. I don't regret being unprepared. An on the spot thinking is always better than expected speeches, isn't it?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin. I smiled back. Huminga ako ng malalim. Tinignan ko muna siya ng mahabang sandali. Hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Once I've processed the words in my mind, it will come out in my lips as exact as what I'm feeling right now. And it begins with. . .

"That smile, I want to see it everyday, every night, every second of my life. I clearly remembered how that simple smile changed my life, how it made me reach heaven in a glimpse, how it brought me unexplainable happiness, how it made me go crazy multiple and countless of times, how it made me fall in love on the same girl again and again. . ."

"That smile became my source of happiness, the fire of my desires, the light on my darkest nights, the beginning of my hopes, it made me dream for both possible and impossible things, it cures my wounded heart, my troubled mind and my shattered soul."

"That smile taught me how to forgive. It taught me how to love and smile back. Being able to make you smile made me realized that my existence does have a purpose. You were the only one who accepted me while the rest turn their backs and forget that someone like me were existing. You were the first one who cared for me. You're the only exception on my hate. I couldn't hate someone who knows how to love a bastard."

"That smile became my pillar of strength, the reason why I had enough courage to be a better person, the reason behind my patience. The world doesn't know how long I've waited. Not a single person here can describe how much pain I had endured when we got separated. Not even me. Words aren't enough to describe how worse the pain was. But I bear with it. Thinking if I ever I could last the pain, I could have you in the end."

Nakita ko ang pagtulo ng luha sa mata niya. Nag-iinit muli ang sulok ng mga mata ko pero nagpatuloy ako sa pagsasalita.

"I thought if I could bear with the pain, I will have a chance to see that smile again and I was hoping that I could feel that I am worth being loved for the second time. Because someone told me that the greater the pain I can endure, the greater the love I can have."

Pumikit siya at kinagat ang kanyang labi.

"That's why making you smile is now my number one goal. Without it, I might lose everything. I might lose my sanity. I might lose myself. I might lose all my dreams, hopes, faith and desires. I might lose the love I have for myself and the rest I could give to others. That smile became my world. Just put a smile on your lovely face and I'll do the rest to make it last a lifetime."

"They say that I have love you long enough but as for me, it's just a second. Eleven years is just a millisecond. I want something like forever. And maybe, we could prove to the world that it really does exists." Sinuot ko ang singsing sa kanyang kamay. "We will start today. I love you, Anne. I'll give you the chance to imagine how big my love is because I can't explain it further. I'm now running out of adjectives. I wish you understood what I was saying and I hope I'm making sense. To make that long vow short, all I want to say is . . .you're worth the long wait."

It took a minute before she could speak. She's smiling yet she can't stop her tears from falling. Humugot siya ng malalim na paghinga at pinisil ang aking kamay.

"You made me speechless. I. . .don't think I could say my vow as beautiful as you did. You melt my heart and I don't know kung pang-ilang beses na 'to." Humingi siya ng malalim. "Finally, Cy. You will always be Cyfer to me. Even if you change your name again and again, you will stay as my Cyfer. It's just that I couldn't agree with you as you define our forever. Today isn't the start." Marahan siyang umalimg. Kumunot ang aking noo. Ngumiti naman siya sa akin.

"It started a long time ago. Eleven years ago. Today is just a continuation. And yeah, it only last a second. I love you, Cyfer Madrigal, Gelo de Vera or whoever you really are. I love you from milliseconds to forever with all my heart, body and soul. Inside and out. From the ground where we stand to the highest heaven we could reach. I love you from-"

Natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang iangat ko ang veil niya. Marahan siyang natawa. "I'm not yet done with my-"

Umiling ako. "You've already said a better vow than mine. Damn. You just got a few words and you already blew me away. I wanna kiss you now. Don't torture me for another minute. Put that fucking ring on me and let's kiss."

"Stop cussing, Cy. Si Father ,oh." Tinuro niya ang pari. "We must follow traditions-"

"Don't care anymore." Masungit kong sagot.

Umalog ang kanyang balikat sa pagtawa. She slid the ring on my finger. I cupped her face as fast as I can and kiss her passionately in front of everyone.

Yeah, we started our forever a long time ago. Today is just a continuation. Tomorrow, and the next days, weeks, months and years is an extension. Forever is an abstract , not tangible and immeasurable. The question isn't about who's going to last longer. It's about who has the greatest love.

That's what Anne and I has. The greatest love.

>>next update