Chapter 7

Wedding

Pinag-isipan ko itong mabuti. I told myself that I would be fine after all this. That after this, after marrying him, Castiel and I might end up with a divorce.

And on the day of our wedding I can only secretly vow to let him go one day. Alam kong mabigat na responsibility na niya ang mamanahin niyang kompanya. At hindi na niya ito matatakasan pa. He's bound to inherit the Villarama Group no matter if he wants it or not.

Kaya naman gusto kong ibigay sa kaniya pagdating ng araw na makasama pa rin niya ang babaeng gusto niya...

I've also talked to Erica already.

"I will divorce him one day. I hope you can wait for that day to come..." I told her.

I was at the mall with Haniel. May mga kailangan kasi siyang bilhin for his project sa school. When coincidentally we saw Erica there, too.

She stopped her shopping and went to us after she saw me and Haniel. "Can I talk to you?" She asked me first.

Binalingan ko muna si Haniel bago ako tumango sa kaniya. Iniwan ko na muna si Haniel sa kasama naming driver at bodyguard. Pagkatapos ay medyo lumayo muna kami ni Erica sa kanila para makapag-usap.

"What is it?" Marahan ko siyang tinanong.

She was looking at me. At parang may galit akong nakita sa mga mata niyang nakatingin ngayon sa akin. And then I remember what I heard that day on our engagement party when I saw her and Castiel secretly talking to each other. Alam ko noon na may kung ano sa pinag-uusapan nila. At na may kung ano rin sa kanila.

Nagsalita na rin siya ngayon. "I like Castiel. No, I love him." She bravely told me.

At imbes na magulat pa sa sinabi niya ay unti-unti akong tumango sa kaniya. I already heard her saying about her feelings to Castiel on that day of our engagement party.

Tumango ako. Pagkatapos ay sunod kong sinabi sa kaniya ang tungkol sa divorce namin ni Castiel pagdating ng araw.

"I'm sorry if this would hurt you, but, you need to understand that we have to do this now. Castiel and I are bound to marry each other for the sake of their business, for his sake." I tried to explain it to her.

At pagkatapos ay nakita ko naman siyang unti-unting tumango sa sinabi ko.

I sighed.

I'm glad she understand...

I know that it might not be easy to her...

And I just concluded that her and Castiel were in a relationship. Kasi ano iyong narinig ko na usapan nila sa mismong engagement party pa namin ni Castiel? And I've also seen them together checked in a hotel. Sa isa pa sa hotels ng mga Villarama.

"Okay. I can wait." Erica said.

And then I nodded. Bago ako nagpaalam na babalikan ko na si Haniel. Umalis na rin siya pagkatapos naming mag-usap.

"What did you two talked about?" Haniel asked me. "That was Kuya Castiel's classmate."

Tumango ako kay Haniel. "Are we done here? Let's have your snack now, like I promised to treat you today?" I smiled at him.

Unti-unti naman siyang tumango sa akin habang seryoso pa rin akong tinitingnan. And then after that I brought Haniel to eat some snacks.

And today is my wedding day with Castiel. Ang aga naming nagising kanina kasi maaga rin ang kasal at 9:00 AM. So kahit mga 5:00 AM pa lang ay gising na ako. Ginising din ako ni Mommy. And last night I went to bed early, too. We also checked in one of the V hotels near the church. Maaga akong inayusan ng makeup artist at stylist. Nandoon din si Mommy para tingnan ang ginagawa nila sa akin kaya medyo tense din tuloy ang mga nag-aayos sa akin. But nevertheless they did their job well into making me a beautiful bride today.

"You're so beautiful, Hasmine." Mommy said after. Para pa siyang maiiyak pero pinigilan ko lang sa paghawak ko sa kamay niya. She also looks beautiful in her dress gown now for my wedding. At may makeup na rin siya kaya baka masira pa ang ayos niya if she'll only cry.

"Nagmana po ako sa inyo, Mommy." I told her.

Pagkatapos ay niyakap namin ang isa't isa.

After that we also had some photoshoots sa hotel pa lang. My friends from Manila also went here in Cebu to witness my wedding day. Mga kaklase at naging ka-close ko noong high school at college ang inimbita kong maging parte rin ng entourage ko.

"Congratulations, Karlee! Ang tagal ka rin naming hindi nakita sa Manila!" One of my girl friend said.

I stayed in Cebu for three years now. And those years ay hindi na nga ako nakauwi pa ng Manila at nag-focus lang dito. I can only talk to my friends in Manila through social media and chats.

Ang mga kaibigang lalaki rin ni Castiel ang naging mga groomsmen niya sa kasal namin. And Erica was also there at our wedding...

"Karlee! Grabe ang gwapo naman talaga ng mapapangasawa. We already saw his face sa picture lang na pinakita at sinend mo sa 'min dati. Pero mas gwapo pa pala siya in person!"

"Right! He's so handsome, Karlee!"

Bahagya na lang akong umiling sa mga kaibigan ko. My friends calls me Karlee. It's their nickname for me.

"Girls, enough of chitchat. We have to move to the church now." Mommy said as she entered my room.

"Yes, tita!" Agad naman silang nagsitanguan at sumunod na kay Mommy.

My friends also stayed in V Hotel. Kung sa mansyon kasi ay mas malayo pa iyon sa simbahan at may traffic rin dito sa Cebu. Kaya naman sa hotel na kami nag-stay lahat na malapit lang sa simbahan na kung saan kami ikakasal ni Castiel before the day of the wedding.

And then everyone was already inside the church. Lahat ng invited guests namin. At ako na lang ang hinihintay sa loob. I was guided by the wedding coordinator as I stepped inside the church and started walking on the long aisle.

I smiled to every guests we have inside na nadaanan ko habang naglalakad ako sa gitna. Before I looked straight ahead and I saw Castiel looking so handsome in his all white tuxedo waiting for me at the altar...

Ngumiti na lang din ako nang makita ko na nakangiti siya. Pagkatapos ay naglahad siya ng kamay sa akin nang marating ko na ang dulo. Nilagay ko naman ang kamay ko sa kamay niya and then we both faced the priest that would wed us.

And the wedding ceremony started.

"Karla Hasmine Montes, do you accept Castiel Villarama to be your husband? In sickness and in health. And till death do you part?"

"I do." I said.

"I do." At iyan din ang sagot ni Castiel nang siya naman ang tanungin. 

Pagkatapos ay bumaling kami sa isa't isa. Nakita ko agad na mukhang masayang nakangiti sa akin si Castiel. Napangiti na rin ako. And then he slowly and carefully lifted up my white veil and put it away from my face. Bago siya unti-unti rin nilapit niya sa akin ang mukha niya until he slowly landed a one soft gentle kiss on my lips...

At halos doon ko lang din na-realized that it was actually my first kiss...

I just didn't mind it that much. Pagkatapos ay hinarap na lang namin ang mga guests and witnesses namin na pinalakpakan naman kami as they congratulated us as a newly wedded couple.

After the church we proceeded back to the V Hotel for the reception. At doon ko na rin napagtuunan ng pansin ang presensya rin roon ng tita nina Castiel, si Hazel Villarama at ang pamilya niya. Her husband and three kids.

Mas bata kay Haniel ang dalawang pinsan na mga lalaki rin na nasa college at high school pa. At ang bunsong anak naman nina Hazel Villarama at ng asawa niya ay babae na halos kaedad naman ni Haniel.

Castiel and I also went to them to greet his relatives.

"Castiel, hijo. Congratulations on your wedding!" Ngumiti sa amin ang tita niya.

Castiel smiled at her, too. "Thank you, tita. Even though you're busy with the company ay nakapunta pa rin po kayo sa kasal ko."

"Of course, hijo!" Pagkatapos ay bumaling din ito sa akin sa tabi ni Haniel. "Congratulations, hija. Nakikita na kita noon sa Manila. You often go with your Dad, right?" She smiled at me, too.

I politely smiled back. "Opo."

Pagkatapos ay ngumiti lang siya sa amin ni Castiel.

Actually, she looks like a nice person. But looks can also be deceiving...

I couldn't trust her. After what I learned. She's currently the Chairman of the Villarama Group. But just temporarily dahil bata pa si Castiel, and since her older brother and sister-in-law passed away due to the accident that happened to them...

Kung iisipin mo nga naman ay pwedeng may motibo rin talaga siya sa pagkawala ng nakatatanda niyang kapatid. Because now she's leading their family business. And if she really did harmed her own bother and his wife... She could also harm her nephews, Haniel and Castiel, dahil sila pa rin ang tagapagmana ng business...

I didn't want to judge. Especially that I don't know her personally. At wala pa rin sapat na ebidensya sina Daddy at Madam kung may kinalaman nga ba talaga si Hazel Villarama sa nangyari sa kapatid niya.

But I just can't risk it now. Dahil maari pa ring mapahamak din sina Castiel at Haniel.