After the kiss, Laureen asked Aston to get Alistair. She wanted to kiss her son. Hindi niya ito nakasama halos buong maghapon dahil sa mga preparation at nang makita ang suot nitong suit na pang-baby, halos humagulhol siya dahil sobrang cute. Gusto man niyang buhatin ang anak, hindi niya magawa dahil masasaktan ito sa mga sequences at beads ng damit niya.

"Can you get Ali?" bulong ni Laureen kay Aston.

She didn't have to ask twice. Aston immediately ran towards Helsey and took Alistair with them. Hinalikan kaagad niya ang pisngi ng anak at naramdaman niya ang paghalik ni Aston sa tuktok ng ulo niya.

"I love you," Aston whispered and waved Alistair's little hand at their guests while saying thank you.

The program ended after taking pictures with everyone. Ushers and usherettes guided guests to the pica-pica area outside the tent. Aayusin na rin kasi ang dance floor at aalisin ang make-shift stage na ginamit para sa program.

Laureen asked Alistair's sitter to come with them. Magkakaroon kasi sila ng after-wedding pictorial sa may stable at barn dahil iyon ang napili nilang dalawa. Gusto nila na pagkatapos ng pictures nilang dalawa, kasama si Alistair sa susunod pa.

After taking their post-wedding photos, inaya sila ng organizer sa waiting area na naka-setup sa gilid ng tent. Aayusin kasi ang buhok at makeup niya. Kung kanina, naka-bun ang buhok niya, ilulugay na niya iyon at iipitan na lang malapit sa tainga.

Kinuha na rin muna si Alistair sa kanila ng parents nila para daw magkaroon silang dalawa ng privacy. It was actually okay, but their parents insisted. Kasama nila ang mga hairstylist at makeup artist.

She would retain the dress. She felt pretty and didn't plan to change it after the wedding. In fact, she was planning to keep it and preserve it correctly with all the wedding stuff they used.

"Love, aren't you gonna change your shoes?" tanong ni Aston nang makita nitong hinaplos niya ang binti. "Do you have your flats?"

"I'm still thinking about it," sagot niya habang nakatingin sa salamin. "It's too pretty and I think I can dance pa rin naman using it."

Aston walked towards her and took her hand. He looked down and pressed his lips at the back of her hand. Nanatili ito sa ganoong position kaya nakakuha siya ng pagkakataon para halikan ang tuktok ng ulo nito.

"It's just the two of us." Aston looked at her. "Can we dance? Just us?"

Laureen nodded and stood up. Aston wrapped his arm around her waist while the other held her hand. She tip-toed and kissed the side of Aston's lips before resting her head against his chest.

There was no music, but Aston murmured their wedding song All This Time. The muffled sound of his deep voice sounded better while her ears were on his chest. They swayed slowly. She could feel Aston caressing her back using his thumb and pulling her closer to him.

"All this time I was waiting for you . . ." Aston sniffed. "We got all these words, can't waste them on another, so I'm straight in a straight line, running back to you . . ."

Laureen sobbed, knowing Aston had chosen the song for their wedding. She was honestly unfamiliar with the music and decided to hear it during the wedding. She had no idea about the lyric, and hearing it the first time through Aston was her best decision.

"Now you have to record that." She looked up. "I won't hear that song again unless ikaw ang kakanta."

Aston laughed and pulled away from her. He stared at her and whispered, "I love you."

They were about to kiss when someone knocked and asked for Laureen because Vaughn was outside their mini tent, asking if he could talk to her. Aston let her go and nodded. Sinabi nitong maghihintay na lang muna sa labas bago sila tawagin papunta sa main tent.

Muling naupo si Laureen at hinintay ang kuya niya. Nakangiti itong pumasok at mayroong hawak na itim na box. Maliit lang iyon at bigla niyang naisip na posibleng singsing o hikaw, hindi siya sigurado. Knowng Vaughn, grabe rin itong magbigay ng regalo kaya hindi na siya nagugulat.

"Hi, plintet." Vaughn sat beside her. "How are you? Are you happy?"

Laureen nodded multiple times and teared up. "Were you shocked that I got married?"

"I'm not. I know you will get married kahit na sinasabi mo noon na doubtful ka. I know you will. You need the right person to stay with you. If you know what I mean." Ngumiti ang kuya niya. "Congratulations, Laureen Juliana. I am very happy you're settled."

Mahinang natawa si Laureen habang nakatingin sa kuya niya. "You are very dashing palagi sa suit mo. I love you, Kuya, and thank you for always supporting me. Kahit na minsan, alam kong against ka sa mga decision ko sa life, you're still there to let me know that I can do it."

"Kasi you really can do it. You're here because you did it! You have everything now because you worked hard for it." Malalim na huminga ang kuya niya. Iniabot nito sa kaniya ang isang box. "Here. My personal gift for you. The wedding gift is outside. This one's different."

Laureen opened the box, which was actually a pendant with her initials.

"For bracelet or necklace, your choice." Vaughn stood up and kissed her forehead. "I love you so much, Laureen."

Nagpaalam na ito sa kaniya kaya wala na siyang nasabi. Sinundan na lang niya ng tingin ang kuya niya at narinig na nakikipag-usap ito kay Aston.

Mayamaya, pumasok na rin ito sa loob ng tent at muling naupo sa harapan niya. Tumingin ito sa hawak niyang pendant at itinanong kung gusto ba niyang suotin. Tumango siya kaya ikinabit iyon ni Aston sa bracelet na suot niya.

Pumasok din ang coordinator nila para itanong kung ready na ba silang lumabas dahil nakahanda na ang tent at pinapasok na ulit ang guests the loob. Sumakto sa timeline nila ang program dahil lumubog na ang araw kaya may kadiliman na ang lugar ngunit sapat ang mga ilaw na nakalatag sa paligid para magliwanag iyon.

Lumabas sila ng tent at sandaling ipinalibot ni Laureen ang tingin sa paligid ng wedding venue dahil bukod sa mga night light na naka-setup, kalat-kalat din ang fairy light kung saan-saan kaya walang madilim na parte.

"I love this." Laureen gazed at Aston who smiled. "Thank you sa paggastos sa wedding natin."

Aston smiled widely and laughed. "May natira pa nga, e. Pag-usapan natin sa susunod kung ano ang gagawin natin sa natira. It's a wedding budget. Wala na tayong ibang paggagamitan noon."

It was true. Laureen wanted the best wedding but also ensured she would stay within the budget. Ang nakakatawa, mayroon pa ngang natira.

Outside the tent, they could see the silhouettes of everyone and they could even hear the laughters. Ang sarap pakinggan dahil pamilya nila ang nasa loob. Wala silang problema sa parehong side ng family dahil naging madali sa lahat ang maging casual, naging close pa nga ang iba.

Aston hired a saxophone player and remembered that night in Sweden where he listened to the song played in the streets.

Pumasok sila sa tent. Lahat ay nakatingin sa kanila at hindi na sila nag-aksaya ng panahon. Dumiretso na sila sa dance floor habang tumutugtog ang saxophone. The dimmed light turned blue, purple, and pink, and there was a smoky effect, too, that made the entire place more dreamy.

The song was Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You being played using a saxophone.

Laureen rested her head against Aston's chest as they danced. She shut her eyes and could hear his heart beating. It was so calming that she knew she wanted to listen to it daily.

"Thank you for marrying me," Aston whispered, pulling her closer. "I love you so much."

She looked up and chuckled. "I love you."

Nang matapos silang sumayaw, humarap sila sa lahat at nagpasalamat sa pagpunta sa kasal nila. Galing pa sa abroad ang iba. May nag-cancel naman ng meeting, events, at travel dahil sa biglaang imbitasyon na ipinagpapasalamat nilang lahat.

The dinner started, and everyone had fun. Instead na mayroong host na nagsasalita sa harapan, nag-play ang childhood photos and videos nilang dalawa. Laureen wanted to laugh because Aston was almost the same age as Julien.

Sa video, ipinakikita roon na binuhat niya ang baby Julien kaya binulungan niya si Aston.

"Imagine our gap." She cringed. "I was in grade school, and you were a newborn."

"Tss. I wasn't a minor when we met," Aston said in a low voice. "We're both adults. I was already twenty, love."

Laureen laughed. "Imagine if you're not? That's gonna be so disgusting."

"You don't even look older than me." Aston smirked and winked.

She rolled her eyes and ate their cake. Muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa guests nilang nagkukuwentuhan. Sumali sila sa kuwentuhan habang bitbit ni Aston si Alistair. Medyo nahihirapan na rin si Laureen sa gown niya kaya naman nakasunod sa kaniya si Luana na nakikipagtawanan din sa kanila.

Tumigil sa kuwentuhan ang lahat nang kunin ng host ang atensyon nila at nakitang nasa dance floor ang daddy niya. Nilingon niya si Aston na buhat si Alistair. Ngumiti ito at hinawakan ang kamay niya para alalayan siya papunta sa dance floor.

Her dad was waiting for her and a song played that made her eyes water in tears. Wala na siyang pakialam kung tuluyang mabura ang makeup niya dahil habang nakatitig sa daddy niyang nakangiti ngunit namumula na rin ang mga mata, hindi na niya iyon pipigilan.

"Of all the songs?" Laureen inhaled multiple times and accepted her daddy's hand. "Daddy naman, e. This song?"

She felt her dad's arm wrap around her waist and held her hand as they swayed slowly. She felt his kisses against her head. There were no words; both were listening to the music.

It was If We Hold On Together by Diana Ross, the song his dad played when she left for Paris.

Hinihintay niyang magsalita ang daddy niya dahil hindi ito nagbigay ng message sa kanila ni Aston kanina, pero wala. Narinig niya ang mahinang pagsinghot na nasundan nang paghagulhol. Her dad even buried his face into the hollows of her neck and sniffed multiple times.

"I love you, Daddy," Laureen whispered, caressing her dad's head. "I'm sorry for everything, for leaving, and for choosing myself, not knowing I was hurting you. I'm sorry that—"

"Shh." Her dad looked at her and smiled. "No more sorry, Laureen. Please visit us more often, okay? Your mom loves that manicure bonding. Please do that more often."

Laureen nodded multiple times, and her tears fell uncontrollably. She wrapped her arms around her dad who carefully twirled her around as if she was still his little girl.

They pulled away, and her dad took his own hanky to wipe her tears and made sure she looked okay. He even fixed her hair and gown and kissed her cheek one last time before walking towards Aston.

She watched her dad and husband shake hands while everyone was quiet. Her mom smiled at her and kissed her before holding her dad's hand. With a small wave of goodbye, her parents left the tent early, and she understood.

Her mom had already told her that after the dance, her parents might go somewhere—as her dad had requested.

Lumapit sa kaniya si Aston at itinanong kung saan pupunta ang parents niya. Ngumiti siya at hinawakan ang kamay nito habang pareho silang nakatingin sa bulto ng parents niyang papalayo.

"They're just gonna walk somewhere. They'll be back." She smiled and stared at Aston. "Let's party na?"

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T H E X W H Y S
www.thexwhys.com