"Slide through the rainbow once in a while." -jazlykdat

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Published by PSICOM. Available in all leading bookstores nationwide.

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"Hello! Tapos na ba ang drama?" Napatingin siya sa paligid nang umalingawngaw ang boses ng ate niya. Napatawa siya nang makita silang lahat na umupo sa katabing mesa ng mga biyenan niya. Her brother and his family are also smiling widely as they took their seats.

"We learned about the whole story. Hindi pala ikaw ang nagpapadala ng regalo sa amin. Nakakatampo ka Lian, alam mo ba 'yon?" hayag ng ate niya. Nakaramdam siya ng guilt.

"Sana sinabi mo ang sitwasyon mo sa amin para na-giyera natin yang asawa mo. Eh di matagal na sana kayong nag-kaayos." Natatawang dagdag ng ate niya.

She asked Vaughn for the mic para makasagot siya pero natatawa nitong inilayo.

"You are not allowed to talk. You'll only listen," he said laughing. Napasimangot pa siya. Pero tumahimik na lang siya. This is better. Para malaman na niya lahat.

"I didn't want anyone getting mad at you. Kaya ko ginawa iyon." He told her. Napangiti siya.

"Thanks," she mumbled to him. Masuyo naman itong humalik sa noo niya. She felt a tear escaping her eye. Hindi nito nakaligtaang protektahan siya kahit umalis siya at hindi nagtiwala rito.

"When the twins were born, I decided to stay in Davao to watch over you. I finally realized that you left because you were so scared."

Mas lalo siyang naluha sa pahayag nito.

"I wanted to appear at your doorstep to tell you what really happened but I was more than scared. Natakot ako na kapag nakita mo ako, lumayo ka na naman. So, I let things be. Kung hanggang doon na lang talaga tayo. Hanggang doon na lang." dagdag nito.

Nakita niyang pumasok sa venue sina Nanay Sandra, Nessy at mga pamilya nila. She was happy to see them. She wiped her tears nang abutan siya ng tissue ng ate niya.

"Pagkatapos nating mag-usap noon tungkol sa apartment. May lumapit sa aking lalaki. Sabi niya boss daw niya ang asawa mo at gusto akong makausap." Kuwento ni Nanay Sandra nang abutan ito ng mic.

"Nagkausap kami sa telepono at ibinilin na alagaan ka dahil buntis ka. Hindi na lang nag-react. Noong nagkausap na kami ng personal naramdaman ko naman ang pagmamahal niya sa 'yo." Ngumiti si Nanay kay Vaughn bago ibinalik ang tingin kay Lianna.

"Gustong-gusto kong sabihin sa 'yo anak pero nakiusap siya na huwag kong sasabihin dahil paniguradong lalayo ka daw kapag nalaman mong natunton ka niya." Dagdag kuwento nito.

"Pasensya ka na anak kung hindi ko nasabi sa 'yo, ha?"

Tumango na lamang siya at ngumiti sa matanda. Ang bait ng mga ito sa kanya. Malaki ang naging papel nila sa buhay nilang mag-iina. Hindi niya magagawang magalit sa mga ito.

"Are you okay, wifilicious?"

Napatango siya sa tanong ng asawa.

"Hindi naman sumasakit ang tiyan mo? May isa pa kasi akong aaminin." He asked with nervously.

Ano pa bang puwedeng i-reveal sa nangyari noon?

Chad and the security team went inside the venue kasama ang drivers at mga mga kasambahay nila.

"Lagi silang nakabantay sa 'yo kahit saan ka magpunta." Vaughn said smiling. Alam naman niya iyon. Anong bago?

"When you thought you were going out without body guards and drivers actually nakasunod lang sila sa'yo." Natatawa nitong dagdag. Ano pa nga ba? Lokong 'to.

"They tell me everything." Makahulugan nitong saad.

Kaya ba sinabi nito na "I knew it" noong sinabi niyang umaaligid si Janine sa kanya?

She waited for him to speak. Tumingin naman muna ito sa paligid.

Her forehead creased when Janine appeared from nowhere.

"Hi, Lianna. I am sorry. Si Vaughn kasi," nag-aalangan nitong saad. Nakahawak na rin ito ng mikropono. Bumaling siya sa asawa. He looked tense.

"I sent her to scare you away."

Her jaw literally dropped upon hearing what he said. Ano daw?

"I wanted to see how you'd react. I am not sorry for it. Kasi dahil doon nakita ko na nagbago na ang lahat. Na iba na ang sitwasyon natin. Na mahal mo na talaga ako at hinding-hindi mo ako iiwan." Vaughn stated. He inhaled deeply at each sentence. Pakiramdam niya ay maiiyak na ito any moment.

"Get mad at me if you want. I know, it is your right." He smiled bitterly. "But I only did it to erase all the fears inside me. Gusto kitang mahalin ng buong-buo." Huminga ito ng malalim. "Yung walang pangamba na maaaring mangyari ulit ang nangyari noon."

She doesn't know what to feel at his revelation.

Will she get mad? O maaawa siya dahil nakikita na niya kung gaano talaga kalalim ang sugat sa puso nito?

She asked a microphone. Inabutan naman siya ng ate niya.

"Did it erase your doubts?" tanong niya sa asawa.

"Yes. Now, I am sure that you already trust me and that you would never leave me," he answered teary-eyed.

"Then it served its purpose," she mumbled. It was the only thing she wants to make sure of.

Her shoulder started shaking. How could she ever get mad? If that was his way of healing himself, then so be it. Ang importante ngayon ay okay na sila.

Vaughn reached for her at agad na yumakap mula sa tagiliran niya.

She stood up. Yumakap naman ito mula sa likod niya. Nang bumaling siya rito ay agad siya nitong hinalikan sa labi. Her eyes automatically shut. It was just sweet. Everything is just so sweet. She heard people clapping pero wala na siyang pakialam. She is happy.

"I love you very much, my Lianna." Vaughn whispered in her ear.

___

"Dad, you forgot our grand entrance!" Narinig niyang reklamo ni Vanna. Nang tumingin siya ay papalapit na ito sa mesa ng mga in-laws niya kasunod si Liam.

"Dad, your speech?" nakamulagat na saad ni Vanna sa ama. Nagtawanan naman ang lahat.

Alanganin namang ngumiti ang ama nito. Kinuha ulit nito ang mic.

"You may be wondering how this happened." Saad nito sa kanya.

"I've been planning about this for months. 'Yong mga late na uwi ko. Aside from deliberately doing it, it's because I was conceptualizing this event for you. Hindi totoong ipatatayo pa lang private airport. It is actually half done. Ginawa ko lang dahilan."

Nakinig lang siya sa asawa.

"Dad that's not what we rehearsed. You are supposed to say we are the best thing that happened to you," reklamo ni Vanna. Napatawa siya sa reaksyon ni Vaughn. Para kasi itong batang napakamot sa ulo.

"I forgot my speech, okay?" pinandilatan nito ang anak. Liam took the mic from his sister.

"You just kissed mom and you forgot everything!" saad nito na nakapagpatawa sa lahat. Vaughn even laughed at his son. Iba talaga kapag match na match ang magkaharap. Hehe!

Vaughn stared at her nang matahimik ang lahat.

"It was actually the twins that had me going sane the entire time. Every time I'd take them out before, little hopes are planted inside me, hopes that everything will be fixed. I don't know when or how." Hinawakan nito ang isang kamay niya bago nagsalita ulit.

"Five years was long but it was worth the wait." He smiled and kissed her hand. "Thank you for not giving up on me and our kids."

They are about to embrace each other when someone yelled.

"Dude!!!"

Vaughn laughed when Jake appeared. Sa lakas ng tawag nito hindi na kinailangan ng mic.

"Si Jake pala. Gusto niya panghuli daw siyang papasok." Natatawa nitong saad.

"The first person who knew all of this was him. He said I was crazy when I married you. He said I was crazy when I drowned myself in bars when you left. He said I was crazy when I told you I had women. He said I was crazy when I asked Janine to talk to you. But he was always there so I think he's also as crazy as me." Vaughn said laughing. Itinaas naman ng pinsan nito ang kamao na ikinatawa nilang lahat.

"When I first met you at Vaughn's office. I already salute you Lianna." Nakangiti nitong umpisa.

"Hindi mo man lang kasi inaway 'yong babaeng yumapos kay Vaughn. Serves him right. Ako pala ang nagsabi sa babae na gano'n ang gawin para makita ng baliw na yan na hindi ka kasing baliw niya." He added laughing out loud. Alam na pala nito noon na mag-asawa na sila ni Vaughn.

"Let's start the party!" Vaughn said to cut him.

Nagsimula namang tumugtog ang music. The waiters began serving and the blabbering starts. Nakita pa niyang kumunot ang noo ni Jake. Inakbayan naman siya ng asawa at inalalayang pumunta sa table ng kambal at mga magulang nito.

"Nakakasakit ka naman ng damdamin. You didn't even let me finish." Reklamo ni Jake nang makalapit sa kanila. Hindi naman pinansin ni Vaughn ang pagtatampo kuno nito. Ipinaghila siya ng upuan ng asawa.

"Kapag iniwanan ka ulit ni Lianna, hindi na kita sasamahan." Banta nito.

"She won't leave me." Vaughn answered smirking.

"Sabi mo yan ha?" Natatawa nitong saad bago lumayo. Magpinsan nga ang dalawa. Parehong weird.

Their other relatives came in at ipinakilala ni Vaughn. Ang ilan sa kanila ay nakilala na niya sa Ireland.

They are about to start eating when Jake appeared.

"Cousin, I want you to meet my friend." Nakangisi nitong saad. A man appeared from nowhere. Nagulat pa siya nang biglang tumayo ang asawa niya. Pero mas nagulat siya nang makilala ang lalaki.

"Mr. Magician?" she asked smiling. Ngumiti naman ito.

"You plotted it?" galit na baling ni Vaughn sa pinsan nito. Napakunot-noo siya.

"Anong feeling?" natatawa nitong saad. Susuntukin sana ito ng asawa niya pero nakaiwas agad ito.

"Hey, what's happening?" tanong niya sa mga ito. Natatawa namang lumayo si Jake nang hindi sinasagot ang tanong.

"Get away from my wife!" madiing bigkas ni Vaughn kay Mr. Magician. Mabilis naman itong umalis at sinundan si Jake.

"Bakit?" Nagtatakang tanong niya sa asawa.

"Jake showed me a picture of you and the magician in the restaurant. Baliw kasi 'yon." Inis na saad nito habang umuupo.

"Really? Anong ginawa mo?"

"Of course, I was jealous. I went there right away." Tugon nito.

Kaya naman pala ang weird ng nangyari sa restaurant. Para lang pala ma-picturan sila. Magpinsan nga talaga ang dalawa.

"Dad, you forgot something." Vanna said when the music toned down. Napakunot-noo naman ang ama nito. Hindi pa yata naka-get over sa pang-iisa sa kanya ni Jake.

Vanna draw a circle in the air. Napangiti naman ang si Vaughn.

He raised his hand and the music died down.

Kunot-noo siyang bumaling sa asawa. Everybody became quiet. Lahat ay napatingin sa mga violinists na pumasok ng venue. They started playing the moment they were settled.

When she looked at the man sitting beside her, nakaluhod na ito sa gilid niya at may hawak na singsing.

"Let's start all over, wifilicious. Let's get married again in church with our families to witness?" Nakangiti nitong tanong. His green eyes spoke of love, admiration and more than that.

Her heart started beating so fast. Hindi pa pala tapos ang surpresa nito.