W A L D R I N

I felt Christian tapped my back when Maxene started to walk down the aisle. I am not an emotional person but I just can't help my tears. Kahit anong pigil ko, hindi ko maiwasang maiyak. 

There she is, the girl who stole my heart, no, I actually gave my heart to her. Lolo is escorting her down the aisle as they happily talk. 

"Bro, stop crying, nakatutok sayo yung camera." Raven elbowed me. Bahagya akong tumalikod to wipe my tears. 

"I can't help it..." I sniffed. 

Right before my eyes, I can see the girl whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

"Waldrin, apo. Make Maxene happy until her last breath." Lolo said to me. My lips are literally shaking right now. 

"I-I will, Lo. Thank you." Nagmano ako sa kanya before holding Maxene's hand. 

"You're shaking." She chuckled. 

"Can I kiss you now?" I asked. Tumawa lang siya sakin. Pero nakahinga na rin ako ng maluwag dahil hawak ko na siya. Hindi ko na siya papakawalan pa. 

"Mamaya pa pwede." She giggled as she held my elbow. 

"You're beautiful." I breathed.

"Thank you. And you look dashing as well." She smiled at me. Her smile always warms my heart to the depth of my soul. Pumwesto na kami sa harapan ng Mayor na kaibigan ni Daddy. I can't help but be thankful to them for supporting us in this. 

"We are gathered here today because this couple has decided to be joined in marriage. The essence of marriage lies in committing oneself to the other person entirely as a friend, confidant, companion, and lover. This decision should never be made lightly, but should be considered with utmost care, respect, and loyalty."

She smiled widely at me as she looks at me in the eyes. I can almost see from her eyes how lucky I am as the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. 

"Waldrin," She breathed. I smiled at her as she reaches for my left hand. 

"The love you've shown me is beyond what I imagined I could have, you were the poison and the antidote of my being, a risk that I will always be willing to take, you are my salvation, devotion and obsession. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."

Natawa na lang kami pareho as tears started streaming down our cheeks as we brushed each other's faces. 

"Maxene, you know I am not a cheesy person. I may have not believe in love at first sight but the first time I laid my eyes on you, I already know, you are the one I wanna spend the rest of my life with. I'm sorry for being mean to you at first, it was a strange feeling for me, and I blamed you for making me feel this way and now you have to take responsibility for making me so crazy and madly in love with you. I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore." 

"In the presence of family and friends you have expressed your love for one another. By the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your wife." 

I pulled her close to me and made our noses touch. "I love you, Misis." I heard her soft chuckle before sealing my lips to hers. 

This is the best birthday ever. 

M A X E N E 

I am watching him dance with his Mom with a wide smile plastered on his face. How I love to see that smile every day of my life kaso hanggang bukas na lang ako at hanggang ngayon na lang kami magkakasama. 

Napangiti na lang ako as I touched my ring. I am so thankful that he became a part of my short life, he gave such color and meaning to my existence. 

"Let's dance Maxene." Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Kuya Spencer and slightly smiled at him. Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya and we walked to the center. 

"How are you?" He kissed my temple at agad naman akong yumakap sa kanya. 

"I am honestly hurting right now kuya. Hanggang mamayang gabi ko na lang kayo makakasama." I said in a low voice. Sumisikip na ang dibdib ko, the countdown to my death just started. 

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything more for you." He hugged me tighter. 

"Kuya, just take good care of Ate Claire and your baby, at huwag mo ring pababayaan sina Marshan at Paeng. They will need you more when I'm gone." I looked at him in the eyes at hindi ko na rin napigilan ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko. He cupped my face and brushed my cheeks before kissing my forehead. 

"Set yourself free Maxene..." 

"Ehem, Kuya Spencer, may I dance with Maxene also?" Christian grinned at us. Bumaling muna sakin si Kuya Spencer bago ako ibigay kay Christian. 

"Be happy." He mouthed bago umalis. I smiled at Christian when he danced with me. 

"Blooming na blooming ka ngayon." He chuckled. "Actually Maxene, about Christine..."

"She will be here tomorrow." I said. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya at humigpit ang hawak  niya sakin. Namula ang kanyang mga mata. "Promise Christian, you'll protect her, hinding-hindi mo siya pababayaan. I love her so much." I cried. 

Bumuhos ang mga luha ko at niyakap naman ako ni Christian para aluhin. I can hear the beating of my heart inside his chest and it feels good and warm. 

"I will. Of course, she's my twin sister after all ang tagal kong ipinagdasal na babalik siya." He said. I pressed my lips tightly and tried to smile at him kahit patuloy ang pagbuhos ng mga luha ko. 

My job is almost over. 

"I protected her with all my life, Christian. Please huwag mo siyang hahayaang masaktan." I held his hands and slightly squeezed them. Hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang kamay ko before brushing my face. 

"I will Maxene. Thank you so much. Balang araw masusuklian din namin ang kabaitan mo samin." He smiled warmly at me. I let out a deep sigh and smiled at him. 

Inilagay ko ang palad ko sa dibdib niya para maramdaman ko ang pagtibok ng puso ko.

"Stay alive and safe Christian, take good care of this heart."

"Kung magsalita ka parang namamaalam ka na." He chuckled. "No worries, I am so thankful that I was given a second life, I'll surely treasure this." 

After Christian and I talked, sumunod naman si Raven na isinayaw ako. Good thing wala na kaming awkwardness na nararamdaman sa isa't-isa because of course he tried to court before. 

"Ikaw na ang bahala kay Marshan..." I said to him. 

"I will make her happy with me of course for the rest of our lives." He grinned. 

"Marshan and Paeng were the reason I was fighting, I had to keep them alive and safe, they were my everything. Pero ngayon, bibitawan ko na ang responsibilidad ko sa kanila kasi andito ka na and Paeng found his family. Marshan maybe be childish sometimes but she's a very sweet person, I can see that she loves you, too. Wag mo siyang sasaktan Raven. Mangako ka sakin." I stared firmly at him. 

He nodded at me and even raises his right hand. "I promise." He chuckled. 

"Bro, can I dance with my wife now?" Waldrin tapped Raven's shoulder. 

"Okay, then. If you'll excuse me." He winked at me. Waldrin immediately pulled me closer to his body as he locked his fingers on my back. 

"You're the best gift God has given me, Maxene. I can't imagine life without you anymore." He said huskily. Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko sa sinabi niya. My heart clenches painfully as I stared at his face. 

"Thank you for loving me like this. Hindi mo lang alam kung gaano ako kasaya ngayon." My tears began to fall again. Parang hindi ako nauubusan ng luha ngayon. Gusto kong sumigaw sa sakit na nararamdaman ko sa loob ko. Gusto ko ng kumawala sa parusang ito.

Gusto ko pang mabuhay, gusto ko ng maging malaya. 

Gusto ko pa silang makasama ng matagal. 

"Ssshhhh kanina ka pa umiiyak, borado na yung make up mo." He kidded. I slightly slapped his arm while chuckling. He pulled me for a hug and I rested my head on his shoulder as we swayed to the music. 

"Good Day, ladies and gentlemen! May we call our lovely couple here in front?"  Madam SC said while holding a microphone. Siya na rin ang nagsilbing emcee namin, she has been so excited about this, ewan ko ba kung bakit. 

Inakbayan ako ni Waldrin papunta sa harap. He was holding my waist na para bang takot na takot siyang bitawan ako dahil baka tatakbo ako palayo. 

"Now, let us hear the messages your friends and family have for the both of you---"  I raised my hand to cut her off, well in a polite way. She handed me the microphone and I cleared my throat before I started to speak. 

"Actually, ayokong makarinig ng message." I chuckled para itago ang panginginig ng boses ko. "Kanina pa ko nagiging emosyonal and I don't want to breakdown further more. That's why I decided to give you all my message." 

"I am not a lucky girl, I was raised as a Mafian, namulat na ako sa makasalanang gawain, and I grew up doing it naturally. Noon dati kung anong inuutos nila ginagawa ko na lang because I thought that is what my life was all about, but my life changed when Marshan and Paeng came into my life. I knew from that moment that I had to protect them, I have to take good care of them at dun ko lang napagtanto na may silbi rin naman pala ako. All the lashes and pain I had to go through was worth it, kasi kung hindi, hindi ko sila kasama sa napakasayang araw na ito. 

"Marshan, Paeng... Lagi niyong tatandaan na mahal na mahal ko kayo. That I will sell my very soul just to give the both of you a better life... To Lolo and Kuya Spencer, thank you for giving us a home and a family, thank you for taking good care of us kahit na hindi niyo kami kadugo. Thank you for being such a blessing to us... Lo, kahit hindi mo man kami kadugo, para sa amin mga apo mo kami at ikaw ang Lolo namin..."

I wiped my tears as I continued, Waldrin was stroking my back. 

"Kuya, don't even say that you can no longer do anything for me, you already have done enough. And all I need you to do right now is to take care of Ate Claire and your little angel. To Ate Claire, hindi man naging maganda ang unang pagkikita natin, I am still glad that I met you. Please take good care of Kuya Spencer."

"To Rocket, all I can say is that, you made the right choice leaving me. Dahil kung hindi maybe we're not both this happy. Wela and I may looked like we're not in good terms, but I know, we like each other." I slightly chuckled. 

Huminga ako ng malalim before continuing. I hate goodbyes but at least I could give them my thanks.

"To Monique, thank you for being the very first best friend I ever have. Thank you for sticking up with me even though I was so hard to deal with. Please stay with us. To Christian, we've already talked, and I need you to fulfill your promises and also with Raven...

"To our Titos and Titas who is with us today, to celebrate with us. Thank you for accepting me wholeheartedly. I may not experienced having a parents but meeting you all made me feel like I am indeed part of this huge family. Thank you so much." 

I faced Waldrin as I held his hand firmly. Namumula na rin ang kanyang mga matang nakatitig sakin but still trying to smile at me. 

"And to you my love, I cannot express everything I wanted to say in my wedding vow dahil baka abutin ng hapon ang kasal natin." I chuckled. "I would love to express my love for you every single day of our lives together. I would love to build my future, my family with you. And if ever I would be given another life, I would choose you over and over again. Thank you for loving me despite all of my flaws and imperfections,  thank you for making me the luckiest girl, thank you for showering me with so much love and care. I love you so much." 

I tiptoed to give him a kiss on the lips but he held me tighter. Rinig na rinig ko ang paghagulgol niya sa balikat ko when he let go of my mouth. He was hugging me so tight ng sumampa na rin sina Marshan at Paeng sa stage para yakapin ako. Then they all came to me to give me a hug. 

I cupped Marshan's face and kissed her cheek. "Mahal na mahal kita. Lagi mo yang tatandaan." I told her. She was crying, too. I held Paeng's face and kissed his forehead before saying the exact same words.

I may not be a very emotional person but my emotions are just overflowing right now. I can say I am so blessed for meeting such wonderful people in this very short life of mine. 

These are my words of gratitude and this is goodbye. 

A/N: Last chapter next. Comments please para makapagUD ako agad. T__T