A/N:
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."-Lao Tzu
***
" Dahil may humihirit, here is a bonus chapter. Enjoy!!!

Love you guys :)

***
The day I met Althea was what I called happenstance.

I was supposed to go scuba diving that day but Paul asked me to cover for him at his carinderia.
Dada wants him to go to Manila to pick up a document so I agreed.
Besides, I could go to the beach anytime I want.
Paul barely asks me for favors and when he does, it's hard to resist.

Our first meeting wasn't what you can call perfect.

She was rude to me and we even argued.

But despite that minor detail, I was instantly taken by her badass persona.

Her candidness, although shocking at the time, was admirable.
I told myself that this woman would not take crap from anyone.
Not only because she was Althea Guevarra but because that's her personality.

***

When I saw her on the beach, I tried to run away because I knew it would be trouble to be entangled with her.
I felt an attraction towards her and I found it strange how that meeting could affect me so much.
I couldn't get her out of my head.
Long before her dishes were cleaned and we settled the bill (she didn't leave a tip), I was still thinking of her.

Weeks into our meeting, Althea admitted that she felt the same way.

As weird as it may sound, for a non-believer of an esoteric principle like soul mates, for once I opened my mind to the possibility that I just found mine.

***
Fast forward to today........

The choice for the venue was a no-brainer.
Bora was where we met.
It was also our go-to place when we want to unwind or get away from city life.

A few days after her concert, Althea received an offer for her next project but she declined.
Mr. Jimenez wasn't shocked at her decision.
He knew beforehand that Althea and I are planning our for the ceremony.

"This is more important," he told us when we went to visit him.

"Love shouldn't wait," he added, his face beaming with happiness.

The most challenging part of the planning wasn't about us but about Papa.

We have to make sure that his medical needs are taken cared of if we are going to travel.

Both of us were willing to do the ceremony closer to where he lives but he was adamant that we get what we want.

"It's your day," he reasoned.
"The ceremony isn't about me,"

His reason was praiseworthy but we have to be realistic.

We realized we couldn't do this on our own so we asked someone for help.

I called Dada.

***

On a bright June morning, barefooted and wearing my white dress, I took my father's hand.
Together, we walked the sandy beach as Althea waited close to the shore.

She smiled at me.

With every step, love was etched on her face.

***

We chose to have an intimate event.

Only our families were present for the important occasion.

The press was eager to cover the ceremony but we were persistent to keep the event as quiet as we can.

Papa was right.

This was our day.

We weren't the first couple to have a commitment ceremony but Althea and I are both entertainers.
Social media had been circulating the news for months now and when asked, we answered as truthfully as we can.
It's only the details that we're mum about.
We wanted privacy on this day and so, as I made my way to the arms of my fiancée, I looked at the faces of the people we love.

My mother wiped her tears and I felt my throat closed up with emotions.

It wasn't easy for all of us and yet, the day had come.

Althea and I are coming full circle.

Just a few more steps and our destiny will be sealed.

***

A few months ago, I watched her perform on stage in front of a thousand people.
Despite the mammoth size of the crowd, Althea made me feel that I was the only one in the room.

Her boldness and courage made my heart swell with pride.

As the concert drew to a close, I made a decision to do the thing I always wanted--to show the world that I am madly in love with this woman.

I went up onstage.

It wasn't an orchestrated move.

I didn't do it to scandalize the crowd or to jeopardize Althea's comeback.

It was my way of coming out.

I showed everyone that I love her too much to step out of my comfort zone, to finally bolt out of the closet and break down the doors and finally admit that if there's one person I want to kiss, it's her.

***
Before my father gave me to Althea, he looked at me with a tenderness I haven't seen in a long time.
He gently touched the side of my face and I saw a tear fell from his eyes.

"I love you, Jade." He whispered and then he turned towards Althea.

"Take care of my baby girl, Althea." He said to her and she nodded her head.

When she took my hand, I knew that this would be the hand I will hold on to for the rest of my days.

In our young lives, we've weathered a lot of storms but I am not naïve.
There are a lot of challenges ahead but I am not afraid.

Today is just the beginning of more beginnings.

But with Althea by my side, I am ready.

***

"Jade captured my heart the first time I saw her."

That's how I began my vows.

"I was enraptured that when she showed resistance, I was immediately upset."

"But who knew that despite that petty argument, every door would eventually lead to each other?"

"I stepped inside the door and allowed myself the happiness that Jade had to offer."
"She opened my eyes to the joys of fully opening up my life to someone and experiencing their presence."

"Since then, Jade is my world."

"She is my light in the darkness."

"The repetitive refrain to a song I couldn't shake off my head."

"Jade gave more meaning to the life I already enjoyed."

"She showed me that it is possible to give my all and not found wanting."

"Today, as I stand before you, promising my heart and everything I have to offer, I want you to know that I am all yours."

I slipped the ring on her finger and when I looked up, Jade was crying.

The whole time I was talking, tears threatened to choke me with emotions but I held on.

In the presence of everyone who mattered, I promised to love her till there's none to give.

"I love you, Althea." She whispered softly.

I wiped the tears from her face as the officiant gave us a moment to compose ourselves.

"Love truly makes you cry doesn't it?" she joked and we all laughed.

I took Jade's hand in mine as she recited her vows.

"Althea, before you, I never believed in soul mates."

"I thought, we make decisions in our lives and we lived by those conscious choice."

"But there you were, one early summer morning."

"With your charm and your feistiness, you managed to literally rocked my world."

She paused.

I gave her hand a light squeeze and urged her to continue.

"When I embraced your presence in my life, I was unprepared for what's going to happen."

"Nevertheless, my desire to be with you has taken my life to new heights and opened my eyes to new and better worlds.

"You helped me become a better person."

"My heart overflowed with the joy I never knew until I met you."

"Althea, I am the happiest woman in the world because I am with you."

"Thank you for loving me."

"I promised to do the same, till I bleed dry in doing so."

Jade slipped the gold band on my finger and this time, I let the tears go.

Fin
***
Sequel Hearts 💕
Now available at Amazon.com