21

I smoothed the sleeves of my wedding gown. Leria pinned the flower headband on my hair before fixing the veil. My smile grew wider when I saw that I am all ready for my wedding.

Ngayong araw ay magpapakasal na kami ni Greg. Limang buwan na si Noah at halatang halata na ang umbok sa tiyan ko. I am very much excited when he comes out. Kapag nanganak na ako ay sasabihin ko na kay Greg ang totoo. Sa ngayon ay sapat na sa akin na magpapakasal na kami. But then, I still have to fix the issue between Greg and my mother before I tell him that he is Noah's father. Marami pang dapat ayusin pero saka ko na iyon lilingunin. Today, I will just think about our wedding.

"Hindi ba talaga darating ang daddy mo?" tanong ni Toryang sa akin. Ngumiti lamang ako bago umiling.

"Hindi niya alam na ikakasal ako ngayon." Maikli kong sagot. My Dad will not approve of Greg, lalo pa't ito ang nagpakulong kay Mommy noon. Katulad nga ng sinabi ko, aayusin ko na lamang ang lahat pag tapos na ang kasal ko.

"That's..." Leria sighed before smiling again. Tinulungan niya akong makatayo habang si Toryang ay inabot ang aking bouquet. I took a final glance before leaving my room. Nagkalat na agad ang mga photographer para icover ang aming kasal.

Greg wanted to marry me in private. We went to his own island near Camarines para doon ikasal. The place was perfect. Walang kahit na anong media. Kami lamang ang naroon kasama ang buong banda at iyong mga taong nag organize ng kasal namin. It is like a small paradise made for the two of us.

Nakita ko ng nakatayo si Greg sa may dulo ng altar, iyong butones ng suot niyang puting shirt ay nakabukas kaya't kitang kita ang dilaw na sando niya. He was barefooted. Ang tanging suot niya ay iyong anklet na pinagawa niya para sa aming dalawa.

The wind blew my hair as the wedding song started. Bahagya ko ring inalog iyong anklet na kapartner ng suot ni Greg bago ko inayos iyong damit ko. This is it Lana. You are really marrying him.

'Love, I see forever in your eyes
I can see heaven in your smile
And when I hold you close
I don't want to let go'

My eyes watered as I listened to every word that came out from the wedding singer. Nilingon ko ito at bahagya akong ngumiti doon sa binatang kumakanta. Noong ako na ang maglalakad ay halos mabuwal ako. I didn't know that someone is capable of being this happy. I feel like bursting. Maybe this is what the lead characters feel when they see their own happy ending.

Nakita kong nagpupunas ng mata si Greg habang nakatingin sa akin. I smiled at him while he dried another batch of tears. Noong makarating ako sa kanya ay agad niyang iniabot ang kamay ko. Narinig namin ang pagtikhim ng pari pero hindi pa rin nakinig si Greg. Yumuko siya at agad niyang hinalikan ang aking noo.

'Because deep in my soul I know girl
That you are the only light I see
Your love means everything to me
I promise that we'll never part
'Cause you'll always be near, here in my heart'

"I love you." Bulong niya. I touched his cheeks before nodding. Inalalayan niya ako para makapunta sa tabi niya at sabay naming hinarap ang pari. He cleared his throat and looked at everyone.

"Dearly beloved, we gathered here today to witness the union of this man and this woman in holy matrimony." Panimula niya. I felt Greg squeezing my hand. I stared at him, feeling so light headed with happiness.

"According to the Greeks, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend the rest of their life to search for their other halves." Bahagya siyang tumigil at ngumiti sa aming dalawa. "I am very glad that you have found yours. Cherish one another and never let go of the hand that holds you. For not all people are like the two of you who succeeded in finding their pair."

"What is fate? Or destiny? What is God's plan? Kahit ako ay walang maisasagot diyan. Tanging Siya lamang ang may alam ng lahat. But there is one thing that I am very sure. Every plan of God will always end with a happily ever after." Nakangiti niyang sabi. Nilingon ko si Greg na mataman na nakikinig sa pari.

"Palagi tayong nagdadalawang isip sa plano ng Ama. Palagi natin Siyang pinapangunahan. Pero hindi natin alam na sa bawat desisyon natin, palaging gumagawa ng paraan ang Ama para mas mapalapit tayo sa taong itinakda Niya sa atin." Aniya. I smiled at what he said. Totoo, pinangunahan ko ang Panginoon noong mas pinili kong magpa Artificial Insemination. Pero ito at gumawa nga Siya ng paraan para mas mapalapit lamang ako kay Greg.

"Brothers and sisters, close your eyes. Close your eyes and erase everything that you are thinking right now. Just listen to the Word of God. Never doubt him, for he has great plans made just for you." Pagtatapos niya. I sniffed and dried my tears.

'If the sun, should refuse to rise
And the moon, doesn't hang in the night
The tides won't change, seasons rearrange
When the world is through
I will still love you'

Tumayo na kaming dalawa ni Greg. Iniabot na niya ang singsing at mikropono bago huminga ng malalim. Tinitigan niya ako at hinaplos ang aking pisngi.

"There will never be enough words to tell you how much I love you Allara. I love you so much that I feel as though a part of me died when you left me ten years ago. I love you so much that every blood in my vein surged with life when I saw you again, still beautiful with a smile that takes my breath away. You are everything to me. Kayong dalawa ni Noah. Kayong dalawa ang kumukumpleto sa akin. You're my miracle. You're my lifeline. Without you, I will be nothing but a husk of a man. I love you so much. I will always be there to protect you, to hold you, to love you, and to support you. We will grow together and be stronger together. I will never let go of your hand the same way I will never give you up. I am so inlove with you Allara. So inlove." Madamdamin niyang sabi. I sobbed very hard while listening to him. Noong matapos siya ay isinuot niya sa akin ang singsing.

'Girl, you're like an angel from above
Sent here to shower me with your love
Hold me beneath your wings
Tell me all of the things
All the hopes and the dreams we can share'

Nanginginig ang kamay ko noong inabot ko ang mikropono. I cleared my throat and looked directly at Greg's hazel brown eyes. "I have always asked myself, 'Why me?'. Bakit ako yung pinili mong mahalin Greg? You can do better and yet, you chose me. You chose an insecure, know-it-all freak who loves books more than she loves people." Natawa siya sa sinabi ko bago tumango. I smiled back before continuing.

"I know I have caused you a great deal of pain when I left you back then. We spent ten years of living a dead life but we have a lifetime to compensate it right? I won't leave now Greg. Hinding hindi na ako bibitaw sayo. You chose to love me and I am choosing to be brave and fight for that love. I know what is important now. You are everything that makes my life good. Without you, everything will be meaningless. You're the man I have been waiting for my whole life. Na kahit na mayabang ka, ikaw pa rin ang lalaking matagal ko ng hinintay. Pinakita mo sa akin na kahit na ano pang mangyari, kapag mahal mo talaga, walang makakaharang sayo, walang makakapigil sayo, walang imposible. You taught me how to love Greg. You taught me how to be strong. You taught me how to believe in myself and to fight for what I think is right. I am very lucky to have you at my side. And I promise that I will never let go of you again. Kahit na anong mangyari, palagi na akong nandito. I won't leave again, even if I bleed or die, I won't leave you. I love you so much."

Isinuot ko sa kanya ang singsing niya. Mabilis niya akong niyakap at hinalikan ang aking buhok. Noong naghiwalay kami ay nakita kong naiiyak rin ang mga tao sa paligid. Everyone is sharing the same happiness that we have.

'Cause I'll be your shelter from the storm
I'll be the fire that keeps you warm
I'll be your light in the dark
Cause you'll always be near, here in my heart'

"And with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride." The priest announced. Greg lifted my veil before looking straight into my eyes. He smiled, the same smile that I fell in love with, before lowering his head to kiss me.

"I love you Greg Festines." Sabi ko sa kanya. Ngumisi siya at hinaplos ang aking tiyan.

"I love you too Mrs. Festines." He answered before kissing me again.

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Song Used:

Still - 98°

Nadedepress pa rin ako sa aso ko. I'll miss him. :(

Di pa rin regular yung UDs ha? Sorry sa delay.

*pen<310