Chapter 5

Everything is new to me. Hindi lang itong pagpapakasal kundi ang mga nangyayari sa akin ngayon.

Una ang pagiging malambing ng mga magulang ko. Pangalawa ay itong tumatambol sa dibdib ko.

"Are you okay?" Malambing na tanong sakin ni Maru.

Sinubukan kong ngumiti sa kanya para mapakita na okay lang ako. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Just relax. I'm here so no need to be nervous." He said to assure me.

I heave a heavy sighed at saka muling tumingin sa kanya, this time with a real smile on my face.

I mouthed 'thank you' to him.

"We have come together at the invitation of Mara Denise Almonte and Andrew Maru Ottave to celebrate the uniting in Christian love, their hearts and lives. This is possible because of the love God has created in them, through Jesus Christ." Panimula ng aming Pastor.

"Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." This abundant life, for many people, is an impossible dream, yet God wants us all to have this abundant life and proved His love for us by giving His Son, that we might have this life."

"Another way that God provides for this "full" life is creating those who will love us. Maru has found such a one in Mara hearts and spirits were drawn together before today by the Lord of all creation. Two lives are not united by ceremony, but only in the power, love, and grace of God."

"Maru and Mara are here to publicly declare that because of Jesus Christ's love, they too can truly love one another. As God demonstrated His love in Jesus, our Lord, Mara and Maru will demonstrate this God given love by giving themselves to one another and one for the other."

Can we truly love one another?

Inalis ko agad iyon sa isipan ko. I am just feeling sorry because the thing that the Pastor has said is the opposite of what we have.

Maru gently squeezes my hand. I look at him.

"Are you okay?"

Tumango ako at ngumiti bilang sagot. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng kunin niya ang kamay ko at halikan ito. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo ngunit kindat lang ang naging sagot nito. Natatawang napailing na lamang ako.

"Maru and Mara, no other human ties are more tender, no other vows are more sacred than these you are about to assume. You are entering into that holy estate which is the deepest mystery of experience, and which is the very sacrament of divine love."

Humarap si Pastor kay Maru.

"Maru, will you have Mara, to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her so long as you both shall live?"

Tumingin siya muli sa akin bago sumagot ng "I will."

Matapos sumagot ni Maru ay nakangiting bumaling naman sa akin si Pastor.

"Mara, will you have Maru to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him so long as you both shall live?"

I look at Maru and then to the Pastor and answer "I will."

I didn't expect that I will feel happy at this wedding.

As I look at Maru something rather someone caught my attention.

Lumingon ako sa taong iyon at doon ko nakita si Jana na nasa dulong bahagi ng simbahan. And then reality hits me.

I feel sorry for her. If it weren't for me maybe these two will have their happily ever after.

Tila bigla akong nawalan ng gana sa nangyayaring kasal namin ni Maru. I saw Maru getting the ring.

He placed the ring on my finger. "Mara wear this as a sign of my love and faithfulness to you."

Ako naman ang kumuha ng singsing at isinuot iyon kay Maru. "Maru wear this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness to you."

"Really?" Bulong nito

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Just kidding hon."

Napailing na naman ako. Maru is in his playful self again.

Now we have to give our marriage vow to one another.

"I was writing my marriage vow, but I just can't think of anything." Panimula ko.

"I was so young when I found out that you will be my husband. And I felt nothing."

"And even after that we never became friends nor lover. And that's fine with me."

"And now that I came to know you for the past months, I can now say that I'm very happy that you are the person that my parents chose to be my husband."

"Thank you, Maru, for being a good friend and I know that in the future you will also be a good husband."

"I promise you that I will be faithful and will always here to support you."

Matapos iyon ay para akong nabunutan ng tinik. I wasn't expecting that I will be able to deliver that well without stammering.

Maru grabs my hand.

"Hon, I decided not to have a written or rehearsed vow to you because I don’t want a scripted vow, I want to give you a genuine vow.” Then he winked.

Natawa na lang ako.

"You're right, we were young when we found out that we our bound to be together forever. If people won't believe in forever then let's prove them that forever exist and that is Mara and Maru."

"I always wanted to be close to you but I want you to do what you want to do. Date whoever you like. But surprisingly you never had anyone in your life. And for that I am thankful."

"I promise you hon that I will be forever faithful to you. And will be a good and loving husband to you."

Loving husband?

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. Nang matapos ito ay nagpalakpakan ang mga tao.

"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. This is my first kiss.

"Don't worry hon I will be gentle"

Kinurot ko ito sa tagiliran

"Aw! Hon!"

Nagtawanan ang mga tao.

"Umayos ka nga Maru!" Mahinang sabi ko.

"Opo wife."

I can't help but smile when I heard him call me wife. Dahan-dahan niyang itinaas ang akong buwelo. He held my face and kiss me. I close my eyes when I felt his lips on mine. It was soft and gentle.

Everyone is cheering for us.

Pinalo ko sa gilid si Maru upang tumigil na ito sa paghalik sa akin. Naramdaman ko ang pamumula ng mukha ko sa hiya. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Maru.

"What? Pastor said that I can kiss you."

"But not that long." Inis na sabi.

"Okay sorry wife. Let's just continue later."

"Shut up Maru!"

Niyakap niya ko at inalo. "Okay sorry wife." Then kiss me again.

When the ceremony ends, we started to do picture taking with our family and entourage.

We took again our last shot when Janna caught my attention again.

She is now crying. I look at Maru and it seems like he knew nothing about Jana's being here at our wedding.

"Maru nandito si Jana."

Hinanap ito ni Maru at ng makita niya ay nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo nito.

"I'm sorry." Bulong ko dito.

"Shush don't be hon." Pag aalo niya

"If it weren't for me, you would have married her."

"I don't have any plan on marrying her. You're the only girl I plan to marry."