CHAPTER 4

Naging mabilis ang panahon. Naging mabilis din ang proseso ng kasal namin ni Beau. Maraming tao ang nag-aabang ng kasal namin at syempre hindi ulit kami nakaligtas sa mga media.

"So, when did the two of you meet?" tanong ng nag-i-interview sa amin ni Beau.

Para matigil ang mga issues at mga tanong ng mga tao sa aming dalawa, nagpahanda kami ng press conference para sagutin lahat ng mga tanong nila.

It must have been shocking to them that we're getting married when they didn't even see us together before. Alam din kasi ng mga tao ang tungkol sa relasyon namin ni Rison, but not all of them know our real relationship.

Ever since I was young, I want to keep my privacy. I've grown up, being watched by the people around me. Dahil kilala ang pamilya ko, bata pa lang ako nakikita ko na ang sarili sa mga newspapers at TV.

Not also me but my family want to keep my privacy as I grew up too. Kaya noong naging kami ni Rison noong college, I try to keep our relationship private. Ayoko kasing madawit no'n si Rison sa showbiz but Rison wanted to entered showbiz.

Kaya noong naging mausbong ang career niya sa modeling dahil sa'kin, hindi namin inamin na kami sa Media. Especially when he paired up with Mariana. Dumami ang mga apportunies na dumaan sa kanya. Ang fans nilang dalawa ni Mariana.

Kaya ang alam lang ng mga tao, were just a friends. But well you know, some people didn't believe that because some people seen us together before. Pero kahit na ganoon, we kept our relationship private.

Kaya rin siguro, hindi naging issues ang relasyon nila Rison at Mariana dahil hindi naman alam ng mga tao na kami. Kung may alam man ang iba, hindi sila sigurado. But I guess I have to make myself safe this time.

Beau smile and held my hand. "We first met actually months ago, but we both decided to keep it a secret because we started as friends first."

The woman with bob hair nodded. "So, you two did know each other for a long time?"

"Yes," sagot ko. "like Beau said, we started as a friends first. You know, we didn't know we will end up like this."

Tumango ulit ang babae pero halatang kinikilig. "Zyska, may I ask a question?"

"Of course, you can!"

"Usap-usapan kasi sa internet ngayon ang tungkol sa inyo ni Rison. I hope I won't offend you, but many people are asking about this. Noong mga panahon na may rumors kayo ni Rison, doon daw kayo nagkakilala ni Beau. So, people are going crazy about this. Anong masasasbi mo sa isyu na ito?"

Ngumiti ako kahit na gustong umikot ng mga mata ko sa inis. "First of all, Rison and I were a good friends way back in college. Kung anong naging relasyon namin ni Rison ay walang kinalaman 'yon sa naging relasyon namin ni Beau ngayon."

Iyan lang ang sinagot ko para wala nang masyadong kuwestyon ang mga tao. Somehow, I know people would make another story about this, but the hell that I care about them!

After ng press conference namin ni Beau, sunod-sunod na ang paglalabasan ng mga articles patungkol doon. May mga articles na nagsasabi kung paano kami ka-sweet. Napangiti ako dahil syempre pinaghandaan namin ni Beau ang lahat bago sumabak dito.

"We picked Manila Cathedral as your wedding location!" my Mom exclaimed as we ate our dinner.

Tita Bthyle on the other hand, smiled winded. "Yes, yes! Since we have a lot of guests and the media will be also there!"

Napagdesisyonan ng dalawang pamilya na magkaroon ng salu-salo dahil two weeks from now, ikakasal na kami ni Beau. I'm sitting beside Beau while my Mom and Tita Bthyle talks about the wedding.

"Oh, right! Uuwi pa ang mga relatives ko from China!" sabi pa ni Mommy.

Napailing na lang ako habang kumakain. Si Daddy naman ay natawa. "Love, don't be too excited," wika ni Daddy na may ngisi sa labi. "mas ikaw pa yata ang excited kaysa sa Anak ko."

Mom pouted her lips. "What can I do, love? Kasal ng anak natin 'yan. Of course, I'm so proud of her marrying Beau!"

"Mom, let's eat first," sabat ko ng nakangiwi.

My Mom pouted even more. Napailing ulit ako bago natawa ang mag-asawang Fuentes sa ugali ng Nanay ko. Gusto ko siyang pagsabihan, kaso magkasing ugali kami ng Mommy ko.

"Anyway, we need to talk about your honeymoon," Tita Bthyle said.

Natigilan kami pareho ni Beau sa narinig. Kahit ako na tahimik na kumakain natigilan din. Out of nowhere nagtaas ako ng tingin. Parehas sila Mommy at Tita Bthyle na nakatingin sa amin ni Beau.

Beau groaned. "Mom, sa amin na lang po dapat iyan!"

"But, we need to know when you're gonna spend your honeymoon!"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Beau. Actually, we've never talked about this. We've talked a lot since we need to prepare for our wedding and to know each other. Pero 'yong pag-usapan ang honeymoon namin?

No. We've never talked about it.

Nagkibit balikat ako kaso kinurot ako sa tagiliran ni Mommy. "Mommy!"

Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata. "What? Huwag mong sabihin wala kayong balak mag-honeymoon?"

"O-of course, meron!" wala sa sariling sagot ko.

"Saan?"

Napalunok ako. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari sa amin ni Beau, hindi ko na naisip ang bagay na 'yon.

Ngayon, gusto kong batukan ang sarili. Malamang, kasal ko 'to at kahit na hindi kami magpapakasal ni Beau dahil mahal namin ang isa't-isa, I want my wedding to special for me.

Of course! That's what every woman wanted when they get married.

"Kahit anong gusto po ni Zyska, Tita Lilly," sagot ni Beau. "I'm fine with everything."

Dahil na sagot ni Beau, I can't help but feel sad. Alam ko namang hindi love ang rason bakit kami ikakasal, but hearing what he said, it's makes my heart ache somehow.

Hindi ko alam kung para saan, siguro dahil gusto kong mag-honeymoon kami sa magandang lugar. Kagaya ng mga napapanood ko sa TV at totoong nangyayari sa mga mag-couple na kinakasal.

"What about Maldives?" my Mom's suggested.

Lumawak ang ngiti ni Tita Bthyle. "Right! Maganda ang Maldives pagdating sa honeymoon!"

"Are we okay with that?" My Mom asked. "papa-book na kami para sa inyong dalawa."

Tumango na lang ako at sa pagkain nag-focus. Nawalan na akong ng gana. Hindi ko alam bakit, siguro dahil gusto ko kaming dalawa ni Beau ang magdesisyon kung saan kami magha-honeymoon.

Pero siya na ang nag-sabi. Kahit saan okay sa kanya. Gusto kong mainis dahil kasal ko 'to! This is my wedding so I wanted it to be elegant, special and perfect for me.

Natapos ang dinner namin na masama ang loob ko. Palabas na kami nang hawakan ni Beau ang kamay ko. Mabilis akong tumingin sa kanya.

"Bakit?"

Napakamot siya sa batok niya bago ngumiwi. "Sorry about what I said earlier."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Saan?"

His lips shrug. "About the honeymoon thing," mahinang wika niya. "tell me, saan ba ang gusto mo?"

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi. "Sabi nila sa Maldives daw."

"Zyska, don't lie to me. Magiging asawa ka na kita kaya kailangan kong maging honest tayo sa isa't-isa. At kahit na sa maliit na panahon lang tayo nagkausap, somehow I got to know you."

Humaba ang nguso ko bago napayuko. Nang hindi ako nakasagot, narinig ko siyang mahinang tumawa bago kinurot ang pisngi ko.

"I know I can kinda offend you because of what I've said earlier," he said, softly. "so, tell me. Saan ba gusto mo?"

I pouted my lips before I looked away. "Ever since I was young, I wanted to have my honeymoon in Bali," mahinang wika ko at napayuko na lang.

Somehow, I feel timid. Hindi naman talaga kami magha-honeymoon doon, pero iyon ang gusto ko. Gusto ko sa Bali kami after ng kasal namin. Kahit hindi honeymoon ang tawag doon.

I wanted to relax in Bali.

I heard him chuckling before he held my chin to face him. Akala ko kaasarin niya ako dahil sa inaasta ko, kaso hindi. Wala akong nakitang pangungutya sa mukha niya bukod sa pagkamangha.

Tumango siya pagkuwan. "I'll tell Mom about that."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya bago tumango at nagpaalam na.

Dumating ang araw ng kasal namin at subra-sobrang kaba ang nararamdaman ko. Here I am, staring myself in front of the large mirror.

"Ang ganda-ganda ng kaibigan ko!" rinig ko na malakas na tili ni Rebekah.

I tilted my head and saw her running towards me with a big smile on her lips. Nang makalapit ay niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit.

"God gracious! You looked like a goddess in your wedding gown!" She exclaimed.

"Salamat!" sabi ko bago tumingin muli sa malaking salamin.

I'm wearing a tattoo ace Illusion ateau back wedding ball Gown designed by Mr. Aquino, one of the best designers here in the Philippines.

The gown’s uniquely patterned tulle/sequin net flows perfectly from a fitted drop waist into a flirtatious semi-cathedral train. The show-stopper for this dress is the meticulously crafted illusion neckline. In the front, beautiful floral patterns plunge into a narrow V, and then weave into elegant straps. The illusion intensifies in the back, where it appears that delicate white flowers and a long strand of pearls are vining down your bare back before seamlessly reconnecting with the floral pattern of the drop waist and train. It matches well with my braided updo hairstyle with some flowers on it.

Tumingin ako sa kaibigan ko. "Tell me, Rebekah. Am I really getting married?"

"Yes, yes my dear best friend!" saad niya ng nakangiti. "you're getting married today! And you'll marrying the most handsome bachelor in our country!"

"Ms. Galvez, you have get ready. Mag-i-start na po tayo any minute from now," sabi ng wedding coordinator ko.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago lumabas at sumakay sa Mercedes Benz. Habang nasa loob ng kotse ay hindi ko makahinga ng maayos at panay ang buntong hininga.

Sinong hindi kakabahan, any minute from now I'm going to be Mrs! Ilang minuto mula ngayon ay ikakasal na ako!

Goddess! Hindi ako makapaniwala na nasa ganitong posisyon ako. Imagine, I just want to find a decent man who will love me the way that I deserve, but look at me right now! Marrying someone that I don't even love!

Oo, nagpakasal kami dahil gusto naming maranasan na magmahal ulit. At pinasok naming 'tong arranged marriage na 'to ni Beau para sumubok ulit na magmahal.

Hindi namin alam kung anong mangyayari sa amin after this. We just want to give it a try, maybe our parents are right. Hindi ko alam kung saan papatunggo itong pinasok namin.

Hindi ko alam kung saan hahantong itong pinasok namin ni Beau, pero isa lang ang alam ko ngayon.

Wala ng atrasan 'to! Parehas kaming susugal sangalan ng pag-ibig.

Mas lumalakas ang kabog ng puso nang makita si Beau sa dulo ng altar. He looks intimidating in his black tuxedo. Maayos ang buhok niya habang nakangiti na nakatingin sa'kin.

How can he smile like that when I feel like I'm going to pee while walking? Gosh! I'm getting nervous!

"Take care of my daughter," my dad said as he guided my hand to Beau.

Beau nodded. "I'll take care of her as much as I can, Sir."

"Call me Dad for now."

"Yes, Dad."

Ang kabang nakararamdaman ko ay dumoble nang magsimula na ang kasal. At kahit na nakaharap sa pari, kitang-kita ko ang pag-flash ng mga cameras.

We have a lot of guests, especially the media going crazy about our wedding. Maraming reporters ang kumukuha ng litrato namin at kanina pa raw kami trending sa social media.

Fuentes' family are also complete right now. Even my family too. My family's relatives who are in China are also here.

"Ciandrie Beau Fuentes, do you take this woman, Zyska Veronica Galvez to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Beau said.

Tumingin sa'kin ang pari. "Zyska Veronica Galvez, do you take this man, Ciandrie Beau Fuentes to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," I said, almost a whisper

.

The Father smiled. "Zyska and Beau, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. It is with these in mind that I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Beau went closer to me as he raised my wedding veil and gently held my chin and lifted it up a little bit. When our gaze met, I felt like there's thousands of butterflies in my stomach.

"Relax," he whispered as he move closer to me.

Buminga ako ng malalim bago pinikit na lang ang mata at hinintay ang paglapat ng labi niya sa labi ko. When I felt his soft lips on my lips, I stunned for a moment. Sobrang magaan ang halik na binigay niya to the point na ramdam na ramdam ko ang lambot ng labi niya.

His lips is so soft that I just savoured the moment.

Rinig ko ang malakas na palakpakan ng mga tao sa loob ng simbahan.

So, this is it! I'm no longer a Galvez. I am now Zyska Veronica Galvez-Fuentes!