Lumipas pa ang maraming araw ng pag-iisip ko hanggang sa hindi ko namalayan kung anong petsaa na ba ngayon. Mataas na ang araw, kaya napagdesisyunan ko munang magbilad at maglakad-lakad sa labas. Wala akong pasok ngayon, kaya naman libre akong mamasyal kasama si Cal.
Napahawak ako sa tiyan ko nang sumipa ito nang malakas. Kasunod ay ang paghinto ng malaking puting van sa harap ko. My eyebrows knitted when it opened, pero mas ikinabahala ko ang paglabas ng mga lalaki at marahas na kinuha ang kamay ko para maipasok sa sasakyan."H-hoy! Saan niyo ako dadalhin? Sino kayo?" sigaw ko ngunit dahil doon ay binusalan nila ang bibig ko. Maluha-luha akong nagpupumilit na kumawala sa pagkakahawak nila ngunit mas malakas sila sa akin at mas marami sila.Ano na naman ito? Bakit may ganito? Sino sila? Nananahimik na ako.Patuloy akong sumisigaw at nagwawala sa loob ng sasakyan ngunit, hindi nila ako pinakakawalan. Hindi rin sila nagsasalita. Nakatalukbong ang"Later, Jothea. You'll know later, but for now, cooperate with me." Hinayaan ko na lang si Savannah na gawin ang gusto niya hanggang sa tuluyan niya na akong maayusan. Naguguluhan akong bumaba ng sasakyan nang akayin niya ako papunta sa isang lugar kung saan may magagandang palamuti. May mga bulaklak sa paligid. "Here." Napalingon ako sa kanan ko nang makita si Miss Levanier na may inaabot sa akin. Isang maganda at malaking palumpon ng mga daisy. "Congratulations on your wedding," sambit pa niya na siyang ikinagulat ko. Akmang tatanungin ko siya tungkol doon nang umalis na siya.My wedding? Today? How come?Lumingon ako sa kabila para sana tanungin si Sav tungkol doon ngunit maging siya ay nawala na. Nakita ko na lang sarili kong nakaharap sa malaking pintuan habang suot ang engrandeng traje de boda na hindi ko alam kung paano nagkasya sa akin ganoong medyo malaki na ang tiyan ko. Unti-unting bumukas ang pinto at sa isang iglap tila ba tumigil a
Napatingin din ako kina Sir Mikael at Miss Elisse na kapuwa nakangiti sa akin. Ganoon din sila Miss Sapphire at ang workmates ko na hindi ko inaasahang iimbitahin din ni Ismael. Pero ang mas ikinahagulgol ko ay nang makita ang mga magulang ko na nasa likod. Mukhang handa na silang samahan akong maglakad sa aisle, pero dahil tumakbo ako ay hindi ko sila napansin."Should we proceed, or should we start from the beginning?" tanong ng lalaking magkakasal sa amin ni Ismael. Kahit sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi ko alam ang magiging desisyon ko."We should start from the beginning so she can walk with her parents," sagot ni Ismael para sa akin. Hinatid niya ako sa dulo, sa mga magulang ko, bago siya muling bumalik sa altar. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko nang isakbit kong iyon sa mga braso ng mga magulang ko.I never thought that they would be here. Hindi ko alam na maging dito ay pagbibigyan nila ako. Patong-patong na saya ang nararamdaman ko. Kahit pa, hi
"I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."Humarap si Ismael sa akin at kahit ako'y punong-puno na ng mga luha na parang baliw dahil ngumingiti rin. Itinaas niya ang belo ko, upang pagmasdan ang mukha ko."Walang kupas," bulong niya. "You're still beautiful, my wife."Naluha ako nang halikan niya ako. Mainit at matamis. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang buo niyang pagmamahal na walang pagdadalawang-isip na inaalay sa akin.This is it. I am now Mrs. Mondalla, just like he promised me. Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit. Narinig ko ang malakas na palakpakan ngunit hindi no'n matatalo ang malakas na tibok ng pinagsamang puso namin ng lalaking mahal ko. I am so happy that this day has come. Hindi yata matatapos ang pagpapasalamat ko sa Diyos. Umalis na ang lahat at hinayaan nila kaming maiwan sa lugar kung saan kami ikinasal ni Ismael. We decided to exchange our vows privately. Narito kaming dalawa nakaupo sa unahan habang magkahawak n
"I promise that I will do my best to be the wife you wanted, to be the most beautiful in your eyes, and to be the sexiest in bed. Sasayawan kita sa mga araw na malungkot ka. Pasasayahin kita kahit sa mga paraang hindi ko gusto, pero ginugusto ko na rin dahil gusto mo. Mahal na mahal kita, Ismael... Mahal na mahal. Pangako ko sa 'yo na sa bawat desisyon ko, hindi na lang sarili ko ang iisipin ko kung hindi pati ikaw at ang magiging mga anak natin. Handa akong ibigay sa 'yo lahat ng mga taong natitira pa sa akin para makasama mo, sa hirap, sa sarap, sa sakit, at sa saya. I love you so much, Ismael. I love you."Pinunasan niya ang kaniyang luha na hindi ko, inaasahang babagsak na naman dahil sa mga salita ko. Hindi ko alam kung may nakakaiyak ba sa mga sinabi ko, pero natutuwa ako dahil nararamdaman niya ang sinseridad ng mga iyon.He cleared his throat. "My tiny little thing, my love, my baby, my woman, my lady, my Jothea," pagtawag niya sa akin. "I still have one la
ISMAEL'S P.O.V.Jothea and I decided to go to the reception together after we cried for a long time while exchanging our vows. We are holding hands, and I realized my dream had finally come true."What if we don't go to the reception?" she playfully asked. We got into the limousine, and I couldn't help but smile because of her sudden question."We need to go there, my love. At least to show how grateful we are for them coming to our special day.""Well, you have a point." She nodded. I guess I actually got what I wanted on my birthday last year. Now, I have brought home a beautiful piece of art that I can stare at up close for my lifetime.She rested her head on top of mine. My heart was pounding so loudly that she must have heard it. Who wouldn't be? After all, she's now officially mine. Waiting three years to have her did not go in vain."Aren't you going to ask how I was when you were gone?" she asked, while her head was still
Isa and Danjer were there together with the rest of my nine siblings, Guian, Dakes, Veo, Cael, Leonne, Kaei, Verlee, Miel, and Vino, who welcomed us with an embrace. I introduced them one by one to my lovely wife."Congratulations on your wedding," they greeted one by one."Ang ganda naman ng napangasawa mo, kuya!" They even patted me on the shoulder. "Anong gayuma ang pinainom mo sa kaniya para patulan ang gurang na katulad mo?""Hotdog," Jothea said with a mischievous grin, which shocked me. What she said made my brothers laugh even harder. God dammit. She always teases me."Pinakain pala!"I like her attitude, Kuya!" They commented. "Mukhang makakarami talaga kayo!""What if umuwi na kayo para nakakapagsimula na?" Danjer bantered."Tanga. May laman na nga, eh.""Oh, right! Hindi kasi halata!"I shut my eyes in disbelief. I remember that this is the reason why I don't go to them, even if I have the ch
"What happened?" I inquired."Raviel killed himself, sir, while Roxsielle was brought to the mental hospital," he stated, which gave me a complete cold shiver.After hearing the news, I felt resentful. I cannot deny the fact that I was one of the reasons for their predicament. I was the one who instructed Mr. Tory to remove any parts of Raviel that had come into contact with my woman, despite my warnings."I see," I said defeatedly. "We will cover all of Roxsielle's medical expenses, including her secret medication, and keep it a secret from the clan. Ensure she returns to jail to prevent further disturbances to Jothea.He nods. "I understand, sir. Also, about Zarate's family, it was confirmed that Raviel killed them both by setting the fire on their house to immediately inherit the wealth of his parents, who adopted him."There was a sigh from me. For a man, he's terrifying. I understand why Jothea was so scared of him that she had to de
I sighed. Why do I even have to be out the door at five in the morning? I even outperformed a professor. I never woke up that early to attend class before.To: My tiny little thingGood morning, my love. Did you receive the flowers I prepared?-Her prompt response made me smile like an idiot. Like a schoolboy trying to win over his crush, I feel embarrassed.From: My tiny little thingYes, Ismael! Thank you so much for the daisies! Anyway, how are you? Did you sleep well last night? I'm sorry, I didn't wake up early enough to make you coffee. I slept too well.-To: My tiny little thingPut it out of your mind. Now that you're carrying our child, you'll require extra rest. How are you? Has your morning sickness returned?-From: My tiny little thingYes, pero saglit na lang. Nasasanay na ako. Kumusta ka d'yan? Miss na kita. 🥺-I was stunned to see the litt