CHAPTER 07

I'm still confused as to why we are the ones that got the license to get married. Hindi ba iyong si Barbara na anak ni Tita Erisa ang ikakasal dahil buntis siya?

Hunter and I was silent the entire ride to Paris Las Vegas. We are there to book our wedding. Ang sabi sa amin nang nagbigay sa amin ng aming lisensya ay by scheduling ang wedding ceremony sa Eiffel Tower ng Paris Las Vegas. 

It was unlike other wedding ceremony done along the chapels and/or places along the Las Vegas strip that is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Inalalayan ni Kuya Darren si Lola Estrella pababa ng kotse. She was smiling at us the entire ride. But I just can't seem to find happiness in this very situation.

Hunter and I, We, are getting married in Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower in three days!

"I'm sorry in forcing you both to get married early, but as you may know..." the old lady clenched her cane and stared at us with her soulful eyes, "I don't have much time left in me, and I just wanted to see my Hunter get married to the love of his life..." she said in forlorn.

But I'm not the love of his life.

Wasn't it Jessie Grimaldi?

"Paris is the city of lights as it is the city of love, as well!" Hunter's grandma, Lola Estrella - as she liked to be addressed, said all dreamy now. "Just fitting to be the place of your marriage!"

"Yes, Mama!" segunda ni Tita Elisia na nasa tabi na ngayon ni Lola Estrella. Katabi rin nito ang bunsong anak na si Dahlia.

"Maganda na doon kayo magpakasal because you can see the whole Vegas up there, and we have also already booked rooms here para maasikaso ng maayas ang kasal niyo!" mula sa likod namin ay sumulpot si Tita Ella na mukhang excited na sa aming kasal.

Parehas na wala kaming imik ni Hunter, nakikinig lang sa kanilang masasayang pagpa-plano sa aming kasal na magaganap pagkatapos ng tatlong araw.

We went inside the hotel and Tita Ellie was the one who talk to the receptionist about our reservation. Hunter and I were standing at the back. 

"Sorry we are late..." bumaling ako sa aming likod at natagpuan ang dapat na ikakasal.

She was pregnant, and the man beside her was handling her with care. This woman must be Barbara and her fiance, the ones who should've been at the marriage bureau earlier.

I sighed. I noticed that her belly is evident that no dress can fit her right now except maternity dresses. How can she get married in her state right now.

"I'm sorry, Hunter..." she apologized.

"Why are you sorry?" Hunter asked. "It's okay, Ate Barb" sumulyap si Hunter sa akin. Tumango lamang ako. 

"It was supposed be our wedding but I don't want others to say that our marriage just happen because I got pregnant..." she cried.

Hunter and I were alarmed! It's bad for the baby...

"You don't have to be sorry, Ate Barbara, it wasn't our plan to get married now but uhmm..."

"It's okay," Hunter said calmly. "We are to get married sometime in the future, so what if it is much earlier than planned?" he let out a sigh, "So, you don't have to be sorry for us..."

"They are getting married because they love each other, hija, you don't have to feel guilty..." Lola Estrella said.

Tita Ellie nervously laughed, "Yes, Mama, is right so we should get settled in now..." 

She knew that we are just friends and we are forced to do this wedding. But I bit my tongue to keep me from saying something awful.

I like Hunter. Yes, I won't deny that. But, this bastard have a girlfriend back home. Does this thing considered as cheating?

Because if it does, we will burn in hell.

We are sorted to different rooms. They booked two entire floors. Hunter and I were sharing a room. Wala naman daw masama roon dahil ikakasal na raw kami. My gosh!

Tita Elisia pulled us away from the others and she handed Hunter our room's keycard. She looked at us and seems apologetic.

"I know you are not a thing but Mama seems to think differently, if this ever bothered you, Julianne, please tell me right away..." she said.

Tumango lamang ako. Dahil wala naman akong masabi pa.

"Are you guys, you know, with benefits? I'd like to say that if you do your thing, just keep it down okay?" she said, staring at Hunter. "The hotel walls are thin, everyone can hear you..." 

Ilang sandali ko ring pinroseso ang sinabi ni Tita Elisia bago ko nakuha ang sinabi niya. Sasabihin ko sana na walang kung anuman ang mangyayari pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

"Tita..." seryosong tawag ni Hunter kay Tita Elisia.

"Well, I'm just making sure. We don't want to settle for pre-marital sex now..."

Nilingon ko si Hunter, "Thanks a lot..." 

Tita Elisia laughed and hooked her arm on mine as she dragged me away from Hunter. Nakasunod kami kina Darlene. By batch kasi ang paggamit ng elevator.

Narating namin ang palapag namin at kasama pa rin namin si Tita Ellie. Samantalang tahimik na nakasunod sa amin si Hunter.

Nilingon ko siya at nakitang nakatingin siya sa akin. His eyes was piercing and cold. If the circumstances were different, it's cool that I'm going to get married with Hunter.

But he has Mayana Guerrero back home. Hindi ko man gusto iyong babaeng 'yon pero nasa isang relasyon pa rin sila ni Hunter. I'm wrecking someone else's relationship right now.

Hunter opened the door for me. Nagpaalam naman si Tita Ellie pagkatapos kaming bilinan na magkikita kita ulit sa lobby after 30 minutes because we'll eat lunch and shop for clothes after.

The room has a modern European concept. Our room has floor to ceiling window, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. The very tower where we will exchange vows.

"Do you want to rest?" tanong sa akin ni Hunter. Nilapag niya ang mga gamit namin sa carpet floor. "We could just have room service and not dine with everyone else..."

I sighed, "Tell me, Hunt, paano ang girlfriend mong naiwan sa Pinas?" tanong ko.

Umiwas siya ng tingin. Bumaba ang tingin niya sq carpeted floor at saka lamang 'to umangat upang salubungin ang mga mata ko, "Don't worry about, and just let me deal with it," he answered in a hush.

"Let you deal with it?" I questioned, "How? We will be flying back home in the Philippines in 2 weeks, and by then I'm already carrying your name..."

He shushed me, "They'll hear you, keep your voice down."

"Hunter, marriage is sacred..." mahinahon kong sabi.

"Yes, and I respect its sanctity." he hold me in place.

"Aren't we going to divorce after?" 

"Hindi pa nga tayo kinakasal, pero ang isip mo nasa divorce na." may himig ng hinanakit sa boses niya.

Can he blame me for it? I believe that marriage should be done out of love. This marriage is deceitful. 

"If you want to divorce me," Hunter paused. "We can get it after 6 months..." 

I closed my eyes. Making resolve within my head. Tumango ako, "Sure." I squeak, nodding my head repeatedly as if I'm convincing myself.

We met with the others 30 minutes later as we are told. We'll be eating lunch in the hotel's restaurant. Half of the restaurant was occupied by the Parker's overly extended family.

We bought dresses and suits. There was none, I mean, not one wedding dress that impressed Lola Estrella. She refuse even the expensive wedding gown in one of the boutiques we visited.

It was exhausting. My feet are killing me. Pinagsisihan kong nagsuot ako ng heels. Mabuti na lang nang walang magustuhan si Lola Estrella na dress para sa akin ay nag-aya na si Tita Ellie na bumalik ng hotel.

Pagdating namin ng hotel ay nagtipon ang mga kababaihan sa kuwarto namin. Nahuli pang pumasok sina Tita Elisia, Tita Erisa, at Lola Estrella kasama si Manang Gina. They are carrying dresses. 

Well, hindi lang pala dress ang mga iyon. It was wedding gowns. 

"This are the only ones we can find on our good friend's rack..." pag-hingi ng paumanhin ni Tita Erisa.

"Yes, Julianne, do forgive us..." si Tita Ella.

"If only we have enough time, we can go to Kleinfeld in New York..." patuloy ni Tita Elle.

"This wedding gowns are from Versace, Chanel and Gucci..." sabad ni Darlene.

"They're from where?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. And they're saying sorry for having these laid out for me?

"They're from Versace, Chanel and Gucci lang, Ate Julianne..." sabay na sambit ng kambal na babae ni Tita Erin na si Maureen at Mazikeen.

I'm quite speechless. They said Versace, Chanel and Gucci lang?! LANG! Wow! Parang ang mura ng mga brand na 'yon!

"Go ahead, Julianne, pick your gown..." Lola Estrella smiled at me.

Nahihiyang nilapitan ko ang mga wedding gown. Una kong nilahad ay 'yung galing nang Gucci. Isa iyong sweetheart, naroon kasi ang signature logo niyon. It's a bit heavy and drapey, I can almost say that it's made from linen with a bit of tule and pieces of lace. Umiling ako. Ayoko nito.

"You can try it on, Julianne." sabi ni Tita Elise.

"It's okay po, I'd try it on if I feel comfortable on it po Tita..." sagot ko at ibinalik ang gown.

I picked up the wedding gown from Chanel. Nang mahawakan ko ay alam kong gawa na iyon sa chiffon. Pinatungan ng tule ang chiffon kaya't kahit paano ay bumigat ng kaunti. May mga palamuti iyon sa hemline at neckline kahit illusion type. 

Muli ay itinabi ko ang gown at kinuha ang ikatlong gown na mula naman sa Versace. From the get go, it was obvious that the fabric used was silk. Sa patuloy na pagtingin ay aakalain mong dalawa o tatlong tela ang makapatung-patong pero iisa lang pala.

Akala ko pa nga ay may corset iyon pero wala. From the straps, neckline, and the bodice have intricate embellishment that is obviously hand sewn. I smiled. Tinitigan ko pa ang hemline hanggang train niyon at nakitang may mga Swarovski crystals pa iyon.

Wow! I think I like this one better than the others.

"You liked that?" tanong ni Lola Estrella.

Tumango ako, "Opo, Lola..." nakangiting sagot ko habang hinahawakan ang mga embellishments.

Some of debated which one was best. Some of them liked the one from Chanel, and some liked the one from Gucci. But at the end Lola Estrella bought the one from Versace just because I like it.

Tinanong din nila ako aling sapatos ang gusto ko at naglahad sila ng ilang pares ng designer shoes. I chose an ankle-strapped stilettos from Christian Louboutin. I think it will go well with the Versace wedding gown.

"By the way, Julianne, what do you do for work?" tanong ni Darlene nang nagliligpit na kami at ang iba'y kumakain ng mga inorder nila through room service.

Umupo ako sa kama, "I work as the VP of Finance department in Huntington Realty." sagot ko.

"Wow! So you and Hunter met through work?" Marjorie inquired. 

Umiling ako, "No..." 

"Then how'd you and Kuya Hunter met?" Carter and Courtney dreamily asked in chorus.

I was about to tell them how but a knock on the door stopped me from doing so. Tita Elise opened the door and it was Tito Gary, Tita Erisa's husband. He's with Tito Hector (Tita Elisia's husband) and Tito Jerry (Tita Erika's husband) they're holding multiple paper bags from McDonald's.

"Food for you girls, Hunter specifically said that the bucket of chicken and the 20 pcs. of chicken nuggets is for Julianne..." Tito Gary and handed Tita Elise a paper bag.

"Oh! Do come in Kuya!" niluwagan ni Tita Elise ang bukas ng pinto. Sinabulong naman nina Darlene at Dahlia si Tito Hector, tinulungan rin nina Mary Joy at Mary Jane ang daddy nila at humalik naman sa noo ni Barbara at ng kambal na si Carter at Courtney si Tito Jerry.

"Eat well, girls! Erika, darling, I love you!" sabi pa ni Tito Jerry bago sila umalis sa kuwarto.

I waited for my chicken nuggets before answering, "We met in college, I kinda spill my macchiato on his suit." 

"Woah? For reals?" Christiana asked before taking a huge bite of her Big Mac.

Tumango ako, "Well yeah! But thankfully I have made a suit and it's just sitting on my workbench and thankfully it fitted him just in time for his defense."

"Wait, you made a suit?" it was Tita Elisia asking this time.

I nodded, "Yes, Tita."

"What's your course ba? Aren't you a graduate of Estate Realty Management or Business?" Carter asked with curiosity and shoved a handful of fries to her mouth.

"I took fashion design and merchandising." I answered and ate a piece of chicken nugget.

"Pero you're VP of Finance ng realty nila Kuya Hunt?" si Nigela, anak ni Tita Elle.

"Yes..." 

"Realty is far from Fashion!" Darlene exclaimed. "Just to say, you are much fitting in our business than real estate..." 

"Well, I know but right after I graduated Hunter took me in to be the VP of Finance, hindi ko na nga nasubukan mag-apply..."

"Ano bang ginagawa ng VP of Finance?"

Nagkibit balikat ako, "I don't know.."

"Bakit 'di mo alam?" kuryosong tanong ni Tita Erin.

"Si Hunter po kasi ang sumasalo sa work load ko... He doesn't let me get a proper work... Kailangan po dadaan sa kanya ang mga ibibigay sa akin na trabaho." simpleng sagot ko.

"Well," Tita Elisia looked at me sheepishly, "Hunter can be romantic too, in his own way..."

Hunter being romantic?

No way.