Chapter four [The wedding]

                                          Chapter Four [The Wedding]

          David and Daniele ask Daniele's parents for permission to go to the city for other wedding necessities. Although her mother was disgusted by Danielle's nasty attitude toward her suitors when she was younger, her parents trusted her.

      She appears to be quite attractive, but her actions irritate her mother, who prefers to see her dressed up and well-behaved in public. However, she is acting differently.

      "I just prefer to wear shabby t-shirts because they're comfortable, Mama," she cries. "But it doesn't fit you anymore because you've developed breasts and your nipple shows through your thin t-shirts," her mother moans. " Daniele's older sister interjected, displaying grumpiness.

         She was always a beautiful girl, but she was unconcerned about other people's feelings, especially her mother's, who seemed overprotective and embarrassed until she decided to become a doctor."You look different today, Danielle. Do you have a boyfriend?" When Carla and Daniele meet again after a long time apart, Carla notices Daniele.

       " Not yet! I haven't met the ideal man for me yet. When my heart skips a beat, I know he's the one." Danielle replied.

      They find her vibrant and energetic in her interactions with others. Everyone assumes she is already in love with a man, but when she suddenly vanished, they were taken aback and realized their error in labeling her egoistic and conceited.

       They have no idea that she wishes to become a nun, which they regard as a holy calling. When she returns from her religious training, they interrogate one another about what happened. No one answers their own questions, so they wait. The intrigues ended when David bravely courted Danielle in front of her parents and relatives.

       People labeled her parents as strict, conventional, and disciplined. However, the 12 children, Daniele being the second from the youngest, have a great deal of respect for her parents..

       No suitors for Daniele's father's daughters were allowed to enter the house without her father's permission. If he discovered each daughter entertaining her lover without his permission, the suitor was ridiculed and humiliated.

       The family is well-known in the villages as a pioneer of the middle class. Furthermore, the father is hardworking and owns huge hectares of land and plantations with cattle and pigs livestock raisings, resulting in greater wages and productivity for all laborers..

      Everyone changes their attitudes and upgrades their lifestyles when Daniele returns and learns to love a man, as her parents begin to accommodate others and generously share their harvests and fruits of the land with the poor and hungry as reparation.

      Daniele is still presumed innocent by everyone, but everyone believes she will be able to manage the consequences of any decisions she makes because she is a woman of great integrity and courage who has conquered many challenges in life.

       She demonstrates amazing courage in the face of peril when she was five years old, before starting school. She saves their guest, an 18-year-old obese and large young lady who drowned in roaring flood waters in the strong current of the river near their plantations.

        The young lady cried tears of joy because the little tiny girl Daniele bravely faced the danger and swam towards her, who was almost drowning due to her heavy weight. Little tiny Daniele was able to carry her to the river bank safely. Since then, people have looked up to her as a heroine, despite her proclivity for acting stupid and funny.

       People see Daniele as a productive and highly dignified individual in society because of her psychiatric profession. She never believed that her suitors were sincerely interested in her but speculated that they were just making fun of her. Now, people find her engaged with a respectable and God-fearing man whom no one could ever imagine.

      Daniele adores being with David. She feels like heaven as he embraces her while they travel.

      They are already inside the embassy to obtain legal capacity after several hours."Why don't you married now?  When everything is finished, I'll just update your marriage documents!”  "Today is our wedding day?"  proposes the minister of the church. "Is it possible?" David continues. "Yes, if you're ready, we can begin the wedding ceremony right now! "

       The Minister exclaims as he takes the application form and instructs the couple to write their own name and signature. "Wow, this is a huge surprise and unexpected big event," Danielle exclaims as she rushes to hug David.

      ”Wait!” Daniele halts. "Don't worry, they can understand. My remittance from Europe hasn't arrived yet. I never anticipated it to happen," David confesses. They swiftly supply a wedding gown and a less expensive wedding ring, and the ceremony is completed on the same day.

      As the Minister approves, David tries to console Danielle: "Okay, everything settled. You can simply wait for the delivery of your marriage certificates." Danielle appears perplexed because this is contrary to the plans.

       David invited her to dinner with the wedding minister beforehand. They had a small celebration and talked about the Filipino traditions that are slowly fading away owing to the numerous unexpected events that a partner meets before marriage.

      "It's safe now that there's no temptation between the two of you. The only problems you'll have to deal with will be the coming opposition from Daniele's relatives," the Minister tries to explain his reasoning for advocating an on-the-spot wedding for David and Daniele.

Danielle invited David to meet her Elder sisters and friends in the city while it was still light. "It's excellent you bring David here so that we can welcome him to our clan," Danielles' sister said as she led them into the kitchen.

"I wanted both of you to dine with us to experience being familiar with us," her elder sister said. "My husband and children will be here early for supper, and I need to prepare things for them."

"Look, my eldest daughter is coming from the University. She's graduating from college this year. You'll see her after many years that you've been gone, Danielle. I guess she misses you a lot." Her elder sister continues to explain as the newlywed couple listens silently.

       "Hi, Mom! "Gellie greets as she looks at David, ignoring Daniele who stands alongside him. After kissing her mother, Gellie approaches Daniele and kisses her checks as well. "I'm great," Gellie says. "How about you?"

       "I'm supposed to graduate this year and have my review for the Board examination. I need money for my tuition fees next semester," Daniele says to Gellie. "Anyway, your Dad has a lot of money from his company. Is he the president?" Gellie wonders. "Yes, but he paid our monthly costs, which are mounting," Gellie adds. "God will provide," Daniele concludes.

       "Auntie Daniele, can we borrow P10,000 from you?" " Gellie inquires, Daniele's gaze remaining fixed on David, who is securely clutching Daniele's hand. Daniele laughs at Gellie. "By the way, this is my husband David from Europe. We're just married and in the honeymoon stage. That's he's becoming so restless. He's tired." Daniele smiles as she introduces David to Gellie, who has been inquisitive about him since she arrived.

       "Greetings, Uncle Dave!" "Ah hi, nice meeting you!" Gellie says, smiling. “You appear to have something essential to say about your native tongue language?” David guess.  "You don't know our language yet?" Gellie speculates, that David doesn’t understand the Filipino properly. "No!"David responds. Gellie chuckles. "Okay, see you again. I have a lot of homework to finish tonight." Gellie rushes upstairs to change her house clothes.

      David appears to have a question for Daniele, whispering, "I already miss Honey!"  "What exactly is the matter? We're still together, yet you're already missing me! " Daniele responds gently, almost laughing out loud. Her Ate smiles as she realizes what David means after hearing their whispering.

     "What are your plans after this?" She inquires of Daniele and David. "We're intending to walk around the city tonight. Since Christmas season is approaching and the entire city has been filled with multicolored Christmas lights. We'll be loving watching around, Ate," Daniele expresses.

      "I have no desire to meddle in your marital matters, Daniele." When did you tie the knot? Her Ate asks intently adding, "I thought you planned to have your wedding at the Haciends Agape house."

      "Yes, that was supposed to be our plan. Kuya William had already settled everything," Danielle reveals, adding, "However, when we went to the Embassy, the Minister of the church suggested that we have our marriage documentary today because he declared it as our marriage day."

"It's quite unexpected. But it's also a great decision so you would be tempted by circumstances before marriage especially when you both are alone," Ate Cely implies. As the newly-wed couple feels at ease by Ate Cely's understanding."Probably, we also have to celebrate it in the province when the money arrives," Daniele added as David nodded.

"Well then, I wished you the best as I congratulated both of you. Hoping for a bright future as God blesses you always," Ate Cely says, but she is still not convinced that what the pair did was correct because she expects Daniele to become a nun.