Aurora Borealis

Chapter 23 - Vows and Rings

>> • LAUREN • <<

I can feel the matrimonial spirits singing from the heavens as the church bells hits a mellow, lower tone everytime it's rung.

Lined up after bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl and ring bearer, we, as special guests were last in line as the procession proceeds closer to the chapel.

It's raining rose petals in assortment of red, white and pink; the main colors that highlighted the event for today.

We passed through the arc designed with crawling veins and flowers, freed butterflies, and rolled grass carpets that makes it seem dreamy.

I clung on tight on my partner's arm, making him turn to me.

"What?" tanong niya.

I beamed at him amorously, "Is it part of the plan?"

The curious glance that he shot turned into a perplexed expression, "Alin?"

He can't keep his gaze fixed in one direction. It keeps on shifting from me to another.

"Tohru didn't give me an invitation. Wendy, East, and Jamila neither. I suppose there's some scheme that happened?"

His eyes escaped mine more. But when he figured out that he'll never be able to make an excuse, he finally revealed that Tohru indeed is the mastermind behind all of these.

"So, it wasn't your idea in the first place. What a letdown." I sounded as disappointed as possible. He was stunned from where he stood as if he were struck by lightning.

Nabalik lamang siya sa sarili niya nang nakapasok na kami sa chapel. Maya-maya pa 'y kinalabit niya ako.

"What?" taas-kilay kong tanong.

"Just for the record, Tohru never told us to whom we should give it to. He just tipped that he never gave an invitation to the girls." bulong niya sa tainga ko. Instead of listening to his reason, I'm more distracted by the warmth of his breath blowing on my skin.

Naupo na ako sa pinakadulong bahagi ng pew, katabi sina Wendy, East, West, Angelu (as West introduced) at Aero. Nawala na si Baldo sa pila kaya sa tingin ko'y nandoon na siya sa puwesto niya sa may gate ng chapel.

Not long after, the ceremony finally commenced. There's Tohru's brother Antony in his jet-black suit, standing on the right side of the holy altar along with his father. It was followed by the entrance of the bride clinging her arm on her father, with her pure white veil trailing and tailing her on the ground.

Nagawi ang tingin ko sa kaliwang hilera ng mga upuan kung nasaan nakaupo ang mga kamag-anak ng bride. Isa sa kanila ang may kalong sa batang anak ng mga ikakasal.

Tuluyan nang naihatid ang bride sa altar at kaharap na ngayon ng pari upang magpatuloy. Unlike in most commercials and dramas in television, neither of them teared up even when their eyes first met here in the chapel. I guess we shouldn't expect dramas all the time.

After giving words of welcome from the officiant and readings of best wishes from their parents, relatives and Tohru, the time for exchanging vows came.

"It's been a long time that I can't even remember the last time that I went to church." Antony started his soliloquy. "Paulit-ulit ko siyang sinusumpa no'n dahil sa binigyan niya 'ko ng kakaibang pamilya na hindi ko natanggap noong una. Sinasabi ko pa, hindi ko siya kikilanin at kakailanganin kahit kailan."