Epilogue
You can consider me as the most iyakin groom in the world. Because honestly, the moment the double doors of Manila Cathedral opened, my eyes never stopped from crying. It was the best moment of my life. Seeing her walking down the aisle with that beautiful bridal gown she designed herself and along with the song of The Fray, Look After You. And now that she's in front of me and I'm about to say my vows? I don't even know if I can finish this without choking. Mapipiga na yung panyo ko because of too much crying.
"I was always considered as the black sheep in the family. Sabi nila sa aming magkakapatid, ako ang walang direction sa buhay. I'm a college drop-out. I have no job. I race illegally and I practically live in a bar. Sabi nila, if I continue this, wala na talagang mangyayari sa akin. I will forever be useless. But that changed when I met you. That night at Aracama? The night you blurted out that drag racing was illegal? Woman, you have captured my heart."
I saw her giggled and even heard the guests laugh.
"It was pretty obvious that you didn't like me then. Diba nga you even slapped me because I kissed you? Russel teased me. Humihina na daw ata ako sa chics. Pero I dared him. Sabi ko babalik ka. And you did. And the rest is private." I winked. She slapped my chest lightly as she blushed at the memory. "Kaya lang after that night nawala ka naman eh. You're gone and I don't even know where to start looking for you. I tried Aracama but then di nila alam ang name mo. They even said na you were new to that bar kaya wala pang nakakaalam sa pangalan mo. I felt hopeless. I want to talk to you because you were constantly on my mind. It was a first actually. Having a girl run in my mind all day. You were the only girl who did that to me."
She smiled at me as I held her hand.
"We were like idiots running after each other. You avoided me several times but I guess destiny's on my side. We met again. And ever since we did, I couldn't stop dreaming about this day. I remembered my dad telling me something when I was 16. Sabi niya, 'Son, you will know that that girl is the one if you can't stop dreaming about marrying her.' And yes, Julie. You are the one. Because at that very instant you talked at the bar, I couldn't stop thinking about getting married to you."
I heard the guests cooed and I couldn't help but smile. I felt Julie wipe my tears and saw her crying as well.
"We've been through a lot, baby. But we still ended up here. And I'm happy that finally... After all the things that happened, after all the race I've joined, you are the greatest race that I will always be proud of. The 60-lapped races I had are nothing to the race we had and won together. Ito na yun, baby. This will be the best moment we'll have. Ito na yung finish line natin. This is our podium. This is our greatest trophy." I smiled. "I know I'm not a perfect person. I know I make mistakes. A lot. And I know that there will be problems along the way but I will make sure that I will always be beside you. I'm not gonna leave you, baby. I promised that to your mom. And I am gonna keep it. I will stay with you as long as you want me to. And I will be devoted to you for the rest of my life. You are the woman in my prayers and the girl of my dreams. You are the woman I pictured having kids with and you are the woman I want to spend my rocking chair days with. Let me take care of you. Let me look after you. Let me give you the whole world and let me be your provider. I will cherish every moment we will be having and I will love you until the day the world ends. I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." I finished my vows by kissing the back of her hand.
*****
I don't know what to say. I have my vows with me pero parang sa mga sinabi ni Elmo, parang pakiramdaman ko, I won't be able to speak properly. Baka puro hikbi na lang ako. I looked him in the eye and took a deep breath before I unfolded the paper where my vows are written.
