Cue of secrets

Chapter 33

"Was choosing a gown this hard?" Elle whispered.

We're now looking for tuxedo and gowns even if Elle didn't want to yet. We're supposed to get married after having our baby but our parents just couldn't wait so we decided to have it next week.

"This one, Elle, ayaw mo?" Jia suggested.

"I'm really not into slip-dresses."

"What do you really prefer?" Sinta asked.

They're asking her about her preferences cause we're literally here in the boutique for an hour and yet, she haven't chosen a gown yet.

"I don't know about my preferences."

"Column?"

"Not my style."

"Why not that one, Elle?" I asked, pointing on the gown I've been staring for so long.

It would be perfect if she wore that. I bet she'll look like a princess in that dress, but I'm a king so let's consider her a queen. What am I even saying? I'm not fond of kings and queens. Ni-hindi nga ako nanood ng cartoons kahit kelan.

I can already imagine her walking down the aisle in that dress while I lock my eyes at her's, exchange our I do's and call her Raelle Elysia Monverde-Lee for the first time.

"Ball gowns are not my type."

"Ah, I know," Sinta shouted. "Just try on gowns?"

"I guess." She shrugged and stood up.

"I'll look for gowns you can try on, Elle." Her designer said. I feel like she's not that interested with looking for gowns. Feeling ko nga, she's not into big weddings pa.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"This one is nice," the designer commented. "It's a mermaid-off shoulder gown."

"I'm not sure if I'm comfortable wearing this type of gown." Iling niya.

"It's okay. We have more that you can check. Let's go with this sheath gown, shall we?"

"It's too thin for my liking." Tanggi niya muli.

I can feel her loss of interest. She's not excited. It's not a bad thing, right? Disappointed lang ako kasi halos sa lahat ng babae na nakita ko, excited na excited sa mga gown nila. Si Raelle lang 'yung nakita ko na walang interes sa paghahanap ng gowns.

"Let's do this another day." I stood up.

"No, let's finish this now." Raelle answered.

"Elle, if you're not that interested, let's go back here kapag interesado ka na. Okay? I'm not forcing y-"

"That dress," she pointed on the dress that I first suggested her to wear. The one I've been staring on for so long. "I'll try that on."

"Okay. This one is the finest gown we have. This is a white off-shoulder ball gown, with diamonds, flowers and jewels on the hem. The sleeve is made of cotton, collided together to make it look like a loose flower."

"This one is my gown." She eagerly said. "I'm sure."

"Thank you." I whispered.

Akala ko, hindi na kami matatapos ngayong araw nang hindi nag-aaway.

"We're okay?" She asked me.

"Very."

A few weeks had passed and I barely slept every night. I just kept on thinking what I would do on our wedding. Will I slack off? Madadapa kaya ako sa aisle? Will Elle cry if she sees me waiting in front of the church? How will our wedding night be? I have so many questions in my mind but one thing's for sure. I can't wait to spend a lifetime with her.

"Our groom, Alistair John Lee." Our emcee, Jade said.

Sunod-sunod pang pumasok ang entourage. Shaniah, her younger sister as her maid of honor, sinundan nila Erin, Sinta at Jia bilang mga bridesmaid.

"And now, let's stand up to welcome our bride, Raelle Elysia Monverde." He announced.

Raelle walked gracefully in the aisle wearing the wedding dress that I chose for her. Her eyes are full of tears and her hands are shaking. I can tell that she's nervous and happy at the same time.

"Let's hear the vows, repeat after me." The priest said. "I, say your name, take thee, her name, to be my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"I, Alistair John Lee take thee, Raelle Elysia Monverde, to be my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith." I answered while staring at her eyes. The thing I love the most about her. I slipped the ring in her finger that made the guests clap.

"Same goes to you, Raelle."

"I, Raelle Elysia Monverde, take thee, Alistair John Lee, to be my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"And I pronounce to you, Mr and Mrs. Alistair John Monverde. You may now kiss the-" I didn't wait for the priest to finish his words. I held Elle's face and kissed her. I waited for this moment. Napaka-tagal kong inasam at pinangarap 'to and now, it's all coming true. I have Elle by my side forever now and nothing can stop us.

Not even stormy seas, not even cold weathers, or not even her mood swings. Lahat 'yon kaya kong tiisin. Her late night cravings, her weird taste buds, kaya ko 'yon. I waited for almost a lifetime, paano pa kaya 'yung ilang buwan? Ilang buwan nalang and we're finally having a family of our own.

"Wife," I called her. "Oh fuck."

"Alistair, words." Saway niya.

"I just can't believe that I can finally call you my wife now."

"So akala mo madali din saakin? Hey, I'm used to call you sir Alistair and now, I'm calling you with a sweet endearment."

"Mood swings." I scoffed. "It's okay. I have a lifetime to cope up with your mood swings."

"Alistair, pag-uwi, bilhan mo ako ng rainbow na chicken."

"Yes po, wife." I nodded and called Ace. Papahirapan ko din siya. Nahirapan ako e. Fair lang dapat.

I'll get the chance to spend a lifetime loving Raelle Elysia Monverde - Lee.