It's You, Always You

Cherished Moments and What-Ifs

"Tapos ka na ba? Baka mahuli tayo sa kasal" Anton waits for Lily in the kubo's doorway.

"Malapit na, isusuot ko lang 'tong sandals ko" Lily answered as she reached for her sandals.

"Siguro ka ba na 'yan ang susuotin mo? Kakagaling lang ng paa mo, baka matapilok ka nanaman."

"Ayos lang 'to, mababa naman yung takong nito eh. At isa pa, kelangan presentable ako noh. Ako pa naman ang maid of honor." She stood up and fixed her dress. "How do I look?" She asked Anton while looking at herself in the mirror.

"Beautiful, as always" he answered as he observed her carefully while she fixes his hair.

"Alright, enough of this. Tara na" she grabbed her clutch bag and went towards the doorway. Anton stepped outside to give way to Lily.

"Shall we?" Anton extended his elbow for her to cling on.

"Sandali" she fixed his crooked tie. "Hindi mo man lang ito inayos" she scolded. "Akin na suklay mo" he simply followed without complaining and grabbed his hair comb from the back of his pocket. She quickly combed his hair and examined his appearance carefully. "There you go, much better!"

"Madam, pinapatawag na po kayo. Malapit na raw magsimula ang kasal"

——

The sun cast a warm, golden glow over the outdoor wedding venue as Lily and Anton arrived, just about time for the sun to set. The wedding of Jasmin and Romar was a highly anticipated event in their small barangay, and the entire community had gathered to celebrate their love.

As they joined the rest of their team, Lily couldn't help but admire the stunning setup. White chairs were neatly arranged in rows on the lush green lawn, and an arch adorned with vibrant flowers served as the backdrop for the ceremony. The air was filled with the gentle scent of blossoms, and the sound of a romantic serenade played by the men of the town filled the surroundings.

Lily, dressed in a beautiful pastel dress that complemented the floral theme, looking so radiant. "Picture tayo", he pulls out his phone. "Oo nga, picture tayo! Tara team!" Lily called out. Anton just smiled knowing that he was pertaining to just the two of them. After the group photo, Anton was able to invite her for a photo for themselves. He looks at the photo and he couldn't deny the twinge of nostalgia that struck him as he looks at their photo.

A sudden tension grew within Anton, and it hung in the air like an unspoken question. Anton couldn't help but wonder what might have been if they had stayed together. What if they had overcome their differences and chosen to build a life together?

"Lily! Halika muna rito anak, may ipapakilala ako sa'yo" Mang Victor bellowed out and she followed. As Lily moved gracefully through the crowd, greeting old friends and familiar faces from the barangay, Anton tried to push those thoughts aside. He couldn't let his personal feelings overshadow the joyous occasion.

The ceremony began, and all eyes turned to the radiant bride, Jasmin, as she walked down the aisle. Her smile lit up the surroundings, and Romar's face beamed with love and pride as he watched his bride approach. Anton couldn't help but imagine Lily walking down the aisle as his soon-to-be wife.

During the vows, Anton couldn't help but steal glances at Lily, his mind wandering to what might have been. He imagined a life where they had never broken up, where they stood at the altar together, pledging their love to each other. The tension in his chest grew with each passing moment.

As the newlyweds sealed their vows with a kiss, the crowd erupted in applause, and the tension Anton was feeling temporarily lifted. They joined the couple and the guests in celebrating on the dance floor, their shared history blending with the joy of the moment.

As the night wore on, and the festivities continued, Anton and Lily found themselves alone for a moment, away from the bustling dance floor. The silence between them was heavy, and the unspoken question lingered. Anton's gaze was fixed on the dance floor where Jasmin and Romar danced together as husband and wife. They stood together in silence, watching the couple in their first dance as husband and wife, the bittersweet realization of their own choices and the beauty of the present moment washing over them.

"Palakpakan naman natin ang bagong kasal" a round of applause clammored from the crowd. Mang Victor and Aling Marites joined the couple in dancing, and many other couples from the barangay joined as well. "Ms. Lily! Sir Anton! Tara sayaw po kayo!" Jasmin hollered. Anton immediately checks on Lily if she were comfortable with it. Lily meets his gaze cheerfully and said "We shouldn't leave them hanging. Shall we?" she offered her hand. "We shall, my cherry", he kisses the back of her hand and twirls her around towards the dance floor.

After a few moments, the jovial music turned into a slow romantic one. Anton pulls Lily closer by holding her waist while she rests her hands on his shoulder. Silence grew between them. Anton waits for Lily to do her usual move which is to caress the back of his neck. She always does that when they do their slow dance together. But unsurprisingly, she doesn't.

Anton decided to finally break the silence, his voice soft and contemplative. "Cherry, do you ever wonder about what might have been? Tayo, if only things had turned out differently?". Lily's eyes met his, and she sighed, her gaze filled with a mix of longing and regret. "Sometimes, Anton, I do. But we made our choices, and we can't change the past." she responded. "But..." he sighed, thinking if it would be worth it to defend the answer that is lingering on his mind.

Then suddenly, the crowd went to a mute with the slow romantic music still lingering in the background. Everybody turned their heads to the unexpected marching men in white. Following them is a man with a tall stature, a well-built physique, and a confident demeanor as he walks while fixing his barong tagalog. The people of the barangay had their jaws drop as they saw the man's face.

"Ang presidente" 😱😱😱