Finders, Keepers

fin

I can hear the loud beating of my heart as I watch Ghaliya walk down the aisle, making her way to me. She truly is the most gorgeous girl I've seen in my entire life. Especially now. Especially on this day.

The gentle breeze that makes her hair fly in the air further emphasizes how breathtaking she is. It was all perfect, just as she has always been to me. The crash of the waves, keeping rhythm with Creed's voice as he sings, gives me a unique feeling. A nostalgia.

I was trying not to cry, but I failed as a tear escaped from my eyes when the journal she gave me last night flashed through my mind. It contains all our memories from the entire twelve years of our relationship.

Thinking about all the words she put in that journal makes me want to close the distance between us immediately. We've been through so much. We've experienced everything we never knew we could. It was a tough battle between love, time, and the careers we pursued. But I'm so proud that we held on. We gave our best to fight for us and have now won the battle.

Nakita ko ang pagpunas niya sa luha niya, habang patuloy ang pagngiti. Gusto ko siyang lapitan, gusto kong punasan ang luha niya, gusto ko siyang yakapin. I don't want her crying. I don't want my baby crying.

"Dude, are you okay?" Rinig kong bulong ni Vance mula sa likuran ko nang punasan ko ang luhang muling tumakas sa mga mata ko.

I nodded at him, my gaze fixed on Ghaliya as she continued making her way towards me. I breathed deeply when I saw she was just a few steps away.

"I trust you," Tito Geo whispered, patting my shoulder and gesturing towards her daughter's hand.

"T-Thank you, Tito," I stammered, slowly reaching for it.

I was completely captivated seeing her up close now. I was mesmerized. Her hair was in a half-ponytail, with some strands softly framing her face. The wedding gown we both chose perfectly complemented her ivory skin. She looked like an angel sent from above to marry me today.

"You're so beautiful, baby," I whispered in her ear as we made our way to the altar.

I saw her cheeks turn red after hearing that. Oh, God, I want to kiss her already.

Nagsimula ang seremonya na panay ang lingon ko sa kaniya. The priest in front of us even joked about my sudden mannerism when he once caught me looking at my beautiful bride.

Seconds turned into hours until it's finally the time for us to say our vows. We're now facing each other and just waiting for the priest to let us start.

"You know, Calian... I-I never imagined that the guy I only had a conversation with online would make me fall so hard... S-So hard to the point that I can't even find a way to get up." The cracks in her voice showed how nervous she was right then.

I bit my lower lip, then held her hands, which made her lift her head to look at me. I wiped her tears with my thumb and whispered, "I love you." She then smiled, breathed in and out, before continuing.

"But that isn't imagination, because I am now sure that I truly fell so hard and deep. I am already trapped, and I'm not even thinking of finding a way out. I just want to sink into you. I just want to fall for you over and over again... Which I am." She smiled and tried to hold back her tears.

"You were always saying that you'd do anything to deserve me, when in reality, you already did. You were always saying that you would do everything just to be enough for me, when in fact, you already are more than enough." Tears started to fall down her cheeks, which triggered the tears I was holding back to come out too.

"Our start was unexpected, and that's what makes our love genuine. We've been through so much already, but here we are, in front of our loved ones. In front of our favorite place, in front of God, as we say our promises of forever..." She took another deep breath. "I never thought that the exchange of messages would turn into the exchange of vows." She wiped her tears again.

"Calian Titus, I promise to be a good wife to you─give you the love you deserve, and hold your hand until I lose all my strength. I love you, baby, and I can't imagine this life without you." She said those words, and my heart felt so full.

"I love you more, baby," I responded, helping her wipe away her tears.

"Now, it's my turn to make you cry more." Our laughs enveloped the whole place after I said that.

I held both of her hands before I started talking.

"When I first saw you during our first encounter, I honestly didn't think I'd like you. You looked so innocent, kind, and shy, which are all far from my type. But when you're truly struck, those 'types' won't matter anymore. You'll fall if you're meant to fall. Especially, if God destined you with her, and yes, God destined me to you. I fell for your innocence, kindness, and shyness. I love you just the way you are." I tried to stop myself from crying more, but I failed, especially as I could see her crying even more after I said those words.

I looked up to stop my tears from falling before continuing.

"We were both in the middle of a chaos of heartaches and pains, but we found comfort in each other. We were both part of each other's healing process. Baby, we are each other's sweet escape. Everything we've been through was proof of how much we tried to keep our love alive to be here now, and it was all worth it because I finally got the innocent, kind, and shy girl from the very first day. Baby, I finally got you. I'll finally be with you for the rest of my life and I can't thank God enough for that day, because I found someone who is worth keeping forever." I wiped her tears again with my thumb.

I stopped for a while to give time for myself to breathe.

"I can't wait to wake up every morning with you by my side. I can't wait to be greeted by your smile every time I wake up and to feel only your hug before I sleep. I am now ready to face new days, weeks, months, and years with you..."

I squeezed the hands I was holding.

"Ghaliya Teves Segovia, I promise to always take care of you, to always shower you with love, and to always make you feel worthy and enough. I will hug you until I lose my strength. I will only look at you until I lose my sight, and I will only love you until my heart stops beating."

The ceremony continued until we came to the last part. The time where we'd seal our vows with a kiss.

"You may now kiss the bride."

I made a step closer, closing the distance between us. I lifted her veil and was greeted by her angelic face. She smiled at me as I held her face with both hands, then slowly touched her lips with mine. I gave her feathery kisses, then deepened the kiss into a passionate one, before gently pulling myself away.

And while still holding her face, I said the words I'll say millions of times to her from now on.

"I love you so much, baby."