Shelburne Springs

Chapter 3

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It was bright sunny day when the clock strikes twelve hours ago, and now the sun was gentle, bahagyang natatakpan ng mga ulap. Tamang-tama lang ang init at panaka-naka lamang ang simoy ng hangin mula sa dagat. Tila ba nakiayon ang panahon sa nagaganap na kasal ngayon. And it was her mother's marriage.

Them, the children, have not witnesses their biological parents married to each other. And there were only few of them who would witnessed it again.

May ibang kinakasal ulit ang mga magulang, to celebrate silver wedding, even gold wedding. But it wasn't the case now. Annulled na ang Papa niya at ang kanyang ina. This wedding was different from the wedding her had before with her father. Nasa mga pictures iyon. Extravagant. Luxurious. In an old church. Lahat yata ng pamilyang Zhang at Chu ay nandoon. It was almost an arrange marriage from two families with Chinese blood.

This time, it was a simple one. A beach wedding. May arch sa gitna kung saan iba't ibang klase ng summer flowers. They meet during the summer, days pa lang na nasa Shelburne Springs sila. That explains the flowers.

White at mint green ang motif ng kasal. She was wearing a mint green dress, katabi si Cricket na siyang best man at siya naman ang maid of honor. Matapos niyang maglakad sa aisle ay sinamahan na niya si Cricket, few meters away from the arch.

One step closer

Even though, pinapatay na siya ng nerves niya sa pagkanta ngayon ay tila ba naglaho na lamang iyon nang makita niya ang mama Celine niya. She was so beautiful in her wedding dress, at mas lalo itong gumanda nang maaninag niya ang genuine happiness doon. She was reflected by the orange rays of the sun. Nakakalat ang kulay kahel sa kalangitan na hinaluan ng lila at pink sa may cliffside. Parang nangati ang mga kamay niyang kunan iyon ng mga litrato hanggang sa napansin niya ang babaeng wedding photographer roon na kakilala ng Tito Howard niya at pamilyar sa Mama Celine niya.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa microphone. Mula sa pheripheral vision niya ay inangat na ni Cricket ang microphone niya para sabayan siya sa pag-duet.

I have died everyday

Waiting for you

Darling don't be afraid

I have love you

For a thousand years

Nang dumako ang mga mata ni mama Ceoine sa kanya ay napangiti siya. Masaya siya para sa kanyang ina at sa wakas, may taong paglalaanan nito ng totoong pagmamahal at halaga na bigong naibigay ng kanyang ama. She slowly walked on the aisle, taking her time and when she saw her eyes descended on Tito Howard, she knew, it's worth it.

She felt giddy when the notes and the melody of the instruments changed, namangha siya sa transition. It's an understatement that Aftermath Twilight is a low-key band in Shelburne Springs. Sa kabila ng panginginig ng mga kamay niya. She had to let her eyes open, not closing it. If not, the triggers would haunt her.

Bahagya ko lamang tinapunan ang mga nagpatugtog. They're in their bohemian outfits and one of them, tapping the drums, winked at her. He's Nixon John, the drummer of the band.

Na na na na na na

Na na na na na na

When I'm with you

I'll make every second count

Cause I miss you

Walang pagsidlan ang kaligayahan niya nang ianunsiyo ng pare na husband and wife na ang mga magulang nila ni Cricket. It was as if they're waiting for this moment, their version of forever. And every second chances with genuine heart was worth to chase for.