MONTE COSTA SERIES #4: Estuary Of Love [BL]

Kabanata 45

Kabanata 45

"WHOSE last name are we gonna take?" nakakunot ang noong tanong ni Ivler kay Linus habang hawak ang forms na kailangan nilang pirmahan.

Linus put the pen down and smiled. "We're equal, love, and we're the firsts from both Shault and Beckham families to engage in a same-sex marriage. Why don't we just come up with our own surname Phiam can also carry?"

Napakunot siya ng noo. "Is that even legal?"

"Of course. Kind of hassle but it's totally legal." Linus moistened his lower lip. "How about Estuaire? That's French for Estuary. We're like that anyway so..."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Ivler. "You've really thought this through, huh? Plinano mo ba 'to?"

Kitang-kita niya ang pagpigil nito ng ngisi. "Medyo," Linus chuckled before entwining their fingers and kissing the back of his palm. "So what do you say, hmm? Should we use it?"

"Well it sounds good so yeah. Let's use that but you gotta take care of all the legal processes. I don't have enough patience for stuff like that."

Tumango ito. "Just marry me and I'll take care of everything. I mean, Attorney Lindstrom will."

Bumalik sila sa pagsagot sa form ngunit nang maunang natapos si Linus, nagsimula na naman itong mangulit. He'd snake his arm around his waist then rest his chin on his shoulder. Minsan ay hahalik pa sa pisngi o kaya ay kakagat sa kanyang balikat.

Hahayaan na sana niya ito ngunit minsan ay hindi niya na alam kung pinagtitripan ba siya o pinanggigigilan. Sinamaan niya tuloy ito ng tingin nang kunin ang isang kamay niya saka marahang kinagat ang balat sa kanyang daliri.

"What? You wanna devour me now? Keep your hands to yourself a bit, will you? Paano tayo matatapos nito, Shault?"

Linus chuckled softly. "Sorry, I can't help it. I want this to be over as soon as possible so I can show Mason our marriage certificate."

Napahilamos siya ng palad sa mukha. "Mason's a good friend. Sinasabi ko na nga ba hindi ako namamalikmata."

"Love, we used to be enemies." Linus smirked. "Hindi pwedeng makampante."

"Good thing you know, Shault."

Ivler finished filling out the forms. Nang matapos sila ay nag-proceed na sila sa hall kung saan gaganapin ang seremonya. Walang ibang tao kun'di si Alvern, Sandro, ilang myembro ng Azkals, at Phiam dahil minamadali ni Linus ang kasal at babawi na lamang daw sila sa kanilang mga pamilya at kaibigan kapag nagpakasal na ulit.

Their wedding ceremony isn't the typical one. Walang naghintay na isa sa kanila sa dulo ng aisle. They chose to be equal and walk down the aisle together while holding each other's hand as a symbol that none of them is above the other, and their marriage marks their union as both the foundation of their family.

Isang malamyos at romantikong awitin ang tumutugtog habang naglalakad sila, at sa bawat hakbang na sabay nilang ginagawa, hindi mapigilan ni Ivler ang maging emosyonal.

It still feels surreal even when the ceremony has already started. Tila sa isip niya ay nananaginip lamang siya at oras na magising, nasa piling pa rin ni Micah ang taong mahal niya.

The moment they got to the altar, the presiding official of the church greeted them with a genuine smile. Sinimulan nito ang seremonya sa isang tipikal na paraan, at nang tuluyan nilang narating ang palitan ng mga pangako sa isa't isa, doon lamang napansin ni Ivler na kanina pa nagpipigil ng luha si Linus.

He sniffed and let Linus gently squeeze his hands. Nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata ay payak itong natawa nang mahina dahil tuluyan na ngang bumagsak ang pinipigil na luha.

"Gosh, this is real..." Linus uttered with a raspy voice. "Ivler, I know I'm still halfway from remembering our memories we shared, but from this day forward, I promise you that I'll spend each second of my life gaining those back while creating new ones with you. We've gone through so much trials just to get to this point where I can finally tell God that I will never regret choosing you to be the person I'll share my life with. Thank you for taking the risk with me even when the whole world seems to be going against our love. You've fought enough for what we have and I am so grateful that I've loved someone who will not let go of me easily when the tides are rough. You're not the sail nor the anchor in my boat, love. You are the sea I'll keep reaching despite our differences, and with your love, I'm always willing to drown myself into..."

Ivler sniffed and swallowed the lump in his throat. "God, I didn't realize you're so good at this. Did you do your research?"

Nagtawanan ang mga kasama nila sa loob na hindi na rin napigilang maging emosyonal lalo na si Sandro na naging tulay noon kung bakit muling nagtagpo ang mga landas nila sa Monte Costa. Nang tingalain ito ng anak nilang si Phiam, kumunot pa ang noo ng bata saka nagsalita.

"Niiinggit ka, tito?" Tinuro nito si Alvern. "Ikasal mo rin si tito Alvern para hindi ka na niiinggit."

"Hell no," mariing sagot ni Sandro na kinatawa nila.

When the room went back to being serious, Ivler took in some air before he spoke the words that came from his heart.

"It's all worth it, Shault..." His lower lip trembled as he drew in a sharp breath while his tears are falling. "All the sleepless nights, the pain, the rough times, it's all worth it because I've gone through all of it for you... at kahit ibalik ako sa simula, susundan at susundan pa rin kita sa men's room para makipagbugbugan, magpapalunod pa rin ako sa Monte Costa, at bibitiwan ko pa rin ang pagiging tunay na lalake para sayo. The world may not understand this but the love I have for you is the purest feeling I've ever felt in my entire life. It made me cross boundaries I never thought I'd climb. It made me swallow the pride I once thought was too big. And most especially, it made me dream of a life I never imagined I'll ever want for myself. You are... worth hurting for, worth trying for, worth breaking for... because your love is the only thing I know I'd crave until my very last moment on Earth. My body may go weak, my eyes may blurry with tears, my heart may get torn into pieces, but I will always be sure of one thing. My soul is already tied to yours, Shault. You own me wholly and I will never be ashamed to tell that to the whole world..."

They both smiled at each other while crying, and when the pastor finally told them to seal their love with a kiss, Ivler and Linus held each other's faces to kiss.

"I know proclaim you, Mr. and Mr. Ivler and Linus Estuaire..."

It was tender yet full of love, the love that they know will not fade easily through time and eternity.

Nang maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi ay sabay silang ngumiti sa isa't isa.

"I love you, Mr. Estuaire. You're stuck with me now," Linus uttered.

Ivler's smile widened when he remembered Linus saying those words before.

"I love you, Mr. Estuaire. You're stuck with me, too love..."

They leaned to kiss each other again, but in the midst of kissing each other and enjoying their moment, the doors swung open and Macey went in with a bunch of sports reporters trying to take their photographs...