Fate

"Mika, relax. We're here to do all the preparations. You don't have to worry about anything. All you need to do is to look beautiful on your wedding day. And besides, you're already beautiful. So don't stress yourself, okay?"

"But Ma, I'm just nervous. I need to make sure that everything's going to be perfect. The church, the reception, lahat lahat na."

"Are you nervous with the wedding itself? Or kinakabahan ka sa sarili mo?"

"Ma naman. I told you, I'm sure with this."

"Yun naman pala eh. So just leave it to us. My future in-laws are also doing everything to make your wedding a beautiful one. So dress up na, mamaya lang susunduin ka na ng babe mo.

"Babe, where are we going?", I asked him.

"Uhm, Cainta?"

"House mo?"

"Basta. It's a surprise."

"Two weeks before our wedding, and still, you won't stop surprising me."

"Of course. I won't stop babe. Anything to make you happy."

"Awww. I love you."

"Thank God you do. I love you more."

After 30 minutes, I found myself standing at this beautiful garden and in front of me is a big house. What a beautiful house.

"Oh my god, don't tell me?"

"Yup. Two weeks from now, we'll both sleep and wake up seeing this view. This is our house baby."

I hugged him real tight as I shed tears expressing my happiness.

"Gosh babe. This is beautiful. Thank you", I said and kissed him.

"I'm glad you liked it."

"Of course. But this is too big for us."

"Well, that's my purpose. Para mapilitan tayong palakihin agad yung family natin."

"Haaay naku. Sabi ko na nga ba eh."

"Ikaw, nasa sayo yan kung gusto mo ng subukan ngayon din. Fully furnished na kaya yan. Balita ko ang ganda ng bed sa master's bedroom."

"Sus. Two weeks baby. Hintay ka lang po."

"Fine. Tara? You want to see what's inside na?"

"Yup. I'm excited."

We went inside and I couldn't be more surprised. The interior was everything that I imagined it to be.

"Thanks babe. I'll see you tomorrow?", I said upon reaching our house.

"Yep. 8 in the morning babe. We have a very hectic schedule tomorrow."

"Yah. I never thought that having a wedding would be this hard."

"Ayyy, nahihirapan ka? Baka magbago pa isip mo ah."

"Sus. Nagpapacute. Never babe. Never."

"Good. It's going to be worth it. I promise."

Kiefer

"Kief, malapit na. Two weeks na lang. Are you ready?"

"Yes Ma. I am."

"Good. You need to start packing your things na. Your clothes and especially your shoes. Ang dami nun. And whatever it is that you want leave here, we'll take care of it."

"Thanks Ma. You're the best."

"Ang baby ko, aalis na dito. I'll miss you", Mom said while giving me a warm embrace.

"Don't worry Ma. You have Thirdy, Thea and Dani pa in this house. And of course your apo. Si Papa pa. You won't miss me that much."

"Kahit na. Kulang pa din."

"I knew it, I'm your favorite."

Mika

Two nights before our wedding and I almost forgot that I need to prepare something. And so I spent the whole night thinking. But I realized, I need not think. Everything that I should say must come from the heart. And so I started to write, and I couldn't help but cry and smile at the same time.

Kiefer

I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper, and I started to write everything that my heart desires to tell her. Two more nights, and our lives will be changed forever.

Mika

This is it. It's our wedding day. I've never been this nervous. I could take a glimpse of the people inside the church from the car. And when I was asked to finally come out, it's as if everything around me just stopped from moving. I started to walk down the aisle and everyone's eyes were just glued at me. I could see my future husband from afar, smiling, holding back his tears. My family, relatives, friends and teammates, I could see the happiness from their eyes.

And when my Dad was about to offer my hand to him, we both shed a tear. Finally, I'm one step closer to having my forever. I couldn't wait to say those two words, and to hear it from him as well.

"You're perfect", he whispered.

Kiefer

Standing right outside the church, I opened Mika's letter.

Dearest Kiefer,

While you are reading this, I might be putting on my gown already, or walking down the aisle, or simply saying "I do" to the man I chose to marry. Please know, that today, isn't just my special day, it is yours as well. Today, we will choose to be happy. Today, we will burry all the hatred. Today, we will finally see where our destiny took us. And today, we will realize that we can be genuinely happy for each other even if we didn't end up together. Whatever happened in the past, is part of the past. It was you who would always tell me before to never look back. And I will bring that reminder with me wherever I go. But know, that not looking back doesn't mean forgetting everything. I will never forget you Kiefer. You will always have a special space in my heart. Fate introduced you to me. And fate brought me here, but fate had to bring you somewhere else. And wherever it takes you, please, please, be happy.

Love,
Mika

"I do."

And when I heard those two words from Mika, I immediately left and went inside the car.

"Kief, okay na?"

"Yes Ma", I said, and for the first time in forever, I let myself cry that hard as my Mom comforts me with her warm embrace.

"Manong, airport na po tayo."

Mika

It's our first night together as husband and wife. But I have to do one more thing, I have to read Kiefer's letter. But as I was about to open it, I held back. I changed my mind. I no longer want to know his thoughts. I'm married now. This is my fate. And my fate decided that love isn't enough for me and Kiefer to give it one more try. Hindi na kakayanin ng puso ko.

THE END
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Hi guys!

Thank you for all the time that you've spent reading my story. I've read all your comments, and it touches my heart to know that you're making Fate as part of your daily lives. But sad to say that this already the end of the story. And sorry if I had to end it this way. I really can't make a happy ending after all the drama. Parang hindi kaya. Thank you all. So much love. Until then.

Let me finally end this by sharing this by sharing this quote:

Sometimes the best and worst times of your life can coincide. It is a talent of the soul to discover the joy in pain--thinking of moments you long for, and knowing you'll never have them again. The beautiful ghosts of our past haunt us, and yet we still can't decide if the pain they caused us out weighs the tender moments when they touched our soul. This is the irony of love.
---Shannon L. Alder

Mandy