Pay The Price

Kabanata 68

I smiled sweetly at my wife who got out of our car. We just got married last month. And in that month, we've been busy preparing for our beach wedding. I want it to be grand. I want it to be magical. I want it to be the wedding that Bella wants.

"Tri, h'wag na kaya? I mean, kasal naman na tayo." My wife pouted at me as she said those words. I chuckle and kiss her forehead.

"But that's your dream we are talking about. I want you to experience everything you want." Malambing kong sabi sa asawa ko.

She's like in a film, looking all gorgeous as she looks at me. My heart beats fast when she curved her lips upward slowly. I feel like my world stops as I watch her looking all happy while talking with the owner of the boutique. In times like this, I will just smile at how lucky I am. What did I do in my past life to deserve her? Siguro ay iniligtas ko ang mundo noon kaya ganito kasaya ang pakiramdam ko ngayon.

"Stop looking at your phone, man." Inis na sabi ni Can na nakaupo sa tabi ko. I pursed my lips and look at him for a second but focused my eyes on the phone I am holding. The picture that I am looking at is the picture of my wife a while ago. Bagong gising siya. Magulo pa ang buhok at nakanguso habang nakatingin sa camera. Even with that, she still looks very beautiful in my eyes. Akmang titingnan ng pinsan ko ang hawak na phone nang itago ko ito sa bulsa. Nope. That beauty is for my eyes only.

"Let's drink, dude." My friend, Gase, said. "Wait, so this can't be called a bachelor party, right? Because Tri is already married?" Takang tanong nito.

Napailing ako sa kapilyuhan nila at saka kinuha ang beer para manahimik na ang mga ito sa kakakuda. I drink with them for half an hour before I went out of the bar afterwards. Nakapamulsa akong naglakad sa dalampasigan. I don't want to call my wife because she's having fun with her friends too. I don't want to spoil her moment.

I look up to the sky. I smile as I remember how many times I caught Bella looking at it. I ask her often if she sees something in it that I can't see. She told me it's the stars that made her fall in love with the night sky. Before, I only see stars as a luminous celestial body. But that all changed because those stars are the same light that twinkle in my eyes whenever I see Bella. It's the same light that pulled me out of the darkness. It's the same light that aligned to guide the way for me. It's the same light in her eyes. The light in the starry eyes that sparkles my dark life.

"Dimitri?" Nilingon ko ang pinagmulan ng boses at nakita na si Papa iyon. Ang tatay ni Bella. I called him Papa because he wants to and because he is my family now too. "Ang aga mo yata na umayaw sa inuman niyo?"

I shake my head and smile lightly at him. "I'm not in the mood, 'Pa."

"Gusto mo na sigurong makita si Bella, 'no?" I smirked and nod at him. Umupo siya sa buhangin kaya sinundan ko ang ginawa niya.

"We can't see each other tonight, though. Ayaw nila Lola."

"Ganoon talaga 'yon. Matanda kasi kaya madaming alam na pamahiin."

Silence crept between the two of us. I gazed at the ocean in front. The waves crashed and danced along the shore, moving up and down in a graceful manner as if they are dancing in a romantic beat.

"Alam ko na paulit- ulit ko nang sinasabi ito pero, Dimitri, maraming salamat. Maraming salamat sa pagmamahal sa anak ko. Maraming salamat dahil patuloy mo siyang minamahal." Mahina niyang sabi.

"You don't need to thank me, Papa. I will love your daughter will all of my heart until my very last day here on Earth."

I anxiously sigh as I fix the cuff links in my white suit. My heart is beating so fast right now that I could feel my legs getting jelly. I felt a tap on my shoulder. Nilingon ko ito at nakita ang nakangising si Cameron.

"Huwag kang mag- alala, Tri, hindi ka tatakbuhan ni Bella." I rolled my eyes off him. Imbes na pagaanin ang loob ko ay lalo pa akong pinakaba.

Fear crept in my system. What if she changes her mind and actually ran away from me? Fuck. I can feel like my chest is tightening up. I don't know what I will do if that happens. I will maybe drown myself in sorrow.

"The bride is here!" Sigaw ng wedding coordinator.

I felt thousands of strings inside me get untangled when I hear those words. Can nudge my elbows, signaling that he's right. "Told you, man. Look she's there!"

'Canon In D' by The Violin Sisters played in the background. My mouth went agape and I felt some warm feeling soothe my heart as I watched how my wife slowly walks down the aisle wearing her beautiful white dress. She lifts her face and our eyes met in an instant. I notice how a smile formed in both our lips at the same time. My gaze focused on her. The most gorgeous woman I have ever met. The only woman who makes my heart go crazy.

The warm breeze blew her hair. I held her hand after giving my respect to her parents. She smiled at me even though tears are streaming down her face. God, she's so beautiful. Hinding- hindi ako magsasawang pagmasdan ang mukha niya.

"I love you." I mouthed at her.

The ceremony starts after that. I bit my lip as I watch her held the mic. "I love you, Tri." Her soft voice filled my ear. "It was all unexpected. Unplanned. I didn't know how it happen. I didn't know when. Ang alam ko lang ay isang araw tumitibok na ang puso ko at para sa iyo 'yon. And it will always be yours. Words aren't enough to tell how much love I have for you but I will surely make you feel all of it in kisses, hugs, and years of adventure we are going to spend together. I will always be yours, Dimitri. Always."

I caress her face gently and took a deep breath before I held the mic. "When my parents died, I have never believed in love again. Ayaw ko na na umibig dahil ang sakit nito sa paningin ko. But it all change when you came. I tried to push my feelings for you. Ang akala ko ay mawawala rin iyon pero nagkamali ako. I fell for you so damn hard that I couldn't even get up. I was floating in cloud nine when we became together. I was torn to pieces when we broke up. But I was brought back to life when we get back on each other's arms. Thank you for the love you gave. For the warmth that I felt on cold rainy days. For making me feel like I was the luckiest man in the world. You have me always, baby. Always, in all ways."

I smiled at her after that.

"I, Dimitri Everett, take you, Arabella Renly, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life."

"I, Arabella Renly, take you, Dimitri Everett, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life."

"You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings. That God has joined, man must not separate. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Itinaas ko ang belo niya at hinapit siya papalapit sa akin. Her hand is on my chest while I kiss her. The crowd cheer after that. Our family is in tears as they watch the best moment in our life.

"I love you." Bulong ko sakanya.

"I love you too."

This woman bewitched my whole being and I am not complaining. My heart, body, and soul belongs to her and only her.

"Non temere, finché il mio cuore batterà il tuo nome sarà sempre il canto che urlerà." Bulong ko at saka muling siniil ng mapusok na halik ang labi niya.

Hello!

Super proud ako sa sarili ko at na- publish ko na ang book na ito. I love Dimitri and Bella so much and I hope that you enjoy reading their story as much as I love to write them.

You can check out my other stories if ever you have free time and wanted something to read. Hehe.

- L ♡