destiny decried

until this life is through (happy ending)

Lea

"Reese, you ready?"

"Lea, I think I've been ready since time immemorial." Reese chuckles, and I do, too.

I think they have been ready since time immemorial, too. To have been such a witness to how their love story has unfolded, I could say they were lovers in their past lives too.

I remember when Leon was my best woman and how she never once asked if I was sure I wanted to marry Reign, not once did I ever feel that she was questioning my choices, and it bothered me because that's how our friendship worked.

We asked each other if we were sure of the silliness and the consequences of our actions, but anything good that I'll be doing concerning Reign was nothing to be worried about in terms of Leon the Worrier. And that worried me, a bit because I might have lost my friend in the process of falling in love and I had to consult Leon about the truth.

"Leo?"

I could see her laughing before she could respond. I gave her a side-eye.

"Ito naman. Natawa lang ako kasi Leo tawag mo sa akin, and you prefer being called Lea... It's funny, Ale!" I rolled my eyes.

"Gago! But seriously, I have a question."

"Ok. Shoot!"

"You were always questioning my choices like the spectator that you are which I appreciate, that's why we're friends, but it just bothers me how you never questioned my decisions with Reign. Like... Why?"

I catch her smile wide. Probably the widest of smiles Leon rarely exudes.

"Because having Regine in your life was never a bad decision..."

"At all? Like you didn't have reservations with her and me?" At this point, it's sounding as if I was the one who was having second thoughts about me and Reign, but as fickle-minded, as it may seem, it's just my line of questioning.

"Lea, I have never seen you laugh the way you do with Reg. The way you would shamelessly roll on the floor laughing because of her humour. You used to give me a side-eye whenever that happens to me and Reese's jokes. Reg changed you, for good."

The Wicked reference is quite comical to me, but it was how she described how I am a different person when it comes to Reign that struck me.

They say trauma shapes you, but I truly think that that's a big fat lie. It's love that makes your entire being become the most monumental you could ever be moulded into.

And seeing how Reese glowed just minutes away from becoming Mrs Navarro-Sto. Tomas, I now see what Leon told me — Reese marrying Leon is the best decision Leo could ever make. Has ever made. Will ever make.

I, along with Reese's bridesmaids, held her gown's trail to send her off to her one true love.

At the edge of the pathway, you could see Leon, the happiest she's ever looked, beams as she gets a glimpse of Reese. The woman who once never shed a tear has tears brimming in her eyes as she waits for the love of her life to come.

"Love you, Reese. My eyes will be sweating in the coming hours, we will not be discussing why. Go, bride."

Regine

"Madam, ready ka na?" I teased. I know naman na ready na si Leon ever since. Parang kulang nalang pakasalan niya na agad si Reese nung nagkakilala sila eh, but she was patient.

She was patient when she knew she was already in love with Reese but Reese was mending her broken heart from a guy who made her the other woman. Leon didn't meddle, she was at the sidelines wishing Reese well, but she left it to me to coax Reese which made me wonder why?