𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙞𝙙

40. Wedding Day

I don’t know how many times my mom has come in to check if I’m okay.

This morning, I wasn’t feeling quite right. In just a few minutes, I’d be walking down the aisle.

My belly had grown so quickly. I didn’t look like I was just three months pregnant. We hadn’t even had a chance to go for a check-up yet, thanks to the busyness of wedding preparations.

Just then, my grandmother entered the room.

"Valerie, come on! The wedding is about to start."

She smiled at me, her eyes twinkling with love.

"You look so beautiful, my baby Belle."

Even though she was about to become a grandmother, I would always be her baby Belle.

"Thank you, Grandma," I replied, feeling warmth spread through my heart.

Once again, she urged my mother to come outside.

I was feeling nervous and excited all at once, the mix of emotions swirling inside me as I prepared for one of the biggest moments of my life.

🐬🐬🐬🐬

She walked down the aisle in a pure white gown, looking absolutely stunning with her little bump.

Her smile was so bright it could light up the entire world.

My father stood beside me and whispered in my ear, "My daughter is so beautiful."

Indeed, she was his daughter now—finally.

All eyes were on my bride, admiring her beauty.

I felt incredibly lucky to be marrying the woman who would be the mother of my children.

As she embraced her parents and her grandparents, I could see the love and pride in their eyes before she finally made her way to me.

I took her hand in mine as we stood before the priest.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate instituted of God. It is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined."

I glanced at Belle, and she looked back at me. We smiled at each other as I gently squeezed her hand.

"I might not be the first one to admit my feelings for you, but I will be the last one to come to your rescue in every trouble you face."

I watched her smile at my words, her eyes shining.

"I will be an honest and faithful husband to you. Thank you, Belle, for making the first move."

Laughter erupted from the crowd, and Belle joined in.

"I can't thank you enough for making me the luckiest man alive by marrying you. I pledge to honor you, love you, and cherish you as my wife today and every day. I love you with all my heart, and to our little Zayne or little Bella, I promise to give you and our children the best in the world."

She kissed me hard.

"Hindi pa tapos ang kasal, Bella," the priest chimed in, causing everyone to laugh.

Now it was her turn to say her vows.

"My dear Z, I am proud to be your wife and to join my life with yours. My love for you will never change, from my teenage heart until now. You are every dream I’ve ever had come true, and making the first move was the best thing I've ever done in my life."

Now it was my turn to laugh.

"I'm madly in love with you, wife, and I promise to support you, inspire you, and love you always for the rest of our lives. My life is forever entangled with yours from this day on. You are my one and only today and forever."

I kissed her deeply.

"Zayne, not yet. Masyadong nagmamadali ang mga batang ito," the priest joked, eliciting more laughter from the crowd.

The priest continued, "Now let us humbly invoke God's blessing upon this bride and groom, that in His kindness, He may favor with His help those on whom He has bestowed the Sacrament of Matrimony."

“In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss!”

I took her face in my hands and kissed her waiting lips.

"I love you, wife," I said softly.

"I love you, husband," she replied, her eyes sparkling with joy.