Kristine Series 46 - The Warrior: Brad Santa de Leones

Epilogue

IT WAS Trace and Jessica's garden wedding. Sa kagustuhan na rin ng lahat ay minabuting sa Texas iyon ganapin, sa malawak na hardin sa mansion ng mga Fortalejo. Iyon ay upang makadalo sina Aidan at Danielle, ganoon din sina Lenny at Dana.

It was a family affair. Gayunman, napakaraming tao dahil lahat ng kamag-anak ay dumalo. Walang kahit isa man sa mga Navarro ang hindi dumalo. Ang kaligayahan sa mukha nina Franco at Beatriz ay hindi mapapasubalian.

The press were not invited. Subalit nagkampo ang mga ito sa labas ng gate ng mansion, umaasang kahit isa man lang sa mga bisitang kamag-anak ay makuhanan ng interview.

Jessica was so lovely in her Monique Lhuiller wedding gown. The groom was equally handsome in his three-piece dark-pinstriped suit by Armani and couldn't take his eyes off his lovely bride.

The matron of honor was Nayumi who was a month infanticipating with their second child. At may palagay siyang mapupunit ano mang oras ang bibig ni Ivan sa kangingiti.

Cameron was the bridesmaid. Both her and Nayumi's gown were done by Victoria's Secret.

The best men were, of course, Ivan and Brad who was in his wheelchair. It had been five weeks since the accident. There was no spinal damage. But his vertebrae was cracked and a pressure on his spinal. But his cord was intact.

Sa tulong ng physical therapy ay muling manunumbalik ang katawan ni Brad sa dati. Katunayan ay nakakatayo at nakakalakad na ito pero iginiit ni Cameron na hindi dapat puwersahin ang likod nito. And she was so happy babying Brad.

Kahit pansamantala ay ikinagagalak niya ang pagbaliktad ng kalagayan nila. Ni sa panaginip ay hindi naisip ni Cameron na darating ang sandaling nakadepende sa kanya si Brad sa lahat ng bagay. He was both irritable and adorable at the same time. The macho man was totally enjoying his temporary disability.

"You're one lucky bastard, buddy," natatawang tukso ni Ivan.

"How come I don't feel particularly lucky?" naiiritang sagot nito.

"Sa ating tatlo ay ikaw lang ang nakakaranas ng pinapaliguan at hinihiluran sa Jacuzzi, ah. And with your exclusive geisha." Trace laughed. "Nahahalata na nga naming sinasamantala mo na ang pansamantalang pagkaparalisa para lang magpa-baby nang husto kay Cameron."

"At hindi bagay, huh!" It was Ivan again, laughing. "Ang laki mong tao!"

That had been two weeks ago, when the three men met for the rehearsals. Hindi miminsang nagpahayag ng pagtanggi si Brad na maging isa sa mga best men dahil naka-wheelchair pa ito. But Trace and Jessica wouldn't hear of it.

"A best man on a wheelchair is fashion, dahlin"," Cameron told him happily.

"Look at Brad," bulong ni Kurt, who acted the groom's father. "Sinabi niya noon sa akin na gustong bumaliktad ang sikmura niya tuwing nakikita niyang parang lovesick puppies sina Ivan at Trace. Why, he's doing the same thing. Ni hindi niya gustong ilayo sa iyo ang mga mata niya. At kada may ibang lalaking lalapit sa iyo ay tinatanong niya ako kung kamag-anak mo o hindi."

Isang matamis na ngiti ang isinagot niya kay Kurt at nilingon si Brad na kausap nina Zandro at Jennifer. She blew him a kiss.

It was a perfect wedding. Mababakas ang kasiyahan sa ngiti ng bawat isa. Tila walang masamang pangyayaring naganap sa nakalipas na mga buwan sa pamilya. Tila iyon isa na lamang uling masamang panaginip.

Nang ihagis ni Jessica ang bouquet niya ay nagtilian ang lahat. Subalit walang gaanong mga dalagang guest sa okasyon na iyon kaya walang nakiagaw. Yet the bouquet landed perfectly on Brad's lap.

A chorus of laughter floated the air. Dax, in his three-piece suit came running toward them. "Brad! Ikaw ang nakasalo!"

Muling pumailanlang ang tawanan.