EPILOGUE
Six months later
ANG KASAL nina Marti at Dash ay ginanap kasabay ng pasinaya ng bagong tayong three-bedroom house on the hill.
Nagawang kumuha ng emergency leave mula sa ospital na pinagtatrabahuan si Mia upang daluhan ang kasal ng kaibigan at gumanap bilang maiden of honor.
It was a simple wedding though flowers were abundant. Ang buong pamilya lamang ng magkabilang panig ang naroroon at si Nanang Dalen. Si Joshua ang tumayo bilang best man at si Gertrude ang flower girl.
Ang awitan ng mga ibon, langitngit ng mga dahon, palapa ng niyog sanhi ng mabining hangin at ang banayad na hampas ng alon sa dagat ang tila nagsilbing musika ng mga ikinakasal.
Magkatabing pinanonood nina Donya Gertrudes at Martin ang dalawa.
"Marti, do you take this man as your loving husband and vow to love him for as long as you live?"
"I do," she whispered, and then gazed at him. "I will be your wife, Dash. Your lover, your friend, and the mother of your children. And I want to spend my graying days with you..." She smiled at him lovingly. Then she added softly. "And if endless time is possible, I will still love you through."
Tumikhim ang marriage celebrant and smiled with pleasure at the unexpected vow.
"Dashiel, do you take this woman to be your lawful and wedded wife and vow to love her for as long as you live?"
Dash held her gaze for a long moment bago siya sumagot. "I do. You're my own true love, Marti. This body is an empty shell without you. You're my world, you are my life, and my day. At kung loloobin, mananatili kitang mamahalin hanggang sa panahong walang takda."
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride, Dashiel."
Humarap siya sa asawa at hinawi ang veil na nakatakip sa kalahati ng mukha nito. His hand went up to cup her face and softly touched his lips to hers.
"Daddy, Mommy!"
Atubiling pinakawalan ni Dash ang mga labi ni Marti. Magkasabay na nilingon ng dalawa ang munting tinig. Yumuko siya at kinarga ang anak. Then his free arm went around Marti's shoulder, holding both the two most important women in his life.
"Tell me you love me, too, Daddy, till... till—" nilingon nito ang ina "—what is it suppose to be, Mommy?"
Nagkatawanan ang dalawa.
•••WAKAS•••
