Alexander Kiel
Within seven months, the wedding happened.
We exchanged our vows in Cebu, where we found one of the most enchanting waterfalls in the Philippines. We flew all our close friends and family to celebrate with us, wearing either pink or royal green suits and dresses that matched the whimsical theme.
Six huge faux trees towered us; three on each side, making a huge arch each leg, where the end meets at the shining pendant chandelier made out of golden branches and crystal teardrop-shaped lights. Each trunk was decorated with fresh hydrangeas, peonies, and tulips, and had their extended stems wrapped with vines and lights falling in the air at its end.
More flowers spun from wooden chairs to the tables and their candle landscape centerpieces, with moss serving as table runners. The sound of water splashing together with the trickling flute and piano notes summed up the mystical feeling the whole place exhumed.
Alice walked at sunset; where the light flashed at the place like a magical forest had been found by the sun. A mirrored aisle that reflected the waterfalls behind us with her off-shoulder ball gown dress. Her long black hair draped with flowers and veil, with flushed cheeks and tears rolling down her face. It was happy tears, nakita ko. Nakangiti siya.
Totoo pala na kapag naghintay ka at nakita mo na ang bride mo sa aisle, all the memories that you both made will flash in front of you, which made my chest swell and my eyes teary too. Alam kong marami kaming pinagdaanan but I didn't realize how much we've gone through together. How much we've grown from those two immature teenagers a decade ago who knew nothing but to bicker with each other.
I could say that life happened but the whole wedding was just like her; a dream. And right now, a dream come true. Alice was my miracle. All of these started because of her. I would not have all of this if I didn't dare me to come out of that hell. I would probably have died under the sewage a long time ago if it wasn't for her.
Curiosity ni Alice ang nagtulak sa'kin para hanapin ang pamilya ko. Curiosity before it turned into hope and got me to where I am now. Maybe in an alternate universe, I'm that elite boy who only knows how to study well. Kung ganoon ang nangyari, siguro hindi ko ma-appreciate ng todo ang mga bagay na meron ako. I wouldn't know the real value of family or having that one person who believes in everything that you do. Power of curiosity, especially ng pag-asa. Siguro 'yon ang pinagkaiba ko sa mga bata na nanggaling sa ORG. Some say love got me out of the ORG but I beg to differ. It is curiosity and hope that drove me to find the way out of there.
Hope is a dangerous thing to feel. It led me to have courage, to have the life I have now. Meron na kong pamilya na hindi ako iiwan. I only wish to know them but courage made me become a part of a loving family. And now, I'm creating my own.
Stress now has a new meaning in my life, but so does love. With the addition of Ada, Leon, and Dea into our life, wala ako sa posisyon para magreklamo kahit gaano kaingay ang bahay at tatlong taon na kaming walang tulog ni Alice. Nakakapagod, pero walang kapalit ang saya na dinadala ng mga bata sa buhay namin.
I found a new kind of love for my kids; the kind joy that I never felt before. An elevated gratitude and a different perspective of beauty for my wife. I never knew I'd love her more than I did before.
With each passing year, Alice carried the monumental stages of our lives on her skin. Every wrinkle on the side of her eyes. Every white hair she desperately covered. Every stretch marks on her belly from giving birth, with the incision from the third delivery. I witnessed every one of them formed, seeing how hard it must've been for her to drastically change with every milestone of our lives.
There were times she'd cry on how she missed her old self. I'd listen to everything; how huge she's gotten, looking ugly from the scars, or how painful it was to just sit or stand for too long. Her hair would start to fall out every after pregnancy. Those times she'd prefer to stay home so I'd arrange someone every now and then if she allowed me to. I even hired a nutritionist and personal trainer for her but she didn't escape the postpartum depression.
"This is our lives on your skin." I used to remind her. "Kung kaya ko lang kunin lahat nang 'yan para maging maayos ka—"
"You have enough on your own. I'll be fine. I just need you here." And I'd hug her all night.
We weren't always happy, but we always got each other.
From my point of view here in our house in Tagaytay, for one, is a mess. Children's toys were everywhere. The sink is still loaded. The pot was still boiling. The kids were fighting tooth and nail on who was going to use the swing in our backyard. My wife explained to them how to take turns while I was stationed at the kitchen. If you'd ask if I'd have this life when I was 19, I'd laugh at your face on how ridiculous that sounds.
Who would've thought stepping into her universe would make me find the kind of heaven I never knew I wanted?
-Fin-
A/N: First time nasa dulo ang author's note! Hahahaha!
Makakapagpahinga na si Vincent at Alice. Hahahahaha!
Maraming salamat sa mga naghintay na matapos tong nobelang 'to. This is a work in slow progress(HAHAHA!) pero nairaos din. Itutuloy ko yung mga naiwang nobela. At meron akong mga bagong konsepto, gusto ko lang matapos bago ko isulat. hehe
Psycho thriller? Mga ganun.
The bigger one (and the most time-consuming) was the Fantasy world building. Na-enjoy ko naman gawin, takaw oras lang. hahaha
'Till the next novel? Series? ;)
