The Summer I Met You (Under Revision)

XV

"Tita." Ngumiti ako ng makababa sa hagdan ang mama ni Alex. "G-good morning po."

She didn't smile or anything. She just approached the sofa infront of us and sat down. She was looking at me from head to toe.

"Hindi siya si Athesia." Tumingin sya kay Alex. "This girl is so much more than Athesia... She's perhaps like a Jade Vase, fragile yet elegant."

Finally she turned to me.

"Iha, ano ba ang pangalan mo?" She took a sip of her tea. "Buong pangalan."

"Estella Lorraine Yang po." Bigla niyang nahulog ang teacup na hawak niya.

"Yang..." She stared at me dead in the eyes. "Your Grandmother was once the greatest soprano. Tell me hija, ano ba ang trabaho mo?"

"C-corporate lawyer po." Napalunok ako bigla.

"And saan ka naman nagcollege?" She crossed her arms and sat up straight.

"H-harvard university po, legal management." My soul was already trying to leave my body.

"I see..." Bumaling ang tingin niya kay Alex. "You see son? Ganito ang mga babae na dapat pinapakasalan mo. She's successful, from a well-known family line, and she's really pretty. By the way she moves and her facial expressions, I can already approve of her. Unlike that girl, Athesia? Wala kang mararating kung hindi mo siya iniwan."

Iniwan? Ano ba talaga? Sino ba ang nang-iwan?

"Mom that's enough." Alex said. He seemed upset, bakit kaya? Is it because of Athesia getting insulted by his Mom?

"I'll be looking forward to seeing you often, Estella." She stood up and approached me. Lifting her hand. "It's a delight to meet you."

I shook it like a good daughter-in-law would do.

"The pleasure is all mine." I said casually.

***

"Your Mom scared the crap out of me." I glared at Alex who was driving. "Akala ko kakainin niya ako ng buhay!"

"It's a good thing na nagustohan ka ni Mom." He smiled while looking at the road. "She doesn't usually like the people introduce."

"Tsk, Athesia nga naman." Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko at umiwas ng tingin sakaniya.

"Let's not talk about that, gusto mo nabang tumingin ng wedding dress mo?" He changed the topic.

"K fine." I rolled my eyes.

We headed to BGC para sa appointment namin with the designer.

***

"Okay so instead of going all out with the puffs and stuffs, I want it na vintage siya but with simplicity pero andon parin yung pagka old money." I was the one doing the sketches. "Can we do that?"

"Certainly! Anything can be possible for the bride!" Ani ng designer. "And the groom? Anong nais ng groom?"

"Just for the my love to be happy." He chuckled. "Sa tuxedo I just want it to be black as much as possible or perhaps gray? And yung sa bow tie just be sure na soft pink shade ang gahamitin."

"I see... okay!" We stood up and shook hands with the designer before leaving.

***
It was already dark outside, we were at the livingroom having a quiet time. Alex was busy with his laptop while I was munching on the sandwich he made earlier.

"Mahal" I poked him with my toe. "I still don't have my wedding vows."

"We still have a few weeks, mahal." He was still looking at his screen. "Relax for a bit ako na bahala sa ibang dapat pang asikasuhin."

"How many guests should we invite?" I poked him again. "Perhaps pati lokal ng Silang iinvite ko?"

"Whatever makes my love happy." He smiled. " I'll invite din a few mula sa lokal ng Victoria."

"I'll invite Athesia rin." Agad siyang tumingin sa'kin. "What?"

"Please stop." He closed his laptop, removed his specs and messaged his nosebridge. "Let's not stress over these topics."

***
The following days were literally stressful. Sa dami ba naman ng mga pinagpupupuntahan naming appointments eh.

Our wedding day grew closer. Everynight I kept on praying na sana maging worth it lahat ng pagod namin ni Alex. I wanted this to be the wedding na pag-uusapan ng lahat ng lokal mapacavite man o QC.

Finally, after weeks of preparations with the coordinator ikakasal na'ko kinabukasan.

It reallt wasn't a tradition to have a bridal shower or a tinghun kasi para sa'kin aksaya lang ng oras 'yon.

"Okay, 24 hours before magpakasal." Bungad ko sa sarili ko sa salamin pagkagising.

Alex was staying with his parents until the next day kaya ganun narin ang gagawin ko. I'm going to go see my Mom.

I parked near Macfella. Ito ang tawag sa sementeryo ng relihiyon namin.

"Hi mom." I placed the flowers on the center of her gravestone. "Ikakasal na'ko... I'm still hesitant, Mom. Pero alam ko na ipinadala siya para pasayahin ako sa natitira kong habangbuhay. Mom, I'm a lawyer now. Sorry kasi hindi kita nadalaw ng mahabang panahon, I just wanted to make sure na pag bumisita ako sa'yo ay nasa pinakataas na'ko. And here I am, Successfully a Lawyer."

"Sigurado naman ako na proud si Aunty sa'yo." It was Ahia. He placed a boquet of flowers near mine. "Congrats."

I hugged him.

"Thank you." I whisphered. "For being there and for leading me closer to the Lord."

"I'm proud of you, Ella." He kissed the top of my head. "You're finally getting married."

"At ikaw?" I chuckled sarcastically. "You're single again, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm here, si Achi and of course si James na hindi ko pa ulit nasisilayan hahaha."

"I'm sorry." He burried his face on my shoulder. "Kasalanan ko lahat, dapat hindi kayo naghiwalay kung pinigilan ko lang sana siya."

"It's all in the past, look where it lead me." I showed him my ring. "Masaya ako, Ahia and besides, I'm doing this for the sake of the family."

We went back home to Cavite dahil sa kapilya namin gaganapin ang kasal Kinabukasan.

"Matulog ka ng maaga ha." He then closed the door.

I knelt down beside my bed with my prayer veil on my head.

"Lord, Tomorrow is the day." Panimula ko. "Let this be the last time na maiiyak ako, Lord. Let all my tears be because of happiness instead of pain. Cast all my worries away , Lord. Please let him be the one that stays with me throughout my ups and downs." I sobbed.

"You've given me too many challenges, But I'm willing to face more. With him by my side. And Lord, give Santi the peace he deserves. Give him love that's faithful, Love that's patient, and Love that lasts. Amen."

After praying I finally went to sleep.