The Past meets the Future

9: Wedding

When I entered the aisle, I saw how people turned their gaze on me. I saw Kenji and Akira smiling at me, they're being a little dramatic with how their eyes looked!

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad sa altar, where Mama and Tito Allan await. I wanted him to be my father figure, so I could feel I'm with Papa at my wedding.

"Ang ganda mo, Anak." Mama whispered to me. Umabresete ako sakanila ni Tito Allan, atsaka kami naglakad palapit sa altar where my crybaby hubby is waiting.

"Take care of my daughter for me." Mama told Hiro, trying to stop herself from crying.

"Ingatan mo siya ha? Huwag mo papaiyakin." Sabi naman ni Tito Allan sakaniya na nagpangiti sa akin.

"Opo, Tita, and Tito." He smiled at them with tears in his eyes. Lumingon siya sa akin, "You're gorgeous." he said with his daring eyes.

Naupo na silang dalawa kasama ang magulang ni Hiro. Then it was finally the time where we are going to share the vows we had prepared.

"I don't believe in love since when Papa dies, but I have met you in my darkest nights." I said, smiling.

"When I heard you pray for me the night I tried killing myself, I felt heard by you. I feel loved. Something I hadn't felt long ago." I paused, "You saved me without you even realizing. When you happen to move in and I collapse right in front of you, when you happen to knock on my door on the day I try to end my life. You were there. You were always there when I needed someone to hold onto me. You are named Hiro and you did your duty of saving me as a hero."

"You were the first person who chose to understand me, figuring out how to make me smile instead of judging kung bakit parang pasan ko ang mundo. Because of you the soul I lost when Papa died, came alive in me when I met you."

"I vow to you that we may not last forever in this world but I promise to find you in every lifetime and choose and love you the same way I did today."

I heard claps at nilingon ko si Mama. Kitang-kita ko ang pagiyak niya. You see me, Mama? Your little one struggles too, but she manages.

It's now Hiro's turn. "When I met you, I was wondering why you are not smiling. I thought you just don't know how to socialize, but I found out it's because you're carrying a lot on your shoulders." A tear fell in my eyes. Dati pa pala may kakampi na ako.

"Kaya nangarap ako, nangarap ako na matulungan kang bitbitin yung bigat na nararamdaman mo. When I saw you smiling for the first time, I started dreaming of making you smile more, and being the reason for your smile which I think I accomplished." Sunod-sunod na tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ko habang nakangiti.

"From this day forward I vow to you that you will never feel alone again. My heart will be your comfort and my arms will be your home. I choose you, and I'll choose you over and over again in other lifetimes. I will always find you and fall for you for the same reason."

Claps echoed again. Sabay pa kaming nagpunas ng luha ni Hiro. Nakangiti siyang humarap sa akin kahit na may iilang luha pa rin na tumutulo sa mga mata namin.

"Eirene, do you take Hiro as your husband?"

"I do." I said. Hiro slips the ring on my finger.

"Hiro, do you take Eirene as your wife?"

"I do." I slip the ring on his finger.

"Then I pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride!"

Inangat ni Hiro ang veil ko 'tsaka ko naramdaman ang labi niya sa labi ko.

"I love you so much." He said between our kisses.

It is the greatest day of my life. Being successful doesn't just mean being rich. For me, being successful is having to sleep in peace and to wake up with no worries about what's going to happen.

Here's to our new chapter of our life.