Just For Tonight

FAST FORWARD

*KIKO'S P.O.V.*

Oh di ba? P.O.V. ko? Hindi nakaya ng author eh. Tsk.

"Pare, sigurado ka na ba sa desisyon mong yan?"

Sean looked at me quizzically. Alam kong alam na niya na ang sagot ko sa tanong niya. I continued packing my bags.

"Pare, ipapapatay ka ng tatay ni Kat. Isang noted na politician na nang-gagarote ang ama nun. Balita ko, magkasama raw sila ngayon sa States. Pare, huwag kang mag-suicide."

Ang kulit.

"Sean, natatandaan mo pa ba yung sinabi ko nung nasa Naga tayo? Nung mga bata pa tayo? Yung nagpapalipad tayo ng saranggola sa may Bicol River?"

Kumunot ang ulo ni Sean.

"Uhm, yung pag nagkaasawa ka, araw-araw mong aanuhin?"

"Oo, sinabi ko yun. At seryoso ako dun. Hahaha! Pero kidding aside, sinabi ko nun sayong gago ka na hinding-hindi ako tutulad sa tatay ko! Gagawin ko ang lahat, Sean, para maitama ang mali ko."

***

BOOOOGSHHHH

"Papa tama na yan!"

Isang umiiyak na Kat ang humarang sa akin. Pinigilan na rin ni Mama, este nung mama ni Kat si Sir.

Nagsasalita si Sir ng mga salitang hindi ko maintindihan. For sure bisaya yun. And chances are, mura yun sa kanila. Pero hindi ko yun napansin, kasi ramdam na ramdam ko nung moment na yun na mahal ako ni Kat.

Kung mamamatay ako ngayon, mamamatay akong masaya.

Pero sayang naman ng kagwapuhan ko kung mamamatay ako. Kaya nabuhay ako.

To cut the long story short, ikinasal kami ni Kat. As much as I wanted it to be grand, naging civil wedding lang ang kasal namin. We've exchanged our vows in front of our parents and our closest friends; e.g. Sean and Anne.

The reception was a simple dinner at Peter Luger. Then we decided to come home.

*KAT'S P.O.V.*

I have always dreamed of a perfect wedding.

The one that took a year to prepare for. I have dreamed of hiring 3 or more wedding coordinators to help me in making it perfect.

I wanted it to be grand.

I wanted a lot of people to watch me walk down the aisle in my long white gown.

But that never happened.

Iniabot sa akin ni Kiara ang bouquet at ang mga alahas na gagamitin ko. I just emerged from the bathroom where I soaked myself in tears and hot water.

"Ate naman, kahit MAC pa ang gamitin sayo ng makeup artist mo, hindi niya matatakpan ang puffy eyes mo!"

I looked down, and I felt her hug me. Alam niya kung gaano ka-stressful sakin ang lahat. I hadn't even had my next visit sa OB ko. Anyways, mom is always here naman.

"Ate, ang talino mong tanga. Pero kahit ganyan ka, mahal kita. This should be the last time you'd cry."

Iyak-tawa na lang kami ng kapatid ko. Nagpaayos na ako kay Jerome na makeup artist ko at nagsuot na rin ng simpleng white laced dress.

Walang aisle. Walang maraming tao. It was even a small room. My father wasn't there. He was still furious. Who wouldn't? His favorite daughter (naks, I'm claiming it) got married out of wedlock. And worse, she's 2 months pregnant at the age of 18. What the hell, di ba?

I wanted to cry, I wanted to run away. This must be the wedding jitters that one feels before saying I do.

Pero I knew then, when I saw the pure joy and excitement in Kiko's eyes, that there was no turning back.

  "On behalf of Judge Haringey and myself, I would like to welcome you on this special occasion, when Katrina and Francisco   affirm their love and publicly declare their commitment to eachother.This place in which we are now met has been duly sanctioned according to law for the registrationof Civil Partnerships. You are here to witness the formation of a civil partnershipbetween Katrina and Francisco.  If any person present knows of any lawful impediment to thispartnership they should declare it now."

Shit ka Dani, nasan ka ba pag kailangan kita?! Lumabas ka na ngayon! Ugh.

" Katrina and Francisco have chosen to pledge themselves to each other by committing to a legallybinding contract. We are witnessing this partnership hoping that your love, trust andunderstanding of each other will increase your contentment and joy in living. Now repeat after me."

The judge gestured Kiko to repeat after him first. 

"I, Fran--Kiko, choose you, Kat, above all others to share my life. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I live."

How could Kiko tell those words with so much life when I'm doubting his love? Is he this naive?

And when it was my turn, I willingly obeyed, just like what I have always done. 

"We have now come to the exchanging of the rings."

Everything that followed after was a blur. Para lang akong puppet na sunud-sunuran. 

Bakit ngayon pa?

Bakit ngayon pa nangingibabaw ang pagdududa sa puso ko?