Meraki* (MaiChard Fanfic)

Chapter 14 - I Do

16 July 2017 @ Sto. Domingo Church, Quezon City

Dear RJ,

Ang tagal kong pinagdasal ang araw na ito.

Since I met you, a part of me always pictured you waiting for me as I walked down the aisle. I'd see you wiping your tears (mauuna ka talagang umiyak sa akin) and smiling triumphantly ('wag kang ano). I'd see you ignoring the taunts of your best men *side eyes Sam and Jerald.* I'd see you looking for my sisters who would just smile.

I'd hear our wedding song (maybe composed and sang by the two of us) being played in the background. I'd see your father trying to calm you down while my father fighting back tears. I'd see my mother attempting to console him (but failing to do so). I'd see my siblings smiling or crying tears of joy. I'd hear my sister Coleen tease Kuya Nico because he's the only one (sa pamilya namin) who is still unmarried. Kuya Nico, kailan mo ba kasi papakasalan si Camille (@maichardism)?

I'd see the guests (mostly our friends from Eat Bulaga) conversing and mingling with other people who still can't believe that our love story started two years prior. I'd hear them comment that they never stopped believing that what we have is real and genuine. I'd catch a number of congratulations and reminders to name one of our future children after you.

I'd like to think that I'd also hear your silent prayer to God. You'll thank him for bringing us together and making sure that our love story would never end. You'll say a few words to your mother who undoubtedly had a hand in every event that has happened in the past few years. Oh, alam kong ipagdadasal mo rin na sana hindi magbago ang isip ko(though you shouldn't be worried) dahil ikaw ang tipong ng lalaki na hindi ko ipagpapalit.

I'd suddenly remember my conversation with my mother who advised me years ago not to get fooled or misled by a man's actions because some of them take advantage of girls like me. She was very strict when it came to these things. Surprisingly, she wasn't like this with you. I know, I know. You thought that she would kill you at first, right? Pero, ang totoo, member ng Team Kampante si Nanay! Charot! Haha

When I asked her about this, she told me that she noticed that you already had feelings for me before we met (talaga ba?) because of the way you looked at me, how your eyes would suddenly disappear, and how your dimples would instantly deepen. She told me that it was fine to like you...that I could love you if I wanted to. Nagulat ako syempre. I mean, I had a crush on you before (mahal na kita ngayon syempre!) so I thought she was just joking. It turns out that she wasn't.

My mother then confessed what you had been doing even before we met and the days after we met. Ang lakas rin ng loob mong makipagkita kina Tatay ha! Kaya pala kung makanakaw ka ng halik (maski offcam), wagas talaga. May basbas ka pala ni Tatay Dodong. Woot woot! Seriously, love, you should have told me (though I know that you tend to do things like this). Well, it doesn't really matter now because I already know about it and I'm about to get married to you. In a few hours, that is.

God, it feels like it was just yesterday when I saw your face on the screen and fell in love with your smile. It never really gets old, you know? I would always, always, see the face that day as I fall in love with you over and over again. After all, that was the face of the man who helped me turn mere dreams and wishes into reality. Of course, it would also remind me that destiny (and God) move unexpectedly. Kung para sa iyo, gagawa at gagawa ng paraan ang Diyos. Kailangan mo lang talagang manalig.

Everything that has happened has led me to this moment, waiting for the church doors to open so we can spend the rest of our lives together. We learned a lot, improving our craft and finding out who truly matters in our lives. We went through ups and downs, surpassing the tests of time and overcoming the struggles of being in a relationship. But one thing never changed. It's you and I - and I sincerely doubt that we ever will.