Tapunan Ng Feelings

Pangako [3]

[Part 3 of 3]

RJ AND MAINE

"Hindi mangyayari yun, Menggay ko. Mahal na mahal kita."

He gently squeezed her soft hands.

"Mahal na mahal din kita, RJ."

He instinctively leaned in like he was going to kiss her.

"Oy teka muna, hindi pa tayo tapos."

The priest's voice boomed and laughter erupted in the small Church.

"Ay! Sorry po, Father."

The couple laughed heartily, their eyes twinkling with tears.

"Now that you've declared your love and intention to be married to each other, please fa-- ayos kayong dalawa, hindi na kailangan sabihan to face each other and hold hands! Hahahah Ok, then please go ahead recite the vows you wrote together."

The small congregation laughed briefly as the priest teased them. When the entire church quieted down, they began.

Both: "I"

R: "Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr..."

M: "Nicomaine Dei Capili Mendoza..."

Both: "take you"

R: "Nicomaine Dei Capili Mendoza"

M: "Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr"

Both: "to be my lawfully wedded spouse. I give you my love, my life, my everything. I vow to cherish you and take care of you, and be with you always. Through thick and thin, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health, through ups and downs. I will be your shoulder to cry on or to sleep on. I will share your joys and triumphs, or struggles and failures. I will share my life with yours as we build our dreams together. I will love you every second of my life and more. I will laugh with you and at you. I promise to watch your favorite movies with you, but I will also complain in all the parts that I will hate. I vow to kiss you good morning and good night everyday."

R: "I promise to be there to tell you random stories when the dinosaur visits you, until you fall asleep in my arms."

M: "I promise to be there to make sure you never trip. If you do, I will make sure to catch you. But if I fail, I will tend to your wounds, be it your ego or your knees."

Both: "I promise to never let sweat dry off on your back and make sure you never catch a cold. I will dance with you in the rain though, anytime."

R: "I will take care of you and provide for you and our future children. I promise to be at least half as good as our own fathers."

M: "And I promise to be at least half as good as our mothers."

Both: "I vow to keep these promises of love burning in faith, until we grow old and grey, until the Lord takes back this life we borrowed. With our nearest and dearest loved ones and God as our witnesses, I take you, the love of my life and my bestfriend, as my better half, the one soul to complete mine. Mahal kita. Ikaw at ako, tayong dalawa lang, habambuhay at hanggang sa walang hanggan."

Priest: "The rings please?"

R: "My Menggay, with this ring, I marry you. Wear it, as a sign of my love and loyalty. May this always remind you of my promise of love, that I will always be with you, and that I am yours, eternally. As this ring is infinite, so is my love for you."

M: "My RJ, with this ring, I bind myself to you. Wear it, as a sign of my love and loyalty. May this always remind you of my promise of love, that I will always be yours and that I will never leave your side. As this ring is infinite, so is my love for you."

There the priest blessed their pinky promise and declared them husband and wife. The entire church erupted in cheers and applause as they finally shared a kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Faulkerson.

The simple reception in their vast backyard overlooking the Taal Lake, for just their closest friends and immediate families, went in a blur. Everyone danced to their signature songs of Dessert, Twerk It Like Miley, Trumpets, Shut Up and Dance, and of course Fantastic Baby.

When the last of their family members left, he took her hand and led her to one of the blankets laid on the grass.

"Do you remember our 3am date in Italy? Ang daming stars nun noh?"

"Then you said aanhin mo yung mga stars sa langit kung katabi mo na ako. Ang corny mo kaya!"

"Grabe sya. Kinilig ka naman, aminin mo, love."

"Syempre naman. Hindi ka naman kasi talaga vocal sa feelings mo eh."

"Actions speak louder than words, love."

He scooted closer, took her hand and held it close to his heart.

"I know, kaya nga I love you."

"Pero Meng, kapag dumating yung time na hindi na ako makapagsalita, tandaan mo na mahal na mahal kita. Ikaw yung miracle na hinintay ko na matagal, yung anghel na hiniling ko sa Dyos.

"Love ha. Okay na. Di mo na ko kailangan bolahin. Heto na o, pinakasalan na kita. Hahaha joke lang. Salamat ha? Sa pagmamahal mo sa'kin. Lagi mo din tatandaan na mahal na mahal kita, ha? And can I just say lang how proud I am now to be carrying your last name? Sa daming beses natin noon nagjoke time tungkol sa pagkuha ko sa apelido mo. Nicomaine Dei Mendoza Faulkerson. Mrs. Faulkerson. Hihi kinikilig ako, love."

"Ang sarap pakinggan, love. Mrs. Faulkerson. You have no idea how happy I am right now."

"Talaga ba?"

"Oo naman. Ikaw, love, happy ka?"

"Sobra. Natatandaan mo ba nung unang beses na tinanong kita kung happy ka?"

"Oo naman, nung long table date natin. Sobrang taranta pa ako nun, natungga ko yung wine, tapos ikaw, nilapag mo yung isaw sa table. hahahahah"

"Wow in detail talaga? Hahahaha I do have an idea how happy you are you know, because my happiness right now is also indescribable."

"I love you, wifey."

"O, baka ma-ctto ka dyan sa wifey. Hahaha"

"Ay! Hahahah I love you, Mrs, Faulkerson."

"Ehhh... kilig ako, love. Hihihi I love you too, Mr. Faulkerson."

They were quiet for a few minutes, just staring at the stars, when he suddenly got up, pulled her up and carried her.

"O, san tayo pupunta may humahabol satin?"

"I need to carry you through the threshold, love. Tradition."

"Fine. O dahan dahan baka madapa ka, madamay pa ako ah."

"Love, shhh... tapos na tayo sa dahan dahan, misis na kita sa wakas! Ihanda mo na yang sarili mo, paspasan na to sa taas."

"Tagal."

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Happy Anniversary sa ating lahat! 38, 39, parteeee!