Julie leaned against the balcony and stared out at the soft glow of the street lights. She hadn't thought this day could possibly get worse. "I never should have gone with him" she thought, but she knew it was impossible knowing that she couldn't resists him, at any costs. She was furious with herself for still thinking of him. Then she felt her anger give way to the pain of regret. It built with a surprising swiftness that made her decide. She walked inside, took her phone and dialed a number.
"Julie? Hello?" Elmo was probably still at the bar, she could hear people chattering in the background.
"Does it still stands?" she asked hesitantly. There was a terrifying silence and before he could speak she added softly, in almost a whisper "N-nagbago ang isip ko, it's a ....yes"
"Yes?" he reiterated.
"Yes" she repeated, feeling idiot. "Magpapakasal ako saiyo but-" she heard the dreadful beep. The line was cut.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Elmo cursed loudly as he stared at his phone. Empty battery. "Damn it to hell" he exclaimed repeatedly and stopped as he noticed some of the customers looking at him, bewildered.
Soft knocks stopped Julie from fixing her hair. It was past 9AM and she was late. She hadn't sleep well but she needed to go to the office. She stumbled down on her way to the door as she put her shoes on while fixing her hair. "Shit naman talaga" she winced.
She opened her door and stood there staring at Elmo who was so handsome in a blue long sleeves and black slacks. His hands were on his pockets and he looked somewhat edgy.
"Hi!" He finally said "Uhmmm...You c-c-called last night" he started "I-is that what I wanted to hear several days ago? He was stammering and moving at the same time, like he was worried of something. Julie didn't answer right away because she got nervous and she felt her heart beating wildly against her chest.
"W-well?" he stammered again.
"Yes" she finally answered and smiled shyly. That was when Elmo let out a deep breath and took a step towards her, grabbed her on her waist and kissed her passionately. She held onto him and responded to his kiss but he stopped abruptly.
"I bought you something" he said and took the paper bags hidden at the back of the large empty flower pot of her neighbor. She laughed aloud. "Ano yan?"
Elmo smiled "you look too formal..can you wear this for me? Today?" and gave her the paper bags.
As soon as they get inside her condo, Julie opened them. It was a white cotton dress and a pair of white stilettos. She looked at Elmo. "Para saan to?"
Elmo glanced at his watch and cleared his throat "well, actually, I want to invite you to a private affair today"
"Today? As in now na?" Julie cleared.
"Yeah, now na" he laughed.
"Pero.." Julie hesitated.
"Please...please...please..." Elmo pleaded, looking like a child wishing to be given some new toys.
"Okay..pero kelangan kong pumunta sa office after lunch" she insisted.
"Yeah, of course.." Elmo's eyes twinkled.
The car stopped in front of St. Paul's Church. She looked at Elmo. "so binyag?" she asked.
"See it for yourself" Elmo smiled from ear to ear and went to opened the door for her.
Julie didn't saw anyone inside the Church, but as they walked in the aisle, an old man approached Elmo and asked him "Kayo po ba yung hinihintay ni Father Sir?"
Elmo nodded and whispered on the man's ear, then smiling he left immediately.
"Elmo, ano ba to? Anong meron?" she was anxious. A thought entered her mind.
"Bro, Am I late?" A voice came from the main entrance door. Julie turned around and saw the man who was with Elmo last night. He approached them and greeted her with a warm smile "Hi! You must be Julie" he stated and kissed her on her cheek. "Good luck!" he said and smiled. She threw him a questioning look but he just remained smiling and chuckling.
"My elder brother, Frank" Elmo managed to introduced him.
"Happy to meet you" Julie smiled to frank.
"Tuloy na tuloy na ba?" another male voice came from the door at the side of the altar.
Elmo took her to the altar. "It's our wedding day, I'm sorry if I didn't tell you earlier. I was afraid you'd say 'no' again. And I'm sorry also if your parents and mine and your friends are not here now, but it's too late to call them last night, I don't have the heart to disturb them from their sleep, but I promise they will be present on our second Church wedding. Right now, I want to make you mine, legally and in God's eyes." He explained as fast as he could as if he was afraid she would walk out on him.
Julie was speechless and she just stood there staring at him. She was half shocked and half amazed.
"Julie please..don't say 'no' now, don't change your mind now.." he begged and added "I won't allow you, not now"
They heard the priest laugh and Frank chuckled .
She looked back at Elmo "pero wala tayong marriage license at yung ibang documents pa-"
"I've already fixed those" Elmo smiled shyly "You see, everything was all set before I proposed to you then, this should have been the scene after my proposal but there was a complication and well, Father was kind and understanding enough..so last night after you called, I went home and called Father.." Elmo glanced at the priest and his brother who kept on laughing. Julie couldn't help but smile, she felt so special, so loved and cherished.
"Naku Elmo anak, mukhang maaantala uli tayo" The priest joked.
"No Father, magpapakasal po ako kay Elmo nagayon" she told the priest and smiled at Elmo and held his hands.
"So what are we waiting for?" Frank clapped his hands while he walked and stood beside Elmo.
Elmo and Julie looked at each other and smiled happily as they stood there facing each other, as the priest started their private affair.
