Over The Rainbow (COMPLETED)

Beautiful

July 2024:

You storm out of the room still in your satin robe, your pulled up in neat side bun and your face with half-done makeup on.

I meet you in the hallway, all set in my black suit and tie.

"Love, anong nangyayari?" I ask when I see you upset with tears in your eyes.

"I'm sorry, Love." You sob and cover your face with your hands. "Ikaw na lang pumunta. Wag na ako."

"Why? Love... Okay na tayo di ba? Kung nag-aalala ka sa mga bata, okay na sila kina Dad. Hindi naman daw naghanap. Ano bang problema?"

I step forward and wrap my arms around you. You lean your forehead on my shoulder, with your hands still covering your face and cry.

I let you sob and cry as I gently stroke your hair and back.

Must be a rough day for you, preparing and driving the kids to school, Charm making you stay with her in the classroom for two hours, meeting the suppliers and planning for Seb's birthday all these after an entire day of parties and appearances you did yesterday for your 9th showbiz anniversary and now you have to go with me to this fundraiser.

"Wala. Wala nang maayos na nangyayari. First, sabi ng stylist hindi natapos yung adjustments sa gown na pinili ko and now they're making me wear this hideous gown as if bente dos pa rin ako. I can't wear that. I will look like a trying hard pabebe tramp who is a disgrace to her three children." You sob. "Tapos because of that, my makeup doesn't match the new dress and don't even get me started on the shoes. Ayoko na. Ipapahiya lang kita dun."

"Ano ba? Never mangyayari yun." I tell you as I pull you closer. "You don't have to wear that kung ayaw mo. May black gown ka diyan di ba? Di mo pa yun nasuot sa kahit saan. Yun na lang. Kahit anong makeup or shoes pwede dun." I say.

"Yun? Kawawa ka naman dun. Iisipin nila na hindi man lang pinaghandaan ng asawa mo itong event." You sniffle and fresh tears soak through my coat. "I'm sorry. Hindi na nga ako kasingganda ng ibang celebrities to begin with tapos ngayon tumaba pa ako at nagka-lines na sa mukha. Wag na talaga. Nakakahiya lang ako dun."

"We won't go if you don't want to basta please tigilan mo na yang panlalait mo sa sarili mo. Kasi hindi totoo yan. Sobrang ganda mo at kahit kailan hinding-hindi kita ikakahiya. Ipagmamalaki kita." I tell you.

You pull away from me and fix my collar. "No. You go. Handang-handa ka na oh." You then stare at my face and give a little smile. "Sobrang gwapo mo, sayang ako lang ang napangasawa mo."

What you said, hit me like a huge mallet blow to my heart. How can you say such a terrible thing about yourself.

"Alright. That's it." I snarl and tug on my tie to get it loose. "Saan mo na naman narinig yan? Sinong nagsabi?" I ask angrily as I unbutton my coat and take it off too.

You stay quiet and look down as you stand in front of your ranting husband. I hold your arm and you look up to my face with eyes full of tears and regret.

"You can't say that about yourself and damned anyone who says anything like that about you. I will crush them."

"RJ... " You softly call as you gently hold my hand, trying to calm me down.

Hot angry tears wet my cheeks. "Hindi eh. Ang sakit kasi. Sobrang sakit na ganyan ka pa din mag-isip. Sobrang sakit na nasasaktan ka nang ganyan. Do I not love you enough?"

"Love..."

"Kulang pa ba yung pagmamahal ko sa'yo para maintindihan mo na hindi mahalaga sa akin ang nakikita lang ng mata, yung damit mo, yung makeup, yung sapatos, yung timbang, yung mga linya sa mukha, wala akong nakikitang mali sa'yo dahil maganda ka. Totoong maganda. Hindi lang sa panlabas kundi dito." I tell you as I place one palm over your heart. "Dito ka pinakamaganda. Yung pagmamahal mo sa akin, sa mga anak natin at sa lahat ng nakapaligid sa'yo, yung pag-aalaga mo sa amin, yung mga ngiti at tawa na binibigay mo, yung pagpapasensiya mo sa kakulitan namin, pag-intindi sa mga pagkakamali at pagtanggap sa mga kapintasan, yung pagyakap at pagmamahal mo sa amin... sa akin ng buong-buo, yung pagkapit mo sa ikaw at ako, walang makakapantay dun."

I sigh and cradle your face with one hand as I stare deep into your eyes. "Hindi lang ang physical ang maganda sa'yo, hanggang ngayon di ko pa rin nakikita yung mga panlalait mo sa sarili mo dahil wala namang nagbago kung meron man, mas gumanda ka pa dahil doon. At kahit magbago pa yun, what makes you really beautiful is your heart and if people can't see that, if they have anything to say about it, I don't give a shit."

You instinctively look around because that's what you do when you hear someone say profanity, to check if any of the kids heard it, ready to reprimand the speaker and explain to our children.

"Yan. When you always have the kids' well-being in your heart and mind whether they're around or not. That's the most beautiful thing of all." I sob.

Without breaking our gaze, I gently caress your cheek and whisper. "Mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal kita, Mrs. Nicomaine Faulkerson. I know I am the luckiest man in the world because I married the most beautiful woman and I have the privilege to love you for my whole life and forever. Yung Nicomaine na minahal ko noon, mas minamahal ko ngayon at higit na mamahalin ko pa habangbuhay. I love you so much."

You burst into more sobs and tears then throw your arms over my shoulders and cling to me. "I love you so much too. Sorry if I'm insecure sometimes pero salamat dahil sobrang mahal mo ako. Mahal na mahal na mahal din kita."

I smile and kiss your shoulder then we hold each other for a while.

"Meng? Tuloy na ba natin makeup mo?" The makeup artist calls from the doorway of your room.

You look at me and smile. "Yes." You then turn to the style team waiting for you. "Sandali lang ha? Sorry. Susunod na ako."

They nod and go back inside.

"Mukhang ire-retouch lahat ng makeup mo." I chuckle as I attempt to clean a black mascara smudge on your cheek.

"Oo nga. Ang emo ko kasi. Sorry ulit. Ikaw din. Ayusin mo na ulit yang suit mo." You giggle.

"Okay lang yan." I grin. "Well, since ire-retouch naman din ang makeup mo, might as well lubusin na natin."

You giggle as I pull you by the waist and inch my face closer to yours while wiggling my eyebrows.

"Might as well." You whisper on my lips.

I press my lips against yours and we share one long and passionate kiss.

I kiss your forehead after our lips parted and walk you to you to the door with our arms around each other's waist.

"Love?" I mutter on your cheek after I pressed a kiss on it.

"Hmmm?"

"Hindi kaya kaya ka emo dahil ano..."

"Ano?" You ask.

"Kuya na din si Seb?"

You break into a hearty laugh and shake your head as you pull away from me then step inside the room. You close the door while I still wait for the answer.

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Unbeta'ed and not proofread. Thank you for reading. 💛