HARLEQUIN: Say you won't let go

Chapter Three

The Wedding:

Matamang pinagmamasdan ni Dianne ang repleksyon sa salamin. Halos hindi nya makilala ang sarili dahil sa make up nya. Hindi naman sa pangit ang pagkakalagay ng make up sa kanya kundi dahil nagmistulan syang ibang tao nang mga sandaling iyon.

Hindi na sya mapagkakamalang mahirap. She never thought she could be this beautiful.

Paano ko nga ba naman kasi maiisip na pwede akong gumanda ng ganito kung hindi ko naman nahiligan ang pag-aapply ng make up?

Nang dumating na ang takdang oras, lumabas na sya ng silid upang sumunod na sa simbahan kung saan naghihintay na ang lahat.

Sa labas ay naroon ang isang magarang carriage na maghahatid sa kanya sa simbahan. Inadornohan ng mga puting rosas at mga tulips. She wonder how many thousands were spent in that carriage alone.

Para syang prinsesa na ikakasal. Never in her wildest dream that she imagined her wedding to be grandiose like this. She always picture herself having a simple and solemn wedding with the man she love.

Pero ngayon, ikakasal sya sa lalaking sa pangalan lang nya kilala and yet that man is giving her a wedding of a lifetime! A wedding that any woman on earth will probably do anything or even sacrifice anything just to be in her shoe.

Nagpakawala muna sya ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga bago lumakad palapit sa karwahe na naghihintay sa kanya.

When she arrived at the cathedral, she saw lots of media personalities waiting for her. Nang magsimula na ang procession ay mataman syang naghintay sa loob ng karwahe. She's literally shaking. Sobra ang kabang nararamdaman nya habang nasa loob. Any minute now, she will be Mrs. Harlequin Montenegro.

The moment the footmen open her carriage, the cameras focused on her alone, na para bang gustong makunan ang bawat segundo ng kilos nya. Despite of that, hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ni Dianne ang paghanga sa mga mata ng mga tao roon.

Slowly she walk toward the cathedral and when the door opened, everyone was astonished by her beauty. She then started walking down the aisle with her parents on both side. Kitang-kita ang kagandahan ng kanyang wedding gown. She's like a princess in her best wedding gown.

Sa dulo ay nakita nya si King. Napakakisig at napakatikas nitong tingnan sa suot na tuxedo. He definitely outstands every man in the room. No doubt about it.

Habang papalapit ay napako kay King ang paningin nya. She wasn't sure but she can see admiration in his eyes. Or was it LOVE? He even looked proud. O baka naman dinadaya lang sya ng kanyang paningin.

* * *

Bakas sa mukha ni King ang lubos na kagalakan. Narito sya ngayon sa loob ng simbahan, matamang pinagmamasdan ang mabagal na paglakad ni Dianne palapit sa kanya.

Oo, walang pagsidlan ang kagalakan sa puso nya dahil nasa harapan nya ngayon ang babaeng katuparan ng mga pangarap nya.Ang babaeng noon pa man ay lihim na nyang iniibig.

Napakaganda ni Dianne sa suot na wedding gown. It perfectly fits her. He felt proud dahil alam nya sa mga sandaling iyon, maraming kalalakihan ang naiinggit sa kanya. And who wouldn't be? He's marrying the most beautiful woman on earth.

From this day forward, she will be his queen. He'll do everything to make her love him. Pupunuin nya ito ng pag-ibig sa buong panahon ng kanilang pagsasama.

Nang tuluyang makalapit si Dianne ay iniabot na ni tatay Marcelo ang kamay ng dalaga sa kanya. Niyakap at kinamayan nya ang matanda bago dinala si Dianne sa harap ng altar.

"We all gathered here my beloved brothers and sisters to witness the union of Harlequin Montenegro and Dianne Saavedra. But before we start this holy matrimony, I will ask, does anyone of you wish to oppose?" panimula ng pastor na syang magkakasal sa kanila.

Nang walang makuhang sagot o pagtutol ay nagpatuloy na ito. "Well then, you, young man, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife and promised to love her, protect her, honor and respect her?"

King looked deep in Dianne's eye. "I do."

"You, woman, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband and promise to love him, submit to him, honor and respect him?"

Matagal bago sumagot ang dalaga that made him anxious. Paano kung biglang magbago ang isip nito at takbuhan sya?
Then after few seconds, he was relieved when she said "I do."

"Now, the rings.."

Kinuha ni King ang isang singsing, looked straight in her eyes and with all the love in his heart he uttered his vow to her.

"Dianne, wear this ring as a sign of my devotion and undying love. I pledge to love you and only you, trust you, honor and respect you always and in all ways. To be by your side through thick and thin, in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer. I pledge to love and cherish the Dianne I knew and the Dianne who will become. I take you to be my wife, my other half, to have and to hold, in tears and in laughters from this day forward. In this world and in the next."

* * *

She was lost for words. Why does he sounds like he really mean every word? This isn't real, for Pete's sake!

Bakit bawat salitang binibitawan nito ay tumatagos sa kaibuturan nya? Bakit parang gustong maniwala ng puso nya? She wasn't even prepared for this! Bakit kailangan pa nitong gumawa ng vow kung palabas lang naman ang lahat ng ito?

Of course to make it more realistic! sigaw ng utak nya.

But, isn't it too much? Hindi ba't labis-labis na ito na panloloko? Anong klaseng lalaki ba ang pinakasalan ko?

When it's her turn to make a vow, ginawa lang nya ang kung ano ang ni-rehearse nila.

"Harlequin, wear this ring as a sign of my love and devotion to you. I promise to honor you, respect you, submit myself to you. In richer and poorer, in sickness and in health. Till death do us part."

Matapos ang ilang sandali ay binigkas na ng pastor ang selyo ng kanilang pag-iisang dibdib.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

Dahan-dahang inalis ng binata ang kanyang belo at nang mahantad ang kanyang mukha, he gently caress her cheeks and within seconds his lips touched hers.

That was her first kiss! It lasted for only few seconds but it felt magical? Hindi nya kayang ilarawan ang naramdaman nya ng mga sandaling iyon.

"You are mine now Dianne." King whispered in her ear that brought shivers in her body.

Ngunit ang labis na ikinagulat nya ay ang sumunod na binulong ng binata. Nanlaki ang mga mata nya sa narinig at totoong kinilabutan sya!

"And tonight, we will officially put a seal to this marriage, wifey."

He was referring to their honeymoon! At hindi nya napaghandaan iyon!

📝 📝 📝