Laura
When Mina told me about Benjie's post, my initial reaction was, "O? Bakit ko kailangan malaman yan?"
When she told me that based on his exchanges with friends, she thinks Benjie was pertaining to me, I said, "Hindi naman siguro. Ang tagal na niyang closed book."
Then, she told me about details in the exchange that pertained to my wedding date. "Okay. But, well, bahala siya."
I didn't really care.
Like I said, as far as I was concerned Benjie can stir up all this with his friends and it doesn't matter to me. Kaya lang, Mina said she told Ethan. That prompted me to post that I was with Ethan. Period.
And today, today was our day!
I don't know if all brides are like this but I was giddy! I felt like I was floating. Ewan ko ba. I was still cynical about the necessity of the ceremony, because in my heart and mind I was bound to Ethan long ago.
Still, to have a day devoted to celebrating us? Masaya din pala.
One of Ethan's female cousins arrived to give me his gift. A pair of simple diamond stud earrings. As beautiful as they were, the first thing I said was, "How is he?"
"Nervous wreck. He'd be waiting at your door if only he'd be allowed," she shared.
It was a last minute decision, but I changed my note and scribbled a new one for him that simply said, "Trust me. I love you."
At church, I wanted to speed everyone up. Walk faster! Cute flower girls but run na!!!
Hehe! Sorry. I wanted to see Ethan already!
And as soon as the doors opened to reveal me, I scanned the front and there he was. Sweating buckets and shaking (I bet), but the most handsome human being on Earth, Ethan.
My mom whispered to me. "Can't wait to see him, ha?"
"Yes, Mommy."
As soon as I was in front, he was crying and smiling. "Hi! I missed you."
He smiled back. "I missed you, too, Nini!"
"Stop crying, Eth! You'll look panget in our photos."
He laughed. "I don't care. As long as you're marrying me."
"Siyempre! I want a lifetime of carbonara and beef steak."
"Okay then. Let's do this?"
I nodded. "Let's do this."
Epilogue
I stared at my boxes. All of Ethan's letters over the years and he still writes me notes every day.
Oftentimes, these days, I write replies in them also.
His notes range from sweet,
"Thank you for going out on a date with me last night!"
Or corny,
"Hindi ka ba napapagod? Kasi kanina ka pa tumatakbo sa isip ko! (Baduy. Nakita ko lang sa TV)"
Or downright gross,
"Mamaya ka na mag CR! I tried to cover the smell pero... palipas ka muna ha? Baka iwan mo na ako ng tuluyan kapag naamoy mo eh."
Today was our third wedding anniversary and I've been leaving him notes all day.
"Mister Pogi, date naman tayo mamaya?"
He replied, "Huy grabe ka! Dadalhin mo ako sa motel?! Sige!!!"
Another note went,
"I have a surprise for you!"
His reply, "Hohmaygahd! Kinky ba 'to?"
Ang kulit talaga eh.
But yes, we still managed to make each other laugh... well, mas napapatawa niya ako but we laugh and kahit anong problema namin, as long as we can laugh and still like each other after a fight, we feel like we'd make it.
The other night we fought because our house smelled of bagoong that I cooked to go with my mangoes and he got so annoyed. He didn't mind eating it, he just didn't want the scent that lingered.
"Ni naman! Ang baho! Pati yung polo ko amoy niyan."
"Eh di okay? I'm craving for bagoong. Come here nga, I'll taste you."
He looked like he wanted to get mad pa, but the harot took over. "Hmph. Pasalamat ka I like you."
Kunyari pa, ang bilis naman nawala lahat ng damit.
I am now at the restaurant where we had our first blind date. Who'd have thought we'd last? But I'm very, very happy we did.
But now, it was time for someone new.
"Hi Ni! Kanina ka pa? Sorry natagalan, ang tagal nung ka-meeting ko eh. Dami pang sinabi."
We ordered dinner and ate peacefully. During dessert, he handed me an envelope. Opening it, I found a property title. "Ethan?"
"The house is ours now. Fully paid na yung bahay thanks to my promotion."
"Oh my goodness! Congratulations, my love!"
He beamed at me. "Thank you! Nasaan na gift ko?"
I laughed and handed him an envelope as well. Opening it, revealed a photo I had printed of a stick with two red lines which I captioned, "I hope you'll love me even if I have mabaho poops like you."
Ethan looked stunned. "We're..."
"Yes!"
He pulled me closer and hugged me. "Oh my god! Oh my god! Ako? Magiging daddy ako? Ni, puro kalokohan yata maituturo ko sa baby natin!"
"Hahahahaha okay lang. Wag lang sana yung singing voice mo ang makuha. Kawawa eh."
We laughed again.
He looked at the photo. "Wow. Baby. Wow."
"Yes. Happy?"
He nodded. "Yes. Extra happy, alam mo bakit?"
"Why?"
"Kasi hindi mo dinala yung stick and hindi ko kailangan hawakan yung wiwi. JOKE LANG, NI! JOKE LANG!"
The End
