Cinderella is Gay (EDITING)

Special Chapter # 2

YOHAN'S POV

FINALLY.

Ito na siguro ang happy ending na matagal ko ng inaasam. Isang happy ending kasama ang taong mahal ko. Isang happy ending na akala ko ay imposible. But, hey, if there's one thing I've learned in the past ten years: nothing is impossible. Habang nabubuhay tayo, life would never run out of surprises. Palaging may unexpected twist na gugulat sa atin. Kaya we should never stop hoping, dreaming and believing. Dreams, no matter how impossible they can be, do happen.

   Kagaya ngayon. Sino ba'ng mag-aakala na maglalakad ako sa isang aisle habang nakaabang si Phil sa dulo? Yes, it's finally happening. We're finally getting married.

   Ginanap ang wedding ceremony malapit sa waterfalls na nasa loob ng kagubatan kung saan ako dinala ni Phil noon. Medyo weird pakinggan pero sa tulong ng wedding coordinators at mga kaibigan namin, nagawa nilang romantic at magical ang ambiance ng lugar. The wedding was exclusive to close friends and family members only. There were fairy lights everywhere habang nagkalat ang mga rose petals sa nilalakaran kong aisle. There was a band playing the song Realize habang naglalakad ako. Kitang-kita ko ang waterfalls na nasa likod ng altar. May nakatutok na lights roon which complimented the ray of the setting sun.

   Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa bouquet habang papalapit ako sa dulo ng aisle. Nakatitig ako kay Phil na teary-eyed na nakatingin sa akin. Napansin kong tinapik siya ng mommy niya.

   I was wearing a pink tuxedo habang may nakapatong na flower crown sa ulo ko. Phil, on the other hand, looked dashing in a black suit. When I finally reached the end of the aisle, sinalubong niya ako ng isang mahigpit na yakap.

   "I love you," he whispered.

   "I love you, too."

   Magkahawak-kamay kaming nagtungo sa altar kung saan naghihintay ang judge. Hindi legal ang same-sex marriage sa Pilipinas. Kung tutuusin, wala ring silbi ang pagpapakasal namin legally speaking. But we're marrying each other not for legal matters, but to make a promise that we'll stay beside each other forever. The constitution may not recognize our marriage, but for us, it's more than real. It signifies our undying love.

   Everything was a blur. Halos wala akong narinig sa sinabi ng judge at hindi ko na rin halos napansin ang bawat detalye ng ceremony. It was just too overwhelming and surreal. Hindi ako makapaniwalang ikinakasal na nga kami.

  "Yohan, I still can't believe that we're here now, enjoying this wonderful moment, after everything we've been through. No'ng pinakawalan kita, akala ko hindi ka na babalik sa'kin. I have messed up and hurt you a lot of times. Pero pinatawad mo ako at minahal ulit."

   "Correction, I've never stopped loving you," singit ko na ikinakilig ng mga tao sa paligid.

   "Same here," natatawang sagot ni Phil bago ipinagpatuloy ang vow niya. "Honestly, hindi ko talaga alam kung paano gumawa ng vow. Kaya I didn't come prepared. I'm just saying whatever my heart is telling me to say. I love you more than you'll ever know. Hindi ako magsasawang sabihin sa'yo na hindi ako deserving sa pagmamahal mo pero patuloy kong patutunayan ang sarili ko. One day, I'm going to be worthy of your love. I'd make each day with you a happy moment that we'll cherish until we grow old. So, wear this ring..." dahan-dahan niyang isinuot ang singsing sa daliri ko, "as a symbol of my love and loyalty. I promise to love you on our happy days, and to love you even more during our rough times."

   Habang nakikinig sa vow niya ay hindi ko na napigilan ang pagbuhos ng luha ko. My heart felt like it would burst because of too much happiness. Tears of joy kept on flowing and I found it useless to wipe it away because it just won't stop.

   "Akala ko ba wala kang script?" biro ko ulit which made everyone laugh. Kagaya ko, umiiyak na rin ang mga tao sa paligid. "I don't know what to say. I have prepared a vow, but I think I'm going to disregard it and just say whatever comes out of my mouth. Tutal, alam mo na naman kung gaano kita kamahal. I have loved you since we were in highschool. Kahit kailan, hindi rin ako tumigil na mahalin ka. Believe me, I've tried to unlove you so many times but my heart never gave me its cooperation. Maybe because I wasn't supposed to stop loving you...because we're meant to be together. I still can't believe all of this, and I really hope this isn't just a dream. This can't be a dream, or else, I'd rather sleep forever." Tawanan ulit ang lahat.

   "No, you're not dreaming, babe. This is really happening."

   "I'm so glad to know that. Now, nasa'n na nga ulit ako? Ah, basta. I promise to keep on loving you. Kagaya nga ng sabi mo, I will love you during our happy days and I will love you even more during the rough days of our relationship. We're the stronger and better version of ourselves now. I am pretty sure we can survive whatever challenges we may face. And yes, I am definitely excited to spend forever with you. It's not going to be easy, but I know it's going to be worth it." Isinuot ko rin ang wedding ring sa daliri niya. "Phil, I am so happy and honored to be your life-time partner. I guess we're stuck with each other, and I'm definitely not complaining. This ring will remind us of how much we love each other and that we should always fight for our love no matter what."

   "You may now kiss each other."

   Nakarinig kami ng sigawan at sipol mula sa mga tao sa paligid. Sabay kaming natawa.

   "Hi there, my Cinderella Husband," he teased me bago ikinulong ang mukha ko sa mga kamay niya.

   "Cinderella Husband? Ang corny, ah."

   "Ang corny, ah."

   "Ang cute nga, eh."

   "Ewan ko sa'yo. Kung anu-ano na lang talaga ang naiisip mo."

   He smiled and gently claimed my lips. Napapikit ako at tumugon sa halik niya. It was soft and sweet. Halos mabingi kami sa palakpakan at sigawan sa paligid but we didn't stop kissing each other. Unti-unti iyong lumalim until we were both breathless. It was by far the best kiss we've ever shared. It was our first kiss...as each other's husband.

   Kung isang fairytale ang kwento namin, ito na siguro ang part kung saan mababasa ang mga katagang "and they lived happily ever after." Pero hindi isang Disney movie ang kwento namin. Our wedding wasn't the end of our lovestory. In fact, I think our story has just started...