"Hija, are you ready?"
"Yes, dad!" I answered my dad nervously. Today, I will be marrying someone I barely know. Ngayon ko pa lang siya makikita sa personal. Sa araw mismo ng kasal namin.
"You are so beautiful, hija".
"Thanks, dad". I hugged him and he hugged me back.
"I know you'll be happy with Luca. He is a good man and I know he will take care of you".
"Sana dad, and sana happy si mommy ngayon".
"She will, anak. This is her dream, after all. Let's go!"
My mom died 3 years ago because of bone cancer, I was still eighteen years old then. Ever since I was still in high school, my mom always wanted me to marry her bestfriend's son, Luca Matteo Monte Verde. Ayoko naman talaga sa fixed marriage na yan lalo na't hindi ko talaga kilala ang lalaking yon. But when I saw his picture in the internet, I can say that he's not that bad, huh. Doon nagsimula ang crush ko sa kanya, although hindi ko pa siya nakikita sa personal since nasa state siya nag aaral. Kaya sa internet ko lang siya nakikita and I don't know anything about him at all. Gusto kasi ni mommy na after I graduated college dapat ikakasal na ako sa anak ng best friend niya na si Tita Olivia. Kaya heto ako ngayon, naglalakad patungo sa altar to marry my virtual crush at reality na ngayon. I prayed to God that I will not regret my decision, to be with the man whom I'm not sure if he is happy about this marriage.
For the first time, nakita ko na siya sa personal at malapitan. He look really handsome with his black tuxedo. He is just watching me walk down the isle without any emotion visible on his face. Parang wala lang sa kanya, hindi ba siya na amaze sa ganda ko? Maganda naman ako ah. The way he stare, kinakabahan tuloy ako nang sobra especially when he's closely standing beside me already. I smelled his perfume, lalo tuloy akong nininirbyos. Bakit ba kasi ang gwapo niya at ang bango pa. Nakakaconscious naman to, hindi ko tuloy namalayan that the officiating minister already asked me question. Kung anu-ano lang kasi iyang iniisip mo.
"Issa Tazanna , do you take Luca Matteo Monte Verde as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?"
"Uh-mm, yes po father".
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride".
OMG! this is it! My first ever kiss on the lips! And he then tilt his head to kiss me. For just 1 second.
Bakit ganon lang yon. Para di na man yun ang iniexpect ko sa first kiss ko.
Pagtapos, we both face the visitors and smile. Ay! Ako lang pala.
"What!", he snapped while nakasimangot.
"Uh-mm, no-thing". Nauutal kong sagot. Bakit parang di siya masaya? Bakit parang ako lang tong may gusto sa kasal na to! Am I really going to survive in this loveless marriage? How?
