Burnt Traces (Esquivel Series #1)

Epilogue (Part 2)

          AS I was walking down the aisle, I heard Mommy's cry beside me. She was whispering me some sweet words that will surely guide me to the new chapter of my own book— the married life.

Everyone is here. My friends, Cymon, even Celeste who flew from U.S. Naaninag ko na ang napakagwapo kong mapapangasawa. He was grinning ear to ear while staring at me again. He's eyes will forever be fixed on me, that's for sure.

The song, Tiny Dancer, was sang by Royce together with his band. I didn't know that he sings this good. Hindi na kami nakapagkita pa dahil naging busy din ito sa kaniyang lumalagong career. I heard that his band is already famous worldwide.

On the right, I saw Dayla and Lala waving at me teary-eyed. Nabigla rin ang dalawang ito sa biglaang imbitasyon ko. They didn't expect that I will be married sooner. I smiled back. I'm constantly crying since I stepped on this holy church. I cannot believe that I will finally marry the man of my dreams.

Biglaan ang lahat. After he proposed to me, Heiron immediately appointed the wedding the next week. The jerk already planned our wedding ahead of time!

After that, he faced my family bravely. At doon ako humanga nang husto sa kaniya. He fought for me to the very end. Mommy didn't support us first. She hated Heiron and the Esquivels so much.

"I am not pro to this marriage, Heiron. Paano ko masisigurong hindi mo sasaktan ang anak ko?" Aniya. Lolo was just listening beside her.

"I'm willing to give everything for her. Kung gusto niya ang buwan, pati siguro 'yon ay kukunin ko para sa kaniya. If you know what I mean, madame." Heiron pulled me closer to him. Mommy glanced at me and it seemed like she was satisfied by his answer.

"What are your plans for the company?" I frowned at Lolo's query. Hanggang ngayon ay kompanya pa rin ang kaniyang iniisip.

"Lolo, I had already told you that—" He stopped Cymon mid sentence.

"Stop, Simon. Ang tinatanong ko ay si Herion at hindi ikaw." Cymon glared at Lolo kaya napailing na lamang ako. I looked at Heiron. Nakangisi itong sinagot si Lolo.

"Cymon and I already have an agreement sir. He did not want to give the company under other's hands so he proposed an agreement." Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay. Ngayon ko lang maririnig ang katotohanan tungkol sa kasunduan nila. I wonder what was it?

"The agreement was that he will consent me to pursue his sister again if I will take care of the company for the mean time. I'm not really interested on the company. What I am interested in is your granddaughter." Humalakhak nang malakas si Cymon. I was too shocked to suck up that thought.

"You did that?!" He's a bigger jerk than Heiron.

"I told you, that's how business works." He winked at me while grinning.

"I was also willing to help her get it back. Alam kong gusto niyang makuha ang kompanya so if I am bound to marry her, then I will give it back to its original owner." Napaawang ang bibig ni Lolo habang tumatawa pa rin si Cymon. Mommy was glaring at Cymon, probably couldn't believe how her son became an absolute manipulative asshole.

I also wanted to meet his family but Marife strongly declined. Mukhang tutol na tutol siya sa aming dalawa. Though, I already accept that. Hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay matatanggap kaagad kami. It takes time to heal. It takes time for people to accept certain things and I fully respect that.

She didn't attend the wedding but his father, his cousins, his brother and sister did. Alam kong nalungkot siya dahil wala ang kaniyang ina sa pinakamahalaga niyang araw.

"Ate, you look very beautiful." Puri ni Sumaila bago nagsimula ang kasal. She grew into a beautiful young adult. Manang-mana sa kaniyang mga kapatid. I missed her so much and this occasion made us meet once more.

"Nagtatampo talaga ako sa'yo nun ate kasi you left the country without even saying goodbye," she pouted.

"I'm so sorry." Naluluha kong pagpapaumanhin. Ngumiti lamang ito sa akin at umiling.

"I know you have your reason. Ang mahalaga ay nandito ka na at ikakasal na sa kuya ko." We hugged each other tightly after that.

Heillon Esquivel was patting his son's shoulder and gave him a hanky. Hindi ko inakalang iiyak ito sa harap ko. He was trying to fight back the tears and I can't help but laugh at his idiotic yet handsome face.

Nang nakarating na kami sa altar ay inilahad na ako ni Mommy sa kaniya. Heiron was smiling intently while looking at me.

"Take care of her." Aniya Mommy. I kissed her cheeks and wiped her tears. Hindi pa rin siya humihinto sa pag-iyak.

"I will, ma'am." She smiled at us for the last time. Tumalikod na siya at umupo.

When Heiron and I is the only person on the altar together with the priest, I noticed how his eyes turned bloodshot.

"You're so beautiful." My cheeks abruptly turned red when he complemented me.

"You looked dashing as well." He really looks good on a tux. Ewan ko ba. Siguro lahat ng damit ay bagay sa kaniya.

"Can't wait to kiss you." Bulong niya. Hindi ko mapigilang matawa.

Yes, finally. I am marrying Heiron Cinco Esquivel. Looking back, I was the faulty teenager who fell in love with a man that was out of my league. Siya iyong hinahangaan nang lahat. Also the very first man who rejected me.

Ever since he came into me on that certain coffee shop, my life became a roller coaster ride. The subtle art of love was painted on our canvass and I could not ask for more. I guess that robbing incident was a blessing in disguise. Kasi kung hindi iyon nangyari, we will probably never meet and I will never grow.

He was my salvation and I was his cross that he's willing to sacrifice.

Of all the things that I had learned from him, the most remarkable ones is that; Love should be freeing and takes a lot of sacrifices.

I had once been in pain. I experienced the cruelty of life's masterpiece. Isang araw ay nagising ako at inakalang hindi na ako magmamahal ulit. I lost my belief in love but destiny has its eccentric way of twisting both of our fates.

I burnt the love that I thought would never be in my reach. Sinunog ko ang pagmamahal gamit ang nagbabagang apoy ng galit. Pilit kong kinalimutan lahat. But who would have thought that the traces would lead me back to him?

"I love you, Mrs. Esquivel," he said as he raised my veil and kissed me with his honey lips.