Tinignan ko si Ate mula sa salamin.
"Pangit ba?" tanong niya at saka sumimangit.
"Hindi ah. Ang ganda mo kaya!"
Nagpout ulit siya. Kahit nakasuot na siya ng veil, ang ganda pa rin niya. "Kinakabahan ako."
"Bakit naman?"
"Hindi ko alam."
*knock knock knock*
"It's time!" Sigaw ni mommy mula sa pintuan.
Napatindig naman si Ate. "Hindi ko ata kaya."
Nanlaki mata ko. "Oh. Ano? Runaway bride ganun?"
"Hindi. Ano lang..."
Lumapit si Mommy sakanya at hinawakan yung braso niya, "You'll be fine. We've talked about this before."
"David?"
"He's already there."
Tumango si Ate at nagsimula na kaming lumabas ng hotel. Sa Malate church si Ate ikakasal at nakacheck in naman kami sa Manila Hotel. Dito din gaganapin ang reception.
* * * * *
"Karen. I can't do this." bulong ni Ate sakin habang hinawakan ng mahigpit ang braso ko.
"Ate. Huy. Kalma. You'll be fine."
"Pano kung madulas ako? Pano kung makalimutan ko yung lines ko? Pano kung.. Pano kung.."
"Sssh." Sinensyas ko na nakikinig si Mommy at tumahimik naman siya.
"Pag naglalakad ka na sa aisle, si David lang makikita mo, swear."
"Aba. Bakit mo alam?"
"I read books, ate."
"Fiiiine."
"Okay. Kristina. We've run through this before. We don't have many guests. So you'll be fine." Lumabas si Mommy ng kotse at tinulungang lumabas si Ate. Inaayos ko naman yung gown niya.
Sinimulan kong ayusin yung gown sa likod niya at si Dad naman at si Mommy pumwesto sa tabi niya. Binuksan ko yung church doors at nagsimula na ang music.
*Canon in D Pachelbel plays in the background*
Ang ganda ng simbahan. I mean, maganda naman talaga siya pero nagmukha siyang maliwanag. Kalahati ng simabahan nasasakop ng mga guests. Madami.
Nagsimula nang maglakad ang mag-anak na nag-ampon sakin. Ako sa likod nila.
* * * * *
"Do you David accept Kristina Ayala to be your lawdully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"Do you Kristina Ayala accept David to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
* * * * * * *
"I devote to you all of me. I promise to cherish you in every single way, to protect you and baby PJ to always show you that you are loved and to make you feel like you're the happiest person in the world. I will always love you faithfully, through good times and bad times, in sickness and in health. Till death do us part. As long as we're together."
"I love you. I always have. I promise to be a good and loving wife, to always tell you that I love you and to appreciate you in everything you do. I vow everything that I can give to you will be given to you. I promise to not yell at you if you go back home late. I will always love you for eternity, through good times and bad times, in sickness and in health. Till death do us part. As long as we're together."
