I woke up looking at Chef's Park dreamy eyes. May konting galos ang mukha niya pero nagliwanag nang makita niyang nagising na ako. Tiningnan ko ang paligid. Nasa room ako ng isang ospital. I pinched my cheek to check if totoo nga ba ang lahat o panaginip lang pero naramdaman ko ang sakit ng kurot ko. I am alive. Chef Park is alive and here we are looking at each other's eyes.
"Babe, thank God you are awake. Are you feeling better now?" Hinawakan ni Chef Park ang buhok ko at di ko na napigilang humagulgol sa iyak. Sino ba namang hindi? Ang akala ko kung ano nang nangyari kay Chef Park, ang lalaking pinagdasal ko nang matagal. Nag flash back ang lahat ng mga memories namin together ni Chef Park lalo na yung mga panahong one sided love pa lang ang meron sa amin. Laking pasasalamat ko sa Panginoon na buhay si Chef.
"Babe, I am alive. Praise God. Surprisingly, I just got some bruises. Papunta na sana ako sa church but I was told you are rushed in this hospital." Hinawakan ni Chef Park ang kamay ko at nilagay sa puso niya. He showered my hand with light kisses bago ako hinalikan sa noo. Amoy ko ang tamis ng pabango ni Chef and I could not help it but imagine waking up everyday next to him, sayang nga lang at di pa yun mangyayari bukas ng umaga dahil nga heto at nasa ospital ako. Bakit ba naman kasi ako nahimatay pa?
"I'm sorry Babe, we had to postpone the wedding. Di ko alam, nahimatay na ko nang malaman kong may nangyari sa yo." Inalalayan ako ni Chef Park sa pagtayo sa hospital bed at inabutan ng Orange Juice. He checked on my temperature na para bang doctor bago tumango tango na para bang nagsasabing okay na ako.
"Babe, what matters is you are feeling better and I am also not badly hit myself. It's just nine in the evening. Do you think I can bring you to the hospital chapel? So we can pray there?" Uminom din ng orange juice si Chef Park at inayos bahagya ang buhok niya. I saw him messaged someone on his phone pero di na ko nag tanong pa dahil most likely, its about our expansion. Napag desisyunan kasi namin ni Chef Park na after our wedding, we will go to Korea for our honeymoon but at the same time, process our papers para sa isang branch ng Chef Park doon. Hitting two birds in one shot baga.
"Oo naman Babe. We have to give praises to the Lord. Safe ka, safe ako at magkasama tayo. Magsuklay lang ako saglit pwede?"
Tumingin sa wrist watch nya si Chef Park at di napigilang mapangiti. Kung bakit, hindi ko alam pero ang alam ko lang, masaya akong we are both safe and will pray together.
"Babe, okay na yan. You look as beautiful as you are. God does not look at our physical appearance, you know that very well. So, let's go?"
Di ko na nagawa pang magsuklay. Inayos ko na lang ng kamay ko ang buhok ko at muling uminom ng orange juice.
Tama si Chef Park, God looks at the heart. Physical beauty will fade away but not the beauty brought about by God's love.
***
Magkahawak kamay kaming lumabas ng room ng hospital at naglakad papuntang chapel. Tahimik lang kami pareho at kahit di namin sabihin sa isa't isa, alam namin na pareho kaming nanghihinayang sa mga nangyari. We planned for this wedding for so long but I guess, hindi talaga lahat ng plano natin natutupad. I mean for sure, we will be able to plan for our wedding and rebook everything, sayang nga lang yung gastos and hindi ko alam if lahat ng invited ay makakapunta pero ang mahalaga, safe si Chef Park at kasama ko na siya ngayon. Marami na kaming pinagdaanan and this is just another test of faith and we will not falter.
"Shall we get inside?" Nakangiting tanong ni Chef Park sa akin. Dahan dahang binuksan niya ang pintuan ng chapel at doon bumungad ang di ko inaasahan. Buo ang pamilya ko pati ang mga kaibigan namin ni Chef at ilang kamag-anak niya. Si Pastor David ay nasa may altar at naghihintay sa amin. Naghiyawan ang mga tao lalo na si Jaja na tuwang tuwang makita ako. I was really surprised at di ko inasahang matutuloy pa rin ang kasal namin ni Chef.
"Hi Chef Park, hiramin ko muna tong si Chai ha."
Chef Park let go of my hand at si Jaja naman ang humawak sa kamay ko.
"Friend, hello. I re-touch lang kita saglit ha, lagyan lang kita ng lipstick para maganda ka lalo sa picture." Natatawang sabi ni Jaja. Niyakag muna nya ako sa tabi bago inayusan ng mukha. Chef Park went ahead to the altar at doon na naghintay.
***
"Ayan, perfect ka na Chai! Punta na muna tayo sa CR para makapag bihis ka ng wedding dress mo unless gusto mo yang hospital gown mo ang suot mo sa kasal."
"Jaja, grabe, totoo ba ang lahat ng ito?"
"Friend, bawal umiyak. Masisira ang make up mo. Bilisan na rin nating magbihis para matuloy na ang kasal, grabe besh. Excited na ako sa reception!"
***
"Babe, our love story has a lot of ups and downs and turnarounds, this is the reason why even if we will not exchange our vows in the venue we initially planned, I decided to push through and I am sorry for that. Sorry that I had to rush all of these Chai, I just could not imagine waiting for more days to call you my wife. Thank God for giving me this opportunity that I could not let go. Saranghae. "
Hindi agad ako nakapag salita nang matapos si Chef Park sa kanyang wedding vow. It was short, simple and sweet. I, too, could not imagine waiting for more days to call him my husband.
"Babe..."
"Chai, babe, I am not done yet with my vow. Let me finish."
Nagtawanan ang lahat ng nasa chapel, kahit si Pastor David ay di ring napigilang mapangiti.
Maya maya pa ay inabutan ni Sir William si Chef ng gitara at nagsimulang tumugtog ang lalaking pinakamamahal ko and started singing one of my favorite songs.
When the visions around you
Bring tears to your eyes
And all that surrounds you
Are secrets and lies
I'll be your strength
I'll give you hope
Keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call
Was standing there all along
Hinawakan ni Chef Park ang kamay ko at hinagkan bago binitawan para tumugtog at kumanta ulit.
And I will take you in my arms
And hold you right where you belong
'Til the day my life is through
This I promise you
This I promise you
I've loved you forever
In lifetimes before
And I promise you never
Will you hurt anymore
I give you my word
I give you my heart
This is a battle we've won
And with this vow
Forever has now begun
Hinawakan ulit ni Chef Park ang kamay ko bago nag bow at nag mwestra na parang isang Kpop Idol. Tawang tawa ako at kilig na kilig sa ginawa ni Chef. First time kong makakita ng groom na kumakanta during the wedding ceremony.
"Now it's your turn, Babe. Let me listen to your vow, and just promise me, do not leave me Babe, please."
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