If I Didn't Break Your Heart

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

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Masyadong mabilis. By the end of next month, I found myself walking down the isle where my Tita Elena will be married. Abay ako at si Aidan ang partner ko.

Kulang ang salitang awkward. Mula kasi noong ipakilala kami sa isa't isa, never pa kaming nag-usap. Masyadong tahimik si Aidan at kahit gusto kong maging friendly sa kanya, napangungunahan ako ng pagsusuplado niya.

It was a garden wedding. Kami lang ang abay. Tanging malalapit na kamag anak at kaibigan lang ang imbitado. Tita Elena wanted an intimate ceremony.

"Wala talagang kaibigan yang tiyahin mo, Mavi. Biruin mo close friends and relatives. 100 guests lang pero invited kami ni Kia? Wala na yatang maidagdag sa share niya sa guest list." si Sammie nang bisitahin ako sa dressing room kasama si Kia bago magsimula ang ceremony.

"You're so mean! Tapos ikaw naman ang pinaka maraming makakain sa reception!" Kia said which sent us three into laughter.

"I asked her to invite you both. Late si Rigo at wala akong masyadong kilala sa mga bisita. So I requested that she add you on the guest list." paliwanag ko.

Hindi makakarating si Rigo sa ceremony, pero hahabol siya sa reception. May training siya sa umaga kaya after pa noon siya makakasunod sa venue. Tita Laurene was invited too. But she was out of the country since last week at hindi pa makakauwi sa sobrang abala. She sent a gift, though.

Rigo is not one bit happy about Aidan. Aniya ay hindi maganda ang first impression niya rito. And knowing that I will be living with him and Tito Alex from now on makes him uncomfortable.

Mabait si Tito Alex. Palaging nakangiti. Ibang iba sa anak niya. Talagang mukha lang yata ang nakuha sa kanya ni Aidan. I like him. But more than anything else, gusto ko siya dahil nakikita kong mahal niya si Tita. I have never seen my Tita this happy noong kaming dalawa pa lang.

Kinausap ako ni Tita Elena noon sa pangambang tutol ako sa pag-aasawa niya. And I cannot find it in me to be one bit against it. She deserves to be happy. She has done so much for me at hindi ko ito kayang ipagkait sa kanya.

College pa lang pala siya ay schoolmates na sila ni Tito Alex. They have known each other for a long time. Annuled ang kasal nito sa mama ni Aidan na may sariling pamilya na rin ngayon.

Looking at her, as she walks teary eyed down the isle made my heart swell in happiness. Masaya ako para sa kanya. Hindi ko na maalala ang tunay kong ina. And though they have the same face, whenever I think about the word "Mom", it has always been Tita Elena that comes to mind. She has always been the mother figure in my head.

I am so happy that even though it has been late, love has found her, nonetheless.

Ang pag-ibig pala, wala talagang pinipiling panahon.

Hindi mo ito kailangang hanapin.

Dahil ito ang maghahanap sa'yo kahit ayaw mo.

Kahit hindi ka handa.

O kahit napagod ka ng maghintay.

Maswerte pala talaga ang ilan na maaga pa lang, nahanap na nila yung taong para talaga sa kanila.

May ilang tao kasi, they would spend a lifetime and never feel the love they truly deserve.

I know my Tita Elena is a strong and capable woman but I also know this.

I know that this love she has now,

this love that she never saw coming,

is the love that would fill a void that she never knew existed,