Villa Martinez Series #3: Addicted To You

Epilogue

Epilogue

Husband and wife

Lou

Dito rin kami kinasal ni Jake sa Villa Martinez. Kung saan din unang nagkatagpo ang mga landas namin. Naalala ko pa rin at hindi ko na siguro malilimutan kung paano kaming dalawa nagsimula. Nagsimula lang kami sa gabing iyon that brought us together and then after he found me again and we got closer to each other. That was how it started. Akala ko pa nga noon hindi na mangyayari sa akin 'to na ikakasal pa ako. Hindi na sana ako maniniwala na sa bawat tao, sa bawat babae ay may nakalaan din na para sa kaniya. Naisip ko pa nga noon na baka talagang tatanda na lang akong dalaga. But Jake came into my life and we happened.

"Ang ganda!" ngumiti ang make-up artist nang matapos niya ang ginawa sa mukha ko habang nakatingin din sa akin.

Napangiti ako. Abala ang mga tao rito sa villa ko sa pag-aayos sa akin. Naghahanda na rin si Jake sa isa pang hiwalay na villa. Nandito na rin sa island lahat ng mga imbitado namin para sa aming kasal. I still can't believe that I'm really getting married today! Noong bata pa lang ako pinangarap ko rin naman ito, ang maikasal s'yempre sa lalaking gusto at mahal ko. Kaya nga lang noong naiisip ko na tumatanda na ako it also became blurry to me... Until today! I am really getting married to the man I love, Jake. We are really for each other.

Marami na rin kaming napagdaanan. I was patient with him and he changed too for me and our son, and for the better. I know he will be a good husband to me and father to our children in the future to come. He's my future. Napangiti ako habang tinitingnan din ang sarili sa salamin sa harap ko. Ang galing nga din ng pagkaka-makeup sa akin. Parang iyong no makeup makeup look. Simple lang pero maganda at fresh tingnan ang mukha ko.

"Mars!" pumasok si Sanna sa villa at may inabot sa aking letter na alam ko nang galing kay Jake. I smiled automatically and received it. I opened the letter.

I also have a letter for him. Sinabi ko lang doon sa letter na nagpapasalamat ako na dumating siya sa buhay ko at na mahal na mahal ko siya. Dito naman sa letter niya ay parang ganoon lang din ang sinabi niya sa akin. I'm always thankful for your patience. You loved me despite my flaws and imperfections. Your love for me is flawless. It's perfect. I don't think I could ever get another who can love me the same as much as you have loved me. I love you so much, Lou. I love you with all of my heart, my love. I can't wait to finally meet you at the altar. We will start our forever now. The letter said. Napangiti ako at medyo naging emosyonal na rin. It's already enough for me that he appreciated all of my efforts for him. Napangisi na lang ako sa pag-iisip kung g-in-oogle pa ba ni Jake ang mga sinabi niya rito sa sulat. Pero mukhang hindi naman. He's the sweetest. I cannot wait to marry him either.

Nag-picture pa kami at ganoon din naman si Jake sa mga groomsmen din niya. We were both happy on our wedding day. Tapos ang cute cute pa ng anak namin na may bowtie habang karga din ito ni Jake at naghihintay ang mag-ama ko sa dulo ng s-in-et na aisle sa mga buhangin ng Villa Martinez. I think this is it. Pareho kami ni Jake na nakangiti sa isa't isa habang unti-unti ako palapit sa kaniya. He gave Karlo to his Dad when I was near. Hinagkan ko rin ang anak ko and I also kissed Jake's parents cheeks as they welcomed me to their family. Ngumiti ako sa Mommy ni Jake. She looks sincere. I think finally she's accepting me. Ina na rin ako. At bilang magulang ang gusto lang naman natin ay ang best para sa anak natin. Somehow I get to understand Jake's mother, too. Alam kong mahal na mahal lang din nito si Jake lalo at only child lang din nila ito. Alam ko dahil mahal na mahal ko rin si Karlo.

We became emotional, too. Bahagyang humigpit ang hawak ni Jake sa kamay ko at pareho na kaming humarap sa magkakasal sa amin. Nangingiti na rin kami tuwing sumusulyap sa isa't isa while the wedding ceremony is going on.

"I, Juan Karlos Montañez, take you, Maria Lourdes Cañete, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. Lou..." Jake's eyes became a bit bloodshot with tears. I kept the smile on my face because I was really happy to be married to him. He's so gorgeous in his wedding suit. "You're the most beautiful person I have ever met," bumaling pa siya sa Mommy niya na nakaupo roon at nakangiti rin kaming pinagmamasdang ikasal ng anak niya. "aside from my beautiful mother too, of course." Bahagyang napatawa ang mga invited namin. Ngumiti lang naman ang Mommy ni Jake at nailing. Nakangiti rin ako. Jake was holding my hands as he continued after sighing his overwhelming emotions. "You are beautiful, love, you are beautiful inside and out."

"I'll forever be grateful of the kind of love you have for me. I'd like to think that it is rare, and it is. I know not everyone is capable of the love you have given me. Your love is patient... It is kind... it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs..." he repeated the verse that was also read to us a while ago. He smiled handsomely. Ngumiti rin ako at nagsimula rin sa vows ko naman para sa kaniya. "I love you." he said sincerely. 

"I, Maria Lourdes Cañete, take you, Juan Karlos Montañez, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith... Jake," I looked into his eyes. "I didn't thought this day would still come to me... But you came into my life and we happened." I smiled. Ngumiti rin si Jake habang nakatingin lang sa akin. "And now we're here." I smiled more. "I love you." I said. 

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Finally.

Nakangiti kami ni Jake sa isa't isa and then we claimed each other's lips and sealed our beautiful vows with the kiss that tasted forever...

Naghiyawan pa ang mga kaibigan namin nang nagtagal din ang halikan namin. Nasobrahan pa yata at may mga bata rin sa venue so we stopped kahit medyo kulang pa rin nga sa amin iyon. Mamaya na lang ulit. At sa honeymoon din namin. Bumaling na kami ni Jake sa mga bisita at parehong may malaking ngiti sa mga labi. Everyone was clapping their hands for us.

I know this is not the end yet. Because I still have a lifetime with Jake. But this is the start of that lifetime with him. And I know that it will be beautiful despite the trials that we would still face as a married couple now. Alam kong malalampasan din namin iyon as long as we have faith in each other. As long as there is a love in us that is stronger than any challenge that will test us.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is another ending to Villa Martinez Series! Series 4 will be posted soon. Thank you so much, readers! I am praying for everyone's safety. I hope in this times of as if neverending trials... Sana ay napapangiti ko rin kayo kahit konti sa mga sinusulat ko. I am trying to give entertainment through my works at the same time sana ay may natutunan din po kayo, have faith in Him and don't lose hope. Malalampasan din po natin itong lahat. And remember to be kind, for everyone has a battle to fight... God Bless everyone.