One unusual morning, Janine woke up earlier than me. She wasn't beside me when I opened my eyes.
The days started blurring together.
At first, I tried to keep track. Monday. Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday. After that, I stopped counting. Everything felt too fast. I'd wake up, go through the motions, sleep, then wake up again like nothing had changed.
One minute it was just a couple of days. Then suddenly a week passed. Then maybe more. I honestly don't know anymore.
Dumiretso ako sa banyo at agad na naghilamos. I did my morning routine and changed what I'm wearing before going out of the room.
Nadatnan ko si Janine na nag aayos ng almusal. She was humming while fixing the plates.
"Ako na dyan," lumapit ako at tinulungan siya sa ginagawa.
"Good morning," she kissed the side of my head. "We'll go to your family." she said.
"You talked to Kyron?"
Kadalasan kasi, si Kyron ang nagpapapunta sa amin doon. It's either Kael misses us or it's mommy who wants to see us.
"Nope. Si mommy. Miss daw tayo."
"Okay, then. Mamasyal na lang tayo." I simply said.
Matagal-tagal na rin mula noong huling beses na umalis kaming lahat. Hindi naman kasi palagiang pwede si Janine.
"Nandon daw si Kendra," tukoy niya sa girlfriend ng kapatid ko. "Aalis na raw pa-Spain kaya humihirit din si Kyron na umalis tayo." She added.
"I already talked to Kyron about that. Mag almusal na lang muna tayo. Should we invite Reese?"
"She's with Belle. Bumabawi sa kanya." She shrugged both of her shoulders.
Nang matapos, diretso ligo na kaming dalawa. We're both wearing our comfortable clothes. Parehas kaming nakapantalon at polo.
Her large polo has some strand of pink lines while mine is a plain white polo with a black brassiere on the inside.
Maingat ang pagmamaneho ni Janine at titingin lang sa akin kapag nakahinto ang sasakyan.
"When we have our own family, we'll go wherever you want." She softly said.
"We'll travel abroad. At susuportahan ang magiging mga anak natin sa gusto nila." Iniabot ko ang kamay sa kanya nang maglahad ito ng palad sa akin.
I was daydreaming the whole ride. I'm just really happy with the thought of creating a family with her.
The wedding is still a month away.
That's what I keep reminding myself whenever the stress creeps in and settles deep in my shoulders. One more month. One more month of finalizing details.
Planning this wedding with Janine is beautiful, yes, but it's also draining in ways I didn't expect. There's pressure in every decision, weight in every detail.
We already planned things out. Kaya rin nagiging busy kaming dalawa.
Sometimes, in the middle of choosing flower arrangements or talking to the planner about table settings, I catch Janine's eye and see that same tiredness reflected in her.
We're doing this for us, yes, but we're also carrying so much more than just wedding plans.
We're carrying years. Memories. Expectations. A future. And sometimes, it's all just too much to hold at once.
"Oo nga pala," sambit niya nang hindi ako tinitignan dahil nakafocus sa daanan. "Jane recommended someone for the catering."
"Okay," I simply said.
BINABASA MO ANG
CAPTIVATED
General FictionEMPIRE SERIES #1 How do two hearts that once beat the same find their way back after everything broke? And if you're already okay now, living fully without them, is going back still worth it? This is a story of what stays, what fades, and what love...
