Green Jumpers

CHAPTER 23

AVI's POV

Gusto kong ibalita sa inyo na nagkabalikan na kami ni Charles pero hindi yun ang nangyari. Hindi ganon kadali. We need more time. We need more space. Bakit? Kasi 10 years is not a joke. Alam ko na wala s'yang kasalanan pero hindi kasi ganon sa totoong buhay. You both need to heal from the past. 

And besides natuloy s'ya pauwi ng Australia and it's a year since then. 

"Ella. Kamusta sales kahapon? Sorry I may inasikaso lang kasi ako dun sa lilipatan naming bahay e" Sabi ko kay Ella the moment na maibaba ko yung bag ko.

"Ay sus. ganyan ba talaga kapag ikakasal na? ayieh!"  Biro naman sakin ni Ella

"Sira! Kailangan ko lang talaga na ayusin yun bago ang kasal. Kesa wala kaming matirahan after ng kasal diba? hahahahahahaha" Sagot ko naman sa kanya.

And Yes. I'M GETTING MARRIED! Hindi ko din akalain hahahahahaha. It's been 6 months since he proposed and grabe ang bilis ng panahon, in 2 weeks ikakasal na ako.  Sobrang excited ako.

"Ano nalang ba ang kulang sa bahay n'yo?" 

"Kami nalang hahahahahaha. May mga gamit na dun. Most of them are bigay hahahahahaha. Buti nalang at mababait ang mga tao sa paligid namin. Ang laking tipid ha" Sagot ko kay Ella.

Actually, hindi pala ganon kadali ang bumili ng bahay. Bukod sa mahal e andami pang kailangang papers. Yung pangalan nung bahay ililipat pa sa'yo yung titulo and so on. Nakakahilo tapos meron pa akong kasal na inaasikaso. Tapos may coffee shop ka pang pinapatakbo. Pero dalawa naman kami ni Ella dito so mejo kaya naman.

Totoo pala yung sinasabi nila na babae talaga ang hands on sa kasal. Kasi nakakainis. Alam mo ba, after n'ya mag-propose, ako na lahat umasikaso. Sa sobrang pagod ko nga last time, sabi ko "Mukang ayaw mo naman atang ituloy tong kasal e! Wag nalang kaya nating ituloy!" Aba ang mokong tinawanan lang ako. Pero kung nag-oo s'ya e naku naman magtago na s'ya sa kadulo duluhan ng mundo.

"Kelan ba uwi n'ya?  Ang lapit na ng kasal n'yo a. Hindi pa uuwi si Stephen?" Tanong sakin ni Ella.

"Bukas uuwi na 'yun don't worry with his parents. Alam mo naman, nagkaproblema yung business nila dun diba?" Sagot ko kay Ella.

"Aba dapat lang. Lahat e excited na sa kasal n'yo. Mabuti na 'yung sure tayo na uuwi talaga s'ya." Praning praning talaga 'tong si Ella e.

After 5 hours, umuwi na ako sa bahay namin. To meet my parents and of course my little brother Jacob. Hays. Eto ba talaga ang feeling ng ikakasal? Sobrang mixed emotions. Nandun ako sa part na finally, ikakasal na ako kay Stephen. Sa iisang bubong na kami titira pero andun pala yung lungkot knowing na aalis ka na sa bahay na tinirahan mo for 25 years of your life. Kailangan mo na ding iwanan yung parents mo. 

Palitan ang mga ID's mo from Single to Married. Yung last name ko hindi na  Domingo kundi Agustin na. And hindi na din si Mommy yung nakalagay sa Emergency Contact ko. Yung asawa ko na. Si Stephen na.

Thinking about those things makes me happy and sad. Ang laking adjustment pala talaga. 

Nakarating ako sa bahay namin. For 5 minutes, nakatayo lang ako sa labas.  Wala tinitignan ko lang s'ya. Thank you for 25 years. Huminga ako ng malalim at pumasok na sa loob.

Mga bandang 7pm na din nun. At pagbukas ko ng pinto, nagulat ako kasi lahat sila nakaayos. Sinalubong ako ni Mommy ng yakap.

"My sweet little girl is getting married" Sabi n'ya at alam kong umiiyak na din s'ya. Napalingon ako sa kaliwang side and I saw the love of my life. Stephen holding a boquet of flowers standing there while smiling. He's so handsome in here very simple attire. Black plain shirt and jeans with nike shoes and white cup. Oppa! Charot. 

Today is there formal pamamanhikan. Hindi ko alam pero I started crying. I waited this for so long. Both of our side are very happy. Including his lolo. Sir Agustin. 

I was wipping my tears when I dad grab my hands and ask if he could dance with me for the last time of being Domingo. 

Cinderella by: Steven Curtis Chapman

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

We begin to dance. And ito yung mga sinasabi n'ya while were dancing

"Avi my little girl is neary getting married. I remember you being so little. Your first cry and the fisrt time I saw you, I saw the love of my life. I saw my purpose when I saw you.

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying"Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing

"I worked hard for you. Sleepless nights just to give you the best of life. To give you not only what you need but also what you want. ALL OF IT! Hindi baling wala na ako, basta meron ka. Basta hindi ka mahuli sa mga kaibigan mo. Ang sa tingin ko naman ay naibigay ko 'yun sa'yo.

Oh, please, Daddy, please"So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Habang sumasayaw kami ni Daddy, hindi ko na mapigil ang mga luha ko. Tuloy tuloy na ito sa pagpatak. Grabe talaga magmahal ang isang ama. I love you Daddy!

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of her dress
She says,
"Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

"Kaya nung pinakilala mo sakin yung mapapangasawa ko, ang sabi ko, eto na. Eto na 'yung kinakatakutan ko. Kukunin ka na sakin. Kukuhain na yung kaisa isang prinsesa ko. Pero dahil mabuti naman itong bata, ibibigay ko ng buong buo ang kamay mo sa kanya at sa pamilya nila. 

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be goneShe will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says,
"Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

"Akala ko ready na ako, pero nung nakita ko na may sing sing ka na, dun palang nag-sink in sakin na matanda na ang daddy mo anak. At kailangan na kitang pakawalan. Mahal na mahal kita Avirae. Nag-iisa ka para sa Daddy. In 2 weeks, you're no longer Domingo but you will always be my daughter.

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Natapos na ang kanta. Nagpunas ng luha si Daddy bago kami lumakad papunta kay Stephen.

"Charles. Buong puso kong ibinibigay ang anak ko sa'yo. Iningatan ko 'yan kaya ingatan mo din. At kung dumating ang panahon na malungko ts'ya at wala na ako dito, ikaw na ang bahala sa kanya ha? Iparamdam mo sa kanya na mahal na mahal ko s'ya. Kinuha mo sakin yan kaya wala kang karapatan na ibalik okay?"

Lalo akong naiyak sa naging message ni Daddy kay Stephen. And yes, Stephen is Charles. Stephen Charles Agustin ang totoong pangalan ni Charles since what happened between him and Emma. Isa yun sa naging way para maitago s'ya. So he's no longer Charles but stephen. MY STEPHEN.

At yung hindi kami nagkabalikan? Eme lang 'yun. Nagkabalikan kami after 6 months then he proposed to me and of course, I said YES RIGHT AWAY. 

Bakit pa namin patatagalin kung we have God na nagsabi na para kami sa isa't isa? God is the main reason why we are here, getting married in 2 weeks.