My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

Finalé: Mira

Ako lang siguro ang bride na ihahatid sa altar ng dalawang tatay.

"Baby girl, ready ka na ba?" nakangiting tanong sa akin ni Papa. "Paglabas mo mamaya mula sa simbahang ito, ikaw na si Mrs. Mirathea Montevilla."

"Opo naman, Pa. Ready na po ako," confident na sagot ko sa kanya. Medyo kinakabahan, oo, pero keri naman with matching hair flip!

"Sure ka, baby girl?" muling tanong ni Papa habang sinusubukan kong ayusin ang aking wedding gown at the last minute. Wala naman talagang problema sa aking damit-pangkasal and in fact, it's perfect — fitted through my hips, flitting out in gorgeous waves to the floor, a lengthy train behind me. But the most dazzling thing about it was how it looked pure white at first glance, but when light fell on it, nag-iiba ito ng kulay. My gown was made of this luxurious fabric that turns from white to a very subtle hue of pink when drenched in light.

"Ted, baka naman lalong kabahan ang anak natin sa kakatanong mo," natatawang komento ni Dad.

"Naniniguro lang ako, Arkin. Baka mamaya niyan, mag-ala runaway bride itong baby girl natin," biro naman ni Papa. "Kawawa naman si Vren 'pag nagkataon."

"Pa, kakapanood mo na lang po ng mga pelikula, kung anu-ano na ang pumapasok sa isip mo," pagsakay ko sa biruan. "Bakit ko naman po tatakbuhan si Vren, aber?"

Pareho namang tumawa sina Papa at Dad. I've never been so happy in my life, seeing two of the most important men in my life getting along like old friends. I may be getting married and "given off" to my soon-to-be-husband to live with him for the rest of my life, but I will forever be Theodore Custodio's and Arkin dela Merced's loving daughter. Nothing will ever change that.

I took a deep breath just as the church's massive doors opened and the wedding march started playing. This walk, down the carpeted and flower-showered aisle, would change my life forever.

****

As we neared the altar, naramdaman kong pawala nang pawala ang kaba ko, lalo na nang makita ko na ang mga pinakaimportanteng tao sa buhay ko.

Nandiyan ang tatlo kong best friends na halos sabay-sabay na kumindat sa akin — Mavi and Hannah brandishing their bouquet of flowers and Alexia, giving me a flying kiss.

Then there's my immediate family — Mama, Mom, and Myron — na pare-parehong nakangiti habang pinapanood ang paglapit ko sa altar. Myron even mouthed, "Go, Ate!", kaya naman lalong lumapad ang ngiti ko. Mama and Mom were both shedding happy tears, leaning on each other.

Tumingin naman ako sa kabilang side ng simbahan, and the Montevillas' smiling faces greeted me — Ate Vira, Tita Vina, and Tito Armand. Then there were Juli and Miggie, whose excited expressions made me giggle. I caught a glimpse of Zac too, seating beside his Daddy Ervic while beaming at me. Nang makita ko ang pamangkin ko, may bigla akong naalala na agad na nakapagpalungkot sa akin — si Ate Bella.

Kung kasama pa sana namin ngayon si Ate Bella, this event would have been much more memorable. For sure, siya ang kukunin kong maid-of-honor, and I know she'll be more than happy to say yes. Kung nandito lang sana ang ate ko...

But then I willed myself to push the sad thought aside. Alam ko, kung nasaan man si Ate Bella ngayon, masaya siya dahil finally, nauwi na sa kasalan ang love story namin ni Vren.

And speaking of Vren, I finally allowed myself to glimpse my handsome groom, who was standing beside a grinning Vince, his best man. I caught a split-second's worth of nervousness in Vren's expression, and I knew I wasn't the only one faced with jitters. But when our eyes met, his face broke into yet the most dazzling smile I ever received from him. Seeing his affectionate smile, all traces of uneasiness left my system. I felt my whole body relax, my breathing turned even... all it took was just a smile from him, at heto, kalmado na ako.

Suddenly, it seemed as if no one else was here at all. It's just me and Vren.

We finally reached the spot where Papa and Dad were supposed to give me away. Una kong nilingon si Papa at binigyan ng isang halik sa pisngi, at ganoon din ang ginawa ko kay Dad. Pareho nila akong nginitian, at naramdaman ko na lang na kinuha ni Papa ang kanang kamay ko at inilagay sa nakalahad namang palad ni Vren.

The moment our hands touched, Vren instantly encased mine with his. Sabay kaming humarap sa altar, at naghintay na tuluyang magsimula ang seremonya.

"Hey, my beautiful bride," he whispered, leaning closer to me. His voice was gorgeous and his tone, somewhat mischievous and almost close to being flirty.

Napangiti naman ako. "Ini-expect mo bang tawagin kitang my handsome groom?" pabulong din na biro ko sa kanya.

Vren gave me a playful wink, chuckled, and we're both left smiling as the priest uttered his first words, officially marking the start of the wedding ceremony.

****

"I, Vren Andrei Montevilla, take you, Mirathea Custodio, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

"I, Mirathea Custodio, take you, Vren Andrei Montevilla, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

END