NS 09: LUST TOUCHED ✅

Chapter 22

Love shelters pain. Pain defines love. That is when real happiness becomes heartbreaking.

Under the shower of cherry blossoms on that sunny morning in Toyama, Ghaile and Jellyann strengthened their vows. She is wearing the traditional white Kimono styled wedding gown, embellished with diamond sunflowers and a large lacy ribbon made of cultured oriental pearls.

The wedding is private and only a handful of their friends were there to witnessed. Her parents, Anton and Janina. Sa mga kapatid ni Ghaile, sina Athrun, Vladimir at Lyam lamang sa commander's guild ang naroon. Raxiine, Rayven and Rajive for the interims. Raynd represents the specialists. At sa mga babaeng Andromida, ang dumalo lamang ay sina Safhire, Glen at Mayee.

Hindi na kailangan ng eksaheradang dekorasyon ang Sakura garden ng manor kahit limitado ang espasyo niyon. Sapat lang ang mga punong hitik sa bulaklak at bawat ihip ng hangin ay umuulan ng mga talulot. Ang tunay na tanawin sa araw na iyon ay silang nasa harap ng altar sa gitna ng kanilang mga bisita at nanunumpa ng walang hanggang pag-ibig sa isa't isa.

"This world is not made for us and we are not made for the world. So then, let us create our own, where no more walls to break and our love binds everything around us. A love that would conquer a thousand horizon and still finds its way back to us. In this world of ours, you don't have to look for anything behind and anyone beyond, you only have to focus your eyes on me as I am to you. I love you, Jellyann. You're the only world I needed to live for."

Jellyann swallowed the thorn in her throat. She saw the sincerity in his eyes. His devotion and the manifestation of his loyalty in every word he spoke. When she heard about the truth from Peter Falcon, she was stuck at a dead end and the only choice left for her is to breakthrough in order to escape. But Ghaile won't give her the freedom and now she knew why. He wants his love to set her free from the destination designed for her.

Ang tunay na kaligayahan ay masakit sa puso. Iginawad ni Ghaile sa kanya ang halik para silyuhan ang kanilang sumpaan at niyakap siya nito ng mahigpit. The short reception followed. With the pictorials, cake and wine rituals then the dance at the make-shift pavilion in the middle.

"Ang ganda pala ng lugar na ito," manghang sabi ng Papa niya habang isinasayaw siya nito. "Hindi ko lang masyadong napagtuunan ng pansin doon sa mga litratong ipinasa mo sa cellphone. Mabuti at naisip ninyong dalawa ni Ghaile na rito gaganapin ang kasal."

"Gusto po kasing burahin ni Ghaile ang minsang pangit na naganap dito," sagot niyang ngumiti sa ama. Natanaw niya si Athrun na papalapit sa kanila.

"Can I have the bride for a dance?" Yumukod ang lalaki katulad ng isang prinsepeng hinihingi ang kamay ng prinsesang gustong isayaw.

Inilipat siya ng kanyang ama sa mga bisig ng lalaki at banayad siya nitong tinatangay kasabay ng malamyos na musika.

"Are you happy?" hindi niya napaghandaan ang tanong na iyon mula kay Athrun.

Pero tumango siya nang walang pagdadalawang-isip. Mula sa sandaling iyon at sa mga darating na panahon, puso niya ang kanyang papakinggan at gagamitin. Tulad ng ginawa ng asawa niya.

"Ghaile told us everything. This is how our family remained solid all these years," his voice is gentle, still veiled with authority.

Sumulyap siya sa gawi ni Ghaile na nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa ni Athrun habang kausap nito sina Lyam at Vladimir.

"I came from the blood of terrorists," mapait niyang pahayag at binawi ang mga mata mula sa asawa.

"We cannot discount the truth of your origin and even if we wanted to change it, we can't. We can only try but it will come to us like a recurring illness. The best thing we can do is embrace who we are and be the master of our fate. Your husband is rebuilding himself for you. That takes a lot of struggle. But you give him the kind of love that has more value than his past. That way, his life ahead will be easier."