Love Until It Hurts (Monteverde Series 4)

21

Chapter Twenty One

The Wedding

            Love destroys, but love also heals.

            My father kept on inculcating that in my mind when I was a kid. I never understood him and the things he taught me about love, until I fell in love with Zade.

            Napapikit ako ng mariin bago ko tinignan ang sarili ko sa salamin. My make-up was done beautifully and my hair was tied up in a traditional wedding bun. I should be happy because in a matter of minutes, I will be walking down the aisle and seeing the love of my life, but the hollowness in my heart is blotting the bliss.

            It's not supposed to feel like this.

            Weddings are not supposed to hurt like this.

            I waited seven months, pero ngayon na nandito na ako, nakasuot na ng wedding gown at nakakaayos na ay hindi ako makaramdam ng kahit na anong saya.

            Sinapo ko ang mukha ko dahil naiiyak na naman ako. My eyes were swollen. Buti na lang at makapal ang belo ko kaya hindi makikita ang mukha ko mamaya. I don't want Zade to see that I had been crying. I don't want him to see how puffy my eyes are.

            Unti-unti akong tumayo sa kinauupuan kong stool para hindi kumirot ang mga binti ko pero sinalakay pa rin ako ng matinding pagsakit nito. Hindi pa tuluyang magaling ito pero pipilitin kong lumakad ng tuwid papunta sa altar mamaya.

            This is my wedding day, and I want to walk down the aisle while staring at Zade in front, waiting for me to reach the altar.

            Pumasok ang isang babae sa dressing room. Tinitigan niya ako at nagtagal ang tingin niya sa mga mata ko. Siguro ay nagtataka siya kung bakit mukhang namatayan ang bride. She scrutinized me but I didn't offer any explanation.

            "Ma'am, nandiyan na po ang bridal car niyo sa labas," saad niya. Lalapit sana siya sa akin para alalayan ako pero umiling ako. "I can manage, thank you."

            Kahit mabagal at pangiwi-ngiwi ay nakalabas din ako. I saw the white car that was waiting for me. Mapait akong napangiti. Nang makasakay ako rito ay nilingon ako ng driver. His eyes were familiar and burning.

            "Are you sure about this?" he asked me while his jaw twitched from all the pent-up emotions. I know him well enough to determine that he does not agree with me.

            Tumango ako. "Alam mo naman ang sagot ko, 'di ba? Matagal ko na itong gusto. I'm not going to back down," I answered. "Nothing you say will convince me otherwise."

            He pressed his lips together before nodding. Iniabot niya na sa akin ang belo at bouquet. I wore my veil and sighed. He kept silent while driving at a slow pace. It was as if he was waiting for me to change my mind. But I won't, I never will.

            Sa wakas ay narating na namin ang simbahan. Nagsimula ng bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Para itong lalabas sa katawan ko dahil sa sobrang pagkabog. It was deafening me with its loud beating.

            "Goodluck," the driver said before he fixed me with a final stare. He didn't let any expression take over his features. "I wish you happiness."