Touch Me More (More Trilogy #1)

Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

CZARINA cannot contain her excitement. Tinulungan siya ng yaya at ng madrasta niya na suotin ang wedding dress niya. It was a simple white dress adorned with real sea pearls. The sleeves were loose and the trail was only a meter.

"I can't believe you're getting married, hija," mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ng madrasta.

Siya din ay hindi makapaniwala! Bari had prepared everything for a week. Hindi na nga sila umuwi ng Manila. They have decided to marry on that little town in Bukidnon.

Sinimulan na siyang ayusan ng make up artist at hairdresser

Pumasok ang Papa niya pagkatapos. Malaki ang ngiti nito habang nilalagay sa ibabaw ng ulo niya ang flower crown. The flowers were freshly picked from their own farm.

Tumayo si Czarina at niyakap nang mahigpit ang ama at madrasta. She'll miss them and their whole house. Bari wanted them to move out of the village after they get married. May nabili daw kasi itong condo unit na mas malapit sa trabaho nito. Bari wanted to start a family their. Although, puwede pa rin naman sila umuwi sa Salt & Light Village kung saan sila unang nagkakilala at naging malapit na magkapitbahay.

Anyway, the wedding will just be a simple ceremony to be held in their flower garden.  Bilang lang din ang imbitado. They wanted it to be peaceful and private. Next time na lang nila haharapin ang mga kamag-anak. Magpapakasal din daw sila sa isang simbahan sa Manila.

Inalalayan siya sa pagbaba ng Papa niya. Yaya Salome held her trail from behind. And when the doors to the garden opened, a wedding song was played and she saw her love over there... at the end of the flowery aisle, waiting for her.

Bari was wearing a black tuxedo. He shaved and his hair was newly cut. He looked way younger than his age. Ang Mama lang nito ang kasama nito at isang pinsan na Gideon daw ang pangalan. She doesn't know why his father was not present but she doesn't care at all.

Napakapit siya sa braso ng ama nang magsimula na siyang magmartsa palapit kay Bari. She was too overwhelmed by the feeling. Parang may kung anong lumilipad sa sikmura niya at ang puso niya ay hindi na mapakali sa paglundag.

At twenty, she's marrying the man she has been dreaming of and praying for.

She saw brides that were crying when they march. But Czarina was smiling widely. Excited to be inside Bari's arms and be with him for this whole lifetime.

Nang mas malapit na siya ay nakita niya ang pamumula ng mga mata ni Bari. Bigla itong tumalikod. That Gideon guy chuckled at his cousin. May binulong ito at pabirong sinuntok ito ni Bari sa braso.

Anong nangyari kay Bari? Pagkahinto niya sa mismong harap nito ay nag-aalalang hinaplos niya ang braso nito.

"Bari?"

Napakurap si Czarina nang pagharap nito ay pinupunasan nito ang mga luha.

What the! "A-Are you crying?" bulalas niya.

Gideon chuckled again. "Napuwing lang daw siya."

Tumikhim si Bari at nakipagkamay ito sa Papa niya. Niyakap at bineso naman siya ni Tita Bella.

"Please, take care of my boy," bulong nito. "He's been through a lot and... you're the only one who made him this happy. Take care of him, hija. Please," Tita Bella was almost begging.

She reassuringly smiled at her mother-in-law to-be. Tumango siya at niyakap siya nitong muli.

Saka lang na-realize ni Czarina na wala pa pala siyang masyadong alam sa pamilya ni Bari except the facts that he only shared. She doesn't know his childhood. She doesn't know his relatives at all. Habang ito ay kilala na ata maski ang imaginary friend niya noong mas bata pa siya.