Our First Sunset (A Novelette)

Chapter 9-Home

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"That was perfect, Asha! It suits you.."

I can't help but to feel overwhelmed as I heard my soon-to-be mother-in-law praised me. Today was my final fitting of the wedding gown. We've only had few months of preparation for the marriage. Yes! I wanted it simple but it was never easy as well.

"Thank you, Tita." I responded and gave Tita Alia a genuine smile.

"Anak, I'm sure that you'll be the loveliest bride on that day. I can't wait to see you walking down the aisle." My mom went near me with a tear on her eye.

They are the one who accompanied me for the gown-fitting. Everything was all set! Ang araw na lang ng aming kasal ang hinihintay. Jaire seems to be busy a few weeks ago pero sinamahan pa rin niya akong ayusin ang ilang detalye para sa kasal namin.

"Thank you, mom. I'll be the happiest too because finally, I'll be marrying the man I love." I said with too much emotions on my voice.

Mas lalo silang lumapit sa akin at hinaplos ang likod ko. Hindi na napigilan ni mama na mas lalong umiyak habang si Tita Alia ay emosyonal na nakangiti sa akin. Sabay pa naming pinagmasdan ang simple wedding gown na napili ko. It was a puff sleeves style floor length gown with a conservative design. The details are very simple and prestige because I want it to be in a neutral visual. It was pure color white with tiny beads, small cuts of diamond and stylish knit on the upper part of the gown.

"Asha," a voice called me.

Kaagad ko 'yong nilingon. It was from Tita Alia. Nakaalis na kasi si mama kanina at nasa shop pa rin kami na pagmamay-ari ng designer ng gown ko. I smiled at her when she seated beside me on the couch.

"Tita..."

"Salamat sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sa anak ko, Asha. I am happy na ikaw ang papakasalan niya. Hindi ko siya nakitang ganoon kasaya noon. Para sa isang ina, wala akong ibang hangad kungdi ang maging masaya ang mga anak ko sa taong pinili nilang mahalin."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagiging emosyonal na siya ngayon maging ako. Nitong mga nakalipas na araw, halos emosyonal ang mga tao sa paligid ko. I don't know! Maybe they were just happy for us that we'll be settling down. Or they just can't believe that someone made me feel like I needed a companion. Siguro naisip na nilang tatanda akong dalaga dahil sa mga standards at expectations ko noon. Pero hindi ganoon ang nangyari dahil natagpuan ako ng tamang pag-ibig.

"Salamat din po sa pagtitiwala, Tita." I looked straight onto her eyes. "Jaire and I were both grateful that we have supportive parents especially you. Since day one, you were so happy for the two of us. Hindi ko man laging nasasabi pero sobrang swerte ko po na mahal din ako ng ina ng lalaking pinakamamahal ko."

Tita Alia held my hand firmly. Hindi rin nagtagal ay pareho na kaming naluha sa sitwasyon namin. Niyakap lang niya ako nang mahigpit habang paulit-ulit na sinasabing nagpapasalamat siya na hindi ko iniwan ang anak niya. Na ako ang babaeng pinili nito upang makasama habang buhay.

"Hija, wala na dito 'yong hinahanap mo. Magta-tatlong taon na ata magmula nang umalis siya diyan sa pwesto niya."

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang sagot ng isa sa napagtanungan ko dito sa Quaipo church. Binalikan ko ang matandang nanghula sa akin noon tungkol sa magiging kapalaran ko. Sadly, that fortune teller wasn't there anymore. Gusto ko pa naman siyang makausap upang sabihing nagkamali siya dahil papakasalan ko na ang lalaking pinakamamahal ko. I could say that she's wrong because someone stayed by my side for the longest time.

"Ganoon ho ba. Sige po, Salamat na lang." iyon na lang ang nasabi ko at nagpaalam na sa kanya na sa tingin ko ay isa ring manghuhula doon.

Aalis na sana ako nang pigilan niya ako sa pamamagitan ng isang salita.

"Tama!"

Napalingon ako sa kanya at tiningnan siya. Mukhang may naalala siyang isang bagay base na rin sa reaksiyon niya.

"Po?"

Mas lalong lumapit sa akin ang matandang babae. Pinagmasdan pa niya ang aking mukha tila kinikilala ako.

"Sa pagkakaalala ko ay nabanggit niya sa akin noon na may isang babae siyang hinulaan ilang taon na ang nakakaraan. Sabi pa nga niya na posible itong bumalik at mukhang ikaw 'yon, hija." Aniya at sinuyod pa ulit ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

I didn't say anything and remained speechless. That fortune teller still recalls my existence that time.

"Bilin pa nga niya na kapag bumalik ang babaeng 'yon eh sabihin kong walang maaring magbago sa mga nakatakdang mangyari. Na may dahilan raw ang lahat kung bakit iyon ipaparanas sa'yo. Ang kailangan mo lang ay maging matatag at kuntento sa buhay na pinili mo."

I gulped. Ayaw ko na sanang paniwalaan dahil nagkamali naman siya. Papakasalan ko na nga si Jaire a few days from now eh. How could they say that I can't be happy with the person I love? They are wrong.

"Thank you po pero ako pa rin po ang gagawa ng kapalaran ko. I won't rely it with any superstitious beliefs nor hunch. Thank you but I just came here to say that she's wrong. Magiging masaya po ako sa pag-ibig na pinili at pinipili ako. Salamat na lang po at kung makikita niyo siya ulit eh pakisabi pong bumalik ako. Iyon lang. Alis na ho ako." Tuloy-tuloy kong sabi at bahagyang ngumiti bago tuluyang umalis sa lugar na 'yon.

Hindi. Walang kahit na sino ang makakapagsabi kung ano lang ang mga bagay na makakamit ko. I should be the one who directs my own life. I'll never let anyone dictates my future because I have the power to control it.

I choose to be happy and be in love again. I will always choose the best thing for me especially a peace of mind that I'll consider as my greatest treasure. No one has the right to say about my fate because I have my own free will to live my life the way I wanted.

"Mahal..."

Naalimpungatan ako sa mga magagaang halik at bulong sa aking mukha. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mata. I saw Jaire's usual grin while staring at my face. He seems genuinely happy while caressing my hair. I smiled sleepily. I guess it's been eleven thirty in the evening and it was quite late. I thought he won't visit me at my condo unit today because tomorrow during the sunset will be our wedding day.

"Asha," he uttered with his low voice.

Nanlalabo pa rin ang paningin ko dahil sa antok pero nagagawa ko pang maaninaw ang kanyang maamong mukha.

"Jaire, why did you visit me this late?" I asked using my sleepy voice with my eyes half-open.

I heard his short chuckle until I felt another soft kiss on my forehead. He usually does that ever since we became together. He'll let me sleep first before he went on his own condo unit.

"I wanted to see you, Asha. I miss you so much."

I smiled again because I felt how my heart skipped a beat with his statement. He never fails to make my heart flutter all the time.

"I miss you more, love. I'm so excited for tomorrow." I replied.

I heard his laughter again but it seems to be fading on my ear. Tila dinadala na akong muli ng antok. Isa pa ay ayaw ko ring mapuyat dahil bukas ang wedding day namin.

"I'll go back to sleep now, Jaire. Tomorrow we'll be at our home. No need for us to be separated. Love... we'll live on our house starting tomorrow. The day we've been waiting for.." I slowly mumbled with my eyes closed and almost half-awake.

Jaire kissed my forehead again and felt his tear on my cheek. I smiled until I felt a warm hug from him. Slowly, I went back to sleep but still heard the last words from him.

"I am at home now, Asha. I love you always... don't ever forget that."