Play Pretend

Chapter 30

Muli akong natawa. "I won't. Thank you."

Ngumiti si Hariette sa akin saka nilingon si Macy. "Let's go?"

Macy nodded, but before they left, she turned to me and said, "Uhm, congrats, Chantal."

"Salamat..." nag-aalangan kong sabi at nagsumikap ngumiti.

Mabuti na lang at umalis na rin sila agad matapos magpaalam. The wedding would start in fifteen minutes, and I didn't want to spoil my mood. Kinakabahan na ako dahil sa kasal. Ayaw kong magkaroon pa ng karagdagang negatibong emosyon.

In a span of ten minutes, naging abala ang photographer na kuhanan ako ng pictures. He already took pictures of me while getting ready, pero dapat kasama rin daw ang paghihintay ko. I smiled for the camera while most shots were candid. Sumaglit din ang sikat na videographer na kanina pa nagvi-video. Madami-dami siyang pinagawa sa akin para mas maging maganda ang kalabasan.

Tumigil nga lang sila nang dumating na si Karylle, ang aming wedding planner and organizer. I was surprised to see her with my mother and Tito Lucio. Ang usapan ay si Mama lang ang susundo sa akin kaya naman nagtaka ako na naroon din ang ama ni Xaiver.

"Tito..." Tumayo ako upang salubungin siya. "May problema po ba?"

Tito Lucio chuckled and shook his head. Sinulyapan niya si Mama na tumango sa kanya bago itinuon ang atensyon sa akin. "Well, I told Malou that I could walk you to my son with her... If that's fine with you... Of course, I don't want to—"

"Gusto ko po 'yon," putol ko sa kanya.

Halos mapunit ang aking mga labi dahil sa sobrang laki ng ngiti. I couldn't believe he volunteered to walk me down the aisle. Alam kong kadalasan ay ang ama ang naglalakad sa kanilang babaeng anak papuntang altar. And for Xaiver's father to do that for me, pakiramdam ko'y parte na talaga ako ng kanilang pamilya.

"Thank you po, Tito..." I felt a sting in the corner of my eyes. The wedding had not started yet, but I already got a bit emotional.

"No need to thank me," he said as he took a step forward. "You are family. I considered you my daughter the moment Xaiver introduced you as his bride-to-be."

I bit my lip and couldn't help but hug him. I was both grateful and guilty at the same time. Kung sana ay totoo lang ang lahat...

"There, there..." Tito Lucio gently patted my back. "You might ruin your hair and makeup. Ayaw kong mapagalitan ng anak ko dahil pinaiyak ko ang asawa niya."

Napangiti ako sa kanyang biro saka bumitiw. Lumapit sa akin si Mama at inabot ang bouquet ng camellias. Nalipat doon ang buong atensyon ko at nanatili ng ilang segundo nang biglang napaisip.

From the pendant of the necklace he bought at Hariette's charity ball and the engagement ring, I realized that camellias have been a huge part of our journey. Kaya naman noong tinanong ako ng aming organizer kung ano ang gusto kong bulaklak na gamitin para sa kasal, I chose camellia instead of my favorite flower.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko pa nga alam kung bakit. I should be avoiding the flower instead of embracing it and making it a symbol of our complicated relationship, but I still did.

"Are you ready?" tanong ni Tito Lucio nang makarating na kami sa dalampasigan.

We were standing a few meters away from the altar. Since the beach was very open, sa pinakamalapit na beach casita kami nakapuwesto. Doon din ako inayusan kanina at nagbihis. Ngayon ay nasa terrace kami habang naghihintay na magsimula ang seremonya.

Nakikita ko agad ang kakaunti naming bisita. There were only three rows of seats, left and right. Sa kabuuan ay less than twenty lang ang bisita namin, kasama na ang media. Most guests came from Xaiver's family. Nandoon ang pamilya nina Hariette at Knoa at pati na rin ang malapit na kaibigan nila ni Knoa. Mr. and Mrs. Dizon were also invited.