Broken Vow

4: The Newly Wed

“I, Elena D. Santiago, do solemnly swear to love you, Caleb T. Fernandez as my lovely wedded husband. To your ups and downs, during peaceful day and catastrophe, for richer and for poorer. I'm pledging my whole heart, body, soul and mind to you, Cal. I'll be forever faithful and will never leave your side no matter what it takes. I love you, now, until death do us part.” Elena delivered her vow as she slide the wedding ring into Caleb's finger.

“I, Caleb T. Fernandez, do solemnly pledge to love and to cherish you Elena D. Santiago as my lovely wedded wife. In front of this crowd, in front of our God, I promise to take care of you as best as I can. The moment I laid my eyes in you, wearing this exact same gown, I knew that you are the one, El. I will be forever grateful to God for giving me this chance to marry the most beautiful girl in the world. I will love you, El, until death do us part.”

Nakatingin lang sila sa mata ng isa't isa habang nagpapalitan ng kanilang mga hinandang vows. Elena couldn't hold back her sweet smile. Hindi nya inaakalang sa ganito sila hahantong. Before, Elena thought that wedding is nothing but a symbol, a representation of couples pledging their lives for each other. It is more than that pala.

Hindi lang pala ito basta seremonya. It's more than simply wearing this gown and walking down the aisle. It is so much more.

“...I now pronounce you husband and wife. Caleb, you may now kiss your bride.” Anunsyo ng pari na nagkasal sa kanilang dalawa.

Caleb and Elena look through each other's eyes. Both of their lips are in curve line, hindi nila kayang pigilan ang pagsilay ng labis labis na tuwa.

Slowly, Caleb lean closer. Naghintay lang si Elena sa paggawad ni Caleb ng halik. The kiss that will be the most remarkable one among all the kisses they've shared before.

“I love you so much.” He whispers when their lips are inch apart.

A teardrop escaped her eyes as she reply, “I love you too.”

The wait is over for Caleb because he already claimed her lips passionately. Everyone who witnessed their kiss flew to their feet with smile on their faces and clapping hands.

It should be a quick kiss pero hindi kaya ni Caleb na humiwalay agad sa labi ng dati'y nobya, ngayon ay asawa na nya.

Ang tatay ni Elena na si Eddie ay hindi mapigilan ang pagluha. Their first child is now married. Hihiwalay na sya sa kanila. She will build her own family soon. Time between them will be very limited pero masaya parin sya na naihatid man lang nya si Elena sa altar before he pass away.

Caleb broke their kiss at saka niya niyakap ng mahigpit si Elena.

“My wife... Finally I can call you that.” Bulong ni Caleb while nasa loob ng kanyang bisig si Elena.

After their wedding, sumaglit muna sila sa party bago bumyahe papunta sa Coron, Palawan for their honeymoon. Hinatid muna sila ni Clark sa airport dahil airplane or boat lang naman ang means of transpo papunta sa Coron. Syempre doon na sila sa mas mabilis.

Elena and Clark became really really close for the past years. Kahit pa secretary si Elena, para na rin syang boss dahil may assistant secretary ito na binigay ni Clark para gumaan ang trabaho nya.

“Pano ba yan, this is my boundary. Mag-iingat kayo, okay?” Clark told them.

Caleb pat his shoulder. “Thank you, Clark. I owe you big time.”

“Eww! I told you not to call me Clark! It's Cherry!” Ang kaartehang yon ni Clark ay nagoatawa sa mag-asawa.

Elena move forward at niyakap nya ng mahigpit si Clark. “Salamat, Clark. Sobrang masaya ako na nakilala kita.” She said while brushing his back.

“Girl you've got to give justice sa mga ginawa kong nighties para sa honeymoon nyo. I will be glad as fuck kung babalik ka na sira-sira silang lahat.” Pilyang pagsasalita ni Clark in his whisper level.

“Lokaloka!” Elena slap his shoulder when she lull off from the hug.

“Hala, sya sige. Enjoy your pulo't gata! As for me, babalik na ako para maghanap ng bebe na magagataan. Rrrr.”

Elena laugh hard dahil sa statement na yon ni Clark while si Caleb walang kaide-idea.

Bago pa lumipad ang ereplano, nagvideo call muna si Elena at si Jiselle kasama ang pamilya nila. She only ended the call when a staff approach asking to turn her phone off.

The wedding started at 8 in the morning, ang party naman 10 nag umpisa. After lunch, saka sila umalis ng Manila. Almost dawn na sila nakarating sa resort kung saan sila nagpa-reserved. As soon as she fell on the bed, nakatulog na sya sa sobrang pagod.

Caleb set their baggage aside. Kumuha sya ng malinis na panyo, he went to the bathroom and soak it wet. Nang mapiga nya ang towel, bumalik sya sa tabi ng asawa. He climbed on the bed and he started brushing off the rest makeup sa magandang mukha ni Elena.

Nang matapos malinisan ang asawa, he took her shoe off her feet. Inayos nya ang pagkakahiga ni Elena at kinumutan ng maayos.

Caleb took a real quick shower para maalis yung pagiging sticky ng balat nya. After refreshing himself, he remained topless, nakaboxer lang sya when he join his sleeping wife in the bed. He lulled hee real close at niyakap ng ubod ng higpit. Smelling her scent and feeling the warmness of her body made him feel so relaxed and peaceful. Nakatulog sya habang yakap ng mahigpit si Elena.

Nang magising si Caleb, mag-isa na lang sya sa kama at may suot na rin syang damit. He get his phone na iniwan nya sa sidetable kagabi pero dead bat naman. He look around hanggang sa mahanap ng mata nya yung kailangan nya. A digital clock is displayed next to the sidetable. He then realized na nag overslept na sya because it's already three in the afternoon.

Villa style ang napili nilang rentahan kaya may sarili itong balcony facing the sea. Doon ni Caleb nakita ang asawa. She's wearing a sweatpants now and a jacket. Nakayapak lang sya, and she seem to feed her eyes with good scenery.

Caleb walk slowly, carefully towards her saka nya ito niyakap from her back. He put his chin just above her shoulder.

Elena automatically smiled. “Good afternoon.”

“Why didn't you wake me up? Marami na sana tayong nagawa if I only didn't overslept.”

“Mahaba naman ang bakasyon natin. Mas magandang bumawi ng tulog, mas mahalaga ang health.”

“Kumain ka na?”

“Hindi pa. Hinihintay kita.”

Inalis ni Caleb ang pagkakayakap nya kay Elena and he spun her around.

“I'm not dreaming, am I?”

“Bakit? Hindi ka parin ba makapaniwala?”

“The wedding wasn't a dream, right? You're my wife now, tama ba?”

“Hindi ito panaginip, Cal. Lahat ng nangyari totoo. Kung may panaginip man dito, I think ikaw yun. Panaginip ko na nagkatotoo.”

Both of them are sharing sweet smile. It was just a matter of second when Caleb pulled his wife for a kiss.