BHO CAMP #8: The Cadence

Chapter 40: Always

"Just make sure you can handle me." I whispered.

His eyes flashed with want as a smile curved his lips, "Hinahamon mo ba ako?"

"Are you taking the challenge then?"

His lips parted as if he was about to speak when out of nowhere Athena materialized beside us. Sabay pa halos kami napatalon ni Thunder palayo sa babae na ngayon ay masama ang pagkakatingin sa aming dalawa.

"Kanina pa kayo tinatawag sa baba halos mapaos na ang MC!" malakas na asik niya.

"Oops." bulong ko at tinignan si Thunder na napapangisi na lang sa tabi ko.

Nagpalipat-lipat sa amin ng lalaki ang mga mata niya at nameywang na tinaasan niya kami ng kilay. "Mamaya pa ang honeymoon niyo. Kung may balak kayong tumakas ako na ang nagsasabi sa inyo na magaling akong tumakbo kahit naka-heels."

Natatawang inagkala ko ang braso ko sa kaniya at hinila ko na siya papunta sa grand staircase kung saan dapat namin gagawin ni Thunder ang grand entrance namin.

I got every part of my dream wedding right except finding a location for the reception. Hindi kasi madaling humanap ng lugar na sa tingin ko ay perpekto gaya sa naiimagine ko. A grand ballroom as if crafted straight from fairy-tale.

Athena found this place for me.

It's in Hillcreek Gardens, Tagaytay. The place looks grand with it's royal-like staircase, and vast space perfect for my big family surrounded by arch type windows from floor to ceiling where we can see the magical nature enveloping us.

Pinigilan ako ng babae nang akmang igagaya ko siya pababa ng hagdanan, "Hindi ako dito baba. Kayo lang ni Thunder."

Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang asawa ko na tinapunan ako ng ngiti bago mag-isang nauna na sa amin sa pagbaba. Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakakapit ko kay Athena at wala na siyang nagawa nang tuluyan ko na siyang hilahin doon.

"It's a bride and groom grand entrance, Hera!"

"It's a grand entrance that I rehearsed since I was five in our villa's stairs with my fancy glass slippers." Nakangiting tumingin ako sa kaniya habang dahan-dahan kaming bumababa, "Sa pagkakatanda ko ikaw ang lagi kong kasama sa ilang beses na 'yon."

"I was a stand-in for your future groom."

"No. You're my best best best friend. We used our mothers' make-up to have the messiest make-over ever, we have princess gowns, and cute heels that we made our parents buy for us. Then we'd go down the stairs waving as if we have an audience kahit kadalasan mga kapatid lang naman natin iyon na hindi tayo pinapansin sa mga trip natin. We spend hours playing princess and they usually find us asleep still wearing our gowns. So if I'm going to have that grand princess entrance now, I want to do it with you just like how we practiced before."

Kita ang sari-sari na emosyon sa mga mata niya dahil sa sinabi ko. I may be the crybaby one these past few months because of everything I went through, but Athena mastered that to perfection since she was a baby. "I hate you!" she hissed when tears clouded her eyes.

"You love me." I said with confidence. "I'm your best best best friend."

Athena was practically bawling when we reached the end of the stairs. Naaaliw na nakatingin sa amin si Thunder na nasa baba na at iniintay kami. Inangat niya ang dalawa niyang kamay sa direksyon namin ni Athena pero tanging ako lang ang umabot sa kaniya. Athena was plastered to my side, her arms wrapped around me.

Pumapalakpak na nakatingin sa amin ang mga bisita namin na kaniya-kaniya na rin sa iyakan. Panigurado naman na alam nila ang dahilan kung bakit isinama ko si Athena. They all watched how Athena and I grow. They all witnessed the mayhem that we created and how we both stayed beside each other through thick and thin.