Sunset...
I have never been this happy in my entire life.
I was just dreaming before. Hoping and praying that maybe, someday, i will have my own ending. My very own happy ending. And now, it's already happening. I finally found my happy ending and i'm lucky because it's with him.
"W-why me?" Masaya man ay naguguluhang tanong ko, "Of all people, why do you have to marry me? Archer, eto lang ako. I cannot give you anything. I hate to say this, but i'm no good to you. I might just bring you down..." pahina nang pahinang bulong ko.
Hinawakan niya nang mahigpit ang kamay ko, "I have a lot of reasons in my mind just to marry you right now, Kiana, but the only perfect answer that i can give to you is my love for you. I couldn't care less about what you can give to me because what i only want for you is to spend the rest of your life with me. I wouldn't care at all about going down as long as i know that you are with me... Kiana, stop thinking of anything because to me, the only thing that matters now is you and our future together..."
Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa sinabi niya, pero hindi no'n nagawang alisin ang takot ko. Natatakot akong ako lang ang hihila sa kaniya pababa ngayong nasa tuktok na siya.
Mukhang napansin naman niya na hindi pa rin kumakalma ang puso't isipan ko kaya marahan niya akong hinila para sa isang yakap.
"Kiana, i have never been this sure in my entire life. Yes, i have thoughts about marriage and it's with another woman, but that's just because people around us are asking for it, but this time, i just know within myself that i wanna get married, finally, and it's only you that i want. When i'm still with Celine, marriage is not a choice for me, but if it's a marriage with you, i will gladly choose to marry you everyday because i am ready."
"Archer..."
"Before, it's my career only, but now, all i want is to settle down with you. Live the rest of my life to the fullest beside you..."
Tumulo ang mga butil ng luha ko. Until now ay mahirap pa ring isipin na 'yung taong pinapangarap ko lang noon, 'yung taong sinisilip ko lang noon, ngayon, pakakasalan ko na siya.
Marriage is not an easy thing to do. It is a lifetime commitment which you cannot just back out when you want to. Get married when you're ready, that's what they always said and that's what i'm going to do.
I am not marrying just because i love him. I will marry him because he's ready and i, too, is ready to commit with him. Our feelings for each other is not just a mere love because it made us ready to commit with each other.
Buong araw ko siyang hindi nakita. Simula paggising ko ay wala na siya sa tabi ko, gayunpaman ay hindi ako nakaramdam ng kahit na anong lungkot. Actually, mas nakahinga pa ako ng maluwag.
Nahihiya akong harapin siya dahil sa nangyari kagabi! I wasn't myself last night! Nakakahiya ako masiyado! Maharot!
But then my eyes went to my ring finger. My heart skipped a beat when i saw the large diamond ring. Unlike sa engagement ring na ibinigay ni Keifer, the diamond on this one is more extravagant, but i don't care about that. What matters to me is i have the ring from Archer.
Hindi ko kailangan ng magarang singsing. Hindi ko kailangan ng malaking bahay. Hindi ko kailangan ng kahit na ano dahil sapat na sa'kin kung ano ang mayroon ako. Ang tanging kailangan ko lang ay siya. When i'm with him, i'm fine with everything.
Parang kahapon lang, isa lang akong bata hanggang sa nakilala ko ang pamilya nila. Binigyan nila ako ng pamilya at natutunan kong mahalin ang anak nila. I am hopelessly in love with him, but now, he's gonna be my husband. My own partner in life.
I wonder if Tito and Tita already knows about this. First, Archer's confession. Second, his proposal. I'm actually afraid of the thought that they don't like me for their son, but i've got to do anything that i can. If Archer did everything just to be deserving of my love, then i must do the same as well with him.
"Kiana! Mabuti naman at nagising ka na!"
Napangiti ako kaagad nang marinig ang magiliw na pagbati ni Manang Flor, "Good morning po!"
"Kanina pa kita gustong gisingin dahil lalamig na ang agahan mo ang kaso nga lang ay napakasarap ng tulog mo!"
Agad akong nakaramdam ng hiya dahil sa sinabi niya. Alam kong wala naman siyang alam pero ako lang ang sadyang iba ang iniisip.
'Yung alaga mo po kasi, pinagod ako kagabi.
"Ahh, si Archer po?" Pag-iiba ko nang usapan.
"Maagang umalis dahil may importanteng lakad daw siya! Ikaw nga ay inihabilin sa'kin dahil aalis nga! Nako at mukhang ayaw ka pang iwanan!"
Matamis akong napangiti. Wala namang nabanggit sa'kin si Archer na aalis siya ngayong araw gayunpaman ay mukhang importante nga ang lakad niya.
"Kiana, 'yang si Archer ay halatang mahal na mahal ka at nakikita kong gano'n ka rin naman sa kaniya. Sa totoo lang ay masaya ako para sa inyong dalawa." Ani Manang Flor.
"Salamat po..."
Imabot niya ang kamay ko saka marahang pinisil 'yon. Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba. Na parang talagang suportado niya ako.
"Bigay niya ba ito?" Hindi ko na namalayang sa engagement ring ko na pala nakatuon ang pansin niya.
"Ah, opo." Nakangiting sagot ko.
"Napakaganda. Halatang ginawa para sayo..."
"Hindi ko nga po ine-expect na makakapagsuot ako ng ganito, to think na galing pa sa kaniya."
"Bakit naman hindi?"
Mapait akong napangiti nang maalala ang tunay na dahilan, "Hindi naman po kasi katulad ng ibang relasyon 'yung sa'min ni Archer. He had a girlfriend and i was just there, watching them. I was secretly loving him for years kaya hindi ko na po inexpect na aabot kaming dalawa ganito."
"Ngayon ay ikakasal na kayo..."
"Pero hindi pa rin po madali. Okay na kaming dalawa, pero paano sa ibang tao? Sa magulang niya, sa mga kaibigan namin, sa mga taong nakapaligid sa'min. I don't care about my image if it will be ruined because of our relationship, pero hindi ko maaatim na masisira si Archer dahil lang pinili niya akong mahalin at pakasalan." Nangangambang saad ko.
"Mahal mo siya, hindi ba?"
Kumunot ang noo ko, "Opo."
"Mahal ka rin niya, hindi ba?"
Wala sa sariling tumango ako.
"Sa pagpapakasal, hindi madali ang lahat. Pwedeng ang buong mundo ang kalaban niyo kaya hindi lang pagmamahal ang importante. Kapag nagpakasal kayo, tiwala ang pinaka importante sa lahat kaya Kiana, magtiwala ka lang sa pagmamahalan ninyong dalawa..."
She's right. I should trust Archer more than anyone else because this is us against them.
"Kailan ba ang kasal niyong dalawa?"
Natigilan ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ni Archer ang tugkol sa kasal dahil biglaan lang naman ang proposal niya. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali at ayos lang kung kahit kailan.
"Hindi pa po namin napag-uusapan ang tungkol sa details ng kasal."
Medyo matagal pa kaming nag-usap ni Manang Flor. Ito ang unang beses na ganito katagal kaming nag-usap pero aaminin kong nag-enjoy ako.
Buong araw kong hindi nakita si Archer. Nagkausap man kami ay sa tawag lang. Hindi ko naman itatangging miss ko na siya.
"Kiana!"
Napatayo ako mula sa pagkakahiga nang marinig ang malakas na boses ni Manang Flor.
"Po?" Agad na sagot ko.
Nakangiting lumapit siya sa'kin saka ipinakita ang isang magandang white dress.
"Ang ganda, 'di ba?"
"Opo."
"Isukat mo na!"
Nagulat ako dahil sa tinuran niya. Halata ang excitement sa mukha niya na mas lalo kong ipinagtaka.
"Bakit po? Anong meron?"
"Nako at nakita ko lang 'yan sa bahay ko! Wala namang magsusuot niyan kaya naisip kong ibigay sayo. Sakto naman at isasama kita ngayon diyan sa parokya at nang maipagdasal ko ang relasyon ninyong dalawa ni Archer!"
Hindi ko napigilang hindi matawa dahil sa tinuran niya. Simple lang ang dress pero sobrang ganda. Sa totoo lang ay nagustuhan ko ito. Halata ring mamahalin ang tela kaya nakakahiyang suotin kaso masiyadong mapilit si Manang Flor.
"Ang ganda ganda mo, Kiana! Lalong mahuhulog ang loob ni Archer sayo!"
"H-hindi naman po..."
"Anong hindi? Bagay na bagay sayo 'yang damit!"
Tinignan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. Ang hanggang bewang kong buhok ay nakalugay. Sakto rin sa'kin ang puting dress na medyo hapit kaya naman lumabas ang kurba ng katawan ko. Naglagay lang ako ng simpleng make-up dahil na rin sa utos ni Manang kaya naman mas lalong naging presentable ang itsura ko.
She's right. I look beautiful now.
Papalubog na ang araw pero hindi pa rin umuuwi si Archer. Gayunpaman, mas pinili ko na lang na samahan si Manang Flor dahil wala rin naman akong magawa sa bahay.
"Hawakan mo muna ito." Iniabot niya sa'kin ang isang bungkos ng bulaklak. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi 'yun amuyin dahil halatang bagong pitas lang ang mga ito. Napakaganda.
Tumambad sa'min ang isang napakalaki at napakagandang simbahan. Sa kwento ni Manang Flor ay mas matanda pa sa kaniya ang simbahang ito. Base rin sa kaniya ay dito sila nagpakasal ng asawa niya.
"Kiana, pwede bang mauna ka na sa loob? May dadaanan pa kasi ako."
Kunot noo ko siyang nilingon, "Sasamahan na lang po kita."
"Nako, hindi na! Diyan lang naman 'yon sa malapit at saglit lang ako!"
"Pero... sarado po 'yung simbahan." Sambit ko dahil nakasarado ang pintuan nito.
"Hindi 'yan! Basta pumaroon ka na at papalubog na ang araw!"
Wala na lang akong ibang nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod sa utos ni Manang Flor. Habang hawak-hawak ang bungkos ng bulaklak ay dumiretso ako sa simbahan. Ang weird ng itsura ko. I am wearing a white dress while holding a bouquet of flowers.
Bahagya pa akong napakurap nang tumama sa mata ko ang sinag ng araw. Papalubog na ito at napakaganda. Sayang lang dahil wala dito si Archer.
Nagulat ako nang saktong pagtapat ko sa pintuan ay dahan-dahan itong bumukas. Tumambad sa'kin si Archer sa dulo ng aisle. Nandoon na rin si Manang at ang iba pa naming nakilala dito pero ang pinakamahalaga ay si Archer na nakangiti sa'kin.
Inumpisahan ko nang lumakad nang dahan-dahan kahit na labis ang pagtataka ko sa nangyayari. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bawat hakbang ko ay nagiging emosyonal. Habang papalapit ay bumubuhos ang mga luha ko.
"Ang ganda mo..." sambit ni Archer nang tuluyan akong makalapit sa kaniya.
Hinalikan niya ang noo ko kaya naman pabiro ko siyang hinampas.
"Ano 'to?"
"I proposed to you last night, right?"
Natigilan ako. Until now, hindi pa rin pumapasok sa isip ko ang ideyang magpapakasal kaming dalawa.
"Y-yeah, but..."
"I told you, Kiana, i want to be yours and i want you to be mine. I couldn't do it last night, that's why i'm doing it today."
Natulala ako sa kaniya. Ramdam ko ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko dahil sa kakaibang pakiramdam. Hindi ko inaasahan ang sinabi niya at ang ginawa niya.
"Archer..." gulat kong ani.
Tumama ang sikat ng araw sa mukha niya kasabay nang pagtulo ng luha niya kaya naman pinunasan ko 'yon pero hinuli lang rin niya ang kamay ko saka 'yon hinalikan.
"I couldn't wait to call you my wife, baby..."
Hindi ko inaasahan ang kasal na 'to. Kagabi lang siya nag propose pero ngayon ay ikakasal na kami kaagad. Ni hindi pa kami nakapag-usap nang maayos about sa details ng kasal.
Simple lang 'to. Walang masiyadong bisita. Tanging mga nakatira lang dito at ang pari ang nakasaksi ng kasal naming dalawa pero sobrang saya ko na. Hindi ito kagaya ng ibang kasal na masiyadong engrande pero pakiramdam ko, ito na ang best.
"I know that you're tired of hearing this, but, Kiana, i am far from being perfect. I always make mistakes and i might make you cry at some times. I am filled with flaws, but your love made me a better man. I am not the best, but with you, i am better and i can always get better. I have a lot of insecurities, but your love made me feel that no matter who am i, you will always embrace me with your unyielding love. There's so much reason why i'm marrying you, but the only thing that i can say to you now is the love that i am feeling is the kind of love that will love you for the rest of your life... Kiana, i remember the time when i told you to find the man who will walk beside you because i can just only walk after you, now, i will not walk after you anymore because no matter where you go, i will always hold your hand with so much pride because after all the pain we've felt, i am finally your husband..."
"Archer, i always think that i am far from being the woman that you deserve, but with this ring, i promise to love you endlessly. I am different to all the women around you, but i can assure you that i'll be your partner in life. I will not just be your wife, but i will became your comrade, your friend for life... Loving is a tough thing to do, marrying is a risk, but with you, i am willing to take every risk as long as we're together. This love... Our love, we had a rough start, but we will be together until the end because this love will conquer the end..."
We had a simple wedding. The people we also love was not there to witness our perfect moment together, but my heart is so full. Yes, there's something missing, but this moment of my life is the best of all.
Matapos ang kasal naming dalawa ay nakahanda na pala ang sasakyan namin paalis. Hindi ako makapaniwalang alam na pala ni Manang Flor at ng iba pa ang plano ni Archer. Kahit sila ay nagulat pero alam kong sobrang saya nila para sa'ming dalawa.
"I'm sorry if i didn't gave you the best wedding you could have. But i promise, once we get back in Manila, we'll have the best wedding for the best bride..." aniya habang parehas kaming nakatanaw sa malawak na dagat kung saan naandar ang barkong pagmamay-ari niya.
"Why do you have to be sorry? Sa tingin mo ba ay hindi best ang wedding natin?"
"No, of course not! I think, that's the best. But i just want you to have what you deserve..."
Hinawakan ko ang daliri niya kung saan nakasuot ang wedding ring niya, "We had the best wedding, Archer. And i couldn't ask for more. It's already enough for me that it is you whom i married."
Niyakap niya ako mula sa likuran saka niya isiniksik ang ulo sa leeg ko, "I just couldn't waste a single minute without you being married to me. I want to show everyone that i am the lucky bastard!"
I laughed.
"I am the lucky one!"
He gave me a kissed on the cheek, "I am lucky, Kiana because you married someone like me. I may have the looks, the wealth, the talent, almost everything, but i am just a human. I also lack at some things and i actually think that i don't deserve you because you're just too good to be true, but as much as i want you to be with the person who truly deserves you, i just can't watch you fall for someone else. For the very first time in my life, i want to be selfish. I can share anything, but your love is only exclusive for me. You are mine..."
"Be selfish with me then..."
Alam kong nagulat siya sa sinabi ko kaya naman inihilig ko ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya.
"Now that i am finally Mrs. Kiana Fortunato-Fajardo, i will be selfish of you. I will brand you as my property because you are mine..."
Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong halikan sa labi. Nagtapat ang paningin naming dalawa kaya hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapangiti.
Ang gwapo ng asawa ko.
"Do you know what i am thinking when i first proposed to you and when i married you?"
Umiling ako. Is there actually a reason behind it?
"My first proposal to you was when we are watching the sunrise. It is to let you know that i am now ready to spend the rest of my life starting my day with you. Our wedding was held in sunset to remind you that our love has no end. A day will end, but my love for you will not. At the end of the day, i will always come home to you, my wife..."
Archer and i are not perfect. We both make mistakes. We can always hurt each other without us noticing it. We will have a hard time dealing with our relationship, but one thing is for sure. Our love for each other is not naive. It is strong and no matter how strong a storm will be, we can face it together.
I love him and he loves me too. We still have a long run, but as long as we have each other, every step will be worth it because that's how it is supposed to be. Love is supposed to let us grow and be strong.
"Archer..." marahang tawag ko sa kaniya.
"Hmm?"
I smiled at him. I gave him the bracelet which i bought years ago just for him.
"Before, i was just wondering if there will be a day that i will be able to give you this..."
Nakita ko siyang natigilan at nakatitig lang sa ibinigay ko. I was so worried nang hindi siya magsalita. Didn't he liked it?
"H-hindi mo ba nagustuhan?" Kabadong tanong ko pero nagulat ako nang yakapin niya ako ng sobrang higpit. At first, i was so shock, but then i immediately return his warm embrace.
"I love it, so much, my wife..." he whispered in my ears.
I wasn't expecting him in my life. Meeting him is purely unexpected, but i didn't regret a single thing.
This is what they call serendipity.
Love is serenditipity. It is unexpected yet wonderful.
"Let's go home, Archer..." i sweetly said to my husband.
Archer Fajardo is my serendipity...