[Aestherielle's POV]
"Bakit kasi gabi niyo pa naisipang gawin ang wedding pictorial namin ni Khirro? "
Inside my room, nakakalat lahat ng mga gamit para sa gagawing nuptial photoshoot. Hindi ko nga alam kung anong trip nila at alas diyes na ng gabi inaayusan nila ako.
"Ms. Aestherielle? Fairytale kasi diba ang theme ng wedding niyo? So like sa Tangled, sasakay kayo ni Mr. Khirro sa bangka with sky lantern. "
Napatango na lang ako sa explanation ng hired wedding photographer namin na si Trix.
"Make up's done! Now it's time to wear the wedding gown. " Selena, my make up artist / assistant ni Trix.
I'm now a wearing a ball gown, medyo hapit ang sa upper part at litaw ang magkabilang balikat ko dahil sa style na off-shoulder but then there's this ruffled style between my elbow and shoulder. Medyo litaw ang cleavage ko pero 'di naman siya gan'on ka daring.
They curled my hair earlier and now they're putting white roses to it.
I'm now holding the necklace dad gave to me as I looked myself into the mirror. I look like a princess that I've been dreaming of. The happiest part is that I'm marrying my Prince and I can't wait for that special day to happen.
Dahan-dahan akong bumaba ng hagdan at nasa baba naman si Trix patuloy na kinukuhanan ako ng litrato.
Lumabas kami ng bahay at napaawang ang bibig ko sa bagay na nasa harap ko. Ilang beses ko pang kinusot ang mata ko dahil sa sobrang pagkamangha. Nasa harap ko lang naman ang karwaheng katulad sa karwahe ni Cinderella. Kabayo rin ang lalakad kasama ang lalaking naka-black coat.
May umalalay sa'kin sa pag-akyat at nakita kong nakasunod ang sasakyan ni Trix. Napayakap ako sa sarili ng makaramdam ng lamig. Hindi naman malakas ang hampas ng mga alon pero sadyang malamig lang ang dami ng hangin. Nandito pala kami sa Tan's beach resort para magbakasyon at sa wedding photoshoot na rin.
Tumigil ang sinasakyan ko kaya napatingin ako sa harap at tanging kadiliman lang ang nakikita ko. Dali-daling tumingin ako sa likuran at hindi ko na maaninag ang sasakyan ni Trix.
"Excuse me? Nasaan na po tayo? "
"Pwede ka na pong bumaba, Ms. Aestherielle. Follow your heart and be with the man you will live happily ever after. "
Bumukas ang pinto sa gilid ko at may babaeng umalalay sa'kin sa pagbaba. Ano ba talagang nangyayari? Paano ako makakalakad kung tanging kadiliman lang ang nakikita ko? Kahit naguguluhan pinili ko na lang na lumakad.
I took one step forward and both of my sides lighted. A violet lotus flower with a light inside. Actually kandila talaga ang ginamit kasi may nakita akong dalawang anino na sumindi sa mga ito. Ang haba na nang nilakad ko at gan'on din kahaba ang mga lotus flowers na siyang nagsilbing ilaw ko sa daan.
Muntik na akong mapatalon nang biglang lumiwanag sa unahan ko. Maya naka-arc sa harap ko katulad ng sa Santa Cruzan. Napapalibutan ito ng iba't-ibang bulaklak at mga ilaw.
"Are you ready, my rielle? "
Hindi ko man lang namalayan sina mommy at daddy na nasa tabi ko na. They're wearing suit and dress too.
"What's happening po? "
Ikinawit nila sa magkabilang braso ko ang mga braso nila.
"You'll live in your dreams. "
Parang magic word ang 'dreams ' dahil after niyang bigkasin 'yon, umilaw ang buong paligid. Ang daming tao at lahat sila naka ball gown na pink at ang mga lalaki naman ay nakablack tuxedo. I saw familiar faces lalo na ang mga kaibigan ko. They smiled at me and my gaze turned to where they pointed together.
Umiiyak na yumakap ako kay mommy. I can't believe what I'm seeing right now. May castle lang naman sa harap ko. My dream wedding inside a castle. Pumailanlang sa paligid ang instrumental ng kantang 'Beauty and the Beast' at nagsipasukan na sila sa loob.
"You know it's very hard for us, for me to ket you go, baby. But I'll let you live with the man you love. I know he will treasure you at napatunayan niya ngayon kaya ka niyang gawing prinsesa. I can see that he's head over heels with you. Soon, you'll be his queen, baby. Always remember that we're so very proud of you, Aestherielle. You'll always be our baby. "
Buti na lang talaga water proof ang make up ko. Ang lakas kasi drumama ni mommy at daddy eh.
"You know how lucky I am to have you both as my parents. You never stopped supporting me right from the start. You're the best parents in the world. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Thank you for everything. "
We hugged each other at nag-iyakan na rin. Kumalas lang kami nang tumunog ang trumpet kasabay ng pagbukas ng pinto. Parang hindi na maisara ang bunganga ko sa sobrang pagkamangha. Napuno ng bulaklak ang loob. Napakalaki ng space at sa harap ay may dalawang royal chair na nakaharap sa altar.
Nagtama ang mata namin ng taong naging sagot sa mga panalangin ko. Kahit malayo pansin kong naluluha siya at inabutan pa siya ng best man niyang si Ace ng tissue.
Pumailanlang ang kantang "See the light " sa Disney cartoon na Tangled at siyang pagsakop ng usok sa buong sahig ng castle. Literal ding umuulan ng mga rose petals. Bawat hakbang ko humahawi ang mga usok na hanggang tuhod ko kung titingnan at umiilaw ang sahig na naaapakan ko.
"Please love our daughter more than we love her, Khirro. "
"I will, Dad, Mom. "
The moment mom and dad let go of my arms, I throw myself to Khirro, giving him a hug and both our shoulders shaked because of too much emotions and happiness in our hearts.
"I'm in love with you, Khirro Nixon Ledesma. "
He held my face and looked at me with his eyes full of love. He's about to kiss me on my forehead when someone interrupted us.
"Mamaya pa 'yong 'You may now kiss the bride'. Huwag kayong pahalata na excited na kayong bigyan ako ng duwende este ng mga pamangkin. Saka na kayo magsunggaban aray!! "
Dinilaan ko nga. Hila-hila lang naman ni Asheria ang tenga niya papunta sa dapat na pwesto nila. Kahit kailan talaga 'tong si Ace! Panira ng moment.
Pumunta kami sa harap at umupo sa upuan namin. Magkahawak kamay kaming dalawa na nakaharap sa kay father.
"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, we are gathered here tonight to witness and celebrate the joining of Aestherielle Zarah Caled and Khirro Nixon Ledesma in marriage. With love and commitment, they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. If anyone objects to the marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Walang may nagtangkang tumutol kaya the ceremony continued. It's time for our vows at 'di pa nga nagsisimula pero naiiyak na naman kami.
"I loved but I was not lucky. I thought I don't deserve happiness. I tried living normal. Isolating myself from others. I don't want to fall in love again because I'm afraid, but then you came and changed everything. You taught me how to love and to believe in love again. You are my strength and your tears are my weakness and you leaving me is a nightmare. You made me believe in fairytale and now let's start our happily ever after. Can you still remember that day when I told you that one day I'll build you a castle? Today is the day, inside this castle, our castle, you're my princess and I'm your prince. I Khirro Nixon Ledesma, take you Aestherielle Zarah Caled, as my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish until we both shall live. This is my solemn vow, I love you, Kin. "
Hinaplos ko ang pisngi niyang basang-basa na ng luha. Nag-iiyakan na rin ang lahat. Now, it's my turn.
"I hated you when you destroyed the sand castle. For a girl like me who believes in fairytale, a castle is very symbolic. Pakiramdam ko sinira mo rin ang pangarap ko kaya nga nagtaka talaga ako kung bakit bigla na lang kita nagustuhan. Ang suplado mo pa naman at hindi mo taglay ang katangian na gusto ko sa ideal man ko. Love moves in mysterious ways ika nga. Ang alam ko, nagising na lang ako isang araw na ikaw na ang nakikita kong kasama ko hanggang sa huli. Oo, ang dami kong pangarap tapos dumagdag ka pa. Yes, you're my dream guy na tumupad sa mga pangarap ko. Though I want to live in my dream, I'll chose to live in reality with you. Sinubok man tayo pero kita mo naman ngayon may pasurprise ka na sa'kin ng kasal. I'm sorry if I've caused you a lot of pain. I, Aestherielle Zarah Caled, take you Khirro Nixon Ledesma, as my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish until we both shall live. This is my solemn vow, I love you too, Kin. "
Hanggang sa exchanged of rings hindi matapos-tapos ang mga luha namin. Parang sasabog na nga sa tuwa ang puso ko.
"By the power vested upon me, I now pronounced you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride. Congratulations. "
The crowd started cheering when Khirro removed my wedding veil.
"I love you so much, Mrs. Ledesma. "
Before I could response his lips covered mine. I encircled my arms to his neck when he pulled my waist closer to him.
Lumbas kami ng castle habang buhat niya ako. Binaba niya ako sa buhanginan at agad na pumalibot sila sa'min na may dalang sky lantern. Aiden gave us one sky lantern and we wrote our wishes outside.
Kasabay nang pag-angat ng sky lantern namin ay lumiwanag ang kalangitan dahil sa fireworks at tumunog ang orasan sa castle na nagpapahiwatig na hating gabi na.
I faced the man of my dreams. He's my prince and now my husband.
Finally, I'm Mrs. Aestherielle Zarah Caled Ledesma, his wife.
[A/N: Next update will be the epilogue. I just want to grab this moment to thank all who reached this chapter. Thank you for all the support. I love you, my Zingers 😘]