Chapter Thirteen
"May photoshoot kami mamaya nila Therine." Saad niya habang nakaunan sa dibdib ni Blake. He is slowly stroking her hair.
Hindi niya alam pero parang may silent agreement sila ng binata. They go to bed together, cuddle and sleep. It feels weird pero parang nakasanayan na nila ang bagay na iyon, na parang matagal na silang magkatabing natutulog at normal na lang ang lahat. That they go to bed to just sleep and not do anything sexual. Actually, hindi iyon sumasagi sa isip niya... because she's too overwhelmed with the fact that he is the one she sees at the end of the day and the first thing she sees when she wake up in the morning.
"Saan daw?"
She felt him smell her hair. "I don't know. Hinihintay ko pa iyong text niya eh." Mas lalo niyang isinubsob and mukha sa dibdib nito.
"You love smelling me huh." Humigpit ang yakap nito sa kanya.
"Bakit kasi ang bango bango mo?" She smelled his neck and planted a soft kiss there.
"Ianna." He warned.
Nag-angat siya ng tingin. "What?" She asked innocently.
Kinabig siya nito kaya napasubsob siya sa dibdib ni Blake. "Baka gusto mong ipaalala ko sa'yo yung nangyari kagabi? Before we sleep."
She felt herself blush. Kagabi kasi ay naisipan nilang mag-movie sa kanilang kwarto. Movie lang naman dapat... pero nauwi sa make out session.
"Shut up!"
His laughter echoed around the room.
"Aba't nage-enjoy ka pa ha?!"
Hindi na na-brought up pa ang topic na pinag-usapan nila sa Eiffel Tower, matapos kasi non ay nagkayayaan ng umuwi. Hindi na umimik si Blake pero bago sila matulog ng gabing iyon. He hugged her tight and whispered to her;
"Don't worry Ianna. Tutulungan kita hanggang sa maabot mo na ako. If I need to let down a rope just to help you reach the top of the tower, I would willingly do it and patiently wait until you're within my reach."
"Your in deep thoughts again."
Nag-angat siya ng tingin, ang kanyang baba ay nakadikit sa dibdib nito. She is dangerously too close from his face and she is quite loving it. "I'm just thinking about the thing you said when we're about to sleep... nung gabing naggaling tayo sa Eiffel Tower."
Tahimik lang ito, hinihintay ang susunod na sasabihin niya.
She smiled and gently plants a soft kiss in his lips. "Thank you for the assurance." She whispered gently and snuggled closer to his searing warmth.
"Saan ang location ng photoshoot natin ngayon?" Pangungulit niya kay Therine habang inaayusan siya at ito ay nakaupo sa kabilang panig ng silid at abala sa cellphone nito.
"Sa Eiffel Tower." Tipid nitong sagot.
Napakunot-noo siya ng makitang kinukuhanan siya ng photographer ni Therine. "We're also shooting for behind the scene now?"
"Ah... yeah. It's my staffs' idea."
Napatango na lang siya. Therine looks a bit tensed or it's just her idea? Ewan. Parang may mali lang kasi dito.
"Ilang wedding gown ang isho-shoot natin ngayon?"
"Uunahin natin yung pang-final gown sa runway. Kapag may time pa tayo we'll proceed to the other wedding gowns."
"Mmkay." Hinayaan na niya ito sa ginagawa dahil mukhang busy talaga ito.
After an hour or so, she is looking so gorgeous as she look at herself in the mirror.
"Why do I feel like I'm actually having my wedding day today?" Saad niya.
Nagtawanan ang mga staff na kasama nila sa silid.
"Totoo nga Miss Ianna! Iba na talaga nagagawa ng inlove, blooming!"
"At engage, kaya mas lalo pang bumublooming!"
Her hair is put into a loose bun, some of her hair stands is falling on her sides. The floor length wedding gown she's wearing is stunning, it's picture perfect. The upper part in front is perfectly hand stitched or knitted with a beautiful pattern while the back part is made up of lace which exposed her sexy back. The lower part is made up of white silk fabric covered with lace that has a detailed knitted design in the edge. The long back of the gown makes it more elegant and enchanting.
[Ianna's wedding gown --->]
Dahil busy siya sa paghanga sa sariling repleksyon hindi niya namalayan na nakailang kuha narin pala ang photographer sa kanya.
"Let's go?" Maya-maya ay saad ni Therine.
Pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao ng dumaaan sila sa lobby ng hotel na tinutuluyan ni Therine. Binabati pa nga siya ng iba, congratulations daw sa kasal. Ang iba ay kumukuha pa ng picture. Gusto man niyang klaruhin na para lamang sa photoshoot iyon pero nginitian na lang niya ang mga bumabati. Effort lang kung mage-explain pa siya.
Mabilis silang nakarating sa Eiffel Tower dahil malapit lang naman ito sa hotel nila Therine. Inaalalayan siya ng mga staff ni Ianna habang pababa ng sasakyan. Nagtaka siya ng halos sa mismong Eiffel na sila huminto. Ilang lakad na lang ay iyong apat na leg na ng tower.
Napataas ang kanyang kilay ng may red carpet pang nakalatag.
"Yung totoo Therine? Saan ba talaga tayo magphophotoshoot?"
Ngumisi lang ito at iginiya siya sa paglalakad, sinusundan kung hanggang saan ang dulo ng red carpet.
"Oh my! Is she the lucky girl?"
"She's so lucky! I envy her."
"Wait, she's the supermodel right? Ianna!"
Rinig niyang saad ng mga tao sa paligid nila. She is drawing too much attention now. Lahat ng nakapilang nakaabang para maakyat ang first floor ng Eiffel ay nakatingin sa kanila.
Mas lalong napakunot ang noo niya ng mapagtantong sa pintuan ng restaurant na Le Jules Verne-which is a restaurant located at the second floor of the tower, patungo ang red carpet.
"Wait, don't tell me sa second floor tayo ng Eiffel magphophotoshoot? Iba talaga ang staff mo Therine. Imagine they managed to book a reservation here? Buti pinayagan tayong magphotoshoot sa taas?" She kept on blabbering.
Nang makarating sila sa mismong pinto ng restaurant ay natigilan siya. "They're closed. Mamaya pang seven ang opening nila. It's just what? Four or five in the afternoon."
Nakakalokong tumango lang si Therine pagkatapos ay tinungo ang ilang baitang ng hagdan papasok sa restaurant.
"Hoy Therine. Pinagtitripan mo ba ako?"
Diretso lang ito kaya wala sa sariling napasunod siya dito. Nang nasa tapat na sila ng pinto ay may nagbukas noon mula sa loob. Everything is normal, nakapunta na rin kasi siya sa second floor ng Eiffel ilang bese na, kaya alam na alam na niya ang itsura ng lugar. Siguro nga ay nakakuha lang talaga ng special access ang staff ni Therine. She shrugged.
Dumiretso sila sa private lift ng restaurant na siyang magdadala sa kanila sa second floor. Napakunot noo siya ng mapansing kinukuhanan pala siya ng phtographer.
"Is she taking a photo or what?" Tanong niya sa katabing si Therine.
"Video, actually."
Mas lalo siyang naguluhan. "Video? At teka nga kaninong drama naman iyong red carpet?"
Ngumiti lang ito.
Gusto na niyang barahin ito, puro kasi ngiti ang sinasagot. Ang tino niyang kausap. Nakakaasar na.
"Smile. You look constipated."
She rolled her eyes in the air. "Eh kasi ang tino mong sumagot, puro ngiti."
"Just relax and have fun. And oh... here." Saad nito habang inaabot sa kanya ang kumpol ng pulang rosas.
"Para saan ito? Kailangan pa talaga ng boquet huh?"
The lift stopped when they reached the second floor. It opened and they are greeted by a sound of violin playing across the room.
Playing:
A Thousand Years Part II
She gasped when she saw everything. Napatakip siya sa kanyang bibig. The restaurant is transformed into an intimate wedding venue. Ang mga mesa ay okupado ng kanyang dalawang kuya pati na ang kanyang pamangkin at mommy nito, ang kanyang mga kaibigan kasama si Keenan at si Nate, ang mga magulang nila ni Blake, some close relatives and important person na sa tingin niya ay malapit na kaibigan ng kanilang mga magulang. Then there, she saw Blake... standing at the make shift altar wearing his black Armani suit and looking so sinfully handsome.
"Oh my god." Napatingin siya sa kanyang gilid, Therine is nowhere in sight. Muli ay nilibot niya ng tingin ang buong paligid. Is this real? She thought.
"Surprise! You're having your wedding today, hija!"
Wala sa sariling napatingin siya sa kanyang ina na hindi niya namalayang nasa tabi na pala niya. She is beyond surprised!
Dammit!
She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it because she is rendered speechless. She's too shock and overwhelmed to say anything.
Naramdaman niya ang paggiya ng kanyang daddy sa kanyang kamay pahawak sa braso nito.
"Let's walk you down the isle princess." Her dad said almost emotional.
Matapos iyon ay may sumabay ng boses sa instrumental na pagtugtog ng kanta gamit ang violin.
The day we met
Frozen, I held my breath
Right from the start,
I knew that I found a home
"Mom... dad... what exactly is happening here?" She asked cautiously as they walk her slowly down the isle.
For my heartbeats fast
Colors and promises
"You're having your wedding day today, hija." Her mom said with teary eyes.
"Tell me your damn kidding." She absentmindedly said. Hindi pa talaga nagsisink sa kanya ang mga nangyayari ngayon. At mukhang hindi talaga ito magsisink in kahit lumipas pa ang ilang minuto.
How to be brave, how can I love
When I'm afraid to fall...
"Why don't you look in front of you?"
She did as what her mom said. And then... the vision of Blake standing at the make shift altar and looking as handsome as hell makes the whole situation real.
Watching you stand alone
All of my doubts certainly goes away somehow
And when their eyes met, she can't get her eyes off of him anymore as she take her steps towards him.
One step closer...
His gaze is like a freaking magnet that once you get to stare at his intense eyes, you can not afford to look away anymore. You are completely drowned.
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more...
Napakalamig ng boses ng kumakanta at napakaganda sa pandinig ng tumutugtog na violin. Making the whole scene picture perfect. Not to mention the beautiful view of the sun that's just setting down.
I loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more...
And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more....
They reached the mini altar and Blake came to get her. Ang marahang tunog na lang ng violin ang naririnig sa buong paligid.
"Take care of our only princess, son."
"Yes sir." Tugon nito sa kanyang daddy.
"You can call me daddy now." Nakangiti ngunit medyo naluluha na ring saad ng kanyang daddy. Sa tabi nito ay ang mommy niya na hindi na nakapagpigil at lumuluha na.
"Make our princess cry and you'll see what a Nieva is capable of. Isama mo pa ang dalawang kuya nitong prinsesa namin." Banta ng daddy niya.
Nailing na lang siya.
"Yes d-dad." He stuttered.
"Surprise." Bulong nito nang makaupo na ang kanyang mga magulang.
"Nakakainis ka." Marahan niya itong sinapak sa dibdib. Nagtawanan ang kanilang audience. Sumubsob siya sa balikat nito. "Bwisit. May nalalaman pa kayong ganito ha?"
Sasagot pa sana ito pero tumikhim na ang magkakasal sa kanila kaya sinumalan na nila ang wedding ceremony.
Then it's time to give their wedding vows. Nauna na si Blake dahil hindi siya handa sa impromptu vow na ito.
"I don't want to promise anything but one thing is for sure, I'll be at my very best when it comes to you. I don't have any flowery words to say because I'm no Shakespeare but all I know is I'm looking forward to the best part of this day where you and me becomes... we."
Pakiramdam niya ay nagmarathon siya sa bilis ng tibok ng kanyang puso. Kinikilig siya. Period.
Tumikhim siya. "I.... I don't really know what to say. I'm still in daze at hindi pa tuluyang nagsisink in sa akin ang lahat. Alam niyo namang ayaw ko sa mga surprise pero ginawa niyo parin." Nagtawanan ang kanilang mga bisita.
"I'm really speechless. Damn." Bulong niya. Alam mo yung namental block ka at wala ka na talagang masabi?
"Nakakainis, nakakakilig yung sinabi mo tapos ako kung anu-ano nang sinasabi ko dito. May surprise wedding pa kasi kayong nalalaman. Hindi tuloy ako nainform di sana man lang nakapaghanda ako sa wedding vow na ito." Nakakalokong ngumiti lang ito habang inaayos ang takas niyang buhok.
Tumikhim siya. "Now seriously speaking, thank you for making this wedding happen. This is the last thing I have in mind and I feel so lucky and special. A wedding in Eiffel tower is just so grand and romantic at the same time. I won't talk about our marriage life this early, let's just cross the bridge together when we get there. So just kiss me and let's make this thing official. I'm yours and you're mine, officially."
She can hear the soft chuckle of everybody. He leaned down and kissed her. Napuno ng palakpakan ang lugar.
And at this very moment. She's married to Blake and the fact the he exerted an effort with this whole wedding is just so surreal. Parang bumawi ito sa lahat ng pambabalewala nito sa wedding preparations nila noon. Bawing-bawi ang surprise wedding nito at sa Eiffel Tower pa talaga. For sure it cost a million. Nawala tuloy ang lahat ng tampo niya dito. Wala na siyang pakialam kung hindi man siya nito binigyan ng engagement ring kasi bumawi naman ito sa kasal nila.
A memory she will surely treasure in this lifetime.
She smiled absentmindedly when their kiss ended.
So this is what 'expecting for the worst but hoping for the best' means huh?