A year later...
"There, it's fixed."
Nginitan ni Sancho si Yto matapos niyang ayusin ang bow tie nito. Kanina pa siya nakatingin sa salamin. He was admiring the fact that his son was with him that very special day. Tiningnan niyang muli si Yto, ang laki na nang itinangkad nito. He's just eight years old pero matangkad na ito, kaunti na lang ay magbibinata na ang panganay niya.
"Tatay, excited ka po?" Biglang tanong nito sa kanya. Ngumiti lalo siya. He was excited – that's for sure, pero hindi lang excitement ang nararamdaman niya, he's feeling nervous too. He's worried that his wife wouldn't come for this day. Alam niyang mahal siya nito, pero hindi pa rin niya maiwasan ang hindi isipin nan baka hindi siya siputin ng babaeng pakakasalan niya.
"Hey kiddo." He put his hands on Yto's shoulder. "Do me a favor, silipin mo naman kung nasa labas na ng church si Nanay." Nginitian ko siya.
"Sige po, Tatay. Wait lang." He ran towards the door. Naiwan akong nakatayo sa harap ng salamin, kinakabahan pa rin siya. He had this pathetic idea that even though, they are already married, and that they have kids, tatakbuhan pa rin siya ng asawa niya. He inhaled sharply, napansin niyang bumukas ang pinto at mula roon ay pumasok ang Lola niya.
"Grandma." He smiled at her. Nilapitan siya nito at saka niyakap ng mahigpit.
"Best wishes, apo." She smiled. "I wasn't able to say that to you the first time you married Sheena, but now, I could. I'm so happy." Naluluha na naman ito. Nang nakaraang taon, ipinaalam niya dito ang muli nilang pagpapakasal ni Sheena, ganoon na lang ang kasiyahan nito. Hindi nito maitago ang happiness na nararamdaman nito, she cried in front of him and his wife. Mahal na mahal ni Lola Adel si Sheena at mahal na mahal rin siya nito.
Maayos na ang lahat sa buhay niya ngayon, wala nang gulo, wala nang banta – it's just him, his family and a hood life a head of them. Kaya nga siguro niya naisip na muling pakasalan si Sheena. Ayaw niyang ipagkait dito ang isang bagay na hindi niya naibigay noong unang beses silang magpakasal.
He wanted to give everything to her. Kahit na ano pa iyon. Right now, he wanted nothing but to make her happy and he started that mission of his life by re-marrying her. It was the best plan he ever though.
"I never thought about you settling down with Sheena." Nagpahid ng luha si Lola Adel.
"She's a wonderful lady, Grandma, a brave one, she raised our kids well and she loved me for who I am. Please don't cry."
Tumango si Lola Adel. Niyakap niya itong muli at saka hinagkan sa noo.
"Naaalala ko lang ang Daddy mo at si Laide." She sobbed. "Kung nandito sila, I'm sure your dad will be happy and Laide will be as excited as you, best friend niya si Sheena." Hindi na siya kumibo. He remembere Luke's wedding, bumaha rin ng luha ni Lola Adel noon, bago sila nakapag-ayos sa beach ay kung ano-ano muna ang nasabi ni Lola, hanggang sa ikinakasal na si Lukas ay iyak pa rin ito nang iyak.
Muling bumukas ang pinto, iniluwan niyon si Lukas at si Adam. They were both wearing a three piece gray suit. They both looked good pero sa opinion niya ay siya ang pinaka-gwapo sa lahat, it's his day so he's the boss.
"Game na daw sabi noong hot wedding planner." Wika ni Lukas habang nakangisi.
"Naririnig ka daw ni Apollo." Sabi niya sa kapatid.
"Joke lang naman iyon. Pero game na daw." Nakita niyang siniko ni Lukas si Adam.
"Diskartehan mo iyong wedding planner." Bulong nito. He rolled his eyes. Adam just made a face. Hinarap naman ni Lola si Lukas.
"Huwag mong turuan si Adam ng kabalastugan mo Lukas!" Sigaw ni Lola. Natawa naman siya sa sinabi nito;
"Wow! Lola, hindi Consunji si Adam kapag hindi siya playboy!"
"Iyon ba talaga ang criteria?" Adam asked. He shook his head. "Game na daw." Sabi muli nito. Tumalikod ang dalawa, he took Lola Adel's hand and started to walk. Nakarating sila sa mismong simbahan. The church was so beautiful, kamukhang-kamukha nito ang ayos ng simabahan na sinabi ni Sheena sa kanya noon.
Tumayo siya sa altar. Sumunod sa kanya si Lukas at si Adam. He had three best men, ang dalawa niyang kapatid at si Yto na nakita niyang tumatakbo papalapit sa kanya. May dala itong papel at inabot sa kanya.
"Tatay bigay ni Nanay!" Sabi nito. He opened the letter and he saw Sheena's handwriting.
Dear Mr. Consunji,
I missed you so much. I hope Lukas didn't hire a stripper on your stag party. On the other hand, the bridal shower was quite a blast, Apollo did Yza's hair and Yza did my hair, Yvo was crying all night last night, I guess he's missing you too – just like what I'm feeling.
I miss you, Baby Damulag ko. Can't wait to see you later.
I love you.
-Mrs. Consunji.
He smiled. He put the letter on his pocket at saka pinatayo na rin si Yto sa tabi tapat ni Adam. Nagsimula na ang wedding march. He saw Lola Adel walking, kasunod nito si Nanay Lydia at sa likod naman nito ay ang Mama ni Sheena – she was crying too – just like his grandmother and Nanay Lydia.
Maraming tao sa loob ng simbahan. They had invited 300 people to witness this event. Ipinangako niya iyon kay Sheena noon.
Napangiti siya nang makita niya na si Yza na ang naglalakad sa gitna ng altar. Tulad ni Yto ay malaki na rin ang itinangkad nito, she was looking more like Laide every day of her life. She was smiling at him. She waved him goodbye tapos ay tumakbo pa ito sa kanya.
Nagtawanan ang mga tao nang makita ang ginawa nito.
"I miss you tatay!" Sabi nito sabay alis. He shook his head while smiling. Papa's girl nga ang anak niyang babae. Nagpunta na si Yza sa uupuan nito. Katabi nito ang Lola niya. He looked at the isle agai, this time ang bunso naman niya ang nakita niyang naglalakad. He was holding the rings. Yvo looked so cute and tiny wearing that baby sized tailored suit. Kasunod nito si Apollo na umaalalay dito nang tingnan niya si Lukas ay malaki rin ang ngiti nito.
"Parang ikaw ang kakasal ha." Sabi niya sa kapatid. Lukas just looked at him, ibinalik nito ang tingin sa asawa nito.
After a while, everyone stood up. Kitang-kita niya na isinara na ang pinto ng simbahan and from where he was standing, he could see the silhouette of the most beautiful woman on earth – si Sheena.
The song changed.
When the rain
Is blowing in your face
And the whole world
Is on your case
I could offer you
A warm embrace
To make you feel my love...
He couldn't help but tear up. Naiiyak siya. Hindi lang iisang beses na nagawa siyang paiyakin ni Sheena dahil sa sobrang kasiyahan na ibinibigay nito sa kanya. This was just one of those moments that she's able to make her cry – isa pa doon ay noong araw na pumayag itong magpakasal sa kanya, the other one was when she gave birth to Yvo. Ang saya-saya niya.
Lukas offered him a handkerchief; he took that to wipe his tears.
I know you
Haven't made
Your mind up yet
But I would never
Do you wrong
I've known it
From the moment
That we met
No doubt in my mind
Where you belong
I'd go hungry
I'd go black and blue and
I'd go crawling
Down the avenue
You Know there's nothing
That I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love
Nakarating si Sheena sa dulo. Her face was covered by a veil, pero kitang-kita pa rin niya ang kagandahan nito. He went near her and took her hand.
"I missed you." He whispered to her ear. Bigla ay kinurot nito ang tagiliran niya
"Was there a stripper?" She asked. He giggled.
"Luke hired her for Adam, not for me." Tiningnan niya ito. Sheena's face was comical.
"Ikaw talaga." Sabi nito sa kanya. Magkasabay silang umakyat sa mismong altar. Tiningnan sila ng pari. The priest looked happy to see them again. Ito pa rin ang paring nagkasal sa kanila noon.
"Let's start." The priest said. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of two hearts, the hearts of Sancho Angelo Cruise Consunji and Sheenalyn Marien Ybarra Consunji." The priest paused. "I have married them before and I'm glad that they are renewing their vows today."
Habang nangyayari ang lahat ng iyon ay hawak niya lamang ang kamay ni Sheena. He could feel that she was trembling. He looked at her and smiled – he was reassuring her that things will be better from now on, that he would love her until the last stran of his hair fell off.
"Now for the rings..." Sabi bigla ng pari. Nakita niyang umakyat si Yza hawak ang kamay ni Yvo. Ayaw bitiwan ni Yvo ang unan kung saan naroon ang singsing.
"Yvo, give mo na iyan kay Tatay, hindi naman iyan iyong baby mo!" Sabi ni Yza.
"Ayaw, baby ko."
Sheena giggled. Napakamot naman siya ng ulo.
"Nanay oh!"
The people inside the church laughed out loud. Pati iyong pari. Maya-maya ay napilit na rin ni Yza si Yvo na ibigay ang singsing sa kanya, he gave back the pillow to him and he ran back to their grandmother.
He took the ring and faced Sheena.
"Sheenalyn Marien, I have promised you so many things and I intend to fulfill all of them, but right now, I'm going to make another promise and this I am sure that I'll be able to fulfill – I will love you forever until both our hairs turned gray." He said to her. Nang maisuot niya ang singsing ay hinawakan niya nang mahigpit ang kamay nito. She was crying.
"When I found out about our children, my life turned around. I was so excited upon being a part of their life but the truth was, I really wanted to be a part of yours too. I didn't know when or how, but I just woke up one day truly and madly in love with you. I couldn't think of myself anymore without you. You are like a drug that I couldn't take away from my system. I promise to do everything for you to stay in love with me. I love you with all of my heart, with all of my cells, with all of my being. I love you, Mrs. Consunji.
He kissed her hand. Sheena smiled. She was just looking at him while she takes on the ring. Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya at saka tiningnan siya.
"Sancho, you don't have to promise me anything because the fact that I wake up beside you every morning of our lives was enough for me to believe in forever." Her tears fell. "I had loved you since the day I could remember, I thought it faded away but because of the gifts you left me, I realized that it didn't, it stayed right in my heart where it should always be. I love you because you're you, not because of anything else. Don't ever doubt the fact that you are a good man, a good husband and a great father to out three children. Never be scared, Sancho because I am always here for you. I will love you even though you're so nakakainis minsan, I will love you kahit na minsan, ang tigas ng ulo mo. Mahal na mahal kita. And I don't n—need—" She sobbed "those p-promises because having you is enough."
She kissed my hand too. He looked around and he saw that his grandmother and Sheena's mom was crying.
"You and the kids, those are the only thing I need in this world, Sancho. The four of you complete me..."
He nodded. Hindi na niya kaya pang pigilan ang kanyang sarili. Itinaas niya ang belo ni Sheena at saka hinagkan ito sa labi, she kissed him back. The priest on their side cleared his throat.
"Sorry, Father." He said. Sheena giggled. Pinahid naman niya ang luha nito.
"By the power vested in me by the Catholic Church of the Philippines, I now pronounce you, husband and wife."
The people inside the church clapped their hands. The happiness inside was beaming.
"You may now kiss the bride – again, Mr. Consunji."
Hindi na siya naghintay pa, hinapit niya ang baywang ni Sheena at saka hinagakn ito sa labi. He was kissing her passionately. He wanted her to feel the love he has for her. Mahal na mahal niya ito at tulad noong araw na muli niya itong alukin ng kasal ay hindi siya makapaniwala – he couldn't believe the fact that everything he has right now started with a night she spent with him. Just a night, a night that was the equivalent of their forever.
Just a night turned into forever...
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