My tears gathered at the corner of my eyes upon seeing the happiness in his face after I utter those words. Nakakalungkot lang na ilang beses ko siyang tiniis kung pwede naman pala kaming magsimula ulit. This man kissing me right now is my life, has always been. Naputol lang ang halikan namin ng kumatok si Inggrid, kahit kelan talaga!
'I love you Alli..'
Sabay kaming tatlo na lumabas sa building habanv puro salita si Inggrid ag tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa kanila habang hawak ni Zach ang kamay ko,Si Ralph na kaibigan ni Zach ang magiging acting CEO habang wala siya. Papunta na kami ngayon sa magiging organizer ng kasal namin, dapat kasi sa katapusan pa ng taon ang kasal namin pero gustong madaliin ni Zach ang kasal para official na ang pagmemerge ng dalawang kompanya namin, yun kasi ang naging agreement nila daddy at lolo ni Zach. Wala namang kaso sakin yun dahil mas fair yun sa parte nila Zach.
'So you'll visit me often ha? Hindi ako sanay na nawala ka sa office mo Zach. You know i'm not used to having lunch alone' Bulalas ni Inggrid kaya napatuwid ako sa front seat, this girl really have the guts to say those words. Ibang klase!
'You know i'll be busy with our wedding Inggrid' sagot Zach na sinulyapan muna ako, maingat siya sa mga sagot niya kay Ingggrid, he's careful enough not to offend her. Pinaliwanag niya ng isa sa malapit na kaibigan si Inggrid and he just can't take her for granted and I totally understand him. Tama rin naman si Inggrid, she was there for Zach while I was gone. Nakita ko sa rear view mirror ang pag-irap ni Inggrid pero hindi na ako nagsalita, ayokong mabahiran ng kaartehan niya ang araw nato.
'So how about dinner tonight Zach? Let's meet with Rand, it's been so long since the last time we went to a bar' I don't know who the hell is Rand but this girl is really irritating, kinausap lang siya ni Zach kagabi pero ngayon akala mo naman nanalo na sa lotto.
'I'm sorry Inggrid but I can't. So we'll just drop you then we'll go straight to our organizer' Bumuntong hininga lang siya tapos bumaba na rin at walang lingon-likod na naglakad patungo sa building. Pasalamat talaga siya at mabait pa ako kung hindi, naku may paglalagyan siya. Nagvibrate ang phone ko kaya agad kong nilabas sa bag, Unknown number kaya sinagot ko na.
'Yes hello?' Abala si Zach sa pagda-drive 'D-Dustin.. hi!' This time I got Zach's attention, nilingon niya ako at hindi na maipinta ang mukha niya, umiiling siya habang nagmamaneho. 'Yes, this is Alli. Ahhmm..' nakataas ang kilay niya sa tuwing lumilingon siya sakin. 'Can we reschedule the meeting Dustin? I have prior appointments kasi.. yes yes..' I checked my wristwatch. 'I'm not sure, we'll meet with our wedding organizer kasi today. I'll just give you a ring if we'll be done before 5 this afternoon. Will that be okay?'
Papasok na kami sa parking area ng building ng wedding organizer. 'Sure. Thanks' wala na sa kabilang linya si Dustin kaya ibinalik ko na ang phone ko.
'I'll go with you..' Saad niya bago pinatay ang phone.
'Zach wag na..' I muttered before he got out of the car. Umikot siya para pagbuksan ako.
'Why not?' He annoyingly asked.
'Dahil hindi magiging maayos ang usapan namin, I know you too well Zach.'
'I don't trust that guy.'
'Then trust me. Gusto mo bang matagalan ang transaction namin? Kasi mas matatagalan kami kung nandon ka..'
Tumitig siya sakin at bumuntong hininga. May ikakaselos pa pala ang ganito kagwapong nilalang. 'Fine! But i'll fetch you after'
'Deal!' Ngumiti ako at niyakap siya. Magkahawak kamay kaming pumasok sa The weddings na boutique. I was expecting a simple building but it's actually grand and classy. Tatlong palapag ang boutique, may sariling lobby ito na parang hotel dahil may black amd white sofas at heart-shaped na golden chandelier, lumapit kami sa receptionist na naka-white uniform. She's pretty.
'Hi Maam, Sir' magiliw itong ngumiti samin, in fairness hindi siya katulad ng mga babaeng naglalawaybkay Zach. Professional itong kumilos. 'Welcome to The Weddings.. do you have an appointment?'
'Yes.. we have an appointment with Alani Mereilez.'
'Ohh.. it's under Mr Zachary and Alliyah Dela Silva?' Pinamulahan yata ako dahil apelyido na ni Zach ang binanggit niya, hindi na separate.
'Yes' si Zach na ang sumagot.
'Kindly sign here Sir..' tumalima si Zach at nakangiting kinuha ng receptionist ang papel. 'Please proceed to 2nd floor maam, room 1' Iginiya niya kami sa elevator na katabi lang ng station niya.
Akala ko tapos ang ang surprises ng The Weddings pero pagbukas ng elevator ay bumungad samin ang isang hallway na puno ng salamin na may golden frame, huminto kami sa parang waiting area na may grand chandelier, mas malaki at engrande ito kumpara sa lobby..
'Good afternoon.. Mr and future Mrs Dela Silva?' Sinalubong kami ng isang matangkad na babae at nakaponytail ang blonde hair nito. She's wearing a peplum skirt and peach top. 'I'm Alani Mereilez.. this way' Iginiya niya kami sa isang glass walled room, may round glass table and black couches. 'Have a seat.. can I offer you anything? Coffee? Tea?'
'I'll have tea..'
'I'm good' sagot ni Zach.
May pinindot ito sa gitna ng table. 'Shy? Please bring two cup of tea.. Zach and Alliyah..'
'Yes..'
'Hi. It's so nice to finally meet you, so you're the mystery girl. No doubt that Mr. dela Silva gave in to you, you've got a pretty fiancee'
'She is' ano ba yan! Ilang beses ba akong magba-blush dito.. natigilan lang kami ng dumating ang tea at may dalawang slice of cake din.
'So let's start with the actual wedding .. do you have a specific type in mind?' she asked at may kinuha siyang catalogue sa drawer'church? Beach or garden?'
'Beach wedding..' sagot ni Zach, I can't believe na talagang hands on siya sa wedding namin. Hindi naman kasi lahat ng lalaki may pakialam sa details, basta sumusuporta lang financially. Sinulyapan ako ng organizer, as if waiting for my confirmation.
'Yes, beach wedding..'
'Alright.. beach wedding..' Sinulat niya ito sa isang booklet.. 'How about the location sir?'
'Well, we don't have a fix location in mind but Zach's family owns a resort in Batangas and we also have an island.. but we are still undecided'
'I see.. so let me show you some of our preferred locations here..' She opened the catalogue and turned it to our side. Marami siyang resorts na pinakita but one resort caught my attention, dahil narin sa ganda ng view dito at pinakita niya rin ang malawak na cliff kung saan madalas pinagdadausan ng kasal. Below the cliff is the mesmerizing water of Batangas. 'This resort is owned by one of the co-owner of this Boutique.. RamVille ang name ng resort.. if by chance na dito niyo piliin, kayo ang pangalawang ikakasal dito sa RamVille cliff.' She showed me some samples of the set-up, itinutuon nila sa paglubog ng araw ang kasal. 'And you don't have to worry because the cliff is accessible by cars.. it's huge enough to cater 200 guests.' I'm looking at the pictures, may pictures din ng bride.
'They looked familiar.' Bulong ko.. parang nakita ko na sila somewhere.
'That's Annica Tan and Andrei Salazzar, si Annica ang may ari ng resort Miss Esquibelle.. their wedding happened two years ago..' oh I see, now I remember kung bakit pamilyar, medyo controversial kasi ang kasal na yun. 'And aside from that, they also have a hotel inside. Kung saan pwede ganapin ang wedding receptions.. they have more or less 15 villas around the resort if you're planning to have a pre-wedding celebration..' Marami pang napag-usapan kasama na ang prenup shoots and what-not. 'We'll have a meeting with the whole team for your wedding this weekend Mr. Dela Silva para sa kabuuan ng plano para sa kasal niyo.'
'Alright..' sagot ni Zach.
'This meeting we had is only for the conceptualizing lang po.. do you have anything to add?'
'No.. Gusto ko lang madaliin ang kasal' Napaawang ang labi ng organizer pero ngumiti din ito.
'Makakaasa kayo.'
'Thank you..' tumagal din ng isang oras ang meeting namin kaya medyo na-drain ako sa ginawang conceptualizing. Hindi pala talaga madali ang pagpapakasal.
'Nakakapagod din pala ang wedding preparations no?'
'Medyo.' Tipid niyang sagot bago ako pinagbuksan ng pinto ng sasakyan. 'But I don't care how tiring the process is as long as I'm marrying you, then it's all worth it.' How can he melt my heart so easily?