Over
I slowly walked down the aisle while suppressing my tears. All eyes were on me as I walked on the red carpet with the classical music's rhythm and holding my white and pink tulip flowers.
This is supposed to be a happy moment but I just can't help but to be emotional as I remember everything I went through before this happened.
"Okay, Mom... I will m-marry Lex." I said in defeat.
If marrying Lex will make my mother love me, if marrying Lex will make her accept me as her daughter...
But what about...
Natigilan si Mommy sa sinabi ko at agad akong niyakap ng sobrang higpit. Damn, I am living for this.
"Thank you, thank you Vienna. Thank you so much." She said again and again as she cried.
And now... I will have my Mom's love which I longed for years, ngunit kapalit ng pagmamahal na iyon ay ang pagkawala ng isa.
Napatingin ako kay Danna habang naglalakad na grabe ang iyak na tinatahan naman ni Kevin na nasa tabi niya. I smiled at her reassuringly. I'm sure of this Danna, don't worry.
In life, we should know the fact that we cannot get everything we want. We have to choose between being selfish, and being selfless. Noong nasa college pa ako, back when I was still so immature, so childish, so toxic, I did everything just to have what I want. I even chased a man for love.
"Vien..." Napatingin ako sa likod ko dahil sa tumawag.
I saw Marco's eyes full of pain and hurt. Narinig niya ba ang sinabi ko? That I will marry Lex?
Hindi pa ako nakakapagsalita ay mabilis na siyang lumapit at pinatayo ako mula sa pagkakaluhod.
"Baby, what's this?" Puno ng sakit ang boses niya habang nakahawak sa magkabilang pisngi ko at pinupunasan ang mga luhang lumalandas.
"I'm sorry." I said, almost a whisper at hindi makatingin sa kanya dahil mas lalo ang akong nasasaktan.
"No. Let's go home. Uwi na tayo, please?" Despite of the gentleness of his voice, it was still too painful.
Hindi ako tumingin sa kanya. I didn't answer too. Kailangan kong mamili. I know I have to choose between my family and him.
Nang hindi ako nagsalita ay hinila niya ako palabas at hindi pa nakakadalawang hakbang ay nagsalita na si Mommy.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Marco stopped and stayed like that for a while before facing my mom.
"Pinaglaruan mo ang dalawang anak ko and now you have the guts to-" Mom added which was cut off by Marco.
"I am going to pay for whatever the syndicates are asking... And Tita, I never played with anyone of them, isa lang po ang minahal ko at mamahalin ko." Sabi niya habang humihigpit ang hawak sa kamay ko.
Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya dahil sa unang sinabi niya. Who would dare to pay millions just like that?!
"Marco..." Tawag ko. "You're out of your mind."
"I am completely sane, baby." He said gently. "Please, let me do this."
Napatingin ako kay Mommy na ngayon ay tahimik na at hindi makatingin sa amin.
I am too overwhelmed by what's happening na halos wala akong ibang naiisip. Marco is willing to pay for our company's debts! I can't let him do that!
"Marco, please think about it first. Hindi ka mababayaran-"
"Bakit ang mga Maravillia, pwede? Why not me? I can do it too, Vien. Without risking your freedom. Please." Sabi niya habang hinuhuli ang tingin ko.
Hindi pa ako nakakapgsalita ay nagsalita ulit siya, ngayon para kay Mommy.
"Contact them, Tita. We'll give them what they want." He said so seriously and dark na hindi na ako nakaangal pa.
Naligtas si Val mula sa mga sindikato. I didn't know how that happened dahil hindi ako pinasama nina Daddy at Marco. I just waited at the mansion for them.
When they came back, agad ko silang sinalubong habang mabilis ang pintig ng puso.
The van's door opened at agad na lumabas si Marco doon. Agad namang sumunod si Val at mahigpit na humawak sa braso ni Marco habang nanghihina.
Marco's jaw clenched. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin and mouthed "sorry". I just nodded and I saw him sigh at kasabay noon ang paglabas rin nina Mommy at Daddy.
"I know you'll do this for me." Despite of being weak, Val managed to speak to Marco at tama lang ang lakas ng boses para marinig ko.
I saw how Marco's forehead ceased at ang paglapit naman ni Mommy sa kanila para kunin si Val ngunit hindi ito bumibitiw kay Marco.
"Val..." Mommy called her gently. "Let's stop now. We'll find a good man for you, okay?" She whispered.
Nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Val at nakita ko ang galit sa mata niya ngunit nangibabaw ang sakit doon. Bumitiw siya kay Marco at humawak kay Mommy.
"Thank you." Mommy told Marco at iginiya na si Val papasok ng mansyon.
Val didn't look at me but I know she's crying because of her silent sobs.
Daddy tapped Marco's shoulder twice too bago sumunod kina Mommy at Val. I heard Mist's cry inside while repeatedly calling Val.
New tears slowly formed in my eyes. Marco looked at me and smiled in relief. I know what he's thinking dahil mukhang hindi pa siya nakakabawi sa ginawa ni Daddy kanina lang. I smiled too as I walk towards him for a tight hug.
Holding my left hand, Marco drived towards the gate of a large mansion. Sobrang kaba ang nararamdaman ko at halos lumabas ang puso ko sa dibdib ko.
This is the first time I'll meet his parents! And I will meet them not just as Marco's girlfriend but as his fiancee.
Sobrang tahimik namin habang kumakain. Marco's mom look angelic but ruthless. Ibang-iba sa ama niya na may matigas na ekspresyon ngunit mukhang pala kaibigan.
Napainom ako ng tubig at naramdaman ang kamay ni Marco sa hita ko. I saw his dad wiped his mouth with a cloth before he cleared his throat.
Sobrang seryoso ng ekspresyon niya habang nakatingin sa akin at bumaba iyon sa singsing sa kamay ko. Bumaling siya kay Marco at biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon.
"So, kailan ako magkaka-apo?" He said that in a very serious manner that almost made me cough.
I saw Marco smirked at his dad and his dad smirked too. Napapikit ako at naramdaman ang haplos ni Marco sa hita ko kaya nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya.
"How many do you want, Dad?" Tanong niya sa ama ngunit nakatingin sa akin.
Kung wala kami sa harap ng mga magulang niya, kanina ko pa siya sinuntok!
Pinaglakihan ko siya ng mata that made him chuckle. Napatingin ako kay Tita Olivia na ngayon ay nakangiting nakatingin sa amin ni Marco.
"That's for you to decide. Pero kung ako, I want a whole basketball team."
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ng ama niya. A whole basketball team! Paano ko iaanak ang lahat ng yan?!
"Stop that Solomon, you're scaring her." Tita Olivia's soft voice echoed that made Marco and his dad laugh deeply.
"It's for Vienna to decide, Dad. It's her body." Marco stared at me.
Napangiti ako habang naaalala ang mainit na pagtanggap ng mga magulang niya sa akin. Ibang-iba sa mga magulang ko sa kanya.
My eyes drifted to his mom on the right side that is now teary eyed. Then she smiled at me.
I invited Lex ngunit nasa ibang bansa kaya hindi nakapunta. He asked for forgiveness and I gave him that. He's a friend after all.
Marco's friends are here too. Si Giro lang ang wala. Seth, Marco's best man is with Kylene. Then Axe and Race.
Napatingin rin ako sa kaliwa where my family are. Val is with Mist and someone I don't know. Maybe her boyfriend? Si Daddy naman ay pinipilit na ngumiti kahit naiiyak nang nakatingin sa akin.
And Mom... when I looked at her, nakaabang na ang ngiti niya sa akin. She covered her mouth with his left hand as her tears fell.
As I continue walking, napatingin ako kay Marco habang naglalakad palapit sa kanya. He's dashing with his cream tuxedo and brown leather shoes. I almost laughed when I saw him look up to stop his tears. He's so immaculately handsome in front and most importantly, he is mine.
I chased him for years but he kept on running away.
But now... the chase is finally over. Because as I slowly walked at this very moment... he waited. He didn't run and I didn't chase. He waited for me at the altar, slightly biting his lower lip as he stared at me in contentment and with bloodshot eyes.
And all I could say right now... is that everything I did... were all worth it.