The days were like a fast-paced movie and here I am back with my family in San Diego. Kasama ko rin si Raphael dahil kailangan naming um-attend ng kasal ng mga kapatid namin.
Who would have thought na sa kabila ng mga pinagdaanan nila kuya at Luisana, they still found their way to each other's arms? Kaya siguro kahit kailan ay hindi nahulog ang loob ni Jimena kay kuya ay dahil nakatadhana ang kapatid ko sa twin ng fiancée niya.
Life is indeed ironic. It surprises us with another turn.
"Mahusay kang pumili hija ng lalake," mamá said with a slight tease in her voice habang nakatingin kami kanila papá at Raphael na mukhang nagkakasundo na. Papá is showing to Raphael our ranch.
"He looks like an honorable man," dagdag pa ni mamá dahilan upang lumapad ang smile ko. I'm glad that they do like Raphael for me.
Medyo nangamba pa nga ako no'ng una dahil baka they don't like him for me. I'm just happy that we were both accepted by our family because if not, I'm sure that I'm still going to fight for my love, for our love.
"He is, mamá," may pagmamalaki kong saad.
Mamá just chuckled. "I hope na kayong dalawa na talaga ang hanggang sa dulo, mi hija." She paused. "I can see the happiness in your eyes na kahit kailan hindi ko nakita sa nagdaang panahon."
"I hope so too, mamá."
Kinuha ko naman agad ng baso na may tubig nang makitang papalapit na sila sa amin at ganoon din ang ginawa ni mamá para kay papá.
"Hindi ka na dapat nag-abala, Victorina," anito pero kinuha pa rin naman ang baso sa kamay ko at ininom ang tubig na naroroon.
I pouted my lips because of his remark pero agad naman itong napalitan ng ngiti nang nakawan ako ng kiss ng lalakeng pinakamamahal ko. My parents are also smiling widely as I caught them looking at us.
Sana ang pagmamahalan namin ni Raphael ay maging kasingtatag na tulad ng sa aking parents. I just wanted our love to last for eternity. This is the reason why I don't easily let someone enters my world before.
If I am going to give my heart to someone, I'm going to make sure that he will be the person that I wanted to spend my lifetime with. And now I'm sure that person is Raphael.
"Hijo, how is my daughter as a girlfriend? Hindi ka naman ba binibigyan ng sakit ng ulo?" my father asked Raphael while we are currently eating our lunch.
"Papá!" suway ko sa ama but the table is ony filled with laughters with the persons I love so much.
"Hindi naman po. Kahit minsan ay masungit siya ay ok lang."
I glared at the person who is beside me.
Me?
Masungit?
It's him kaya na masungit!
I'm ready to defend myself but abuela spoke. Raphael's calm nature faltered because of the tense he is feeling. I can actually tell because I can feel him trembling a bit.
"What do you do for living, hijo?" abuela asks in an intimidating tone. Well, she's always been like that. The señora of hacienda de Reyes exudes nothing but pure confidence and power.
"I work as a junior accountant in one of the most large corporations of the country. Aside from that, I also practice my profession as a lawyer, señora," Raphael answered professionally as if he's being asked in a conference.
Abuela nodded her head and I saw her cuved her lips upward a little that made my heart be at ease. Although she still possesses the same aura from earlier.
She likes Raphael, I just know it!
"Keep eating, hijo. Alam kong pagod kayong dalawa ni Mavic sa byahe," mamá said.
"What about me, mamá? Nakalimutan niyo na ata that you have a daughter?" I pouted.
"Of course, you also. Don't be jealous on your boyfriend," she said as she chuckled jokingly.
After we ate our lunch ay pinagpaalam muna sa amin ni Luisana ang kapatid upang maipakilala niya rin sa kanyang magulang in which we agreed naman.
Naisipan kong ipagluto si Raphael para mamaya. I know lagi siyang nakakakain ng food na masarap but I wanted to do something for him. I had known just recently na ang paborito palang pagkain niya ay sinigang na hipon and here I am, preparing all the ingredients para sa putaheng iyon.
Masaya rin akong malaman na mahilig din pala siya sa hipon. Even if we are dissimilar in many ways, we also have things in common. I really don't believe in soulmates but if there is really such thing in this world, maybe Raphael and I are really destined for each other. I smiled at the thought of those.
I did so many trial and error bago ko nakuha ang tamang timpla. I am so proud of my masterpiece even if I know that this dish isn't the best. Ang kulang na lang ay si Raphael upang matikman ito.
"Wow! Nagluto ang aming prinsesa," wika ni papá nang makapasok siya rito sa kusina.
"It's for Raphael, papá," I said with a smile.
He chuckled. "I like that man for you, Mavic."
"What's not to like about him, di ba po?" I asked with a smile and he just chuckled again and mess with my hair.
"Papá!"
"Muy bien, mi hija," he said before he finally goes out of the kitchen.
(Very well, my daughter.)
I looked at the clock and it was already past six. Maya-maya ay darating na rin 'yon.
I was so excited to give this to him kaya nang marinig kong tumatawag siya ay agad ko itong sinagot.
"Hello," I answered with a smile on my face.
"How are you, my Victorina?" Mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti ko sa aking mukha.
"I'm fine, but I'm missing you already," I said but I just heard him chuckled a little.
His chuckles are like a music to my ears. I don't want it to stop.
"Anong oras ka uuwi?" I asked with full of enthusiasm.
"Ahh... Victorina," he said, "pinilit kasi ako ni Luisana na rito na raw muna ako matulog for this night dahil matagal-tagal pa siguro kami magkakasamang muli lalo pa't dito sila sa San Diego maninirahan ni Franco."
Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita sa sinabi niya, instead I just looked at my creation.
"Ok lang naman 'yon sa'yo, di ba?" he asked and I just faked a smile na as if naman makikita niya.
"Of course. Ano ka ba, Raphael?! Syempre ok lang sa akin tutal kailangan niyo rin ng bonding time na magkapatid."
"Are you ok?" he asked at bakas ang pag-aalala rito.
"Yup. So don't worry about me. Ang isipin mo ang bonding time niyo ni Luisana lalo pa't ikakasal na siya bukas."
"Ok. Good night, Victorina."
"Good night also," I said before hunging up.
Sino ba naman ako para ipagdamot sa kanya ang makasama pa ang itinuring niyang kapatid? Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit ako nalulungkot nang ganito. Siguro ay dahil napag-usapan namin na rito siya matutulog sa mansion namin.
Maybe that's the reason why.
Naramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko habang nakaupo ako sa bench dito sa veranda.
"Why do my sister looks sad?"
"I don't even know kuya."
"Maybe dahil na mi-miss mo siya?"
"No sé." I shrugged my shoulders
(I don't know.)
"Or better yet, you feel na na-effort wasted ka dahil hindi man lang natikman ni Raphael iyong luto mo?" dagdag pa niya.
"Creo que sí."
(I think so.)
"I can feel that guy is really serious with you. Kapag sinaktan ka niya, don't hesitate na magsumbong sa kuya. Kahit nakakainis ang little sister ko minsan ay hindi ko naman hahayaan na may mananakit sa iyo."
I smiled. "Gracias, kuya," I answered at naramdaman kong ginulo ni kuya 'yong buhok ko.
"Kuya naman!"
"Matulog ka na. Ayaw ko na makita kang parang zombie sa kasal ko," aniya bago pumasok sa loob.
Kinabukasan, abala ang lahat sa wedding nila kuya ngayon. Even I am happy na sa wakas ay natagpuan na ni kuya ang happy ending niya. And I'm glad it is in the arms of Luisana. I'm relieved because I know that she's going to love him so dearly.
Nagpauna na si tita Fiona na hindi siya makakadalo sa kasal ng anak dahil bawal pa sa kanya ang magbyabyahe because of her health. Luisana and kuya understand about it naman. Although, I can feel Luisana's sadness because ang tinuring niyang mother ay hindi makakapunta sa most important happening in her life.
Dumating kami sa simbahan an hour before the wedding. Sa sobrang excitement at kaba ni kuya ay halos hindi na rin maipinta ang face niya. Gusto ko siyang pagtawanan but I chose not to.
"Are you worried na baka hindi matuloy itong kasal?" I asked but he just looked at me sharply.
I chuckled. "Don't worry. Tuloy na tuloy na ang kasal, kuya," saad ko at napabuntong hininga na lamang si kuya.
I am wearing an offshoulder lavender gown that flows freely from my body. Kuya and Luisana's wedding motif is royalty that's why the color scheme of their wedding is purple and lavender with a hint of blush pink. Peonies are also one of the flowers that decorated the church, together with the white and pink roses.
I'm happy that I am also one of the secondary sponsor together with Raphael. Kaming dalawa ang bahala sa pagsabit ng cord sa kanila. The cord which symbolizes fidelity of them two as a married couple.
Dapat naman talaga na there should be no secrets between spouses because most of the times ay iyon ang nagiging root ng misunderstandings.
Agad kong pinuntahan si Raphael nang makita ko siyang dumating sakay ng sasakyan niya. I gave him a peck on his cheeks dahilan upang mapalingon siya at nang makita ako ay bumakas na ang ngiti sa labi niya.
"Si Luisana?"
"Nag-aayos pa. Nagpapaganda pa ata ng sobra para sa kapatid mo," he said that made us chuckled.
"You look so lovely today, Victorina."
Tinaasan ko siya ng eye brow upang maitago ang smile sa aking lips.
"Ngayon lang?"
He chuckled. "Of course everyday. But your beauty today is on an exceptional level."
"Bola," I said at tinalikuran siya upang hindi niya muling makita ang mga smiles ko.
Baka mas lalong lumaki ang ulo niya. He was even self-proclaiming na mahal na mahal ko siya.
Although totoo naman.
The wedding started nang dumating na si Luisana wearing her elegant sweetheart tube gown with diamonds scattered on it. It was a white gown that gradients into a blush pink on the hem of the skirt of her gown. Her hair is also brushed up into a classic chignon. She looks lovely. She looks like a real angel.
Natunghayan ko ngayon kung gaano kasaya si kuya to be finally married to the lass he truly loves. Love is very evident on the eyes of the couple in front.
Tumingin ako sa kabilang banda ng simbahan at doon ko natagpuan ang itim na pares ng mga mata na nakatingin din sa akin. Because of its intensity, I chose to turn my gaze straight ahead.
One thing I realize for sure these past few days, I really love this man. I really love Raphael so much.
I can't imagine my life without him anymore.