#BHOCAMP8TC #TeamNight #HeraxThunder #BHOCAMP
HERA'S POV
"I'm fine."
Hindi ko na alam kung ilang beses ko na inulit ang mga salitang iyon. Para kasing lahat ng tao sa paligid ko ay iba ang inaasahan sa akin. Like uncontrollable vomiting, o walang katapusan na pag-iyak, o iyong klase ng nerbyos na parang any moment tatakas na ako.
"Lahat naman 'yan ang sinasabi."
"I'm fine, Dawn." ulit ko at bumuntong-hininga. "Hindi ba dapat nagpapahinga ka ngayon? O kaya...I don't know, dotting on your new babies?"
Pinaikot ng babae ang mga mata bago ginalaw ang cellphone at itinutok kung saan dahilan para makita ko si Triton na kulang na lang ay makipag-sanib puwersa sa salamin ng incubator na nasa harapan niya dahil sa sobrang lapit ng mukha niya roon.
"Mukha ngang nakalimutan na niyang kasama niya ko. Pagkatapos sabihin ng nurse na pwede na naming makita ang mga anak namin inilagay na lang niya ako basta sa wheelchair, dinala rito sa NICU, at hindi na ako pinansin ulit."
Dawn finally gave birth. Kaya hindi siya makakasama sa amin ng mga agent ngayong araw na ito. She went into labor last night and gave birth this morning. Iyon nga lang ay premature ang mga bata dahil hindi na talaga kinaya ni Dawn na dalhin sila full term. But the doctors said that they're all safe and healthy. Kailangan lang talaga nilang manatili muna sa NICU pansamantala para masiguro na wala ng magiging problema.
Kaya ngayon ay may tatlo na namang supling na winelcome ang BHO CAMP. Dawn and Triton's baby Cross, Ram, and Belaya.
Four babies. I can't even imagine the sleepless nights that they will go though. Isa pa nga lang parang nananakmal na si Dawn sa trabaho dahil kulang ang tulog niya. Paano pa ngayon na tatlo na?
"I can't blame Triton for looking like he's foolishly in love. They all look so cute right?" sabi ni Dawn na hinarap na ulit sa mukha niya ang cellphone.
It's rare but there are times that Dawn's usual snobbish expression melts into an angelic expression like she has now. Kung noon siguro na tinanong niya ako ay oo agad ang sagot ko. Una dahil talaga namang ang cute ng mga anak niya at pangalawa ay wala akong balak maipatapon sa bangin kapag hindi niya na gustuhan ang sagot ko.
But now I'm a mother myself. So I can't help the mommy brag battle.
"They're cute pero mas cute ang mga anghel ko."
Kaagad naningkit ang mga mata ni Dawn, "Mas cute ang akin."
"Mas cute ang triplets ko-"
Bago ko pa matapos ang sasabihin ay may kumuha na sa cellphone na hawak ko kung saan kausap ko sa Face time si Dawn. Nanulis ang nguso ko nang makita ko na si Athena iyon at sa sariling mukha na itinapat ang aparato.
"Parehas cute ang mga anak ninyo, okay?" Itinaas niya ang isang kamay nang makita niyang magsasalita ako at inulit iyon para ipakita sa camera kung saan malamang ay hihirit pa si Dawn. "Pero mas cute ang mga anak ko."
Nag kaniya-kaniya na kaming angal ni Dawn pero ngingisi-ngisi na pinatay na ni Athena ang cellphone at pagkatapos ay binulsa iyon. Nag thumbs up pa siya sa direksyon ni Aisley na nakasalampak sa kama ng hotel room na kinaroroonan namin.
Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. Hindi naman ako mananalo sa mag nanay na humble na 'yan. "Whatever."
Inabot ko ang kulay pink ko na tumbler at ininom ang laman no'n na tubig. Prenteng sumandal ako sa swivel chair na kinauupuan ko bago ako nag-angat ng tingin kay Athena na magkasalubong ang kilay na pinagmamasdan ako.
"What?" I asked when she keep on staring at me.
"Hindi ka talaga kinakabahan?"
"No. Why?"
Humalukipkip siya at pinasadahan ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. "Nauna kang nagising sa lahat, naunang ayusan, at by the time na makarating ako rito nakasuot ka na rin ng gown."
"Yep." I smiled to myself when I looked down to see my glittery wedding gown. Matagal na palang sinimulan ng Mama ni Thunder ang gown na suot ko ngayon. Mukhang kahit anong tago namin talagang malakas ang pang-amoy ng mga magulang namin pagdating sa mga drama namin sa buhay.
Now here I am wearing the grandest ball gown I ever seen. It's an off shoulder dress that has a long royal train made of the softest of tulle with sewn floral lace and the gown itself is heavy because of the abundance of materials but it's soft to the touch.
"This is not the Hera I'm expecting."
Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Athena, "Bakit?"
"You nearly made my wedding planner cry at my wedding remember? Akala mo ikaw ang ikakasal kasi nag bridezilla mode ka."
I waved my hand in a psh motion. "Iba 'yon. Kasal mo 'yon at wala akong balak na magkaroon ng aberya sa kasal ng best friend ko."
"At sa sarili mong kasal?"
Itinuro ko ang makapal na binder notebook sa coffee table kung saan may nakalawit pa na sangkaterbang post it notes. "I've been ready since I'm a little girl. Bago ko pa ma-realize na si Thunder ang gusto kong pakasalan. I know what I wanted since the very first wedding I attended to. I know the type of wedding gown that I want, the shoes that I want to wear, my head piece,my bouquet, the church decoration, and even the reception's assemble. Higit sa lahat dadanak ang dugo bago may makapigil na pakasalan ko si Thunder sa araw na ito."
Itinikom ni Athena ang mga labi na para bang pinipigilan niya ang sariling mapangiti. Ibinaba ko ang hawak at tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo. I glance at my reflection on the full length mirror at the corner of the hotel room.
I'm wearing my dream wedding gown, my hair is up in a complicated braid with a few tendrils framing my face and a simple bridal headpiece completing it, and I have a soft glam make-up. I looked like a real princess.
I loved the every process of the preparation for the wedding. Hinayaan ako ni Thunder na gawin ang gusto ko, no budget and no restrictions. I could have wanted an underwater wedding and Thunder wouldn't blink an eye.
I love everything about it and yet right now it's not the center of what I'm really yearning for. I want my prince- no.
I want my knight.
"No! What the hell are you doing?!"
Nagkatinginan kami ni Athena at sabay na gumuhit ang ngisi sa mga labi namin nang marinig namin ang ingay mula sa labas ng kuwarto. Bumukas ang pinto at inuluwa no'n si Chalamity at Nyx na parehong nakasuot na ng pastel yellow na bridesmaid dresses nila at hila-hila ang isa sa Wright Twins na hindi pa nakakapagpalit ng damit at mukhang katatapos lang ayusan.
"Sigurado ba kayo na tamang kambal ang kinuha ninyo?" tanong ko.
Sumaludo si Chalamity, "Yes, Ma'am!"
Ginaya ni Nyx ang babae, "Tinanong pa po namin sa nanay nila!"
Itinulak nila papasok ang wala na ngayong duda na si Enyo bago nagmamadaling lumabas sila ng pintuan. Hindi makapaniwalang nilingon kami ng babae at nagpalipat-lipat ang mga mata niya sa amin ni Athena.
"I thought Athena's the maid of honor?"
"She's my matron of honor." Lumapit ako sa kama at hinila ko roon ang isang kahon. Inabot ko iyon sa babae na walang nagawa kundi kunin iyon mula sa akin. Binuksan ko ang kahon para makita niya ang gold maid of honor dress na katulad sa suot ni Athena. It's not a shocking gold color but instead it's a bit muted. "And you're my maid of honor." pagpapatuloy ko at itinuro ang pamilyar na manipis na pink baller band.
Isa iyon sa tradisyon ng BHO CAMP. Ayon kasi sa mga magulang namin ay kadalasan daw nagkakatuluyan ang mga nagiging maid of honor at best man sa kasal nila. Kaya kada may ikakasal sa amin ay sinisuguro namin na walang magagawa ang mga agent na sorpresa naming pipiliin.
"I'm not exactly a maid of honor, you know?" Enyo whispered.
Nagkatinginan ulit kami ni Athena at halos sabay kaming nagkibit-balikat. Alam naman na halos ng lahat ang set up ngayon ni Enyo at ng isa sa Reynolds Twins na kasama niya sa kapalpakan na ginawa nila.
"You're a maid of honor by heart." sabi ko at itinuro ang gown na hawak niya. "Wala ka ng choice kaya 'wag ka ng tumanggi."
"This is stupid."
"Halos lahat naman ata kami sinabi 'yan noon."
"Hindi ako. Voluntary ang pagpapapikot ko." singit ni Athena at kinindatan kami. "And if I'm correct, gano'n ka rin Hera by the time na kinasal si Aiere at ikaw naman ang naging maid of honor niya."
"That's true." I looked back at Enyo. "Trust the process."
"I don't want the process to happen. I'm already committed to Bla-"
Tinakpan ni Athena ang bibig ng babae bago pa nito matapos ang sasabihin. Hinila niya na si Enyo patungo sa banyo ng hotel room. "Bawal magsalita ng bad words ngayon nakakasira ng love life 'yan."
"Hindi bad words ang pangalan ni-"
"Shh!"
Natatawang binalingan ko ang anak ni Athena na si Ainsley nang maramdaman ko ang paglapit niya. Napalitan ang ngiti ko ng pagtataka nang makita kong may hawak-hawak siya na kung ano.
"Baka makalimutan ko po."
"What is it?"
Binuka ni Ainsley ang kamay niya at napakunot ang noo ko nang makita ko na kulay pink na baby socks iyon.
Itinuro niya ang suot ko na kuwintas. It's a gift from my parents and my brother. Galing kay Mama ang kuwintas na regalo sa kaniya ni Papa sa first anniversary nila at pinadagdagan ni Kuya Hermes iyon ng sapphire na mga bato. "May something blue at something old ka na po. This is for your something borrowed po."
Tinanggap ko ang inaabot niya at nagtataka pa rin na tinignan iyon. It's an odd thing for a wedding but I don't mind.
"It's your gift when I was a baby, Ninang." Paliwanag ng bata na parang naiintindihan ang pagkalito ko. "When I was born it was only you and my mama. She said that you're the first person that knew that she was pregnant. Ikaw lang din po ang kasama niya nang maipanganak niya ako. Sabi ni Mama ikaw din po ang bumili ng damit na sinuot ko pauwi mula sa ospital. This was the baby socks I was wearing that time."
My breath hitched with her words. Unti-unting nanlabo ang mga mata ko pero pinigilan kong tuluyang dumaloy ang luhang namumuo sa mga iyon.
Tumalungko ako hanggang sa magkapantay na ang mukha namin ng bata, "You're going to make me cry, Ainsley."
Ngumiti siya at sa pagkagulat ko ay bigla niya akong niyakap. Kung hindi ko naitama ang katawan ko ay malamang napaupo na ako sa sahig. "Be happy po, Ninang. You deserve to be happy because you made sure that Mama and I will be too."
It took all my strength to stop myself from crying but a lone tear escaped my eyes. Mukhang hindi ako nag-iisa dahil sa likod ko ay rinig ko ang pag-singhot na panigurado akong nanggagaling kay Athena.
Tuluyan na akong napasadlak sa semento nang mula kung saan ay tumama sa akin ang katawan ng babae na lumambitin din sa akin katulad nang ginagawa ng anak niya.
"What I'm going to do to you two?" I said laughing breathlessly when they sandwiched me in a hug.
"Suck it up." Athena answered still sniffling.
Nanatili kami sa ganoong puwesto sandali pero pagkaraan ay tinulungan na ako ng mag nanay na makatayo. Sa bigat ng suot ko ay hindi naging madali iyon pero nagawa naman nila akong maiayos.
Inilagay ko sa bulsa ng gown ko ang binigay ni Ainsley at hinarap ko ang dalawa, "You activated my tears. Tawagan niyo na ang bridal car bago pa matunaw ang make-up ko. O sabihin niyo sa kanila magsisimula na akong maglakad papuntang simbahan."
Sobrang lapit lang naman kasi ng simbahan sa hotel na ni rentahan namin. Hindi ko nga alam bakit kinakailangan pa namin magpunta sa hotel pero ang sabi ni Athena ay para mas ma-enjoy ko raw ang night before the wedding.
"Ninang, you don't have a bridal car."
Nanglaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Ainsley, "What?!"
LAGLAG ang mga panga na nakatingin lang ako sa harapan ko habang naririnig ko ang mga agent na nagbubulungan sa likod ko. I can't even believe what I'm seeing. This is not part of my plan.
"Where's the bridal car?" I whispered.
"Thunder canceled it." sabi ni Athena na nasa tabi ko. Binalingan niya ang iba pang mga agent na nakatunganga rin sa tinitignan ko, "Pumunta na kayo sa simbahan. Nando'n na halos lahat. Sabihin niyo kay Thunder na papunta na si Hera at baka mag panic attack iyon pag na-late ang isang 'to."
"Wala pa raw si Thunder sa simbahan." narinig kong sabi ni Enyo.
Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at sunod-sunod na kumurap pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang nasa harapan ko. "Athena?"
"Yeah?"
"This is...this is a horse carriage."
It's an open barouche carriage with two white horses in front. Sa paligid ng karwahe ay napapalamutian iyon ng kulay puti na rosas.
"Sakay na." sabi ni Athena na marahan akong itinulak palapit sa karwahe. "I'm riding with Ainsley in the car. And- oh here they are!"
Nahila ang atensyon ko mula sa tinitignan nang maramdaman ko ang pamilyar na mga bisig na pumalibot sa akin. I looked up and my face immediately warm with happiness when I saw my father, Cloak Jase Scott.
"You're the most beautiful bride I ever seen." he said in a quiet voice.
"Bolero ka, Pa. Siyempre si Mama muna bago ako."
His eyes crinkled and he let me go only for me to get hit by the impact of my mother's body colliding with me. Napabuntong-hininga ako nang malakas na suminghot ang ina ko na mukhang kanina pa umiiyak base na rin sa pamumula ng mga mata niya.
"Ma, I'm just getting married. Hindi naman ako mag ma-migrate sa ibang bansa." biro ko.
Hindi niya ako pinansin at sa halip ay marahang tinapik niya ang pisngi ko. I can never understand the pain and love in her eyes. Not until I'm on the wedding day of my own children.
She watched me grew up, tend to my every needs, and she made sure that I'm loved every step of the way. She taught me to never accept less because the right man will come to give me the love that I deserve. Just like how she did with my father.
She lost too much but she made sure that we won't. Naging mabuti silang magulang ni Papa, isang bagay na hindi niya naranasan sa sariling mga magulang. She supported all my decisions whether it's the right one or not.
Alam niya ang pakiramdam kung paanong mawalan ng tao na akala niya ay makakasama niya hanggang sa pagtanda. Even though she has my father it doesn't erase the fact that she lost someone that she loved. When my brother thought that he lost his too, my mother was there. When I thought I'm losing mine...she was there.
She made sure that we can be strong.
No matter what.
"You did good, Hera." she whispered.
"Because you taught me how."
Sa kabila ng luha ay nginitian niya ako bago bumaling sa ama ko na tinulungan siyang makaakyat sa karwahe. Nang makaayos na siya ay humarap sa akin ang ama ko. "Ready?"
Tumango ako at inabot ko ang kamay ko sa nag-iintay niya na kamay. It took me longer to go up the carriage than my mother. Masyadong mahaba ang suot ko. My mother reached for me and pulled me up while my father made sure that I won't fall.
Ilang sandali ay nakaupo na rin ako sa karwahe paharap kay Mama na ang likod ay nasa direksyon ng coachman. Umakyat na rin si Papa na pumuwesto sa tabi ni Mama.
Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa bouquet na nasa kamay ko nang umandar na ang sinasakyan namin. Hindi pa ako nakakasakay sa karwahe. Hindi ko nga akalain na meron pa rin na ganito ngayon.
Give it to Thunder to make sure that my princess wedding dream will be complete. Akala ko hinayaan niya lang ako nag magplano para sa kasal dahil wala naman siyang alam sa mga bagay na iyon at ang balak niya lang ay ang umattend sa kasal para pakasalanan ako.
I really didn't mind. Hindi naman ako iyong klase ng bride na pipilitin ang mapapangasawa ko na maging interesado sa mga bagay na aminin man natin o hindi ay kadalasang mga babae ang mas interesado.
My head snapped up when I heard something. Napalingon ako sa likod nang tinatahak namin na daan at nanglaki ang mga mata ko nang may mamataan ako.
I gasped in surprise when the black horse galloped towards us. Sakay no'n ay walang iba kundi si Thunder na kaagad hinuli ang mga mata ko. He raise his hand holding the reins and signaled the horse to go faster.
"Hurry up, princess!"
Umusad ang kabayong sinasakyan niya hanggang sa mabilis na niya kaming nalagpasan. Hindi mapigilang sinundan ko lang siya ng tingin habang malakas na kumakabog ang dibdib ko. I think I just fell in love again.
"What happened to not seeing the bride before the wedding?" tanong ni Mama na nangingiting napailing.
"I don't think even fate can stop this day from happening, Mama."
Not when my knight made sure of it. He already faced fate head on, his life on the balance. He already succeeded...making sure that he will come back to me.
It was not a prince waiting for me at his castle with his white horse that I wanted. It's the knight with chinks on his armor galloping with his dark horse, fighting his way to get to me.
I can hear my heart beating hard inside my chest when the church finally came into view. I can see the church where I watched my friends and family had their happy endings. Hindi ko akalain na dadating ang araw na ako naman ang aapak sa lugar na ito para humarap sa Diyos at ipangako ang buhay ko na hindi ko na haharapin muli na mag-isa.
I felt a hand grasp mine and through my clouded eyes I saw the face of my father. Huminto na ang kinasasakyan namin sa tapat ng simbahan at kaagad na bumaba ang ama ko para tulungan kami ni Mama. My mother went down first and the both of them helped me.
I felt the strong hands of my father carefully setting me on my feet. Umangat ang kamay niya at inayos niya ang veil na tumatabing sa mukha ko.
"I promised your mother in our wedding day to find her in every lifetime and make her mine. And now in your wedding day, I want you to promise me to come to us in every lifetime that we will have because being you and your brother's father is one of the greatest thing that happened in my life."
Tuluyan nang kumawala ang luha mula sa mga mata ko nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. Sunod-sunod na tumango ako nang hindi ko magawang makapagsalita mula sa emosyon na bumabalot sa akin. Marahan niyang pinisil ang braso ko bago niya ako iginaya paharap sa pintuan ng simbahan kung saan tanging kurtinang napapalamutian ng kulay dilaw at puting bulaklak ang tumatabing sa amin mula sa simbahan. I saw Athena waved at my direction and entered the corner door and disappeared from my sight.
"Ready?" my mom asked this time.
"Ready."
Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday
My steps staggered when I heard the song. Pinili namin iyon ni Thunder pero hindi iyon ang dahilan nang pagkagulat ko kundi ang boses na nagmumula mula sa loob ng simbahan.
Humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa akin nang mga magulang ko nang bahagyang manlambot ang mga tuhod ko. I can hear it clearly...Thunder's voice being carried out to where I am, singing the song that meant so much to us.
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong
Tinanggap ko ang hinaharap na may posibilidad na hindi marating ang pagkakataon na ito. Loving Thunder was not easy. Dahil alam namin pareho ang mga bagay na kailangan naming isakripisyo para sa isa't isa.
I knew that there's a possibility of not having a future with him let alone to have this moment. Alam kong hindi lang kami ang nakikita ang posibilidad na iyon kundi maging ang mga tao sa paligid namin. That the risk of not having each other in the end is the possibility that we need to face.
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
The curtain finally opened, revealing that man I love at the end of the church waiting for me with his voice telling me the things that I now understand. Minsan na niyang kinanta ito sa akin noon. I heard this song hundred of times but I don't think I understood it as much as I have now.
How we chose each other and how we finally made it.
Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong
Tila bukal na patuloy sa pagpatak ang luha mula sa mga mata ko lalo na nang marinig ko ang pagbabago sa boses ni Thunder. His voice quivered as his eyes pooled with his own tears while looking at me walking down the aisle towards him.
I saw Stone, his cousin and one of the best man aside from Fiere, slap a hand on Thunder's shoulder as the man is clearly being engulf with emotion.
Lumakad siya palapit sa akin at naramdaman ko ang mga kamay ng magulang ko na lumuwag sa pagkakawak sa akin nang magsimulang bumilis ang mga hakbang ko. Before I can even think about it, my hurried steps became a run, until I collided with the man still singing his heart out for me.
Pumalibot sa akin ang braso niya at hinapit niya ako palapit sa kaniya habang ako ay luhaang yumakap sa beywang niya.
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
Inangat ko ang kamay ko at pinalis ko ang luha mula sa mga mata niya. Ginagap niya ang kamay ko at ibinaba niya iyon sa tapat ng puso niya.
"Thank you for keeping this heart beating." he whispered.
"You're the one who fought hard to keep it beating."
"But you are the reason that I came back." Binaba niya ang mukha sa direksyon ko hanggang sa pantay na ang mga mata namin. I felt my lips trembled as tears kept falling down my cheeks while I watched his own continued to fell from his. "We made it, princess."
"We did."
Sandaling nakatingin lang kami sa isa't isa at kung hindi ko pa naramdaman ang kamay na humawak sa kamay ko at ang mga malakas na pagsinghot sa paligid ko ay hindi ko pa magagawang lumayo sa kaniya. I looked beside me and I saw my parents looking at Thunder.
My father gently drop my hand and instead of giving it to Thunder as the symbol that has been done for ages, his own hand reached for the man that I will marry. Lumapat ang kamay ni Papa sa balikat ni Thunder at tinapik niya iyon. May kung anong nagdaan sa pagitan nila bago marahang inalalayan ni Papa si Mama palayo sa amin.
I looked around us. Kita ko ang mga kaibigan namin at pamilya na luhaang pinanonood kami. Even the men are all trying to hide their reactions. Ang second generation Elites naman ay kaniya-kaniya sa pagpapakalma sa mga asawa nilang babae na humahagulhol na. I even saw Thunder's mother bawling her heart's out to her husband.
And then there's the Original Elites. Their eyes filled with wisdom that we won't be able to understand yet. The wisdom of life and how that this is just the beginning of everything. And yes, the women are crying too. Except Breeyhana Davids. Kasi abala siya sa pagpaypay sa luhaan niyang asawa na si Poseidon Davids.
"Let's get married." Thunder whispered at me.
Nakangiting tumango ako at inabot ko ang kamay niyang nag-iintay sa akin. We then faced the altar, walking forward to receive the blessings for this wedding.
Magkasama namin hinarap ang pari na nag-iintay sa amin. With his hand never letting mine go, the ceremony commenced. Our eyes were already opened to what this gathering meant for us, our ears to listen to the words from God, and our hearts to the love that brought us here.
"Hera Scott and Thunder Night, have you come here to enter into this union without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"
Tumingin sa direksyon ko si Thunder kasabay nang pagpisil niya sa kamay ko, "Yes, Father."
"Yes, Father." I answered while looking at the eyes of the man I love.
"Hera Scott and Thunder Night, you have come together here in front of God and His church asking for the blessings of the Lord that shall strengthen this union as your lives became intertwine with each other. This day is a sign of commitment, a beginning of the eternity that you shall share with one another. Both binded with trust, care, and love. As you intend to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, take each other's hand as you vow your consent to this gathering and fidelity to this marriage. Thunder Night do you accept Hera Scott to be your wife, to live together as friend and mate? Will you love her as a person, respect her as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep her beside you as long as you both shall live?"
Thunder took a huge breath, his eyes liquid with emotion when he looked down at me. "I do, Father."
"Hera Scott do you accept Thunder Night to be your husband, to live together as friend and mate? Will you love him as a person, respect him as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep him beside you as long as you both shall live?"
"I do, Father."
The priest addresses our guests saying the words that needs to be said. When he was done he turned to us and gave his blessing and signaled us to commence.
Hinarap ako ni Thunder sa kaniya at inangat ang kamay ko. We don't have ring bearers because Thunder and I refused to take off the wedding bands that we are already wearing. We were married before this day...but this time we're just making it official through the guidance of God.
I felt Thunder's thumb brushed the ring on my finger before he raised my hand and planted a soft kiss on it.
"Hera Scott, you are the love that I never thought I would have and the love I never thought that I deserve to have. My life was filled with deafening music, glorious lights, and the crowd screaming for my name. But despite that, I never belong...never felt anything beyond temporary. I didn't allowed myself to feel. Alam ko na masasaktan lang ako. Kasi alam ko makakasakit lang ako. Kasi hindi pwede. Because I have nothing to give but temporary. I never asked for anything more...I couldn't. Pero hindi ko nagawang pigilan ang puso ko na makita ka.
My princess, my Hera. I saw you on that bench hating the world, back then you were so young yet so beautiful. Alam kong hindi dapat pero nilapitan kita. And for the first time I felt something. I felt something I shouldn't. I tried to stay away pero kahit anong gawin ko, humahanap ako ng rason para makalapit sa'yo. When I danced with you at the night of your prom, I know in my heart that I am fooling myself. Dahil alam kong hindi ko magagawang pigilan ang sarili kong mahalin ka. Because I already did.
Alam kong masasaktan kita. Alam kong mahihirapan kang manatali sa tabi ko. It wasn't right to be with you when I know that I can't be with you for long. I'm an hourglass losing the sand of its time but no matter how hard I try to push you away, you never left my side. Everyday you kept on giving me a reason to keep my heart beating. And selfishly I continued to love you each day I'm with you, letting you know my heart but refusing to hear the words from you. Kasi ayokong makasanayan mong sabihin ang mga salitang iyon hanggang sa dumating ang araw na hindi mo na iyon magawang banggitin ulit sa oras na mawala na ako.
That day when my frail heart finally lost its fight, all I can think about is the look on your face. Sa utak ko paulit-ulit akong humihiling...kaunti pang oras. Konti pang araw na makasama ka. Kahit sandali lang kasi hindi pa kita kayang iwan."
Pakiramdam ko ay isa-isang bumabalik sa akin lahat nang pinagdaanan namin. Nagsimula kami sa isang walang kasiguraduhan. I told myself before that everything was just for fun. I made myself believe that lie. Dahil umpisa pa lang naman alam ko na ang nararamdaman ko para kay Thunder. Pilit ko lang itinatanggi kasi alam kong hindi magiging madali lalo pa pilit niya akong inilalayo sa kaniya.
He was the first one to tell me that he loves me. It was an ordinary day with me cuddled into him as we woke up. He whispered those words to me but he stopped me from saying it back. Not wanting those words to turn into a poison that I won't let escape my lips again when he's finally gone.
But that's the thing. I never wanted to say those words to anyone but him.
Marahang pinisil ni Thunder ang kamay ko at muling hinagkan iyon. "Hera Scott, you always asked me to promise you to keep my heart beating. What you don't know is until the end, my heart only beats for you. I was already giving up but you gave me a reason to keep fighting. Ikaw ang rason kung bakit ako nananatiling nandito. Because I can't bear the thought of leaving you knowing that you will be hurting.
From this day forward, I can only promise you that this time...we can love freely. We can love in a way that it won't hurt anymore. Love in a way that there's no fear. And when the time comes that I will take my last breath with my hair gray with age, I won't have any regrets knowing that I spent my life with you and our children. When that time comes that the cadence of our music finally resonate, I will wait for you so we can face our next lifetime together because there's not a life in this world that I will want besides having it with you. Thank you for staying strong for me, princess. Thank you for waiting for me and loving me.
And in the name of God, I vow to take you as my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow."
I can barely see him with my tears blocking my view. Sinong mag aakala na posible ang araw na ito? Na mabibigyan kami ng pangalawang pagkakataon? Parang kailan lang bawat oras na meron kami ay oras na nababawas sa panahon na magkakasama kami.
And now here we are. Breaking the impossible by staying together.
"Thunder Night, you are the dream man that I wished for when I was just a little girl. Hindi ko nga lang iyon maamin sa sarili ko dahil alam ko na hindi magiging madali ang maging sa iyo. I tried hard to stop myself from feeling because I convinced myself that you are the opposite of what I want. You are loud and careless, you date girls from left to right, and you don't take things seriously when what I want is someone that will be gentle with me and only love me...someone that despite all the beautiful women in the world will only see me.
I convinced myself that there's nothing between us except fun. Na dadaan lang tayo sa buhay ng isa't isa pero hindi mananatili. But it wasn't that long when I realized how wrong I was. Kasi umpisa lang wala na akong gustong makasama kundi ikaw. I couldn't see myself with anyone but you. The rock star made me fell in love with one loud strum of his guitar.
When I accepted that, I know that I'm asking for a world full of hurt. I know it wouldn't be easy. Kasi bawat oras na kasama kita alam kong maaaring maging huli na. Every moment with you reminds me that there's an end. Every kiss, every touch, everything was bound to reach its limit. Pero hindi ko magawang iwan ka para protektahan ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko makita ang bawat araw na hindi ikaw ang kasama ko.
You were my knight with a lot of chinks on the armor and yet I wouldn't have you in any other way. You showed me how to treasure every moment, you taught me what is important in this life....and you made my heart love in a way that I never thought it could.
And then that night happened. The moment that your heart stopped beating.
I watched you everyday lying in that hospital bed knowing that any moment I could lose you...but those days can't compare to that night that I thought I lost you forever. Sa nagdaan na panahon pilit na hinahanda ko ang sarili ko. Akala ko kaya ko. Akala ko kakayanin ko kahit dumating ang oras na mawala ka. Pero nang gabing iyon ko napatunayan kung gaano kahirap iyon. Kung gaano kaimposible.
I don't know how to live in a life without you in it, Thunder. Kasi alam ko na hindi ko na magagawang magmahal ulit gaya kung paano kita minahal. Life lost its meaning without you here with me. All I know is that I will live everyday waiting for that moment that my own heart will stop so I can join you again.
But until the very last moment, you fought hard. You came back so we can have this moment. So we can have this day that seems like an impossibility before. A day where we can look forward without fearing the end. You didn't let the our song conclude in a sad tune instead you made sure that the melody will continue.
Thank you for coming back to me. For building my dreams brick by brick, creating a castle out of the love you have for me.
And In the name of God, I vow to take you as my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow."
His smile gave me warmth and his hand holding mine gave me strength. Muli naming hinarap ang pari na pinagpatuloy ang seremonya. Thunder didn't let go of me. Katulad ng alam ko na mula sa araw na ito ay mananatiling magkahawak ang kamay namin sa pagharap sa buhay na naghihintay sa amin.
The Priest blessed us, the arras, and the veil and cord that shall bind Thunder and I together. Forever in this life, intertwine with each others fate, until the next lifetime.
"Now that Thunder Night and the newly Hera Night have given themselves to each other by the promises they have exchanged, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thunder Night, you may now kiss your bride."
Maingat na inalis ni Thunder ang belo na naghihiwalay sa amin. When he finally revealed my face still streak with tears, his hands reached for my cheeks and wiped them away. Kita ang pagmamahal na sumisigaw mula sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin. "We made it, princess."
I nodded my head and whispered back, "We made it."
My eyes slowly closed when he leaned towards me so he can take my lips into a kiss that will seal everything. And from afar I can hear a sweet music beginning to dance into the air, being carried by the breeze of the wind, wrapping itself around us.
The music of our love.
The beat of our hearts.
We finally made it.
_______________________End of Chapter 39.