Bittersweet Escapade.

As we get nearer to the Baclaran church, I can feel the excitement running through my veins.

I can't believe I am marrying the man of my dreams.

5 years of being in a relationship with

Hugo is a tough ride but absolutely worth it and now we're already one step into the married life.

As I stepped outside the fancy Car, I saw tita Shirley approaching me.

The warm wind brushed my cheeks and felt my wedding gown sway a bit.

I wore a sleeveless sequin wedding gown with my whole back revealed and my short hair is simply curled.

"Czarina, darling, you look gorgeous. I understand why Hugo is very much head over heels inlove with you." Tita Shirley said as she embraced me in her warm hands.

"Thank you for accepting me into your family, tita." I said amd smiled. Mayaman ang pamilya nina Hugo dahil Gobernador ang kanyang Ama at May-ari ng napalaking hacienda ang kanyang Ina. Samantalang ang pamilya ko naman ay nasa middle class lamang, hindi mayaman at hindi rin naman mahirap. Simple lang pero mayaman sa pag-mamahal.

"Oh, don't call me tita. Call me your mama, iha."

"Okay po, Mama."

Pumunta na kami kina nanay at tatay, malapit sa nakasaradong pinto ng simbahan.

"Nanay, tatay..." Sabi ko nang makalapit na ako sakanila.

"Ikakasal na ang anak ko." sabi ni nanay tapos niyakap niya ako, niyakap ko din siya.

Malapad ang ngiti ni tatay at ni Julian habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Parang kailan lamang ay buhat-buhat pa kita sa mga kamay ko, ngayon nama'y bubuhatin ka na ng iba." sabi ni nanay at humagulhol, nanatili pa ring nakayakap si nanay sa akin. Parang maiiyak na rin ako habang naririnig si nanay umiyak.

"Celina, tama na 'yan. Papaiyakin mo din si Czarina n' yan." sabi ni Tatay.

"'Nay, papangit si ate kapag nabura yung make-up niya dahil sa pag-iyak." sabi naman ni Julian.

Hinarap ako ni nanay habang sumisinghot pa rin sa pag-iyak. Seeing my mother cry because of happiness makes my heart go soft. Pangarap kong maikasal sa simbahan tapos nakasuot ng wedding gown dahil sakanya, sa nanay kong hindi naranasan ang maikasal sa simbahan at makapag-suot ng wedding gown dulot ng kahirapan nila noon.

"Sa wakas, anak, matutupad na ang pangarap mo, ang pangarap natin." ngumiti siya sa akin at niyakap ulit ako kasabay ng pagyakap sa akin nina tatay at Julian.

My life in one embrace.

"Tatawagan ko lang si Hugo." sabi ni Shanelle, ang nakakatandang kapatid ni Hugo.

"I can't believe Hugo is late to his wedding." disappointed na sabi ni Mama Shirley.

"Baka po na-traffic lang sa EDSA." sabi ko.

"They should've taken another route. Hindi ka niya dapat pinag-hihintay."

30 minutes na kaming nag-hihintay dito sa labas, I can see the faces of the other guests getting bored. Nasaan ka ba Hugo?

"Hugo's phone is turned off." Shanelle said.

"I kept calling a number of times but it's still the same."

Tita Shirley sighed in dissapointment.

"Czar!" I saw Michael, one of my friends, running towards me, flapping a white small envelope.

"I saw this outside Hugo's condo unit. Letter niya para sa'yo." He said.

Kinuha ko agad ang envelope. Binuksan ko iyon at hinugot ang papel.

The words strucked a lightning within me.

I will not marry you anymore. Please don't wait for me, I'm not coming. Goodbye.

-Hugo

Pinunit ko ang letter at itinapon. I can't believe him! I need a valid reason! Dapat pumunta siya dito at sabihin niya ng personal, hindi yung may pa-letter letter pang nalalaman.

"Oh my goodness, Hugo William Dela Cerna!" sigaw ni Mama Shirley sa inis at pinaypayan ang sarili.

"Naku po, jusko, ang anak ko." sabi ni nanay at humagulhol ulit.

Nakakainis si Hugo! Naduduwag ba siya?

The other guests started to gossip.

"Poor woman"

" Hugo must've left her because he had realize something."

"she deserves that, what a gold digger."

"  a wedding turned into ashes."

I felt my eyes sting a bit.

I walked away. Away from the crowd. Away from my family and friends. Away from the judgmental people. And away from this joke wedding.

I was about to call a taxi but a car suddenly stopped in front of me, the windows rolled down and from it emerged a face that I don't wanna see anymore.

"Hello, mi amore!"

I rolled my eyes at his greetings and Ignored him. I was about to walk away again but he called me.

"Czar, don't let them see you miserable. Come in, get inside my car and I'll drive you home." what he said makes sense.

I got inside his car and sat in the front seat.

"I am only doing this so you could repay me for what you did years ago, asshole." I hissed at him.

"Okay, missy. I'll also pay my other balances and interests to you, mi amore." he said and drove away from the Baclaran church.

"stop calling me mi amore and get me home. I can't last a second with you." I sternly said at him and looked outside the sceneries.

On my wedding day, My fiance ditched me and my ex, Rad, is now sitting beside me.

Can this day get any better?