Naguguluhan man ay sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Davon. Pumasok ako sa wooden house na nasa malapit.
"Hello po." nahihiyang bati ko sa dalawang babaeng naroon. Namukhaan ko ang isa kaya naman pinaningkitan ko sya ng mata. Bahagya itong natawa at naglahad ng kamay.
"Esther Lyndsey po." anito. My mouth formed an o. "Dito po." itinuro nito ang isang vanity chair sa harap ng vanity mirror. Umupo ako doon at kinausap sila. They did a light makeup on me since according to them, maganda naman na raw ako kaya hindi na masyadong kailangan. Maglalagay sana yung isa ng lip gloss kaya lang pinigilan sya nitong karma ng magaling kong kapatid dahil mapula naman na raw ang labi ko.
Nang makatapos ay malapit na magdilim kaya itinuro nila saakin ang daan na may mga violet petals. Dahan-dahan ako sa paglalakad, iniisip kung bakit ako nakaganito e kaka-propose palang naman ni Davon saakin.
Nang matapat naman ako sa kabila ng isla na ito ay napaawang ang labi ko. It's like a wedding is being celebrated here. Ang ganda. Pillars are there, each has a pot of violet, a flower. Napaangat ang paningin ko sa flower crown na sinuot saakin. Violets.
Napatingin naman ako sa mga damit ng narito. Everyone's tuxedo and dresses have amethysts attached on them. Shocked, I glanced at my engagement ring, an amethyst.
Naglingunan sa gawi ko ang mga nakaupo sa mga puting upuan at agad akong pinanggilidan ng luha nang makita ang mga pamilyar na mukha. Napatingin ako kay Davon na ngayon ay nasa dulo ng lalakaran ko na mayroon paring violet petals. A music played and I got the hint, so I started walking slowly along the aisle, crying my heart out.
There I was an empty piece of a shell
Just mindin' my own world
Without even knowin' what love and life were all about
I remembered when I met him when he was just my suitor, kahit hindi ko pa sya manliligaw noon ay may mga alam na ako sakanya. Matunog ang pangalan nya sa university dahil sa angking kagwapuhan, pero hindi sya palakaibigan, wala syang nilalapitan, ako lang at yung bestfriend nya. I don't know how I ended up courting you, but one thing's certain. I am inlove with you and I'll do anything for you to love me back, Selena Aiah. sabi nya yan.
Then you came
You brought me out of the shell
You gave the world to me
And before I knew
There I was so in love with you
I remembered when he admitted that he doesn't do friends because he's comfortable with just one friend. He also doesn't do courting. Natawa tuloy ako nang bahagya, yun mismo ang sinabi nya pero niligawan nya ako. Sabi nga nya, I am uncomfortable with courting, but for you, I'm willing to go out of my comfort zone, my Selena.
You gave me a reason for my being
And I love what I'm feelin'
You gave me a meaning to my life
Yes, I've gone beyond existing
And it all began when I met you
I looked at Davon who's now crying but he smiled at me so I smiled back. Napatingin din ako kay Keana, kay Mama, at kay Mrs. Cohen na ngayon ay umiiyak, malakas pa yata ang pag-iyak nila sa iyak ko. Nang makita nila ang titig ko ay ngumiti silang tatlo nang sabay. Natawa tuloy ako.
Nakarating na ako sa katabi ni Davon. "Napakagwapo mo." wala sa sariling sabi ko. Bagaman umiiyak ay kumunot ang noo nya't napangisi.
Lumapit sya saakin at bumulong. "Mamaya ka sakin." bulong nya. His whisper sent shivers down my spine, I slapped his arm. Napatingin din ako kay Zach at Alistair na ngayon ay nakangiti saamin.
"Bakit wala akong bridesmaid? Ikaw bakit wala kang bestman? At isa pa, Damarcus leivon Lopez, bakit kasal agad?" naiiyak na tanong ko sakanya. Agad nya naman akong inalo.
"Baby, we don't need those. And, I did that because," lumapit sya saakin. "I miss you so damn much but I felt guilty for having premarital sex with you. I enjoyed it, though." aniya at ngumisi. "So I promised myself to not enter you unless we're married." bulong pa nya.
"But remember when you licked me you—" hindi na ako nakatapos sa pagsasalita nang magsalita ang pari na nasa harapan namin. Dahil doon, we listened and stood there. After a while, we stated our I do's while the music from earlier continued playing.
"H-hi there," pagsisimula ko sa wedding vow ko. Hindi ako prepared! "...wala akong masyadong sasabihin pero eto na. Salamat, Davon. Salamat sa pagtupad mo sa pangako mo na hahanapin mo ako." I sobbed upon saying those, but the three from earlier cries even more that I do! "Bwisit ka. Inis na inis ako kay Marcus dahil akala ko kasinungalingan lang 'yon." natawa si Davon at sina Zach. "But now, you're going to be my husband, and I'm saying.... thank you, Davon. Thank you. For waiting for me, for fulfilling your promise. Now I promise you that I'll be by your side, all the time. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health. I offer you now more of my honesty, my love, my fidelity, and myself. I love you." sabi ko at isinuot kay Davon ang singsing ni Davon. Agad na napayuko dahil sa mga luha na nagunahang magsituluan. Maging ang mga narito'y naiyak lalo. Pati si Davon.
Ilang segundo pa ang dumaan bago nagsalita si Davon. "Hello, baby. We're getting married on February, with amethyst as its stone and violet as the flower. An amethyst that symbolizes spirituality, sincerity, and purity." my eyes widened at that. Grabe sa galing nya.
"Remember when I told you that I'm not comfortable courting someone? That's true. But I just.... found myself courting you. Zach laughed at me before. We even got into a fight dahil sabi ko sakanya na hindi nya ako maintindihan kasi mga lalaki ang nagugustuhan nya. But that was just because of frustration. Ewan ko. Hindi ko alam pero gustong-gusto kita noon na dumating na sa punto na hindi ko na kayang sarilihin at nilapitan nga kita nung Valentine's day noon. And baby, when Marcus promises, he means it, baby. So now, I'm saying this. I love you so damn much, I won't let you slip away from me, everytime with you is full of joy and light. I am happy and comfortable whenever I am with you. I therefore promise to a good husband to you who will always be by your side, and a good father to our children. Baby, I love you more." he ended his vow and removed my engagement ring kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Inilipat nya iyon sa kanang kamay ko at inilagay ang singsing na may mas malaking amethyst piece sa kaliwang kamay ko.
Gabi na at ilan pang minuto ang hinintay bago nagsalita ang pari. "It's an honor to now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Lopez." the crowed clapped, sina Mama ay hindi na umiiyak. "You may now kiss the bride." sabi ng pari.
Haharap palang sana ako kay Davon nang hatakin ako palapit ni Davon at agad akong hinalikan. My eyes widened but I closed them and kissed him back.
"I love you, Mrs. Lopez. I love you, my Selena,"