Dahilan (Silent Sanctuary Series #1)

Epilogue Pt. 2

#DahilanEpiloguePT2

I glance at my reflection in front of the mirror.

I couldn't stop the tears from falling, kaunti nalang ay baka mabasa na 'tong puting damit na suot ko.

I tried my best to look nice. Kung nandito lang din naman si Cholo sa tabi ko, alam kong hindi niya gugustuhing makita akong umiiyak.

Pero kasi... hindi ko talaga mapigilan.

Ikakasal na 'ko.

Sino ba namang hindi maiiyak? Ito na 'yun, oh. Finally, I'm getting married na sa taong mahal ko talaga.

"Anak ng! Joey Cassandra, please lang, maawa ka sa make up artists mo!" Sermon ni Denise na naki-salamin sa malaking mirror sa harapan ko.

"Sorry! I know I look like an idiot, pero kasi this is one of the biggest days in my life kaya!"

"Save your tears nalang para mamaya 'pag nag-eexchange na kayo ng wedding vows," natatawang banggit ni Martina.

"Ano ba kayo! Hayaan niyo na si Joey na mag-emote muna," Tin defended.

"Truth," nginitian ko si Alein. "Baka 'pag pinigilan niya pa ngayon, baka mas malala pa 'yung iyak n'yan sa simbahan mamaya."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin because I thought she's going to take my side na hayaan akong mag-drama muna. "I hate you, Alein!"

"The more you hate, the more you love. Sabihin mo lang, pwede ka pa namang umatras sa kasal tas tayo nalang."

"Where's Francis na ba kasi?" I smirked nang makita ko siyang nanahimik nang banggitin ko 'yung name ni Frans.

Lumapit na ulit sa 'kin 'yung make up artist for a retouch since ilang minutes nalang ay malapit na kaming magpunta sa church.

"Pang-ilang retouch na 'yan, madam?" tanong ni Denise at nagtawanan naman sila, including Yvien, my cousin, na umuwi pa from Italy to help me with all the preparations.

Ang daming ganap after I got engaged. Isa na rin do'n 'yung mga catch-ups with the friends and past acquaintances.

I also realized na ang dami ko rin palang na-miss na ganaps simula noong mag-start ako sa law school. I was so drown with school works I couldn't even make that much time for my social life.

Before the engagement, we also got to talk to Aeron who's finally in jail. Pinapatawad ko na siya and gano'n din si Cholo. Ibang-iba na 'yung itsura niya simula nang makulong siya but I couldn't feel anything, kahit na sobrang liit na awa para sa kaniya.

After that visit, Cholo took me sa Intramuros. At doon, sa Baluarte, kung saan ko rin siya sinagot almost seven years ago - he proposed to me.

Everything went so well, I'm afraid something ugly will come up. Pero payapa na kami ngayon. Kasama ko si Cholo. I'm also happily working in a firm now. Nagba-bonding na rin sina Cholo and Dad, and gano'n din ako kayla Tatay Ino and Ate Andrea.

Nakakatakot na baka after all these kasiyahans and everything, may biglang dumating nanamang hindi maganda sa 'min. But I need to remind myself that I have to live in the present and just cherish the moments. I don't want to jinx anything. I love the life I have right now, sobra.

"Congratulations, babe," Denise gave me a long, therapeutic hug pagkababa ko ng car.

My legs seemed so weak, I couldn't go down the car properly sa sobrang kaba and halo-halong feelings.

Ikakasal na 'ko kay Pocholo.

Oh, what did I do in my past life to deserve someone like my future husband?