Chapter 63
Sa Great Lawn ginawa ang reception ng kasal. May malalaking tent na nilagay dun at puro nakalawit na Christmas lights ang disenyo nito kaya parang mga bituin ang disenyo nito.
Masaya ang lahat lalo na nang magpalaro ang host kung sino ang mas nakakakilala sa amin. Malamang ang nanalo yung table kung nasan sina Maq at Jonas. Eh yang dalawang yan nakasaksi sa lahat eh. Dapat sa mga yun dinisqualify eh.
Maya-maya ay nakarinig kami ng pagkuling ng mga baso.
"Babe..." untag ni Elmo. Natawa ako saka siya hinalikan muli.
"Yun naman yon eh!" sabay-sabay na bulalas ng nasa table nila Maqui. Umirap ako dahil sila-silang mga pasaway ang nandun.
"Alright! Another sweet kiss from our lovely couple. Now. Before we end the program may we call on Mrs. Cynthia Magalona for her message to our couple?" ani host saka na ito lumapit kay mama. "Ma'am..."
"Well I didn't expect this. Sa totoo lang ayoko ng nagbibigay ng message because everytime I do that, di ko maiwasang di maging emotional. But anyway, this is my boy's special day to his lovely bride and I don't want to just end this na hindi ko man lang mashare sa inyo how my son found his one true love..." bungad ni mama.
"Oh my god, ma..." iiling-iling na sabi ni Elmo at nagtakip pa ng mukha.
"Baby, makinig ka nga. Hahahaha. Chance na to ni mama na ilaglag ka saken." biro ko.
"Well, si Elmo kasi, he is the kind of guy to get everything he desires. His dream, his cars, the properties he have... Lahat! Kapag gusto niya pagpupursigihan niyang makamit. He never failed once in those matters. But he failed a lot of times in love..."
"Awww..." sabay-sabay na sabi ng mga bisita.
"We all know that Elmo has been a single parent for almost 5 years. He has been on dates ever since Nicholas was born thinking that one of the girls he would date would be a perfect mother for my grandson. But no. They only want him for his fame and his money. They never treated my grandson right. Not until he met Julie... Well, he was committed to someone when they met. They were both committed to different people and we were aware of that. But you know what? The moment I saw how Julie took care and loved Nicholas I knew already that she is the perfect woman for both my son and grandson. I saw how they both struggled to keep their feelings to themselves. I saw how Elmo tried his best to stay away from Julie dahil alam niyang may mahal na iba si Julie. And I saw the same thing in Julie too. But I guess it was destiny who pushed them to be together kaya heto. They are now married." nagpalakpakan ang mga bisita at nagcheer pa nga sina Jonas at maging mga pinsan ni Elmo. "Kagabi, while Elmo was sitting at the veranda, nilapitan ko siya. He told me that he was excited to finally have the woman he's been praying for. And I told him, "See? Anong sabi ko sayo before, the heartbreaks you've experienced are a step closer to your happiness." And he smiled at me. Because he knew that every failed relationship and dates he had is one step closer to Julie. A step closer to the woman who would love him unconditionally. And I am happy for you both. I'm happy that you finally end up here. Being married and becoming the family Nicholas wished for. I love you son. And Julie, you've been a part of our family since day one. I love you dear."
Hindi ko napigilang di maiyak sa sinabi ni mama. Nag-uumapaw kasi sa akin ang saya dahil simula naman talaga noon ay di nila ako tinuring na iba. Tumayo ako mula sa table namin ni Elmo saka siya niyakap at pinasalamatan.
"Ma, thank you po."
"No anak... Thank you kasi binigyan mo ng chance ang anak kong maging masaya."
"I love him. Sila po ni Nicholas."
"I know, dear. I know." aniya saka na pinunasan ang luha ko.
"At syempre let's not forget the bride's family. Sino kaya... Hm. I'd like daddy to do the talking." sabi ng host saka lumapit kay papa. Naluluha pa rin akong tumingin kay papa habang hinahagod ni mama ang likod ko. Maya-maya ay naramdaman ko na si Elmo sa tabi ko at niyakap niya pa ko mula sa likuran habang hinihintay namin si papa.
