CRUSHY BABE

Chapter 40

Althea's POV

Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang sayang nadarama ko. Parang nakalutang sa alapaap ang aking mga paa nang sandaling masilayan ko si Jade habang naglalakad na sa aisle palapit sa akin.

(Insert the song: A thousand years by Christina Perri)

Laglagan ang mga luha ko habang naghihintay ako sa kanya sa unahan kung saan naghihintay na rin ang judge na magkakasal sa amin. Simpleng garden wedding lang ang aming napagkasunduan.

Kumpleto lahat ng pamilya ko at pamilya niya. Pati na rin ang mga malalapit naming mga kaibigan. Maging sina Anne and Erwan ay pinilit ring makadalo bagaman napakalayo ng London sa Pilipinas.

Naluluha rin ang Daddy at Mommy niya habang nakaagapay sa magkabilang niyang tabi. Ang mga kaibigan at pamilya namin ay panay rin ang pahid ng kanilang mga luha. Lalo na sina Batchi, Bianca, Nanay and Tatay kung saan sila mismo ang nakasaksi sa aming pagmamahalan ni Jade.

Niyakap ako ni Mommy Clara nang makalapit sa akin. Ganon rin si Daddy Gareth na may ibinulong pa sa akin. "Welcome to the family Althea. Please take good care of my Princess."

"Yes Daddy Gareth. I'll do that with all my heart." Teary eyed na tugon ko rito. Ngumiti ito at iniabot na ang kamay ni Jade sa akin.

Sa sobrang tuwa at saya ay niyakap ko muna si Jade ng napakahigpit. "I love you so much Babe. This time you'll be mine forever."

"My love, you know naman from the start that I'm all yours. Please don't cry, okay? I love you too."

Kumawala na ako sa pagkakayakap sa kanya at nakangiting pinahid niya ang mga luha ko. Saka kami sabay na naglakad patungo sa harap ng judge.

Nangaral munang sandali ang judge saka kami pinag-isang dibdib. Maya't-maya ang sulyapan at titigan namin ni Jade sa isa't-isa.

Judge: Do you, Althea Galura, take Jade Howell, to be your wife, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her this day? 

Althea: I do.

Judge: Do you, Jade Howell, take Althea Galura to be your wife, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her this day?  

Jade: I do.

Matapos namin maisuot ang singsing sa isa't-isa ay nagpalitan na kami ng aming mga vow's.

"Jade? I will never forget the day we first met. You amazed me with your beautiful smile and I guess it was love at first sight. When you called me crushy in front of my friends I was so kilig." Napatawa siya sa aking sinabi. "You taught me how to be brave by telling the truth of who really I am. Because that time I was so scared, weak and confused. But after you came along into my life you took it all away. The memories that we shared together. We're so happy inlove and we just don't care what other people will say." Iyak-tawa kong sabi sa kanya. "I was wrong Babe for what I did to myself when you left me. Kung sana.. kung sana naging malakas lang ako." She hold my hand very tight. Saying 'love please take it easy'. "Alright! I'm sorry.." I smiled and she nodded. "I'll promise you Jade. I will take care of you. I will always love you, trust you, encourage you and respect you. I'll prove it to you na worth it na ibigin ako. Mahal na mahal kita. I want to give you the world that I could." Bumuhos na naman ang mga luha ko na kahit na anong pigil ko ay kusang naglalag-lagan.