To The Last Man

It is a perfect afternoon. The sun is setting. The sky is filled with pink, violet and orange clouds. Ang dagat ay malinaw at payapang humahampas sa buhangin. Sumasayaw naman ang mga puno kasabay ang hangin sa huni ng mga ibon. Sapat para maging kumportable ang mga bisita upang masaksihan ang isang seremonya.

Puti ang kulay ng mga telang bubong pati na rin ng mga upuan. Nagkalat ang mga bulaklak na humahalimuyak. Nakabukas na rin ang ilang mga mumunting ilaw.  The instrumental song is continuously playing. A perfect day indeed.

In front, you can see a woman and a man standing facing each other. The woman is wearing a white flowy dress with a flower crown on her head that looks good with her wavy hair that is playing with the wind. Hawak ang isang papel at mikropono, nakangiti at mata sa mata niyang tinitigan ang lalaking nasa harap niya. The man also looks at her eyes and smiled. He's with his black suit. Parehong makinang ang mga mata nila. Parehong malakas ang pintig ng mga puso.

Huminga nang malalim ang babae at tumitig sa papel.

"Go on." Bulong ng lalaki.

Huminga pa ng isang beses at sumulyap sa mga tao bago ito magsimulang magbasa.

"First, let me tell you something." She looked at him and smiled before continuing what she's reading. "'Wag kang mahiyang umiyak ngayon. Real man cries kahit na you looked like a crying baby when you cry. I know you don't want someone seeing you crying, but crying is good for the soul. So let the tears flow, okay? I'll tear boboy apart if you won't! I think that's enough to make you cry 'no? Your favorite pig stuffed toy na ayaw mo talagang ibigay sakin. You're such a kid!"

Everyone laughed at that statement. Tumango naman ang lalaki na nangingintab ang mga mata. Magaang ngumiti ngunit mabigat na napalunok.

The girl clears her throat before reading again.

"Hi, love! I know you really don't like dramas especially sa mga movies. But please, hayaan mo muna akong magdrama ngayon. Kung ayaw mong maging madrama ang buhay mo." Natawa muli ang lahat dahil sa pagbabanta.

"Remember that midnight when we were in Tagaytay? Enjoying the sky and stars. Enjoying the moment. You asked me something."

Tumango ang lalaki at bumulong kasabay ng babae, "Have you ever wished on a shooting star?"

Sabay nilang sambit.

They both smiled at each other. Maririnig ang malalalim na paghinga ng mga tao sa paligid.

"And then my drama goes on. I said yes, I wished on a shooting star once. Humiling ako noon na sana makilala ko na 'yong taong para sa akin. 'Yong lalaking mamahalin ako. Akala ko imposible. 'Cause shooting stars are dead rocks. Bakit ka hihiling sa mga bagay na wala nang buhay? But it did came true after all. I met someone. We loved each other. It was a fairytale to be with him. He was just too perfect for me. It was almost perfect. But it didn't last. Siguro dahil namatay na yung pagmamahal niya sakin. Maybe because of that dead rock. Damn that shooting star! It caused me a lot of pain! Nagbago ang takbo ng buhay ko. Nagbago ang paniniwala ko. Nawalan ako ng ganang mabuhay. Gusto ko na lang ding mawala sa mundo."

Bumuntonghininga ang babae.

"But it all changed when I found my way to Him. He gave me hope. He gave me a new life. He let me believe in Him. He loved me. He made me whole again. And by the time that I'm ready again, I prayed. Nanalangin ako na matagpuan na ang lalaking inilaan niya para sa'kin. The man I waited for so long."

Few people are wiping their tears away. The man clears his throat several times. The woman sigh again.

"And then you came. . ."