Coen
 
“Where’s your phone, sir? Kailangan mo nang masugod sa ospital,” the stranger added as she pressed my wound to stop the bleeding. I made a flinch when she put too much pressure on it. Fuck. She’s not even showing any dreads while giving me first-aid.
 
My eyes drifted to her face. Her hair was braided so I could freely saw her features. 
 
She seemed familiar.
 
The stranger’s attention faced to my side, meeting her round dark eyes. Damn, I knew I already saw those. Her thin rosy lips slightly parted as she gazed my face. Even those lips were familiar. I knew I saw her before. 

What if…

A picture of a young girl, holding a doll abruptly appeared in my mind.

They're quite similar.
 
Was she that girl that I’ve been looking for years?
 
“Marry me.” I saw how her pupils rounded upon saying those two words. She halted from walking to and fro, giving me an intense look.

I know, I sounded so jerk at that time. But I wanted to help her. I could sense that she’s that lady. Something in this stranger made me want to be with her. And that’s fucking odd that I brought my own surname to her screwed table.

Yeah, I also weirded out to myself.
 
“I’m Coen Montero.”
 
“Kierra Vergara, your future wife.” She, then, offered her hand for a shake. 
 
I grinned. I thought it would take days or weeks before she’ll give me an answer. I never thought she’ll concur in just couple of hours.
 
This woman is truly something.
 
"Hindi kita sinisisi sa mga nangyari. Ginusto kitang tulungan dahil iyon ang aking trabaho. Masaya ako na ligtas ka at maraming salamat sa pagtulong mo naman sa akin ngayon."
 
She told me that this mess she’s facing wasn’t my fault. When truth be told, I knew I was. Kierra has a soft and delicate heart, indeed. She’s too kind for this crap district. 
 
This may sound so gay but after she said those words, my heart began to beat in a surprising manner. A voice inside my head kept whispering that I should protect her… she’s fragile within and I knew I had to keep it safe from breaking.
 
From that point, I knew I made the best thing.
 
“Ronaldo Vergara,” she answered when I asked for her father’s name.
 
Second Lieutenant Vergara.
 
I ain’t a devotee of glossing over fate poos. But as soon as I heard those words got away through her mouth, I’ve confirmed it. My hunches were all true. It was her… she was the girl in the picture that I’ve been searching for since then.
 
Maybe destiny works, huh?
 
Each day, I got to know her better― deeper.
 
Kierra only drinks chocolate milk and eats pancakes for breakfast, she loves sunsets the most, she’s an awful drinker. Never give her liquor, tequila to be exact. She’s willing to take risks, will do anything for her family… and that’s what I admire to her.
 
My feelings towards this strange woman grew bigger and I didn’t even notice that I was already falling.
 
Yet, for each splendid and bright day, there will always be storms.
 
‘Hi, Coen! Masaya ako na nakilala kita. Sabi ko nga, hinding-hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang pagtulong ko sa ‘yo. Sorry if hindi ko na masasabi sa iyo ‘to ng personal, mukhang hindi yata kita kayang harapin. Pero salamat sa lahat! Salamat sa pagsasakripisyo ng epilyedo mo para hindi mabahiran ang pangalan ko. Sa palagay ko, kulang pa ang isang-daang pasasalamat just to show my gratitude for you. 
 
Thank you rin for keeping my dad’s locket at salamat ulit dahil tinupad mo ang hiling ni Papa… kaya naman, sa pagkakataong ‘to, malaya ka na. Kahit hindi mo sabihin, alam kong nasasakal ka na sa relasyong hindi naman natin hinangad. I know, iba ang tinitibok ng puso mo. Kaya sana… sa pagbalik ko sa Søren… sana masaya ka na.
 
Hanggang sa muli, Coen.’
 
Questions began to fill my head. Why the hell did she make this note? Was she fine? Reading her message made me think tons of things. Damn. I nearly lost my shit at that time.
 
I hurriedly maneuver my car towards the café, hoping she’s there. And I was correct.
 
She’s there with my fucking dad’s men.
 
“Gagawin ko ang lahat para makauwi sa Nuere,” she said in full of conviction. 
 
I stared at her dull face, diving into her eyes. I wanted to ask why. Was something wrong? Because fuck! I was clueless and worried about her.
 
But I don’t want to be selfish. I promised myself that I’ll understand and be on her side, no matter what. If she wanted this, then so be it. I’ll be always choosing her side.
 
“I hope you made the right decision.”
 
I trust Kierra. That’s the reason why I let her go.
 
And I didn’t lament that.

.

“Calm down, man,” Zach whispered next to me. He gave me a pat on the back which I didn’t even bother to look at.
 
My jaw set, wiping the beads of sweat on my forehead. I fixed my black tuxedo for the fifth time as I deeply exhaled.
 
Today’s the day!
 
I let Kierra decide what she wanted to for our big date. Expectedly, she picked a traditional yet classic church wedding like she always sought to. The entire place was themed vintage and guests were required to wear neutral bare attires to match the setting’s interior.
 
The orchestra started to play the music. The guests started to get up from their seats as they waited for the doors to be opened.
 
Damn.
 
After couple of seconds, a bizarre sensation enveloped my whole fucking system when the wooden entryway gradually flung open. My smile automatically sprung as our eyes locked.
 
Kierra’s walking down the aisle. The archway was framed with the same white and blush peonies with her bouquet. She’s truly a goddess in white sleeveless lace bodice long tulle gown, giving us an A-line silhouette. Her radiant face was covered with a veil but it didn’t conceal her exquisiteness.
 
She never failed to mesmerize me.

.

“Kuntento na ‘ko… with you, of course, and kay Ryan,” Kierra almost murmured as she rested her head on my chest, slowly swaying to the rhythm of the music. This is our first dance as a married couple.
 
I mischievously smiled. “It’ll be better if we have our kids.”
 
She let out a delicate snicker before her eyes crossed mine. “Thank you and I love you.” 
 
I kissed her forehead like nobody’s around. “I already gave my heart to you since the day we met and I’ll be eager to give you my everything― even if we’re districts in between.”

 
THE END.
 
.

sᴏᴜʀɢᴇᴏɴ, 2020