Chapter Thirty

Wedding Day

"Cirilla, your daughter already has a crush." I heard Kuya Caleb saying this.

It's weekend at nasa bahay lang kami nina mommy at mga kapatid ko. It was one peaceful afternoon in our condo unit. Mom and I just got home not long ago from the grocery. Namili kami ni mommy ng para sa dinner na rin mamaya dahil dito rin maghahapunan sina Declan at Lorie.

"Tito!" Chelca looked like she'll cry already with kuya's teasing.

"Ano ba 'yan, kuya." Nilapitan ko na muna ang anak ko para aluin.

"Heard it from Julius. Narinig ko kasing nag-aasaran silang dalawa noong isang araw habang paakyat dito sa unit. Mukhang may crush na si Chela, Ciri."

Minsan na kasing nakapunta na rin dito sa bahay si Julius. Isang beses ay hinatid lang sila ni Ezion dito and Julius spent some time here with us. Nakakatuwa rin na mukhang close na nga ang dalawang bata. And Chelca would sometimes ask if Julius could spend time here in our house. Wala namang problema iyon.

"He was just teasing me! Like what tito is doing right now!"

"Shush, Chelca."

Bumaling siya sa akin. "Mommy! I don't have a crush at school or anywhere! I have this boy classmate and he just told Julius that he wants to make ligaw to me!" My daughter explained. She looked pissed and is really about to cry now.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Tumawa naman si Kuya Caleb. "Someone just confessed to our Chelca! And, do you like this boy, Chelca?" kuya asked.

My daughter shook her head. "No!"

"Tama na nga 'yan, kuya. Come here, Chelca." Dinala ko na muna siya sa balcony para makapag-usap kami doon at makapagpahangin na rin.

"Don't mind your tito. He likes teasing me and Tita Cianna, too. And everyone else, right? Even Tita Lorie, his girlfriend."

Chelca nodded. "But some of my classmates started teasing me, too."

I looked at her worriedly. "Is it that bad?"

Umiling si Chelca. "But I don't like being teased."

I nodded. "I understand. Come here." Niyakap ko nalang siya at hinagkan. Ang tapang naman noong kaklase niya? Mga bata pa sila.

The next school day Chelca went home and was in a good mood. She's told us that Julius told that boy classmate and all her other classmates not to tease her anymore. Her classmates sees Julius now as her brother. Nakakatuwa nga na parang may nagbabantay na rin kay Chelca sa school.

Kuya Caleb also stopped teasing his niece. Hindi ganito noon sa akin si kuya. Ayaw nga nilang pag-usapan ang pagkakaroon ko ng crush noon. Ang tingin lang nila noon sa akin ay bata pa at madalas pa i-baby sa pamilya. But now with Chelca it changed.

"But, Chelca, having crushes is normal... But, yes, you're too young for it now. Focus lang muna sa friendship. Just make friends for now." Pangaral ko sa anak.

Chelca nodded. "Yes, Mommy."

I lightly pinched her cheek. "Very good."

Gusto ko lang na kapag dumating ang araw ay hindi magtatago sa akin ang anak ko. I am her mom and I also want to be her friend. Her best friend whom she can share her thoughts and opinion, her secrets to. Ayaw kong matakot o mahiya siyang mag-share sa akin. Instead of sharing it to other people who might not be able to give her better advice, I want to be the one who my daughter can comfortably share her mind and heart to. Alam kong hindi pa rin lahat ng bagay ay maibabahagi sa akin ng anak ko but at least she knows that I am here for her. And based on my experience I think I can advice her better.

At siguro ay dahil na trauma na rin sina kuya noon sa akin na wala silang alam dahil tinago ko ang lahat sa kanila. Tinago iyong tungkol sa amin ni Ezion noon. Because I was scared to be judged by my own family —o natatakot ako na pagbawalan nila ako. And I wasn't really comfortable talking about it because my family were never open to it. Kaya gusto kong magkaroon ng pagkakaiba sa kay Chelca. At mukhang ganoon din para kanila kuya.

I think it's not bad to talk about these things at home, too. Sabi nga nila, everything starts at home... So I think it's better if family members can open up at home where they can get better advice. Kaysa sa ibang tao o sa labas pa nila matutunan. It's not also bad. We learn a lot of things outside of our house, too. But since we are family I just think that it is better for things like this to really start at home.

And I am happy that I am having all these learnings and realizations as I will be having my very own family with Declan soon...

I closed my eyes for a while before I opened them again when the large church doors opened for me to start stepping in the aisle and make my way to my groom at the altar waiting for me. The music started, too. As I make slow steps on the long magnificently decorated wedding aisle.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko si Declan na naghihintay sa akin sa dulo. Katabi niya si Kuya Caleb na siya ngang best man. Ngiting-ngiti ang kuya ko habang si Declan ay kahit nakangiti rin ay mukha pa ring maiiyak.

I chuckled a little after seeing his reaction that's becoming clearer to me as I walk nearing where he stood by the altar.

Today is our wedding day. Sa araw na ito mangangako kaming dalawa ni Declan sa harap ng mga taong makaka-witness sa kasal namin at sa Diyos, at mangangako kami sa isa't isa na mamahalin at susuportahan namin ang isa't isa. And we will remember and keep our promise every day until we're old and gray...

Hindi biro ang pagpapakasal. Isa itong habang buhay na pangako. At para matupad kailangan ninyo itong alalahanin kung maari at mas mabuti nga sigurong sa bawat araw araw ng buhay ninyong mag-asawa. Hindi mawawalan ng pagsubok pero kakayanin ninyo ang lahat o kahit ano pa man nang magkasama as long as you keep remembering your promise to each other starting today that you married the person.

Ito ang natutunan ko kanila mommy at sa parents na rin ni Declan. Wala na si dad but Declan's dad was already trying to be a father to me, too. And even a grandfather to Chelca.

Natatapos din ang mga bagyo ng buhay. Hindi palaging maulan at tumitila rin ito, at napapalitan ng maaraw na panahon. Kaya masaya ako na hindi ko sinukuan ang buhay. Kahit pa siguro may isang beses that I almost gave up. But I'm just glad na hindi iyon natuloy. I'm grateful to my family.

After all, you might lose everything you have but your family will remain. Because they are family no matter what.

Families aren't perfect. And every families aren't the same. But family is important.

"Welcome to the family, anak." Declan's mother kissed my cheek.

Nagkatinginan kami ng mommy ni Declan. Bago pa man ako maiyak ay niyakap na niya ako. Yumakap din ako sa kaniya.

Pagkatapos ay nagmano rin ako sa dad ni Declan.

Before I gave my hand to Declan and he lead me in front of Him on the cross.

Tumingin kami ni Declan sa isa't isa at ngumiti.