When the weekend of the wedding came, Celine and Kelvin, together with their families, went to his private island to get married. The decorations were more lavish. Kung noon ay namangha na siya sa effort ni Kelvin para sa kasal ni Janelle, ngayon ay mas namangha siya rito.

Triple noon ang effiort nito para sa kasal nila. And he didn't spare a dime for their wedding. It's just a small gathering, with their families and close friends, pero sa mga detalye bumawi. Even the invitations look very expensive.

The night before their wedding, their friends threw two separate parties for each of them. Ang kaso, sa kalagitnaan ng pagsasaya, bigla na lang sumulpot si Kelvin sa bridal shower niya para sunduin siya. Hindi ito nakinig sa reklamo nina Janelle. Basta isinama siya nito paalis.

They headed back to the house, straight to his room. It was just about ten in the evening and she's not really sleepy yet.

"Ano 'to, honeymoon muna?" she joked.

"Bakit? Gusto mo ba?"

Umiling siya. "Bukas na 'yong kasal, e. Hintayin na lang natin."

He smiled and pulled her to the bed. Sumandal ito sa headboard. Siya naman ay sumandal dito.

"So what's this about? Alam mong magtatampo 'yong mga 'yon. Bridal shower at bachelor's party na wala ang bride and groom."

He chuckled. "Janelle and Jake will do as proxies." He kissed her hair. "I just want to be with you."

"Kapag kasal na tayo, mauumay ka sa 'kin."

"I don't think so."

She'd like to believe him. Maybe he would not get tired of her in the long run. Sana. Alam niyang madalas na magkasawaan ang dalawang tao kapag ilang taon nang kasal. And she knew that it's possible that love will fade eventually. Pero may ilan din naming hindi nawawala 'yong spark kahit matatanda na. Sana ay ganoon din sila.

--

Just as she was expecting, their phones started ringing like crazy. Kelvin turned them both off and hid them inside the drawer near the bed.

Nagsisimula na siyang antukin dahil kanina pa sila nakahiga. Kelvin contented himself in embracing her. Kanina pa ito hindi nagsasalita. Akala niya ay nakatulog na rin ito. Pero nang tumingala siya, nakita niyang mulat pa ito.

"What?" he asked.

"Inaantok na 'ko," sabi niya.

"Then sleep."

"So talagang matutulog lang tayo?" nakanguso niyang tanong.

"Why? Do you want to do something else?"

"Hindi 'yon!" She pinched his nose. "Ikaw ha."

He laughed. "I didn't say anything."

"Kahit na. Alam naman nating pareho kung ano ang nasa isip mo."

They never did anything for the past two years but kiss, hug and cuddle. She wanted to wait for the right time and Kelvin respects that.

"I could wait," he told her. "I've waited for years now. What's another night?"

"So matutulog lang talaga tayo?"

"Bakit? Ayaw mo?"

"Hindi naman. Nakakahiya lang kina Janelle. Nag-effort pa sila para sa party tapos wala naman tayo do'n."

"They'd understand," he said. He tilted her chin up and looked at her intently. "I can't wait to marry you."

"Huwag kang atat."

"Baka kasi maisipan mo na namang hindi ka worth it. I don't want to give you a chance to jilt me."

"Hindi ko gagawin 'yon," she assured him.

If there's one thing that she's not insecure about, it's Kelvin's love for her. Everybody thinks that she's so lucky to have him, but if anyone would tell him that, he'd argue that he's the lucky one. Hindi niya alam kung ano ba ang meron sa kanya para isipin nitong ito ang swerte sa kanya. But he's very adamant about it. He really thinks that he's the lucky one.

--

Celine didn't even realize that she has already fallen asleep. Pagmulat niya ng mata, umaga na. Kelvin's already awake, if he did sleep. Nginitian siya nito.

"Good morning."

"Morning," she murmured. "Natulog ka ba?"

"Nope," he replied with a grin. "I was too excited."

"Hala. Baka tulugan mo 'ko mamaya sa ceremony ha."

"I won't. Promise. I'd probably be awake until our honeymoon."

She blushed at the mention of the honeymoon. Hindi iyon nakaligtas sa paningin ni Kelvin. He teased her about it until a series of knocks interrupted their alone time.

Mommy ni Kelvin iyon. Pinag-aalmusal na sila dahil marami pa raw gagawin para sa kasal kinahapunan.

--

The preparation went smoothly, thanks to the many helpers. It was an intimate gathering, pero hindi tinipid ang mga ginamit. She was most excited about walking down the aisle. She was nervous. Hindi na siguro maiaalis iyon. But she was also excited, to the point that she wanted to hurry the entourage so she could finally walk.

Kelvin shed a few tears when he saw her. Naiyak din siya dahil doon.

The highlight of the wedding for her was definitely the walk. They didn't use the traditional wedding march. Instead, Yuan and Gaile sang a duet version of Tadhana, their theme song. It was so magical, it almost felt surreal. It was one of those too-good-to-be-true moments that she never thought would happen to her.

--

Kelvin didn't seem like he was awake all night. Ang taas pa rin ng energy nito hanggang sa reception, kahit gabi na. He was even more energetic whenever someone would urge them to kiss. Hindi na niya mabilang kung nakailang halik ito sa kanya on that night alone.

Her debt of fifteen thousand kisses was already paid a little before they hit their two year anniversary. Pero hindi natapos doon ang pagbabayad niya dahil pinatungan ni Kelvin ng napakalaking interes ang utang niya.

She didn't bother continue counting though. Wala namang difference kung magbabayad sya o hindi. They would still kiss, regardless.

During their first dance as man and wife, the guests got to know their story through the pictures that they took before the wedding. It was Janelle's idea. Sinimulan nila ang shoot sa Starbucks kung saan sila unang nagkita.

May dala-dalang pana si Janelle dahil sa pagiging self-proclaimed matchmaker nito. The pictures were cute and quirky. They did not include the rocky parts of their relationship, though they were included in the narration.

--

Celine knew that the bride and groom were supposed to leave before everyone else. Diretso na sa honeymoon. Kaya kahit anong delay ang gawin niya, doon din ang punta nila.

Janelle announced that they'll be leaving for their honeymoon, so she had no choice but to stand up. They bid goodbye to the guests. Kelvin hurriedly pulled her to the car.

"Dahan-dahan naman. Naka-heels kaya ako," reklamo niya. She was forced to wear high heels dahil maganda raw ang bagsak ng gown kapag nagtakong siya.

Kelvin halted. Then, he turned around and literally swept her off of her feet.

"Kelvin!"

"Keep still! Baka malaglag ka."

Kumapit siya sa balikat nito. A few clicks and flashes of light made them turn to their left. There stood Jake, Janelle, Yuan, Gaile and the official photographer, snapping some pictures.

"Enjoy your honeymoon!"

Janelle gave her a knowing smile that turned her stomach into knots. Kanina pa siya nito tinatakot.

"Humanda ka na. For sure, babawian ka ni Kelvin for all the years na hanggang kiss lang sya sa 'yo," she remembered her friend say earlier.

--

"Love, matagal ka pa ba?"

Kelvin knocked again. Halos isang oras na sa loob ng banyo si Celine. Nag-aalala na siya rito. It won't take her an hour to change clothes and remove her makeup, would it? Nakatulog na kaya ito sa pagod? They haven't even started yet!

"Love..." He knocked harder this time. "Are you all right in there?"

"S-Sandali lang."

He sighed. She sounded so scared. Will they even get through it? If she's not ready, baka matulog na lang sila.

"Come on out. I promise I won't bite." He smirked. "If you don't want me to."

Great, self. Scare her some more.

"Celine, come out please. We won't do anything if you're not ready."

Saka lamang ito lumabas nang sabihin niya iyon. And he cursed mentally when he saw her. How can he not want to do anything when she's wearing something so revealing? He won't be able to get even a wink of sleep because he'd be too busy imagining doing things with her.

Celine was hugging the wedding gown, hiding her chest area in the process

"Why are you so nervous? You know I won't hurt you."

Kinuha niya ang gown mula rito at saka inilagay sa sofa bed.

"Si Janelle kasi..." Namumula nitong sagot.

"What about her?"

She mumbled her answer. Kaunti lang ang narinig niya, pero naintindihan naman niya. He sighed. If nothing happened tonight, he'd probably end up strangling Janelle in frustration. Alam naman nitong insosente pa si Celine sa ilang bagay tapos ay tinakot nito agad.

"Babawian nga kita," sabi niya sa asawa. "But I won't do it all in one night. After all, you have a lifetime to make it up to me."

He pulled her by the waist and lightly kissed her lips. It took quite an effort to not do more than a light kiss. He could still feel her shivering.

"Do you want a drink?"

Nang tumango ito ay nagsalin siya ng whisky sa baso. It's the only drink available at the moment. Celine took the glass from him and finished it with two gulps. Napangiwi ito pagkatapos.

"Pahingi pa nga."

"Tama na." He took the empty glass from her and put it with the bottle on the table. "I don't want to get you drunk."

She looked helplessly at him. "Hindi ka pa ba pagod?"

"Nope."

"So talagang gagawin natin 'to?"

That made him laugh. "Of course. Pa'no tayo magkaka-baby kung hindi natin 'to gagawin?"

Muli itong namula. The tinge of red on her cheeks is testing his patience.

"Do you want me to sing for you so you could relax?"

Without waiting for her answer, he pulled her to him. He sat on the edge of the bed and made her sit on his lap.

Gusto mo ba ng lambigan?

Tapusin na ang usapan

Nandyan agad sayong tabi

He stroked her hair.

Magka-akbay sa sofa

O gusto mong magka-pulupot lang sa kama

Sa atin ang buong gabi

He hummed the rest of the lyrics while nipping on her jawline.

"Did it help?" he asked.

Celine giggled. "Ang cute mong kumanta."

"Not the reaction I was hoping for, but okay. I'll take that." He caressed her face. "I love you."

In return, Celine stooped down and kissed his tattoo. Then she cupped his face and kissed him. She's still nervous, he could tell. "I love you, too, Kelvin."

----fin----