For a bride, seeing your groom waiting at the end of the aisle should be an ecstatic moment that makes your heart want to leap out of your chest. That wasn't the case for Ken. Especially since she just walked past the person she was in love with.

Sage looked at her with pain in his eyes that pierced through her breaking heart. Ken tried to focus ahead but the groom wasn't even looking at her. Ryuji seemed to be in deep thought and was staring into space.

Napakabagal ng paglalakad niya papunta sa altar pero alam niyang darating at darating din siya do'n. She would've chosen to walk on broken glass if she could end up beside the one she loved over walking on petals and being apart from him forever. But she wasn't in the position to choose.

The groom snapped out of his daze when she reached him and he took her arm in his with an emotionless expression.

"We are gathered here today..." The priest started to talk but Ken tuned him out. This marriage was agonizingly breaking her heart. Ayaw niyang bigla na lang maiyak sa harap ng maraming tao.

The priest spoke for quite some time and the ceremony went on but she didn't notice. Her mind wandered as she tried to distract herself from her current situation. Think of happy thoughts, Ken. Like that time Sage kissed you under the stars—fuck 'wag 'yon! 'Yong time na lang na dinalhan ka niya ng napkin at chocolates—punyeta, mali na naman iniisip ko. Or the first time he said he loved you after—no, no, no, no, this is not the time to be thinking about that! It's no use. Siya at siya lang ang maiisip ko dahil mahal ko siya...

"Yumi?" The priest his throat.

"Huh?" Shit—nahuli pa akong 'di nakikinig!

"We were waiting for your answer. Let me repeat the question for you," the priest replied sternly while slightly shaking his head. "Do you, Yumi, take this man, Ryuji, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to love, honor and obey, in good times and woe, for richer or for poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live?"

There was a long pause before she finally spoke into the microphone in a shaky voice that exposed her reluctance. "I do." That's it, Sage. Narinig mo na.

Hindi napigilan ni Ken ang sarili niyang lumingon nang mabilis sa mga bisita matapos niyang sumang-ayon sa pari. Natanaw ng mga mata niya ang likod ni Sage. Naglalakad ito palapit sa pintuan sa gilid. A single tear escaped her right eye. I hope you find someone who deserves your love.

The priest then proceeded to ask the groom. "Do you, Ryuji, take this woman, Yumi, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or for poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do not," the groom answered immediately.

The priest's eyebrows furrowed in confusion while the bride's eyes widened as her mouth dropped open in shock. Gasps were heard throughout the cathedral.

Ryuji turned off the microphone and began speaking in Japanese to Ken. "Yumi, you should go," he said. "You love him, don't you?"

"W-what are you talking about?" she asked.

"I saw how you looked at him when you introduced us, how you turned to him after saying 'I do' and do you think I haven't noticed how you aren't paying attention to your own wedding? You didn't even notice that the priest asked you first if you wanted to marry me. Traditionally, the groom goes first."

"He did ask me first..." she said, stunned at the realization.

"I told him to ask you first." Ryuji took a deep breath. "I wanted to see how far you're going with your foolishness and it was quite disappointing. I gave you the chance to get it right, to refuse when asked if you'd take me as your lawfully wedded husband but you wasted that opportunity."

"Why are you doing this? Isn't this union supposed to be beneficial for both of our families?" Ken asked. Hindi siya nag-effort kilalanin ang lalaking dapat ay pakakasalan niya kaya pagkalito lang ang effect sa kanya ng mga pinagsasabi nito.

"Our families are rich enough. Forcing us to marry is just to satisfy their greed," the groom replied, shaking his head. "This is unfair to both of us. I'm not doing this and you don't have to either."

"But I want to be a good daughter."

"It's time they become good parents too."

Natahimik si Ken. Tumulo ang mga luha niya.

"You should really start going after him," Ryuji said with a reassuring smile.

Pinunasan ni Ken ang mga luha niya at biglang niyakap ang kanyang fiancé—ex-fiancé. "Thank you for your kindness," she said while sniffing. "How can I ever repay you?"

He stiffened, clearly taken aback by the sudden hug but he patted her back gently before letting go. "Well, I just lost a bride. Set me up with a date, maybe?" he said jokingly.

Ken chuckled and nodded before turning around and running down the aisle, slightly lifting her skirt. Nang makarating siya sa tapat ng pintuan, walang ingat niyang tinanggal ang puting belong tumatakip pa sa mukha niya. Kumuha siya ng isang puting rosas sa hawak niyang bridal bouquet at ihinagis ang mga natitirang mga bulaklak sa likod niya. 'Di niya na nilingon kung sino ang nakasalo no'n. Pero kung sino man 'yon, gumanda sana ang love life nito. She stepped out of the cathedral and scanned the area for Sage.

* * *

That's the last time you're breaking my heart, Ken, Sage thought as he stood outside the cathedral. Pagdating niya pa lang sa simbahan kanina, umasa na siya. Umasa siyang hindi sisipot 'yong bride. Because maybe Ken loved him too and had chosen to run away with him instead. Pero doon pa lang, mali na siya.

He remembered seeing her enter the cathedral in the magnificent wedding gown designed by his aunt and holding a bouquet of white roses while Pachelbel's Canon in D was being played by a harpist. Napakaganda ng ikakasal at perpekto na sana ang lahat pero kitang-kita ni Sage sa mga mata ni Ken ang lungkot habang naglalakad ito palapit sa altar. She couldn't even muster a fake smile for the guests.

As much as he just wanted to grab her hand and dash out, the decision to go with him should come from her. So he just watched her walk past him. Each step she made towards the groom added a crack in his heart.

Pinilit ni Sage na manatili sa ceremony kahit naninikip na ang dibdib niya do'n. Umaasa pa ring may plot twist pa ang kasal ni Ken na pabor sa feelings niya. Nang magsimulang tanungin ng pari si Ken, nagsimula ring bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya. Nagkaron siya ng pag-asa no'ng 'di agad sumagot si Ken at kinailangan pang ulitin ng pari ang tanong nito. Matagal ulit na hindi nagsalita ang bride at pinipigilan ni Sage ang hininga niya habang hinihintay ang sagot nito.

"I do."

He vividly remembered her shaky voice saying those words. Two little words that shattered his heart to thousands of tiny pieces. It was as if the world stopped turning when he heard her say it. Yet, as he looked around, no one shared his agony.

Tuloy lang ang buhay para sa mga tao sa paligid niya. Karamihan pa sa kanila, mukhang natuwa sa sagot ni Ken. That was when he decided to walk out. He had no plans of watching them kiss after the ceremony.

So there he was, standing at the base of the cathedral steps, trying to hail a cab. He couldn't quite explain how he was feeling. Parang lahat na ng masamang emotion, sabay-sabay niyang nararamdaman. It was a complicated mixture of anger, sorrow, resentment and bitterness. Sage didn't know where to direct all of these or how to process them healthily. Ang alam niya lang, pagod na ang puso niya.

Yet his thoughts kept on going back to her, her hair, her eyes, her voice...

"Airbender!"

Natigilan si Sage sa pagpara sa mga dumaang taxi. Shit, I'm really going crazy, he thought, ignoring her voice.

"Airbender!"

Pumikit si Sage at huminga nang malalim pero hindi pa rin siya lumingon. Fuck, bakit ba 'di nagko-cooperate 'tong utak ko? Yes, I still love her but can't I get a break—

"Hoy, Sausage! Hindi ka ba lilingon?!"

Doon siya napalingon. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Sage nang makitang si Ken nga talaga iyon. She started running down the steps as soon as he turned his back. She was on the second to the last step when she lost her footing. Ken let out a small scream and closed her eyes.

* * *

Handa na si Ken  sa sakit ng pagbagsak sa semento pero hindi 'yon naramdaman ng katawan niya. Instead, she landed on someone else's strong arms. Lakas maka-K-drama.

Ken slowly opened her eyes. Nakatitig lang sa kanya si Sage pero nakakunot ang noo nito. She cleared her throat and he gently let go of her as she regained her balance.

"Uhm, thanks," she murmured, her cheeks hot.

"Uhm, sure," he said in an unsure tone. Nagsimula nang tumalikod si Sage pero biglang hinawakan ni Ken ang braso nito.

"Wait," she said, in a quiet but steady voice.

"What are you doing here, Kendra? You just got married—"

"I didn't get married," Ken replied quickly.

"Pero nag-'I do' ka na." His increasing confusion was evident on his face but it didn't mask the sorrow.

"Oo, pero hindi nag-'I do' 'yong ex-fiancé ko. He was actually the one who told me to go after you."

"H-he what?" he asked in an unusually high pitch.

"Narinig mo 'ko, ipapaulit mo ba talaga? Here, this is for you." She held out the single white floribunda rose to him. Her heart was racing. First time siyang aamin ever.

"For me?" He reluctantly took it. Naniningkit ang mga mata ni Sage nang tingnan niya si Ken.

"Suki desu," she said, with her head bowed. Titig na titig si Ken sa sahig habang namumula ang kanyang mga pisngi. "Tsukiatte kudasai."

"Honto ni?" he asked with a hint of cockiness in his tone. "Ore mo suki."

Gusto niya pa rin ako! Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she looked up at him to meet his eyes. But wait, did he just answer in Japanese? "N-naintindihan mo 'yon?"

"You said you like me and asked me to date you, right?" He smirked. "I wanted to say those exact same words to Yumi ten years ago."

She bit her lip. "I guess, naunahan ka ni Yumi."

Sage's smile grew wider but it turned into a playful pout after a few seconds. "You like me... Like lang?"

"Yumi!" Napatingin ang dalawa nang may sumigaw mula sa pintuan ng simbahan. Her father's arms were crossed and he was fuming. Beside him was her mother who was just as mad and looking daggers at her. Behind them, guests were starting to flock out of the church.

"You will stay away from him!" her father shouted.

"Watch me," she said before placing her arms around Sage's neck to pull him down and kiss him on the lips as she closed her eyes.

Sage pulled her closer as he fervently kissed her back.

"Yes! Team Sage-Ken forever! Ang tagal ko na kayong shini-ship!" Lily shouted from the crowd. Matt whistled and Heidi cheered beside him. Most of the guests seemed confused by the sudden turn of events and just stared cluelessly at the two people shamelessly making out on the sidewalk.

Ken finally broke away from Sage. She pressed her forehead gently against his forehead. "So did that feel like 'like lang'?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure. Pwedeng isa pa? Para lang masigurado ko?" he asked, grinning.

"Kahit ilan pa." Kendra giggled before capturing his lips with hers again.

"Stop that!" Mr. Kazehaya yelled. It was effective, the pair stopped kissing and turned to his direction. He was about to run towards the two but his son restrained him. Ken looked at her brother with a grateful smile as he nodded at her, smiling back.

"Let's go," Ken said, taking Sage's hand while hailing a cab. Binuksan ni Sage ang pinto ng taxi na huminto sa tapat nila at pinaunang pasakayin si Ken bago ito pumasok.

"So 'like' lang ba talaga, Kendra?" he asked, intertwining his fingers with her as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"'Di mo talaga palalampasin 'no?" she asked, feigning annoyance.

"Syempre, hindi," he answered smugly. "I really want to hear it from you. Ayaw mo bang sabihin sa 'kin?"

She took a deep breath. "Whenever you're around, my heart beats so fast that I wouldn't be surprised if it fractured my rib cage and suddenly leapt out of my chest. At some point, I thought I was gonna go crazy 'cause you were all I could think about. I can never get enough of your kisses and your annoying overconfident witty comebacks. I hate myself for hurting you and not telling you all of these four years ago after that night. I love you, Cedric Alexander Sage Ruiz Hermoso. Mahal na mahal kita, medyo matagal na. Sorry kung ngayon ko lang sinabi."

"Parang rib cage ko yata ang masisira." Sage let out a long breath as he clutched his chest. "Walang bawian 'yan, ah?"

"Hindi ko babawiin, promise."

"I love you," he said, planting a kiss on her lips.

Bago pa uminit ang eksena, umubo 'yong taxi driver.