Take my hand and my
Heart and soul, I will
Only have these eyes for you

--One by Ed Sheeran

--

Nang sunduin si Lena ni Cyrus para sa kasal ni Julie, sinurpresa niya ito ng isang regalo. It was a necklace with a woven sun as pendant. She made it by tediously weaving the gold thread over the skeleton of a tiny sun.

The sun reminds her of him because in many ways, that's what he is to her. His warmth helps her grow into a better person, like a bud slowly unfolding its petals with each kiss of the sun. It was also in contrast with her pendant, a tiny snowflake, which she thinks represents her personality well. She's unique in many ways, like the snowflake. But it is beautiful as it is cold.

"You made something for me. Does this mean that I'm special to you?" he asked with a smile.

She didn't know what to answer. Isinuot nito ang kwintas at tiningnan sa rearview mirror. He seemed pleased with the gift, which made her extremely happy.

"But it's a lot smaller than Martin's gift, so does that also mean that I'm less special?"

Hindi niya naisip iyon. If that's how you measure how important a person is, then she should have made the sun as big as the MOA's globe.

"That's not-"

He chuckled. "I'm kidding. Thank you." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, which made her cheeks so red. She had to stare at the dashboard to calm her nerves. Looking at him, after the kiss, would make her blush more.

Mahigit dalawang oras silang nagbyahe hanggang sa makarating sila sa isang pier. Naabutan nila roon ang ilang kamag-anak ni Cyrus. Sasakay daw sila ng malaking bangka, which made her excited, because she don't get to ride boats often.

Since it was already late in the afternoon and the air is getting cold, Cyrus, being the gentleman that he is, lent her his hoodie. Then he helped her down the wooden plank. Pagkaupo niya sa bandang unahan ay bumalik ito sa pier para tumulong paglalagay ng mga dala nila sa bangka. Nang mailagay na ang mga dala ay bumalik ito sa tabi niya.

Inakbayan siya nito at hinila palapit. She put her arms around his waist and leaned on his chest.

"You can sleep if you want. Gigisingin na lang kita kapag malapit na tayo."

Tumango siya at pumikit. She was feeling sleepy anyway. Saka ayaw niyang masalubong ang mapanuring tingin at mapanuksong ngiti ng mga kamag-anak nito.

--

When he woke her up, it was already dark. Pero maliwanag sa pier na pinagdaungan ng bangka dahil maraming ilaw. Maaliwalas din ang langit kaya kitang-kita ang mga bituin. They headed to the hotel to put their bags in and then headed out to the cottages near the beach where they will be having dinner. May isang malaking lugar doon kung saan gaganapin 'yong reception. The rest of the guests were there, from Blake's and Julie's side, already preparing for dinner.

Puno ng pagkain ang mga lamesang nakalagay sa gitna. The atmosphere was lively. Kabi-kabila ang mga kwentuhan. May mga batang naglalaro. May mga magulang na nananaway. May mga magkakamag-anak na nagkukumustahan.

Cyrus pulled her to one buffet table and gave her a plate. Ito na rin ang naglagay ng pagkain sa plato.

"Puro gulay na naman," bulong niya sa sarili.

Narinig yata nito iyon dahil nilagyan nito ng tatlong fried chicken ang plato. She smiled and said thanks. Then they headed to the table where his family was seated. Naupo siya sa tabi ng ina nito.

"Someone's hungry," Cadence commented.

"Sa 'kin lang ba 'to?" tanong niya kay Cyrus.

"Ubos mo ba?" pabalik naman nitong tanong.

He got two sets of utensils, handed her one and began eating. Kumain na rin siya habang nakikinig sa kwentuhan ng mga tao sa paligid. She noticed some of the girls from another table looking at them... or more specifically, at him. When she asked Cadence who they were, she was told that they're Blake's cousins.

Isa raw doon ang maid-of-honor na partner ni Cyrus sa entourage. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of insecurity. Ang ganda-ganda noong babae, mukhang manika. If Cyrus didn't nudge her, she wouldn't realize that she's already pouting.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

Umiling siya. Nawalan siya bigla ng gana kahit parang ang sarap-sarap ng fried chicken. Cyrus pulled the plate towards him and continued eating.

"It's just one walk, Lena," his mom whispered to her. "He's not going to replace you with that girl."

"I wasn't-" Jealous, she was about to say. But clearly, she was. Mabuti na lamang at mukhang hindi pansin ni Cyrus. Kundi tutuksuhin na naman siya nito.

His mom gave her a meaningful smile but didn't comment further. It bothered her, though, that the girls were looking at him all night.

--

When it was time to sleep, Cadence and Clem had to pull her away from Cyrus because he was originally planning to sleep with her in a separate room, which nobody except his grandpa, Kent, approved.

"Kuya, magkikita pa kayo bukas!" Clem told him when he wouldn't let go of her arm. Nasa pintuan na kasi sila ng tutulugan nilang tatlo.

"Just let me properly say good night," he told his sister.

Cadence rolled her eyes, but pushed her gently towards Cy. "Fine. Make it quick, Kuya!"

The two sisters then went inside the room to give them some privacy. Nakaawang ang pintuan kaya alam niyang nasisilip sila ng dalawa mula sa loob. But that didn't stop Cyrus from doing what he did. He cupped her face with both his hands and planted a soft kiss on her lips. Then he pulled her for a tight hug, kissed her temple and said good night.

Her blushing face became the topic of the late-night conversation between Clem and Cadence. Madaling-araw na tuloy siyang nakatulog.

--

The following day, Clem and Cadence helped her get ready after having their hair and makeup done. Clem did her hair, a simple messy bun, while Cadence did her makeup. Since baby pink ang kulay ng suot niyang damit, light makeup lamang ang inilagay nito sa mukha niya.

The three of them were very pleased with the outcome. Lalo na siya. Pakiramdam niya, ang ganda-ganda niya sa ayos niya.

Pagkatapos niyang maayusan ay pumunta na sila sa mismong venue para hintaying magsimula ang kasal. Halos puno na ang mga upuan nang dumating sila. Humiwalay sa kanya ang dalawang magkapatid para sumama sa entourage na medyo malayo sa mga upuan.

She saw them approach Cyrus. Kinakausap ito noong maid-of-honor na kapit na kapit sa braso nito. Pagkakita nito sa kanya ay agad itong ngumiti at kumaway. Then it looked like he excused himself and removed the girl's hand on his arm para makalapit ito sa kanya.

Pinasadahan nito ng tingin ang kabuuang ayos niya. "Hi," he greeted with a smile.

She simply nodded in reply. Pansin niyang nakatingin sa kanila ang partner nito.

"Your partner's waiting," she told him.

"So?"

"Bumalik ka na do'n para makaupo na 'ko."

He raised an eyebrow. "Pinapaalis mo na 'ko?"

"Kasi wala namang dahilan para pumunta ka rito."

As if to counter that, Cyrus pulled his necktie down then asked, "Can you fix my necktie?"

Alam niyang hindi magandang tingnan na ayos na ayos siya pero nakakunot ang noo, but she can't help it. Why did he deliberately ruin the knot and then asked her to fix it for him?

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"Kasi kailangan ko pa pala ng dahilan para lumapit sa 'yo."

She blushed when he took her hand and placed it on the tie. She had no choice but to fix it kasi pinagtitinginan na sila ng mga tao. Ayaw pa naman niyang pinagtitinginan tapos ito namang si Cyrus, gawa nang gawa ng eksena.

Buti na lamang at marunong siyang mag-ayos ng necktie. Praktisado nila sa bahay 'yon dahil sa daddy nila.

As if standing there doing that isn't attention-getting enough, Cyrus also pulled her close and kissed the tip of her nose, which made her redder.

She slapped his chest in a reprimanding manner. He simply laughed it off and leaned close.

"Mom told me you were jealous of Alexa. You didn't need to be. Sabi ko naman sa 'yo, di ba? Sa 'yo lang ako nakatingin."