Chapter 60

Tears and smile

"Long ago and far away, in a kingdom stood high in the mountain top. The queen was screaming with pain as her tears burst with excitement and joy and when the townsfolks heard the small cries, the trumpets of success hurled all over the castle."

I read my own fairy tale enthusiastically in front of the kids from the wet market. Most of the parents around the different stalls were smiling at me as they watched their children enjoying the story.

It's been weeks when I started reading stories near our apple stall, naghanda ako ng maliliit na upuan kung saan dito pumupwesto ang mga bata na gustong makinig sa kwento ko. Minsan ay sinasamahan ako ni Tanya at August, tumutulong din sila sa pagbabasa para sa mga bata.

"And that day, the beautiful princess was born. She possessed a great beauty; envied by thousands of women."

Nakangisi ang mga bata habang binabasa ko ang libro.

"What is her name?" tanong ko.

"Snow white!"

I clapped my hands. "Very good!"

"Dahil kilala n'yo na si Snow White, bibigyan kayo ni Ate Autumn ng apples." Tuwang-tuwa ang mga bata ng sandaling magbigay ako ng mansanas sa kanila.

Hindi lang Snow White ang binabasa ko sa kanila, iba't-ibang kwento na alam kong kapupulutan ng aral. I learned this program from my mother, ginagawa raw ito ni lola noon pa man.

Karamihan sa mga magtitinda ng palengke ay may mga kasamang mga anak at para maabala ang mga bata at matulungan ang mga magulang ng mga ito sa maliit na paraan, binuksan ko muli ang programa ni lola.

I learned a lesson from Wayto. You don't need an influential name to help people, all you need to have is your genuine intention from the heart. Kung si Wayto ay nagawa niyang gawing masama ang sarili niya para makatulong sa kapwa, anong bagay ang pwede kong gawin katulad niya?

I think this program would suit my ability. Hindi man malaki ang programang ito, alam kong kahit gaano man kaliit ang sinimulan kung mataas at malaki naman ang nais makamit ay magdadala pa rin ito ng mabuti.

"Meron na ba ang lahat?"

"Yes po!"

"Very good! Now, ayusin na natin ang upuan. Ilagay sa tabi para sa susunod na buwan." Ngiting sabi ko sa mga bata.

"Teacher Autumn, wala po tayong lesson bukas?" tanong ng bata.

Bukod sa hindi ko na rin ito magagawa ng madalas dahil magsisimula na talaga ako sa aking tunay na trabaho, may importante na akong gagawin sa mga susunod na araw.

"Lea, hindi na muna makakapagbasa ang teacher n'yo ng matagal." Sagot ng lumapit na magulang.

"Bakit naman po?"

I smiled at the kids. "Because I will marry my prince tomorrow."

Namilog ang mata ng mga bata sa sinabi ko, and most of the girls giggled in excitement.

"The Prince with white horse?" white smuggled car...

"Yes!"

"Wow!" the little girls clapped their hands dreamily.

"And he will kiss you!" sabay-sabay silang kinilig sa harapan ko.

I blushed. My prince will not just kiss me. I smiled at them. "Yes."

"And you will live happily ever after?"

"Yes!"

Sasagot pa sana ako sa mga katanungan ng mga bata nang marinig ko ang sarili kong umaluhokan.

I laughed at the term. Years ago, everyone was alerted by him with his announcement about Wayto's presence inside the wet market. Of course, pumupunta siya rito para magpapansin sa akin. But this time it was different. Hinahanap niya ako dahil ilang linggo na akong hindi nagpapakita sa kanya, but this time I refused to meet him.

Hindi naman masamang maniwala minsan sa pamahiin. The people from the wet market were all my accomplices, they would immediately send the message from each other to inform me about Wayto's presence.

Nandito na naman siya para hulihin ako, hindi siya makalapit sa teritoryo ng mga Olbes dahil sinabi ko sa kanilang paninindigan ko ang pamahiin, which they all had agreed.

I was well informed that my prince was clad with his seven bodyguards, finding his silly maarte bride who wanted to play hide and seek with him.

I felt a sudden tinge on my chest not from pain but from the memories, it was like what happened years ago... sa palengke ko siya unang napansin, sa palengke siya unang kumagat ng mansanas mula sa akin.

I couldn't help but to placed my palm on my chest, ramdam ko ang mabilis na pagtibok nito. The familiarity and warmth of claiming the ending.

Bukas na, darating na kaming dalawa sa harap ng altar. Not with the backs of our families against us, but their smiling faces giving us the most enticing blessing the we couldn't ask for more.

Sobrang dami naming pinagdaanan ni Wayto, hindi ko akalain na sa simbahan din kami matutuloy.

Bago ako tuluyang umalis sa palengke, I instructed the kids to give Wayto three apples with my I love you note for him, with that I left the wet market with a huge grin on my face.

Mabilis pinatakbo ni Tanya ang kanyang sasakyan ng sandaling makapasok na ako.

"I think today will be my last day as your driver."

"Indeed."

"Papalitan ka na kasi ni White bukas." Sagot ni August mula sa likuran.

"But seriously, until now I couldn't even imagine that Autumn would grow fond of kids, hindi ba at katulad ka rin namin na hindi mahilig sa bata?" ngiwing tanong sa akin ni Tanya habang nagda-drive siya.

"I'm training myself, of course. Pagkatapos kong manganak pwede na ulit akong mabuntis matapos ang tatlo o apat na buwan, I will give Wayto a lot of kids! Seven is our target."

Halos hindi maipinta ang mukha sa akin ni Tanya. "A-are you serious, Autumn?"

I nodded.

"I am speechless. Hindi pa nga siya buntis panganganak na ang iniisip." Sabi ni August.

"I want all girls." I said dreamily.

Sabay tumawa ang mga kaibigan ko sa narinig nila. "Puputi agad ang buhok ni Dwight kapag puro babae na kasing arte mo."

"Hmm, ang kill joy n'yong dalawa. You'll be my babies' godmother."

"Sure." They answered in unison.

**

Dumating na ang araw na pinakahihintay ko, as well as our family, friends and even the whole Enamel.

Our wedding was announced publicly, and that means everyone was free to witness our day of union. Different cameras were highly appreciated and gossipmongers from different provinces were cordially invited. The medias could have their feast.

Another wedding of the year, Olbes-Arellano nuptial. There have been a lot of speculations after our announcement; some were hinting another runaway stunt but this time it would be from the groom. Marami rin akong naririnig na nagsasabing nababaliw na raw ako dahil sa paulit-ulit na kasal na ginagawa ko lang laro at kalokohan.

I couldn't help but to laugh while reading the citizen's side comments. I grew up in spotlight, pero hanggang ngayon ay nagugulat pa rin ako sa mga naririnig ko galing lamang sa tsismis. But I couldn't blame them, kahit ako ay magkakaroon din ng duda sa magiging kasal namin ni Wayto.

The feud in our families stood firmly for years, sinubukan itong buwagin ng isang kasal anim na buwan lang ang nakalilipas, but it poured another fuel to ignite the fire.

What would be the difference now? Niloloko na naman ba ng mga Olbes at Arellano ang mga tao? Nagsasayang lang ba sila ng pera para sa atensyon? O wala nang maisip na matino ang kanilang mga pamilya?

Hindi ba pwedeng gusto ko lang mabuntis na?

I bit my lower lip. He'll taste me later na...

"You look stunning, Autumn!" bati sa akin ni August.

"Aw, thanks!"

My mom was looking at me with tears in her eyes, tears of relief. Sa wakas ay nakita niya na akong nakasuot ng damit pangkasal na totoong nakangiti. Maging si Papa ay naluluha na rin, nakangiti sa akin si Kuya at kapwa nakangisi sa akin ang paborito kong mga pinsan.

They tried to hug me pero hindi ako pumayag. "Magugusot ang gown ko."

They laughed at me.

"I am so happy for you, anak." Hinawakan na lang ni Mama ang kamay ko.

"Masaya rin ako, Mama. H-hindi ko akalain na mabibigyan ako ng pagkakataong maglakad patungo sa altar na kasama ang mga magulang ko habang nanunuod ang buong pamilya ko na may isang Arellano na naghihintay sa akin."

Huminga ako ng malalim, I don't want to ruin my make-up.

"After everything that had happened, sa lahat ng gulo, sakripisyo, luha, galit, mura at sakit. Hindi ko akalaing magtatagpo ang dalawang pangalang kinamulatan ko nang nagpapatayan."

Hindi lang kamay ni Mama ang hinawakan ko, maging si Papa. My whole family was quietly watching us from the back, listening to my every word.

Dinala ko ang kamay ng mga magulang ko sa aking mga labi. Hindi ko na napigilan at lumuha ako, dinala ko ang kanilang mga kamay sa aking noo habang nakayuko sa kanilang lahat.

"That you'll allow me, our name... to be tied to his, his family... to Arellanos. That you'll allow me to love him for the rest of my life. Hinayaan n'yong ipagpatuloy ko ang pagmamahal ko sa isang kalabang iminulat n'yo sa akin, this family gave me freedom..."

"M-maraming-maraming salamat po! If the world would ask me to choose for a family for my next life. Isang pamilya lang at pangalan ang masaya akong muling magmumulat. I will choose to be an Olbes again..." naghalo ang pagtawa at pag-iyak ko sa kanilang lahat.

"I don't care about the spotlight and the political issues, because the warmth of this family will always surpass them, gaya ng kung anong natatanggap ko sa mga oras na ito."

Yumakap nang tuluyan sa akin si Mama at Papa, lumapit na rin sa akin si Kuya at sinamahan kami.

"You and White Arellano is the living bridge between our families." I sobbed at my father's chest.

It was an impossible dream before, pero ito at naririnig ko na sa bibig ng sarili kong pamilya.

Wayto and I did an amazing bridge. Nang kumalas sila ng yakap sa akin, I heard my brother's whisper.

"I'll miss my little huntsman."

"Hindi naman ako aalis! Taga Enamel din naman si Wayto, e!" they laughed again.

"I promise, we'll produce a lot of babies, at mas lamang ang dugo natin!" bahagyang hinampas ni Mama ang braso ko, napailing si kuya at Papa.

And for the last time, I stood in front of them as their only princess with her signature gesture. I placed my palms below my chin and I smiled with them sweetly.

"Am I pretty?"

My whole family answered with smile on their face. "Always!"

I arrived thirty minutes earlier than the given time, sa katunayan ay mas maaga pa ang mga Olbes sa mga Arellano. My relatives didn't mind at all, kahit ang mga kaibigan ko ay hindi man lang nagreklamo.

Para patunayan ko sa kanilang lahat na walang mangyayaring takbuhan. Kanina pa rin akong nakalabas sa kotse, wala na kaming tigil nila Tanya at August sa pag selfie.

Some of the important guests were greeting me. Karamihan ay malalapad ang ngisi, who wouldn't be? Mas maaga pa ako sa groom. Tulog pa yata si Wayto.

"Thank you! Pasok na po kayo, na-traffic lang po iyong groom ko."

"What about fierce shot?" tanong ni August.

Kung ano-anong pwesto ang ginawa naming tatlo bago ko makilala ang bagong smuggled car ni Wayto escorted by some cars behind him, hindi na ako magugulat kung iyong mga panggulong Ferell na naman ang mga iyon.

"Oh my gosh, he's here!"

Nang sandaling tumigil na sa tapat ng simabahan ang magarang sasakyan ni Wayto, biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. My groom...

Agad nabuksan ang pintuan and he looked so utterly handsome! But he looked a bit stressed na parang di na nakapagsuklay.

"Wayto, babe!" I called him as I stomped my right foot.

Mabilis hinanap ng kanyang chinitong mga mata ang pwesto ko. And he looked stunned while staring at me with his eyes full of admiration.

"A-ang aga mo..." sabi niya habang lakad takbo sa hagdan patungo sa akin.

"Come, babe... I missed you so much!" itinaas ko na ang mahaba kong belo.

And my groom quickly infiltrated my veil with his arms around my waist, kapwa kami nasa ilalim ng aking belo habang nakangisi sa isa't-isa.

"Y-you're so beautiful, Autumn..."

"Kiss me, Wayto... habang napipilitan pa ako-"

By that I was cut off by my groom's passionate kiss under my white veil with the endless clicks and flashes of the camera.

Muntik na kaming hindi mapaghiwalay ni Wayto kung hindi kami pinaalalahanan na hindi pa nagsisimula ang kasal.

"I'll wait for you there." Aalis na sana si Wayto sa ilalim ng belo ko nang hilahin ko ang neck tie niya.

"Am I pretty?"

He kissed my right cheeks and whispered. "Jowable..."

Then my left cheeks, "Beddable..." I bit my lower lip, but the I released it dahil alam kong hahalik ulit siya rito.

"But what's my favorite?" hinampas ko ang balikat ni Wayto. "Pipilitin mo na naman ba ako?"

He chuckled before leaning to my ear for the last time, "Desirable..."

Mabilis ko nang tinanggal sa loob ng belo ko si Wayto. "Go there, maglalakad na 'ko! I told you, ayoko ng pinipilit ako, Wayto, e!"

"I love you..." huling sabi niya bago siya sumunod sa wedding coordinator na hindi na maitimpla ang mukha sa amin ni Wayto.

I positioned myself behind the door and when it slowly opened revealing the aisle, my heart leaped with so much emotions. And as I took my every step towards him, the people around me who cherished me the most stood one by one with the smile and tears on their faces.

My hands started to shake with my flowers, the tears from my eyes were now starting to pour again, the wedding march was so overwhelming that I could feel the burning touch of its hymn.

And there, at the altar with his cousins, my groom, Dwight Alcerous Arellano. I was expecting a grinning face from him, a playful attempt to tease me the way he used to, but it was a different Wayto right now.

My groom was crying with smile on his face.