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Nagising si Naia nang dahil sa magagaang halik ng asawa. Kapag nakakatulog siya eh iyon ang awtomatikong ginagawa ng kanyang asawa since they've gotten married—civilly, that is.

And today, ikakasal sila sa simbahan. How? It was all thanks to Inno and Yoon. Mukhang nagtulungan ang dalawa para hindi masayang ang ginastos para sa supposed to be kasal nila ni Inno. It didn't really matter kung parang recycled lang yung magiging kasal nila dahil according to Yoon, si Jarvis din naman daw yung talagang key player nung planning stages dahil ito ang sumasama lagi sa kanya during consultations. Kahit nga sa food tasting ay ito rin ang sumama sa kanila.

"Time to wake up, baby," bulong nito while still kissing her lightly all over. Nakapulupot din sa baywang niya ang bisig nito. "We have to get ready."

She whined and pulled the comforter up to cover her face. Narinig niya ang magaang pagtawa ng lalaki.

"Ayaw mo ba ikasal sa'kin, baby?" malambing nitong tanong. Agad niyang tinanggal sa pagkakasuklob ang comforter at humarap dito. Isinuksok niha ang mukha sa dibdib nito.

"Pwede pa-proxy na lang tayo kay Inno at Yoon?" suhestiyon niya habang ipinupulupot ang mga braso sa katawan nito. "We're already married and I just want to cuddle."

"Kawawa naman si Yoon," anito. "Maagang mamumiti ang buhok 'non sa kunsumisyon kay Kuya."

"But baby... I wanna cuddle!" paghihimutok niya. "Siguro ayaw mo na ako kayakap kaya ka ganyan? Dahil ba buntis ako? Dahil nananaba na 'ko? Hindi ko naman sinasadya na hindi na kumasya 'dun sa gown na pinagawa eh..."

Pagkatapos ipaliwanag ni Inno at Yoon ang ginawa nilang pagpapapalit ng pangalan ni Inno at Jarvis, agad siya kinidnap ng mga babae—including Synn, Ken and George, para sa final fitting. Doon na rin nalaman ng mga kaibigan ang kanyang kondisyon when she couldn't fit in the finished couture bridal gown. 

They were all shocked. Minus Synn dahil nafi-feel na daw talaga nito na may kakaiba sa kanya and as a romance novelist, she said it was a cliché plot twist na patok na patok pa rin to date. Since alam na ni George at Uno ang lahat, natulungan siya ng dalawa ipaliwanag sa iba ang nangyari within the span of 24 hours.

All in all, tuwang-tuwa ang mga kaibigan niya sa balita and they all demanded to be godparents. Si Arika nga ay nag-joke pa na kung gusto daw ni baby Mavi ng kalaro, magsabi lang daw. If River was there panigurado'y maeeskandalo nanaman ito.

"Baby, it doesn't matter if you're fat or not. Hinding-hindi ako magsasawa sa'yo," anito trying to calm her down as she started to cry yet again. "Gusto mo ng proof? I can give you one now because your mere presence gives me a full hard-on."

Tama ito. Ramdam na ramdam niya nga ngayon the he was fully awake. Nag-init agad ang kanyang pisngi and also, was turned on.

"Kaya nga baby wag na tayo sumipot," bulong niya. "Lock na lang natin yung room tapos you can make love to me all day long. Kahit whole week long pa. Or... or... Whole lifetime-long!"

Tumawa ito sabay kintal ng halik sa kanyang mga labi. Mabilis lang iyon kaya tila hinabol niya pa ito.

"Ang cute talaga ng asawa ko." Jarvis lightly pinched her nose before shifting their position with her on top of him.

Wala itong suot under the sheets—same with her. Ga'non na siguro sila magigising every single day since they can't seem to get enough of each other. But of course, may go signal na sila sa OB which they visited yesterday after the fitting. Healthy naman daw ang baby niya and she was given enough vitamins. At kahit sobrang hirap, she has to lessen the cheesecake intake dahil tulad ng sinabi sa kanya noon ni Jarvis, hindi ito healthy.

"Your idea is very tempting, baby," he said in his sexy bedroom voice. "But I want to give you a proper wedding. A wedding you deserve."

Tulad ng nakagawian nito, Jarvis tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear. Dumiretso din ang mga daliri nito sa kanyang pisngi and gently caressed it with his knuckles.

"I love you so much, Naia. Kung panaginip lang lahat ng 'to, I wish to never wake up and just spend eternity with us finally happy and together."

A sudden surge of emotions surged inside her chest kaya't naiyak nanaman siya. Siguro dahil na rin sa pregnancy hormones kaya napakababaw ng luha niya ngayon.

"Baby..."

Jarvis tried to make her look at him but she just hid her crying face on his chest. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nandito na ito sa kanyang tabi. Na nalampasan nila lahat ng paghihirap at sakit because of the circumstances they were in. And now, heto na sila't kasal na and expecting their first child soon. Napaka-surreal talaga. Nakaka-overwhelm but it was the good kind.

Iniangat niya ang tingin at pinagtagpo ang kanilang mga titig.

"I love you," aniya. "I love you very much, Vis. Kahit ang gaga ko, salamat at hindi ka napagod. Thank you for being patient and waited for me. Salamat dahil lumaban ka para sa'tin."

She sat up making him sit up too. Pero nanatili siya sa ibabaw nito and just straddled him. Kumapit siya sa may leeg nito and continued.

"I'm sorry if I caused you pain. Sorry din kung hindi kita hinayaang protektahan ako noon. Masyado akong nagpadala sa takot ko at sa pressure na pinatong sa'kin. I left you and didn't even look back. Sorry talaga—"

Natigilan siya nang walang pasabing hinalikan siya ng asawa sa kanyang labi. Humigpit ang kapit siya dito habang ikinulong naman siya nito sa sariling mga bisig.

"Stop saying sorry, baby," anito as he cupped her face after that breathtaking kiss. "I understand why you did that. Mahal mo ang pamilya mo. Ga'non din naman ako. And I admit, nasaktan talaga ako. There were too much unanswered questions inside my head. Pero kilala kita and you wouldn't deliberately hurt people you love. And you said you loved me. Pinanghawakan ko 'yon and waited 'til you find your way back to me."

"Sure na sure, baby?" kantiyaw niya dito.

"I'll admit, there were times na hindi ako sure..."

"Because of Inno?" tanong niya as she remembered that night na naglasing ito. Tumango naman agad ito. "Kaya ka naglasing?"

"I didn't intend for that to happen. Napasarap lang kasi yung kwentuhan namin habang umiinom."

"Kwentuhang lasing? Ano topic niyo?"

"Hmm... about this and that," simpleng sagot nito making her pout. He sighed. "Let's just say we just vented out our frustrations. Marami din kasing iniinda yung mga bunso. Lalo na si Yvo."

"Yvo? Is this about him and... Uno?" Paguusisa niya. Curious din kasi siya sa lovelife ng kanyang pinsan.

Jarvis smiled before pinching her nose.

"Hayaan mo na 'yung dalawang 'yon," anito. "Stop stalling baby. We need to get up and start getting ready."

She huffed and just clung on to him. Narinig niya ang pagtawa nanaman nito bago tumayo at kinarga siya. Napatili naman siya't hinigpitan ang kapit dito.

"Jarvis!"

"Let's just multitask, baby. Bawal daw hindian ang buntis."

Isang malakas na tawa ang kanyang pinakawalan before they made love inside the bathroom. Late na sila pareho naayusan.

She regrets nothing.

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"Relax, Naia. Breathe in, breathe out," she chanted inside the bridal car.

Ilang minuto na lamang ay magsisimula na ang wedding procession at nagsisimula na rin ayusin ni Yoon pagkakasunod-sunod ng entourage. But she was frantic. And nervous. Bakit? Dahil hindi pa alam ng mga magulang nila na hindi si Inno ang groom. Convenient nga na magkapatid ang dalawa kaya't ang mga magulang pa rin ng mga ito ang unang mamartsa pagkatapos ni Jarvis. Sana lang ay hindi magtaka ang mga ito na ang busong anak ang mauuna maglakas istead of their eldest.

Naputol ang pagiisip niya nang biglang sumakay sa unahan si Uno.

"Tara na ate—O ba't parang namumutla ka , ate?" worried nitong tanong. "Okay ka lang ba? Gusto mo ng tubig? May masakit ba sa'yo?"

"Kinakabahan lang ako, Uno," aniya pagkatapos umiling. "Are you guys sure we can pull this off? Baka magalit sakin sina lolo—"

"Ate, kasal na kayo ni kuya Jarvis. Wala na talaga silang magagawa," putol sa kanya ng pinsan. "Kung aalma si Tito Danny, bibigwasan ko. If not me, pitong Montecillo bibigwas sa kanya."

"Uno..." she warned. Umirap lamang ito.

"Whatever, ate. Tara na. Naghihintay na sila lahat sa loob. Rarampa na tayo."

Isang malalim na hininga ang kanyang pinakawalan bago lumabas ng sasakyan.

Tita Cathy came to the rescue as she was the one who bought her a ready-to-wear bridal gown. Hindi na kasi nagawan ng paraan ang dati niya since it was a form fitting one. Ang suot niya ngayon ay isang laced flowy white gown na binili ng kanyang tiyahin sa isang sikat na designer sa Singapore. Good thing adjustable ang likuran nito kaya't hindi siya nahirapan to fit into the dress.

Her heart was pounding so loudly. Nanlalamig din kang kanyang mga kamay as she held on the bouquet for her dear life. Halo-halong kaba, tuwa at excitement ang kanyang nararamdaman ngayon. And then, her grandfather walked towards her. Ito kasi ang maghahatid sa kanya sa altar.

"You look beautiful, apo," anito as he hugged her tightly. Ramdam niya rin ang magkahalong tuwa at kalungkutan sa tinig nito. "I can't believe you're getting married. Parang kelan lang eh nagpapakarga ka pa saakin."

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng guilt. Hindi niya pa nasasabi sa abuelo na kasal na talaga siya. That this is all just for formality's sake. At higit sa lahat, wala pa itong kaide-ideya na magkakaron na ito ng apo sa tuhod.

"Lolo... I have a confession to make..." mahina niyang sambit.

"What is it apo?"

"The truth is, I'm already—"

Naputol ang sasabihin niya when the double doors of the church suddenly opened. Pumainlang din ang wedding march na siyang naging hudyat para sila'y magsimula na maglakad. Her grandfather offered his arm to her and they started to walk.

Hindi pa rin matigil ang bilis ng tibok ng kanyang puso. But halfway across the aisle, she saw Inno smirking as he took a step back.

Then she saw him. Si Jarvis. Ang lalaking pinakamamahal niya. Ang ama ni Mavi. The man who had loved her since she was five.

"Nagtatampo ako sa'yo, alam mo ba 'yon?" biglang bulong sa kanya ng lolo. "You got married without even telling me. Kelan ba ako naka-hindi sa'yo, apo? I know your father can be a pain but he will listen to me. When I got word that he surprised you with that arranged wedding, nagulat din ako dahil pumayag ka. I know you love our family, Danaia but, you should love yourself first. Sobra na ang isinakripisyo mo para sa pamilya natin when you came with me abroad. Let your father handle his problems. Ang tanging gusto ko lang ay maging masaya ka."

"Then why did you ask me to come back to the Philippines, lolo? Akala ko it was to help dad with the company?"

Umiling ito at magaang tinapiktapik ang kanyang kamay na nakakapit sa kabilang braso nito.

"I asked you to come back because I saw how miserable you were in New York," nakangiting turan nito. "At alam kong dito ka magiging masaya kasama niya. And I was right."

"Lolo..." She can't help but feel emotional. Naramdaman niya ang pagdalos ng luha mula sa kanyang mga mata. To hell with her make up. Panigurado naman eh waterproof iyon.

"Tinawagan ako ni Jarvis," patiloy nito. "Now I get why you love him so much. Mahal na mahal ka rin niya. And he called to ask for my blessing and said sorry dahil nagpakasal na daw kayo. He promised to give you a formal wedding to which I agreed to but didn't expect it to be this soon."

Tumawa pa ito ng magaan. Hindi niya namalayang nakarating na pala sila sa dulo ng altar at bumungad sa kanyang harapan ang lalaking pinakamamahal.

"Alagaan mo ang apo ko ha, hijo," ani ng kanyang abuelo sa lalaki sabay tapik sa balikat nito. Narinig niya ang pagsinghap ng kung sino when it was Jarvis who her grandfather talked to and not Inno.

"Opo," sagot nito sabay ngiti. He was even looking straight at her. Nakakapanghina ang ngiti at titig nito. "I will love and cherish her for the rest of my life."

"Good. Gusto ko ng maraming apo sa tuhod, ha?" Katiyaw ng matanda. She clearly heard how Seven and Box scoff from their seats.

They both ignored the twins. Siguro iaanunsyo nila ang magandang balita some other time. Jarvis took her hand and they walked towards the altar.

"I love you..." he mouthed.

"I love you, too," she mouthed back.

There were a lot of murmurs around. Mostly shocked by the sudden change in the entourage. Pero she didn't care what other people would say nowadays. Natuto na siya eh. None of their opinions matter. Dahil at the of the day, what only matters is that she's happy.

Funny enough that they met when he was a substitute to her Psych professor. And now, he stood as the substitute for his own brother. But to her, he was never that.

He was meant to be her Psych professor two years ago just like how he's meant to be her groom today.

Ito na talaga iyon. Ang happily ever after na pinakahihintay nila. After everything they've been through, sa simbahan pa rin ang bagsak nila. She's finally marrying the live of her life and soon enough, they'll welcome their own bundle of joy.

It's the best way to end a book but at the same time start a new one together.

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