Ather Lavien Vaulghin

As she walk in the aisle, I can't feel or say anything, today I am the most lucky man. Because today Zamia Brecken Wringler is marrying me. Her stares is making me weak, making my knees tremble. And she's the only one who can make me feel like this.

After waiting for so many years, my dream to marry her is happening now. I never regret being with her, I would never regret that I waited for her, I never regret that I loved her, and I would never regret marrying her.

Sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa niya, bumabalik rin sa ala-ala ko kung saan kami nagsimula. Kung paano nagsimula ang kwento naming dalawa. And for me, that was the most memorable day.

"That's Zamia Brecken Wringler, right?" I asked Elmo. My college friend. We're here at BGC, nasa may bar kami. After exams, nandito kami para makapag-relax, kind of rest.

And there is a woman who caught my attention. Well, sa tuwing nandito ako sa bar palagi ko rin siyang nakikita. And she's wasted as fuck. Is she broken?

"Ah-huh, nag-iisang anak ng mga Wringler, bakit? Bet mo?" I raised a brow. "Nako pare, ingat-ingat kay Mrs. Wringler, her mother! She's so intimidating!" Hindi ako kumibo at binalik ang tingin sa babae.

Now, she's dancing like there's no tommorow. Kusang umangat ang gilid ng labi ko. Cute.

That's the first time I saw her.

Nang bumalik ulit ako sa bar kung saan kami tumatambay ay nakita ko ulit siya. She's with her as usual friend, ito rin 'yon palagi niyang kasama. Sa mga nakaraang buwan na nakikita ko siya dito, ngayon ko lang siya nakitang masigla.

I mean, everytime I saw her before, she's so wasted. May isang beses nga na nakita ko siyang umiiyak, pagkatapos biglang tumatawa. Kakaiba rin.

But tonight, she's so jolly. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin, malawak ang ngiti sa labi, umikot siya sa dance floor at nakipag-sayawan sa mga naroon. Parang tumigil ang lahat ng nasa paligid ko.

All I can see is her, kung paano umaalon ang buhok niya sa bawat ikot na ginagawa niya, sa bawat tawa niya ay tanaw na tanaw ko ang mapupulang labi niya, the bridge of her nose is so attractive, and her angelic eyes is hitting me.

That's when I knew that I am starting to have a feelings for her. Feelings that I didn't expect to feel towards her, I've never been interested to a girl after my last relationship. But after all those years I am now falling for someone.

I smiled widely when she almost reached my direction.

Subrang ganda niya... ang puting gown na suot niya'y mas bumagay sa kanya. Zamia... you're one of a kind angel.

Kahit ano pang sinasabi sa 'yo ng ibang tao noon, wala akong ibang makita sa 'yo kundi ang magandang kalooban na taglay mo. Na kahit anong pagmamaldita niya sa iba, I know that she's kind inside.

At napatunayan ko 'yon. Zamia was just so lonely before, she acted like she hate people around her, but the truth is, she just want to earn the attention that her family failed to give her.

People may hate her, but I didn't.

"Please, take care of my daugther," Mrs. Wringler whisphered to me. Inabot niya sa akin ang kamay ni Zamia.

"I will, Tita. Thank you for trusting me. Tito, I will take care of her and I will love her 'till the end." Mahinang tumango si Tito sa akin na ngayon ay nanunubig ang mata at nakaupo sa wheelchair.

"We trust you, Al. And call us Mom and Dad," He said.

Sa mga nakalipas na buwan, nagawa na ring magsalita ni Tito ulit. But still, he can't move or do anything, the doctor said we have nothing to worry because he's still in the process of regaining his energy.

"You're so beautiful, my wife." Bulong ko sa kanya. She chuckled.

"Bolero!"

After all the pain, suffering, problems, incident, and tragedy. Here we are, in front of the Altar, taking each other and making promise to each other.

"Ather Lavien, do you take Zamia Brecken to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?" I stared at her eyes.

"I do."

"Zamia Brecken, do you take Ather Lavien to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage?  Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"

She smiled widely while her tears started to fall in her chicks.

"I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Dahan-dahan kong nilapit ang mukha sa kanya. She slowly close her eyes, when I finally reached her lips the crowd started to clap their hands. Napuno ng ingay ang buong simbahan.

"I love you... Zamia Brecken Wringler-Vaulghin. I love you so much, my wife."

"Mahal na mahal rin kita Al... subrang mahal na mahal."

"Congrats!"

Isa-isang lumapit sa amin ang mga kaibigan namin.

Exeriel my older brother tap my shoulder. "Congrats, bro." I nodded.

"Pakasal ka na rin," I joked.

"Oo nga! Pakasal ka na brother in law," lumapit na rin si Zam sa pwesto namin. Hinapit ko ang bewang niya at hinalikan siya sa noo.

"Wow, really? In front of me, huh?" My brother mocked. Parehas lang kaming ngumisi ni Zam.

"Congrats, Al and Zamia!"

"Thank you, Roxan." Hinayaan ko muna siyang kausapin ang iilang kaibigan niya.

"Congrats, hijo." Lumapit ako kay Daddy. Tinapik niya lang ang balikat ko. "Accept my gift to you, nakahanda na ang ticket niyong tatlo." Wala akong magawa kundi ang tumango.

Days after our wedding, he talked to me about having a vacation out of the country. Ayaw niyang tinatanggihan kaya wala akong magagawa kundi ang tanggapin ang alok niya.

"Thanks dad."

"Hello po... Tito, thank you po sa regalo niyo! Subra-subra po 'yon." Mahinang tumawa si Daddy.

"Ano ba kayong dalawa, I am so glad that one my sons is now married! Gagastos at gagastos talaga ako..."

"Thank you po."

"Thanks Dad."

After our wedding, everything goes right. Tinaggap namin ang regalo ni Daddy. 1 week kaming nasa Jeju Island, with Zam and our daugther Brazilla.

Wala ng mas sasaya dahil kasama ko sila.

* * *

"Good morning!" I greeted her. Sinubsob ko ang mukha sa kanyang leeg. "How's your sleep, wife?" Mahina ko ring hinaplos ang kanyang t'yan. "How's our second baby?"

Zamia my wife, is carrying our second child. Anim na buwan na simula nang ikasal kaming dalawa. 3 monts ago when we found out about her pregnancy.

"Ang naughty raw ng Daddy niya..." Mahina akong tumawa. "Good morning, hubby."

"What a lovely wife. Zamia, thank you for coming into my life. Noon, wala akong interes sa kahit na sino. I focus on my study, I focus my self to achieve what I want. Pero noong makilala kita, everything change. You made me feel on how to love again, sa 'yo at sa 'yo lang." I kissed her forehead.

Napatigil rin ako nang marinig ang hikbi niya.

"Wife? What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

"Mood swings lang! Ikaw kasi... pinapaiyak mo ako," I chuckled.

Well the doctor already warned me about her mood swings.

My cute wife, is now crying.

"Thank you rin Al. Maraming nangyari pero hindi mo ako sinukuan. Pinaglaban mo ako kahit pa man noong panahon na hindi kita maalala... na hindi ko kayo maalala. Thank you for being there to Brazilla, you're a great father. Mahal na mahal kita. Tinanggap mo ako nang buong-buo, wala na akong mahihiling pa dahil mayroon akong Al, Brazilla at siyempre itong second baby natin. Mayroon akong, kayo. That's so much enough."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Good morning, Mommy and Daddy!" Napalingon kaming dalawa nang bumukas ang pinto ng aming kwarto. It's Brazilla. "Can I go there."

"Of course! Come here, baby," binuhat ko siya papunta sa kama. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

"Yes Daddy!"

"Nako, naglalambing nanaman ang panganay," I hugged them both.

"I love it when we're like this."

"Pati ang Daddy ay naglalambing! Kayo, ah!"

"Gusto mo rin nang ganito Zam... aminin ko," I smirked. "I'll prepare breakfast for us."

My life is them. I promised to protect my family, I promised to stay them away in harm, I promised to be their guide and to be their one and only savior. I will protect this family no matter what happened.

I can't afford to lose any one of them. My wife Zamia, thank you for the love and care. Thank you for accepting me and gaving me your precious trust. I will never dissapoint you, I am now looking forward to us, to be happy, and to live peacefully.

After everything. I finally found you. You made clear the unknown feelings inside me.

The End.