CHAPTER 2

"Do you accept Ryder Smith as your husband? In sickness and in health?In poor and in wealth?"

I want to say no. I want to run away from this wedding. I don't want to marry a man I don't love. But, I don't want to disappoint my parents. This is the only way I can do to thank my parents for caring and loving me.

"I do." I finally answered.

Marami pa siyang sinabi na puro 'I do' lang ang isinagot ko. Nakapunta naman na ako sa ibang kasal pero bakit hindi naman ganon kasaya? Ganto ba talaga kapag hindi mo mahal ang lalaking papakasalan mo? No feelings? No excitement?

"Do you accept Scarlett Lazaro as your wife? In sickness and in health? In poor and in wealth?" The priest asked again.

He finally turned his whole attention at Ryder. I saw how Ryder smirked when he sees my reaction. I looked away immediately. Alam kong gusto niya lang ako asarin at ako naman ay nagpapa-asar din.

"I do, father. I really do." He answered.

I looked at him once again pero agad ding napaiwas ng makita ko kung gaano siya kaseryoso. I don't know but I felt something inside my stomach. I felt butterflies. I saw sincerity in his eyes or it's just me and my imagination? Argh! I don't know!

"You may say your wedding vows." The priest gave us the microphone.

Here it is! The wedding vow i'm going to say! I'm not sure if they will noticed it but I searched some on google. Nakakatamad kaya mag-isip ng sasabihin lalo na kung hindi ka naman inspired. I just type something and memorized it! Then, boom! I have wedding vows already! I just wished that someone will not noticed what I do.

"Today, I take my place as your husband.May our days be long, and may they be seasoned with faith, love understanding and respect forever and ever. Today is the beginning of the rest of our lives. I choose to spend today, and all of my tomorrows, with you.I vow to fiercely love you in all of your forms, now and forever. I promise to never forget this once-in-a-lifetime love. And to always know in the deepest part of my soul that no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find our way back to each other."Ryder seems practice his vow many times but i noticed something.

And damn!

We have the same wedding vows!Did he search some of wedding vows too?What the hell!Paano ako ngayon?I practiced that line many times,for heaven sake!

My face became pale as he gave me the microphone.What should I do?Sasabihin ko pa rin ba yung kinabisado ko?What if we get caught?

I blow a breath.The line I was going to say was used by him.I remember that I used to watch romantic movies and some of the characters said their wedding vows!Oh,I should use this time the line said by preston burke!Papalitan ko nalang yung iba para hindi masyadong halata!

"Ryder, I could promise to hold you and to cherish you. I could promise to be in sickness and in health. I could say, til death do us part. But I won't. Those vows are for optimistic couples, the ones full of hope. And I do not stand here, on my wedding day, optimistic or full of hope. I am not optimistic, I am not hopeful, I am sure. I am steady. And I know that I am a heart woman. I take them apart and I put them back together and I hold them in my hands. I am a heart woman. So this I am sure, you are my partner, my lover, my very best friend, my heart, my heart beats for you. And on this day, the day of our wedding, I promise you this: I promise you to lay my heart in the palm of your hands, I promise you… me".I said as I remember the part of preston burke and cristina yang wedding.

I saw how ryder clenched his jaw.Is he mad?Alam ba niyang ginaya ko lang ang wedding vow ko sa isang pilikula?Bakit naman siya magagalit eh kinopya lang din naman niya sa google yung sinabi niya sa akin?Inagaw nga rin niya yung linyang dapat na sasabihin ko tapos siya pa yung may karapatang magalit sa akin?How pathetic!

Our exchanging of vows went well.I don't know pero ito na ang pinaka-nakakakabang parteng ng isang kasal.The rings.Before,I promised to myself that I will wear a wedding ring from the man that I love but I didn't know that I couldn'tdo that anymore because i'm marrying other man.I marrying a man I don't love.

When they handed towards us the rings,I planned what to say.Just like my wedding vows,I already did some research and found some of it.I memorized it and it suit my taste!I hope that ryder don't do some research.And I hope he will not noticed me!I'm nervous!gosh!

He put the ring he was holding on my finger then looked at me.I don't know but I saw some emotions in his eyes.I think it's sincerity,Admiration and….Love?

Nah!Bakit naman pagmamahal eh nung una naming pagkikita halos sampalin niya ako sa katotohanang hindi niya ako gusto.I just erased the thought in my head and just focus at the wedding.

"I give you this ring as a sign of our love for and commitment to each other. I promise to support you, care for you, and stand alongside you for all of our days."His face was serious and I can't help to think if he was sincere?

The ring suits my finger very well.He stared at my hand for a while with full of admiration in his eyes.Totoo kaya ang emosyong nakikita ko sa mga mata niya o tanging isip ko lang ang gumagawa ng dahilan upang magustuhan at mahalin ko siya?

I don't know if he searched some of wordings in google but I think he made it by himself.Unfair naman kung siya,pinaghirapan ang paggawa tapos ako,tamang browse lang sa internet?

I prepared my self for what I'm gong to say.Damn!I'm not prepared for this!

"I gave you this ring as a sign of eternity and my unbreakable love.I promised that I will cherish all our memories and I will love you no matter what happen.I will never leave your side whatever happen.I love you even though forever doesn't exist."Lahat ng sinabi kong iyon ay sasabihin ko sana sa lalaking mamahalin ko ng totoo at hindi pilit.

I want to be a normal girl that hanging around with friends and someone will court me then we lived happily ever after but all of that was ruined when my parents forced me to marry Ryder.

Nang maisuot ko ang singsing sa kanya,He held my hand.I looked at him, surprised.I don't know what he will going to do.I didn't expect that he will hold my hand just like that.

He stare at his ring and mine.Pinagdikit pa niya ito at tinitigan na para bang isa iyong mamahaling bagay na hindi pwedeng masira ninuman.

"We're already married.It's only a dream before but now,it's finally came true!"He murmuring something like that.

I don't know what he mean by that.It's only a dream before?Nanaginip ba siya noon na ikakasal siya sa babae?The hell?Bakit ako pa ang naging babaeng iyon?

The priest caught my attention as he said something like 'Love' 'Married'.Ugh!I don't know.I  wasn't listening.

"I pronounced you,husband and wife."He announce and I heard some claps from the audience."You may now kiss the bride."

Itinaas niya ang belo na sagabal sa mukha ko.He stared at me for a while then he cupped my cheeks as he kissed me tenderly.

"Now,I can call you mine.Mine alone."He whispered before kissing my lips again.

His kiss was soft but it's full of emotion I can't name.I heard some calps and congratulations from the people around us.Why they congratulating us?Alam naman ata nila na pekeng kasal lang ito.He ended the kiss at hinawakan ang kamay ko patungong labas ng simbahan.

We enter a white car with 'Just married' on the back.I felt happy but at the same time disappointed too.I'm happy that I am married but I am disappointed by the truth that i'm not marrying the man I love.

I looked at him and I saw him staring at me.I looked away.I don't want him to see how sad I am.

"You don't want the wedding,right?"His voice full of bitterness but I don't know why."It's fine as long as you're mine.By the way,Honeymoon is coming!"He playfully winked at me then drove the car.

I'm totally doomed today!Fuck this wedding!Fuck that honeymoon!Remind me to kill who invented honeymoon.