Epilogue

The best day and year of my life.

Yes, it was the best day and year of his entire life. The tale has a twist at this time. Maabot na niya ang pangarap niya at pangarap ng ama niya sa kanya. Maabot niya kasama si Zev. Bahagya niyang inayos ang suot niyang wedding suit. Kalalabas ng make up artist niya at ng daddy niya. Isang masayang ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi ni Don Carlos bago ito lumabas.

Naglalakad siya sa isang dingding at buksan 'yon. A soft and mellow sound of a wedding bell from Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre. Kasalukuyan silang nasa nirentang hotel sa France. He will be there in the chapel in a minute. Dahil naroon na ang pamilya niya at ang pamilya ni Zev. Hindi siya nagkaroon ng tsansang bisitahin si Zev sa room nito. Her make-up artist and assistant didn't allow him. Excited pa naman siyang makita ang magandang hitsura ng bride.

Naalala niya ang mga masakit na karanasan niya. Kay Arexia at kay Nicky. He was left wounded and scarred. Muntik pa siyang nagpakamatay noong hindi pumayag si Arexia sa alok niyang kasal. Worst case scenario na sa publiko pa siya nito ni-reject.

Nagiging aral na lamang sa kanya ang mga karanasang 'yon. Aral na maituturo niya sa magiging anak niya. Na sa pagmamahal ay hindi kaartehan ang pagpili, ang padalos-dalus na desisyon ay hindi maganda. Dahil sa huli ay magdudulot 'yon ng sakit at problema. We have to be careful kung sino ang mamahalin natin. Hindi rin basehan ang labas na kagandahan. Beauty is not in his description. Pero maganda si Zev and she love her attitude, she's modest. Sensible and kinda fine.

The soft and mellow sounds of wedding bells continue ranging. Hindi napigil ng binata ang umiyak. Ang saya-saya niya. Ang gaan ng pakiramdam niya sa oras na 'yon.

As satisfied smile hovered his lips as he walked and went out of his room. He was feeling good and yet, he was nervous.

The clock strikes Ten in the morning. Reese was nervous standing there at the end of the alter together with his best man, Dad. He was waiting for his bride to walk on the aisle.

The big door of the church opened. The music starts. The little kids walk making a  trailer of flowers, a cute little guy walked with the rings on a fine and sparkling pillow where the two rings are tied.

Then, the most awaited one. Reese's chest pounded in his ears. He could hear it. Eksaktong pagtingin niya sa pinto ay nakatayo na roon si Zev. She was beautiful in white. There's a connection between the two and it's only them who understands it. Zev smiled under her blusher veil. She was nervous too, as she began to walk slowly down the aisle.

I'm the man she's marrying. He whispered.

He was dancing in glee. Wala na siyang ibang maisip pa kundi ang kinabukasan nila. She walks slowly at bagay sa musika. His tears fell again. Hindi niya maiwasang umiyak dahil sa katuwaan at saya.

Parang niyakap siya ng kasiglahan, yakap na mahigpit. Lumingon siya sa daddy niya. Umiiyak din ito, umiiyak at naghahalong saya sa dibdib nito. Lahat ng naroon ay may nakaguhit na saya sa mukha nila. Habang ang iba ay nagpahid ng basang pisngi. It's a tear of joy.

"Thank you for loving her unconditionally," Don Felix said as he handed the hands of the bride to him. The Don was crying too. Her mom was very happy. Her brother too gave him the best smile. Kith, yes Kith, it was his first time meeting, Kith. The Kith whom Matt fell in love with. Matt was there too, weeping and cheering him.

"I love you, Mi amor. Pangakong ikaw lagi ang paksa sa gagawin kong tula." Bulong niya rito. Habang inaalayan ito sa paglalakad sa altar.

Now it was the time for their vows. He has written his vows, and he said it emotionally. "Mi amor, I vow to love you, to kiss you every day, as we do today-pagmamahal na tapat. I vow to protect you, I vow to make you the happiest woman and wife on earth. No words can possibly express the vow that I give to you now. Pinangako kong mamahalin kita hindi sa hanggang kaya ko, kundi mamahalin kita bawat segundo, minuto at oras. Hindi ka iiyak sa sakit, kundi iiyak ka sa kasiyahan. Mahal na mahal kita. Ikaw at ako ay magsama kapiling ang magiging anak natin. " He smiled unable to go on, he was in tears.

It was her turn now. She put the wedding ring on him as she recites her word. "I love the way you write fiction, Every day I was dreaming to meet you. If only I have a chance. Cupid gives me the chance, but on a wrong day, but after two years we were able to meet each other again. I fell in love with you. Your smile, I treasure it every day, You walked in my life. Love walked in. Cares and love, support and love you gave to me. You make me the happiest woman on earth. Both of us been in a very tragic moment. But our love was undefeated. I love you, from the moment we met till this day, I love you, for bad and good times. I love you as we share a home together. I love you, I love your work, your voice, your passion, I love your hot blood. I love you as my husband. I love you because you love me too. I vow not too tired of loving you. I love you for life.." She said in tears too.

"By the power vested in me and front of these witnesses, you may now kiss your bride." The Priest announced.

Reese lifted her veil. Nagtama ang mga tingin nila. Pareho silang ngumiti at dahan-dahang inilapit ni Reese ang mukha sa mukha ng bride. He kissed her. The crowd applauded as the two shared their first married kiss as husband and wife. Both their parents were in tears of joy.

A satisfied smile was drawn on Don Carlos lips. Sa wakas ay naabot ng anak ang pangarap nito sa kanya. Ano pa ba ang mahihiling ng matanda ngayong naabot ni Reese ang minimithi niya, ang pangarap na kasal. Bahagya nitong pinahid ang basang pisngi.

I will not forget this day, the day I marry the woman I love the most. Reese whispered as he kissed her again.

One year later

"One more push, Ma'am," ani ng Doktora sa kay Zev.

Halos hindi na nito kaya. She want to give up. Hindi nito makayanan ang sakit na 'yon. Pakiramdam nito ay hiniwa ang harapan nito. At ang sakit ay gumagapang sa buong katawan nito.

Nasa labas ng operating room si Reese, nag-alala siya para sa kalagayan ni Zev. Puno ng pag-alala ang mukha niya. Her wife was at risk, he knows that since she was giving birth to a twin. Oo kambal ang nasa sinapupunan ni Zev. Hindi siya makapaniwalang kambal ang magiging anak nila. Pero ang saya-saya niya.

Yumuko siya at nanalangin na walang mangayaring masama sa mag-ina.

Kakaiba na ang panahon sa taong 'yon. Lahat ay nagsusuot na ng face mask dahil required 'yon ng gobyerno. There he was wearing a face mask as sweat dripping form his forehead. Limitado ang pumasok sa hospital. Sarado ang mga paaralan, establishment, at ibang kompanya, pero si Reese lamang ang CEO na hindi nagtatagal ng mga employee.

Alam niyang kailangan siya ng mga tauhan niya para buhayin ang mga ito ang pamilya nila. It was a global lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lahat ay naghirap. The economy of the country became lame. At ang katulad niyang may kaya sa buhay ay handang tumulong. Sa katunayan ay malaki ang kontribusyon niya, para sa mga nangangailangan.

Sigaw ni Zev ang naririnig niya habang nakapikit siya at nanalangin. Nang nagmulat siya ng mga mata ay dinig niya ang sigaw ng mga sanggol. Nagpasalamat siya sa Diyos at tumayo. An excitement hovering in his entire face. He was excited to see his twin son. He already given them a named when they were still o their mom womb. Callyx and Clayne. He quickly moved when the door opened wide. He was jubilant.

"Mother and a child. A gift. Miracle. " he cried as he embrace Zev feeding the two little boy.

"A handsome two boys. They looks like their father." The nurse said and smiled.

Reese was dancing in glee. The time and year may be bad. But he was feeling good and jubilant. He was the happiest man on earth. He was the best husband for her. He look again on Callyx and Clayne and slightly touched them. He's a father now. And that's the best thing for him. Wala na siyang mahihiling pa. He's feeling satisfied now. Zev, too, was very happy. He embrace her again. The two may not sure when the pandemic is end. Hindi na 'yon mahalaga, he will took care of them. He will be a good father. Isang masayang ngiti ang gumuhit sa kanyang mga labi.