Epilogue

"You ready son?" that was my father who asked me. I sat down at the edge of the bed, obviously kinakabahan at the moment.

"I am, really am, but a lil' bit nervous. My hands are sweating Papà." I told him with a cracked smile.

Pagak siyang tumawa and he tapped my shoulder, niyugyog niya ito para sabihing relax lang. Napangiti ako tsaka yumuko, my knees are also shaking, napaghahalataan talagang kinakabahan. Damn it.

Sinong ba namang hindi kakabahan sa oras na 'to? Walang lalaking hindi kinakabahan kapag itong araw na 'to ang kakaharapin nila.

"Relax son, I've been there before. When I marry your mother I was tensed and nervous too. That's how it feels when you are so excited to marry the woman you love, son." he said.

Tipid akong ngumiti. I didn't know but that's really gonna happen right now. What my Papà said was true, I was tensed and excited, hindi na makapag hintay na makita si Ran. My baby! I want to celebrate too for another blessing that heaven is giving me, an little angel on Ran womb.

I know that she's very beautiful wearing her wedding gown. Though, we haven't seen each other for days because of the tradition na sinusunod nila kapag ang dalawang tao ay ikakasal, bawal daw magkita. Tiniis ko yun, sobra!

Sa totoo lang noong mga oras at araw na hindi kami nagkikita para akong sirang plaka, paulit-ulit binabanggit ang pangalan niya. Ang mga loko-loko kong kaibigan naiinis na saakin at tinatawanan ako, over acting daw. They didn't understand the lover boy's heart. I am madly in love to the max and if they're into my shoes? Probably, mas malala pa sila sa akin kapag nagkataong nahanap na nila ang babaeng kababaliwan nila, swear!I missed her, I missed her so much.

I told Ran how I am miserable for the past few days of not having seen her. Natatawa na nga lang siya sa'kin kapag nagtatawagan kami dahil sa kakulitan ko. I wanted to see her but she refuse the idea of seeing each other, bad luck will happen if we didn't follow the tradition. Though, I'm a law breaker and a traditional breaker, inirespeto ko naman iyon alang-alang sa mahal ko,sa kanya. Yeah, sounds weird for me but I have lots of things that had been thrown out just for her because I really love her. And now, I can't wait to see her, nasasabik agad ako at gusto ko na siyang makita, mayakap at mahalikan.

"You're out of focus son. Stop that, it's natural to be nervous, okay?" He tapped my shoulder again while laughing.

"Yeah, but I can't stop myself." damn, hindi talaga mawala wala ang kaba ko. I'm trying to act normal but damn, ito na yun e. Ito ang araw kung saan pakakasalan ako nang babaeng mahal ko.

Hindi ko lubos maintindihan yung kaba na nararamdaman ko. Hindi pa nga ako nakaka labas sa kwartong ukupado namin mukhang pinagpapawisan na ako.

"Knock, knock! Woa, men!" pareho kaming napabaling ni Papà sa kakabukas lang na pintuan.

Pumasok ang lima kong mga kaibigan, sina Gabin, Nolan, Vico, Valentino, and Laz. My other brothers were not available, they're so busy doin' there life more colorful as fuck. Nakakapag tampo man pero okay lang at least nakapunta ang mga walang hiyang 'to sa kasal ko.

"Gwapo mo ah? Ganyan ba kapag gusto nang magpatali kay Ran?" sarkastikong pagkakasabi ni Nolan habang patawa-tawang naglalakad papunta saakin at tinapik ang balikat ko na sinamaan ko nang tingin, he just grinned at me. Loko to!

"Don't mind him, Si. Selos lang yan kasi pumapangit na siya. Yung babae kasing hinahabol niya, pinapahirapan siya. Look at him now he looks like a roasted chicken. Tiktilaok!" si Valentino na nakuha pang magmukhang manok habang tumitilaok na parang tanga. These men were crazy, lunatics.

"Masaya ka ganun?" hindi naman mapigilang itanong ni Nolan kay Valentino.

"Sobra pre." sabay tapik sa balikat ni Nolan na itinabig naman nang loko. "Seeing you like that? Isang pagdiriwang saakin dahil finally namomroblema karin, akala ko kasi wala kang problema ni isa e. Tsk!"

Pailing-iling ko silang tinignan.

Napuno naman ng tawa ang kwarto, maging ang Papà ay natawa. My family knows how to speak tagalog and can understand tagalog since tinuturuan ko sila noon. My family and I were pure Maltese dahil taga Malta kami. One of the reasons why I understand tagalog is, it's because of Lazaro who's half Filipino and half Maltese, a friend of mine and also one of my best man.

"E kung tustahin ko pagmumukha mo! Nakakasakit ka ng puso gago! Ginawa mo pang kasayahan problema ko,mamatay ka sana sa sobrang saya." badtrip na singhal ni Nolan kay Valentino.

Nagtawanan ulit kaming lahat habang nakatingin sa kanya at napapailing.

"Patola ka talaga kahit kelan! Simpleng asar lang sayo, nangangalaiti kana agad. " ayaw paawat ni Valentino.

"Wtf! Hindi ako gulay pre! Mukha ba akong patola?" para siyang tanga habang nakaturo sa sarili at naghihintay nang sagot sa amin. I don't know why I befriend this slowly-headed man.

"Come on! You slow-headed fucker?! Kaya ayaw na sayo ng kapatid ni Tommy dahil slow ka. And the worst part is sobrang manhid mo rin! Tsk!" it was Gabin who said that to Nolan. And a friend of mine Nolan is staring at him blankly. Dead serious ha? I think naunawaan niya ngayon ang sinasabi nito.

Medyo nawala ang kaba ko dahil sa kanila, looking at them though we're not complete, my nervous ease a bit.

Isang katok ulit ang narinig namin sa labas kaya naman lahat kami nakatingin na sa pinto, dahan-dahan itong bumukas at iniluwa ang kapatid kong babae.

"It's time brother. Let's go." tipid niyang sabi sabay sulyap sa mga kasama ko at ngumiti.

"This is it Simon!" sabi ni Laz sa harap ko habang naka open arms, pagak akong tumawa upang maibsan ang kabang nararamdaman naman.

"Let's hug! I mean huling yakap para sa huling sandali- shit! Who did that?!"

"Para kang tanga sa mga pinagsasabi mo! " singhal ni Gabin kay Nolan na masama ang tingin dito. "Matatali lang si Simon kay Ran, hindi siya ibibitay gago! May nalalaman kapang huling sandali. Baka ikaw ang mahuhuli-"

"Shut up man! Let's just hug."badtrip na sabi ni Nolan.

We don't have choice but to group hug. "Thanks everyone. You all mean a lot to me. I'll treasure this friendship, though some of us are not here to witness my most memorable day. I'm thanking all of you,just wait for your turn and you all see, one of these days you'll find your destiny-"

"Baduy"

"I'm out here!"

"Oh sht men! Crop being a bullsht asshole leaving us a bullsht message! We don't need that. I don't believe in destiny sht!"annoyed because of Gabin's words but then after that I smirked at him remembering something funny, siya naman ngayon ang naiinis sa paraan nang pagngisi ko.

"Let's see once you are on my shoes too Gab. Don't you dare visit me once you found your destiny." after that statement we all laughed except to Gabin, who's staring at be blankly. As if mamamatay ako sa titig niya.

Today, I'm standing and ready to take the new chapter I am going to face together with her. The woman who's walking step by step in the aisle, my baby. I find her lovely in my eyes, Ran walks making everyone stared at her wearing her most well prepared gown for our wedding.

Winter snow is falling down

Children laughing all around

Lights are turning on

Like a fairy tale come true

Sitting by the fire we made

You're the answer when I prayed

I would find someone

And baby I found you

I remember the first day we met and the first day we stared each other. I find her annoying, really annoying to the point na gusto kong tusukin ang mata niya noong katabi ko siya habang naghihintay sa pagbukas ng elevator. To get my attention, and well bravo she made it.

All I want is to hold you forever

All I need is you more every day

You saved my heart

From being broken apart

You gave your love away

And I'm thankful every day

For the gift

For the second time, she catches my attention when accidentally her hand cupped my butt. Napamura ako sa kahihiyan dahil first time kong mahawakan sa pwet ng babaeng bigla nalang bumunggo sa likuran ko. Iyon na siguro ang pinakanakakahiyang nangyari sa tanang buhay ko. Pero ipinagsasalamat ko 'yun dahil kung hindi kami nagkita muli, baka hindi siya ang babaeng pakakasalan ko. Hindi ko makalimutan ang pangalawang pagkakataon na pagkikita namin, siya ang nagbukas ng interes sa puso ko, pusong noon ang gusto lang ay magliwaliw. I didn't know she's the one I prayed before. Heavens provision, thanks.

Watching as you softly sleep

What I'd give if I could keep

Just this moment

"She's the one my son." sabi saakin ni Papà habang pareho kaming naghihintay sa magiging asawa ko. Ngumisi ako at tumango sa sinabi niya.

"She is Papà. I know that." sang-ayon sa sinabi niya dahil iyon talaga ang totoo, sa mata ko siya na ang nag-iisa. Hindi naman maipagkakaila dahil gagawin ko ang lahat huwag na siyang mawala pa saakin.

"I want a grandsons and granddaughters, Si. You know me and your mom, gusto niyang may kinakabisihan sa bahay. She missed the old days when you'll three were just a little kids, you know?" nagtawanan kami.

If only time stood still

But the colors fade away

And the years will make us grey

But baby in my eyes

You'll still be beautiful

Napahawak ako sa batok ko, well I'm a bit pressured dahil gusto nila ng maraming apo. Kahit ako gusto ko rin ng maraming anak pero pressure na nga ako habang isa palang ang nagagawa namin ni Ran. E-include mo pa ang mood swing ng asawa ko. Baka kapag dinamihan namin ang pagbuo, ilang taon din akong magsusuffer sa pagiging moody niya. Natatawa nalang ako sa sarili kong pag-iisip.

"I'm counting for more kids Papà. But I'll respect Ran's decision when it comes to that matter." nasabi ko na lamang. Ayoko namang ako lang ang may gusto, ayokong mahirapan ang asawa ko kapag nanganak.

"You should, Si." tinapik niya ang balikat ko at itinuon na ang mga mata sa papalapit kong asawa.

I bite my lips, can't help the excitement that I felt right now and patiently waiting for her to come closer. She's holding her dad's hand, how I wish ako yung hinahawakan niya ngayon. What! Patience Simon! Kalma! Sorry pero hindi na makapag hintay ang isang tulad kong mahawakan siya. Kung pwede lang sanang hablutin siya sa tatay niya para makalapit na siya saakin, ginawa ko na. But for now I need more patience, hindi naman din tatagal, mamaya-maya lang magiging Mrs. Tabone na siya.

All I want is to hold you forever

All I need is you more every day

You saved my heart

From being broken apart

You gave your love away

And I'm thankful every day

For the gift

Nang makalapit na siya, agad kong ipinulupot ang kamay sa bewang niya. Embracing her makes me feel like I won a billion of cash in a lottery.

"Oy! Maghunos dili ka! Nasa simbahan, huwag mo namang ipahalatang miss na miss mo si Ran!" the crowd were filled with laughter after that, matalim kong tinignan ang mga loko kong kaibigan.

Umingay sa loob ng simbahan, mga kaibigan at kamag-anak niya ang at saakin. I see that they're happy for us. Ako rin mas sobrang saya ang nararamdaman dahil sa wakas saakin siya babagsak, saakin ang attention niya, ang buhay niya at ang pagmamahal niya. She will be my all, she's also my so called 'home'.

"Excited ka." she said while giggling and poked me in my hips.

"You know me, babe" I chuckled.

Before I forgot, humarap ako sa tatay ni Ran. Isang tango at tapik lamang alam ko nang ipinagkakatiwala niya ang buhay nang kanyang anak saakin. Don't worry dad, you're daughter is in my good hands.

I look at her lips kahit humaharang ang belo sa kanyang labi, hindi maikakailang masarap itong halikan. Like we were in Paris, reminiscing those days where in there's this game called truth or dare. I didn't know what comes into her mind that night when she chose to be dared than telling some truth.

"Last one! Spin pa tayo."

The girls were cheering, we're all tipsy. I looked at Ran that night, panakaw pa kung tumingin. Sa paningin ko mas lalong nakakaakit siya, I saw her a bit shy and was flushed.

"Spin pa..."

When the bottle stopped spinning and it turned out na siya ang hinintuan ng bote. Kailangan niyang pumili sa dalawa either truth or dare, but before she choose uminom muna siya ng wine.

"Drink! Drink!"

I grinned.

"Truth or Dare?!"

"DARE!"

You know what comes to my mind that night when she said 'dare'? Fuck me! Fuck me if she will be dare to do some crazy things to my other friend. I won't accept that! Baka hilahin ko nalang siya palayo sa kanila. Kung gagawa siya nang kalokohan dapat saakin! Sakin babe! Iyan ang mga tumatakbo sa isip ko nang gabing iyon.

"Kiss Simon roughly! Woa!"

"WHAT?!"

I know she heard that! And I heard that too! It was me! Ako! Hindi ko ipinahalata ang tuwang nararamdaman, hindi ko makakalimutan ang una kong halik sa kanya. How I wish I was her first kiss that night. Kung may nahalikan man siya bago ako nakilala, hahanapin ko 'yun at susuntukin sa labi hanggang dumugo.

"I SAID KISS SIMON ROUGHLY!"

I looked at her proudly teasing and shouting in my mind 'go babe, try me, kiss me. You will not regret it' at baka mas mahuhulog kapa saakin dahil ako una palang hulog na sayo. I will make sure once you kissed me? Wala ng urungan.

I will make sure I'll give her my everything...

I will make sure she'll be my Queen and...

I will make sure I am he's end game...

"You may now kiss the bride"