Return To Love

Finale. Return To Love

JUST as promised, Jasel was never left by Vince anymore. They also contacted his family and told them they'd be having a church wedding in the Philippines, too. Matutuloy ang kasal nilang dalawa sa Marseille at pa-planuhin din nila ang kasal sa Pilipinas.

A day from now, they'd finally get married. Handa na ang lahat, sila-sila lamang ng kanyang pamilya ang pupunta sa maliit na simbahan.

"Ano'ng iniisip mo?" Vince asked her as she was staring nowhere while drinking her coffee, sitting on the rattan chair at the veranda.

"Ang daming nangyari," she started. Tumayo siya at umupo sa mas malaking upuan, nilapag ang mug ng kape sa mesitang nasa harap niya.

Umupo naman ito sa tabi niya, inilapag din ang hawak na mug at kinuha ang kanya, ininom nito ang kapeng iniinom niya. "You're drinking coffee now?"

Tumango siya. "You like coffee kasi."

He smiled at her and grabbed his mug, he handed her the mug that had chocolate drink.

"You're drinking hot choco now?"

"You like it, right?"

They both chuckled remembering the small details about them.

"I like how I try the things that you like, Vince."

He smiled showing his white set of teeth.

"Kasi pakiramdam ko, mas nakikilala kita't mas napapalapit ako sa iyo."

"The feeling is mutual, my baby."

"Kumusta na kaya ang milktea shop ko?" pag-iiba niya sa usapan kahit alam naman niya ang kasagutan.

"It's doing well. People are asking if they could have a franchise, and Ice has been handling those. She explained that your shop is a franchise from theirs in Aurora."

"She told me so," she smiled.

"Were you really updated about me?" kuryosong tanong nito.

Napakagat-labi siya't tumango. Alam niya ang lahat ng nangyayari rito mula noong umalis siya.

"I was an asshole, wasn't I?"

"Sobra! Muntik na akong sumugod at sabunutin ang lahat ng mga babaeng naging fubu mo..."

"Don't get mad, love," sumamo nito.

"I am not."

"Lumalaki ang butas ng ilong mo," biro nito. Malakas na tinampal niya ang braso nito.

"Papasok na ako. Maginaw rito."

"I know how to make you feel hot," pilyong sambit nito.

"Heh! Maghintay ka hanggang matapos ang kasal bukas," saway niya.

"Why?" He chuckled. "I'm saying I can make you another mug of hot coffee or choco," natatawang siwalat nito. "Ano'ng iniisip mo?"

Namula siya ng husto. "Ah, i-iyon lang ba?"

Mabilis na pumasok siya't hinayaan na ang mug sa lamesita. Agad ding sumunod si Vince sa kanya at sinarado ang pintuan, he even put down the blinds, too.

"What were you thinking?" nang-aasar na tanong nito. Gustung-gusto nitong ipamukha sa kanya na iniisip niyang magtatalik sila.

"W-Wala naman. Iidlip muna ako." Mabilis na nagtalukbo siya sa makapal na comforter sa kama at kinakastigo ang sarili.

Malakas na tumawa si Vince at tumabi sa kanya, pilit na inaalis ang comforter. Nagtagumpay ito at silang dalawa na ngayon ang nakatalukbo sa makapal na kumot.

"I can't wait to spend my tomorrow with you," anas nito at pasimpleng pinaloob ang kamay sa kanyang damit.

"What are you doing?"

"Making you feel hot?"

"Pero ang sabi mo'y ipagtitimpla mo ako ng kape?"

"I like this one better tho. It'll make us hotter..."

"Bukas na lang kaya?"

"Bakit hindi pa ngayon?"

"Baka kasi hindi na tayo matulog. I know you, Vince. Kaya nasisiguro kong mapupuyat tayo," she explained.

"So...?"

"Ayokong magmukhang pangit at parang pinagkaitan ng beauty rest sa araw ng kasal natin!"

Saglit na natigilan sa paghaplos si Vince sa puson niya habang siya'y kagat-labi sa pagpipigil na sabihing huwag nitong tigilan ang ginagawa.

He chuckled and he hugged her tightly. She didn't face him and let him showered the top of her head from his sweet kisses.

"Then let's do it quickly."

Tila siya nabuhayan ng loob sa naisip nito. Mabilis na humarap siya rito, "Can we?" nagsusumamong tanong niya.

Vince looked like he was about to laugh but his expression suddenly changed when he saw her flustered, and now sensual face..

"Quickie lang, ah? Matutulog tayo ng maaga."

Walang pasubaling sinakop nito ang kanyang bibig at pumaibabaw sa kanya habang ang mga kamay ay nagsimulang maglakbay sa pang-itaas niyang katawan. Humahalinghing siya sa bawat pagdampi ng mainit nitong palad sa iba't ibang parte ng kanyang katawan.

They shared a hot, and steaming love making throughout the calm night.

Kinabukasan ay hindi rin agad nagising si Jasel. Sinisi niya si Vince dahil talaga namang pinagod siya nito kagabi. Gusto niyang maiyak dahil baka hindi sila umabot sa oras ng kasal nila.

"Don't worry, love, I made sure about everything."

"Nakakainis ka! Sinabi ko na kasing mamaya na lang tayo, eh!"

"Don't get mad. You still look immaculately beautiful."

"Tara na nga!" Hindi naman talaga siya galit. Nag-aalala lang na baka mahuli sila.

"I'll go there first. Alam kong gusto mo pang maayusan kaya pinatawag ko na si Ice."

"Ha? Baka mahuli tayo! I'm fine with how I look. Sinabi mo maganda na ako," nakangusong untag niya.

"Yes, you are..." tila ito'y nasa ulap habang nakatitig sa kanya.

"That's enough, lovers! My husband is downstairs, too. Sabay na kayo papuntang simbahan. Susunod kami ni Jasel," sabad ni Ice na nasa pintuan.

Hindi na siya gaanong nag-ayos at ilang sandali lang ay sumunod na sila sa simbahan.

She's wearing a simple white dress that's hugging her body. Hinayaan niya ring nakalugay ang alun-alon niyang buhok na siyang inayos ni Ice. She's also wearing a white stiletto. Her makeup was made simply and it made her looked like a goddess.

In front of the altar, the opposite side of the aisle where she's standing, there was Vince beside her brother, waiting for her. He's now wearing his white three-piece suit that perfectly matched her wedding dress. She couldn't wait to walk down the aisle and be with him.

As the wedding ceremony went by, she always glanced at her husband-to-be. Good thing was she didn't wear a veil that's why she could see his emotional and loving face vividly. Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto ba ang itinagal nila roon. Basta namalayan na lang niya na pinipirmahan na nila ang Marriage Contract.

She was ready to sign her new name when she noticed what was written on the paper. It was written delicately in bold, italic letters.

Jasel Sam Cortez Guevara

Her right hand shivered a bit, making her stop signing the papers.

"W-What...?"

"That was my purpose when I went back to the Philippines. That was my reason, baby. I want your name back," masuyong bulong ni Vince. Sa nanlalabong mga mata ay tumingin siya sa rito.

"Why...?"

"Dahil alam kong kahit hindi mo sabihin, ay gusto mo pa ring mamuhay bilang ikaw."

"You risked your life just for my name..."

"I can risk everything for you, my Jasel."

Impit na napahikbi siya pero mabilis ding inayos ang sarili. She wanted to sign the papers now. She also stared at his name beside hers. Pati mga pangalan nila'y bagay na bagay.

Vincent Lawrence Romualdez Ramos

Hindi niya mapigilang mangiti.

"I know you just regained your identity... Would you mind changing your surname into mine?"

"My answer will still be the same," she smiled heartily and signed the papers with her now blurry eyes. Naiiyak sa sa sobrang galak na natuloy na rin ang kasal nila ni Vince, at, ginawa pa nito ang lahat para mabawi ang pagkakakilanlan niya.

"No matter what name will you use, I will still feel the same—I have loved you yesterday, and I will love you always and forever."

Humaplos ang mga katagang iyon sa kanyang puso.

"You are my wife now. Wala ka nang kawala pa," bulong ni Vince sa kanya.

"And you will always be Mr. Jasel Guevara, my dear loving husband."

***