Chapter 5: The Actor 

Chapter 5: The Actor 

Sabina's P.O.V. 

'If he wanted, he would. If he won't, another man will.' 

I never thought that I would ride a yacht with a man,'yon nga lang hindi ko siya mahal. Pero pwede na, kasi gwapo naman. Mas gwapo sa ex ko. 

Dahil lagi akong mag-isang sumasakay no'ng kami pa ni Marlon. I always ask him to do this, that, and those with me, but I always settle for something that he wants us to do together. Am I too much? Mali ba ako? Masyado ba akong demanding? 

Pinanood namin ang malalim at malinis na karagatan habang umaandar ang yate na aming sinasakyan. Napapikit ako dahil sa masarap na simoy ng hanging. Nakakaantok. Naramdaman ko ang presensya ni Santino sa harap ko kaya napamulat agad ako. 

"Water?" Alok niya ng isang basong tubig na may halong ice cubes. 

"May lason ba 'yan?" Paniniguro ko. Walang sabi-sabing ininom niya ang tubig at naghintay ng ilang sigundo. 

"Bumula ba bibig ko?" Sarkastimong tugon niya, "You have to drink water. Nakakarami ka na ng alak." 

"Ayoko, ininuman mo na 'yan. Ew—"

Sa halip na tatanan ako, kumuha siya ng kaunting tubig gamit ang kanyang bibig at sabay hila sa batok ko para magtagpo ang mga labi namin. He passed the water from his mouth to mine. Some fluid had spilt out.  

I was shocked by his sudden action but what's more surprising was the way I took all the water down my throat and when he was about to pull back, hinila ko siya pabalik and I—–I mindlessly kissed him. I dug my fingers in his hair and initiated a deeper kiss. 

I let him explore my mouth with his tongue, I forcefully bite his lips and let our bodies burn together. In just a snap, he lifts me up and let me sit on the railings while his strong arms never let me lose my balance. 

My breathing became heavy, and I pressed my thighs together to control the wetness that I'm feeling. 

To my disappointment, he broke the kiss and hindi ko alam, hindi ko alam kung bakit ako naiinis, o nasasaktan. I feel neglected. Feeling ko hindi ako— 

"Let's wait for my proposal and the wedding. We'll get married within a few hours, and we can do whatever we want," He gently placed his thumb on my lower lip. 

Don't tell me he's into marriage before sex? 

Cheesy. He's not that kind of guy. Impossible.  

Wait? 

Get married?

 Agad-agad? 

After proposal?

 Same day?

SA DAMI ng mga iniisip ko hindi ko namalayan na hinila pala ako ni Santino patungo sa sundeck ng yacht kung saan umupo siya sa isang mahabang sofa at pinaupo niya ako sa mga hita niya while his arms are around me. He placed his chin on my shoulder, and silence took over. 

Mas maganda pala dito sa pinakataas na parte ng yacht, mas kita ko ang langit. Maya-maya lamang ay may tag-iisang drones na lumabas at nagsimulang tumugtog ang isang sikat na kanta habang bumubuo ng hugis puso ang mga drones na may ilaw. 

NOW PLAYING: Die With A Smile by: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars 

Ooh 

I, I just woke up from a dream

Where you and I had to say goodbye

And I don't know what it all means

But since I survived, I realized

Pagkatapos ng mga hugis puso ay gumawa naman ang mga drones ng imahe ng dalawang taong magkahawak kamay. Isang babae at isang lalaki. 

Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow

Nobody's promised tomorrow

So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night

Like it's the last night 

Sumasabay ang mga drones sa tema at beat ng kanta. I only asked for my name to be written in the sky. I didn't expect it to be like this. My heart feels like it's about to explode. My eyes became watery. 

Sumabay si Santino sa kanta and how I wish we'll stay like this. 'Yong ganito, 'yong ang higpit ng hawak ng partner mo sayo, 'yong parang ramdam mo na wala ng bibitaw, na hindi ka na niya bibitawan. I was just testing him, I was just joking pero bakit parang ang sarap sa feeling ng ganito? Sumandal ako sa dibdib niya habang nakatingala pa rin sa langit. 

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you

If the party was over and our time on Earth was through

I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you 

Ooh 

Oh, lost, lost in the words that we scream

I don't even wanna do this anymore

'Cause you already know what you mean to me

And our love's the only war worth fighting for 

Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow

Nobody's promised tomorrow

So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night

Like it's the last night 

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you

If the party was over and our time on Earth was through

I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you 

Right next to you

Next to you

Right next to you

Oh-oh, oh 

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you

If the party was over and our time on Earth was through

I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you 

Ooh

I'd wanna be next to you 

At katulad nga ng request ko, the drones wrote my name. 

"Isabella Sabrina Elizabeth Congero," Santino whispered. 

I didn't respond. I waited for the next line. I just stared at the stars and drones above. 

Then the said tiny drones showed the praise that I've been waiting for— 

 'Will you marry me?' 

But instead of reading the words written in the sky, Santino said, "Will you let me die for you?" 

I stared at him, speechless while the dolphins started to jump and dance with the salt water, and an exquisite vintage ring appeared, waiting for my finger. 

Just like what I wished for.

HIS WHITE DRESS SHIRT, plus my flowy white, floral skirt. I never thought that this would be my wedding dress. On our way to church, nakalimutan ko ang mga detalyeng importante sa kasal, at isa pa, gabi na para maghanap ng shop na nagbebenta ng gowns. Kaya pinahiram ako ni Santino ng isang extra formal dress shirt niya at pinatuyo ko na lang ng maigi kanina ang palda ko para all white ang suot ko ngayon. Everything is all set sa kaunting oras lang. 

What really amazed me is that, nasa simbahan kami ngayon, 'yong pinapangarap kong simbahan kung saan ko gustong ikasal. 

Scrovegni Chapel.

The sanctuary is famous for its deep cycle of Giotto's artwork, featuring the life of Jesus and Mary. Because of the old structure of the place, only a limited number of people can go here. So, if we're doing a wedding here right now, it means... Santino had booked a reservation beforehand?

Naglakad ako ng marahan habang hawak ang mga ibat-ibang kulay na iris flowers na pinitas lang namin ni Santino sa daan. 

Napatulala ako nang marinig ko ang tunog ng musika. I've been looking for a good wedding song for years, and I came across this song a few years ago na hindi pa na-release, but may mga teasers na noon sa social media. Hinanap ko ang title at hindi ko alam kung ano hanggang sa naging busy ako at hindi ko na 'to nabigyan ng pansin. Not until tonight na narinig ko ulit ang pamilyar na tono. 

Napatitig ako kay Santino na nakatingin rin pabalik sa akin.This is just a coincidence, isn't it? 

NOW PLAYING: "Miracle" by: Riley Clemmons 

I've heard all the stories

Hundreds of times

The light and the glory

The wonders and signs

I never imagined

Or dared to believe

That something so holy

Could happen for me 

But standing here with you

No way I could deny

The God who walked on waves

Sent you to change my life 

I used to think

Miracles had to be

Water turned to wine or

The parting of a sea

But when I look in your eyes

I see heaven break through

And it's making me believe

My miracle is you 

My words can't explain it

But my heart knows it's real

'Cause my broken pieces

Have started to heal

Like truth for a doubter

Like sight for the blind

Your love shows me power

From something divine 

I used to think

Miracles had to be

Water turned to wine or

The parting of a sea

But when I look in your eyes

I see heaven break through

And it's making me believe

My miracle is you 

Ooh, it's you

Ooh, ooh 

Somehow you were the answer

To all the prayers I prayed

I guess that's what they meant by

Mysterious ways 

I used to think

Miracles had to be

Water turned to wine or

The parting of a sea

But when I look in your eyes

I see heaven break through

And it's making me believe

My miracle is you 

Yeah, it's easy to believe

My miracle is you

It's you.

Joyful tears raced down my cheeks. This isn't a real wedding. Pero parang totoo, parang...hindi ko ma-explain. Hanggang sa marating ko ang altar at malapitan ko si Santino. Walang alinlangan niyang pinunasan ang mga luha ko. 

"You can run away if you don't want this." He gently whispered. "I'll give you a chance to stop all of this," He caressed my cheeks. 

I shook my head, "I want this."

Why is he so gentle to me? 

The priest starts the ceremony and all the time hindi inalis ni Santino ang kamay niya sa mga kamay ko. Hindi rin siya lumingon sa ibang direksyon kundi sa akin lang. Sa akin lang. 

Hindi ako nakapagready ng wedding vows ko dahil hindi ko naman gaanong kakilala si Santino kaya napasabi ako ng, "I take you to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death." And I murmured, "Thank you for making my dream come true, Santino." 

Ang hindi ko inaasahan ang response niya. 

"I still remember the first time I saw you in this chapel a few years ago. You looked like an angel with a halo, and that day, I couldn't see anyone else...just one beautiful woman. The same woman who's standing in front of me right now. I remember the way I smiled on my way home after we met for the first time. It was the only genuine smile I’d had in my entire life.

That was also the moment I realized something: for the first time, I wanted to quit smoking not for me, but so I could live longer and spend more time with my future wife and our children. I wanted to have kids with someone, even if I’ve always said I hate kids, and build a complete family with the love of my life.That someone is you, Isabella Sabrina Elizabeth Congero. I want to be the man you truly deserve." He smiled at me with adoration singing in his onyx eyes, "I promise to choose you every day, every year, every season. I promise to spoil you, to let you spend all my money because it’s all yours. I promise to keep choosing you, always and forever, until we grow old and can no longer walk or breathe. Not even death could tear us apart, because I’ll follow you even into the afterlife.You are my dream come true, and I can’t wait for the reality we’re about to build together. Ti amo per sempre e per sempre."

His vow was so touching and convincing. I want to give him a round of applause for his acting skills. I wish I had that, too. 

Our wedding ended with the traditional, "You may kiss the bride!" 

He gave me the most passionate and memorable kiss that a real husband could give. 

Did I marry a best actor?

_______