Chapter 3

I almost jumped when the door of my unit suddenly opened. I was still in a state of shock when he stepped closer to me and pulled me up from sittiing.

"What's your problem, Grant?!" reklamo ko. Hila pa rin ako nito palabas.

"My friend is waiting for us," sagot niya. Hindi man lang ako nililingon. "He's a lawyer. He can help us to fake every documents of our marriage. If you think that I will marry you for real, stay with your dream, punk."

Nang makapasok kami sa unit niya ay nandoon nga ang kaibigan niya. Nakaupo sa sofa. He smiled at us. I think he's more approachable than to this guy next to me.

"She's here."

"You sure you don't want to marry for real?" tanong ng kaibigan niya. Kunot-noo namin siyang nilingon. May nakakalokong ngiti sa labi niya habang nakatingin sa amin.

We were still holding each other hand. I quickly took my hand from him. He dodged his gaze and cleared his throat. 

Naupo na ako sa may katapat nitong sofa. Tumabi naman sa akin ang hambog na lalaki.

"Before anything else, I would like to introduce myself. I am Atty. Saxson De Vera," panimula niya. 

"Pleased to meet you, Atty. De Vera." Inabot ko sa kanya ang aking kamay. Si Grant ay nanatiling prenteng nakaupo. 

"The pleasure is mine, Ms. Cuevas," he said and smiled. "Be patient to Grant. Ganyan talaga kapag hindi pa nagkaka-girlfriend." 

"You dumbass, I'm not paying you to spread gossip about me." Binato niya 'yong throw pillow kay Saxson. Agad naman iyong sinalo no'ng isa.

"So let's start." Umayos siya ng upo, saka nagsimulang ipaliwanag ang lahat, "Pwede kayong magpakasal kahit hindi legal, o walang kayong pipirmahan na mga papers. It's called ceremony wedding. Just like a normal wedding. Ang pinagkaiba lang is hindi kayo legally married at the eyes of government," mahabang paliwanag niya. 

"How about marriage contract?" tanong ni Grant.

"Of course, in case of emergency we have these." Binuksan niya ang attache case. "Papers na magpapatunay na kasal kayo. But all of these are fake." 

Isa-isa ko 'yon tiningnan. Looks real.

"You're the best man." 

"I won't take it down, dude," natatawang aniya. 

"I mean you're the best. But whatever." Nag-fist bump silang dalawa. Tinawanan lamang nito sa Grant, salubong na naman kasi ang kilay. 

"So I have to go, Mr. Samonte and soon to be Mrs. Samonte." Nang-aasar pa ako nitong kinindatan nang iabot ko ang aking kamay. 

"Thank you for your help," I sincerely said.

Hinatid na ito ni Grant palabas ng pintuan. Naiwan ako sa loob ng unit niya. Ngayon ko lang napansin na sobrang organize ng taong iyon. 

All of his things has its own rack. It's rare for men to be neat to their unit. Nilapitan ko ang bookshelf niya sa living room. It's full of different books. Kagaya ng mga librong binabasa niya, mahirap siyang basahin.

I could feel my knees trembling as the wedding song started to play. Our maids of honor began walking on the white sand together with their partners. The most unforgetable day in my life came, yet I didn't feel even a shir of happiness. Who would be happy, if your most awaited day became meaningless.

We're here on one of the beaches in Calatagan, Batangas. We paid for the whole place. Karamihan ay mga artista at media lamang ang bisita namin. 

"You look like a goddess, Jade. That vivienne dotted lace dress is well-fitted at you huh. For sure every men would be Jealous of Grant," bulong ni Cecille na katabi ko. She's my bridesmaid. 

"You look splendid too, Cecille." Her white strapless dress really suits her. 

Lumapit siya sa akin at inayos ang laylayan ng suot kong dress. I am wearing a cathedral lenght white dress with a sheer dotted lace sleeves. I paid for all of these, just to make this wedding realistic. Well, hindi lang pala ako. Tinulungan ako ni Grant, pero may kapalit.

"Relax. Just think this as one of your scene in your drama. You have to act," pagpapagaan niya sa aking loob. 

Sunod-sunod ang naging pag-flash ng camera nang magsimula akong maglakad. All their eyes are on me. It was as if I am a princess walking on the crowd. I composed myself and smile.

He's there waiting for me patiently, with a small smile pasted on his lips. Fine! He's handsome on his black tuxedo, but I'll only say it once. For sure he cursed me for a thousand times in his mind. 

"You're magnificent, Jade," nakangiting puri sa akin ni Saxson nang makalapit ako. Siya ang bestman.

Nginitian ko lang ito, dahil lumapit na sa akin si Grant. He took my hands and cling it around his arm. We walk together and stop in front of the priest. 

"Welcome, loved ones. We are gathered here today to join Grant and Jade in holy matrimony," panimula ng pari. 

My palm is sweating. I badly want to cry. Who wouldn't? This is not the wedding I dream of. 

"Don't frown. You took my dream wedding too," bulong ng katabi ko. Pa-simple ko siyang inirapan.

"Now Jade and Grant, face each other and hold hands." 

He mouthed yuck when he hold my hand. Kahit kaya pawis ko pinagkakaguluhan ng fans. 

Lumapit sa harapan ang ring bearer. Grant took a ring and look deeply into my eyes.

"I, Grant Pierson Samonte, take you, Trisha Jade Cuevas to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward." Dahan-dahan niyang sinuot sa akin ang hawak na singsing.

Kinuha ko ang naiwang singsing, saka hinawakan ang kanyang kamay.

"I, Trisha Jade Cuevas, take you, Grant Pierson Samonte to be my lawfully husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward." Sinuot ko ang singsing sa ring finger niya. 

"By the power vested in me by the state of God, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Kasabay noon ang malakas na palakpakan ng mga tao. Ang pagkislap ng mga camera. "You may now kiss the bride." 

I gulped when he slowly lifted my veil. Tumataas-baba ang kanyang adams apple. Marahil hindi rin komportable. My eyes closed spontaneously as our faces got closer. 

But instead of on my lips, he planted a kiss on my forhead.

"I respect you," he whispered.