A month later!
Stamping my imprints on the red carpet as I start down the aisle, I am beyond enthusiastic. Things have been nothing but blissful for the past one month.
Grego has ascertained his devotion to being a son and a brother that he has never been since birth. He has authenticated the worth of the second chance he was given. He is now working for his parent's insurance company as a marketer. Yes, he said he will take things from the bottom up. Not receiving favors from anyone for anything. He is dedicated and aggressive in working his way up. His relationship with his family has amplified remarkably. Their parents are so happy and contented. And Jerol, he is no less happy.
Well, and Ellie?
Ellie... Ellie... Ellie!!!
She is just there, happy with her child which is due next month, and happy with Grego too. Her relationship with Jerol is just, gross. They exchange nothing more than pleasantries and that too, only when it's necessary. Well, I haven't gotten close to her as well, but I consider myself more closer to her than Jerol, but nothing that can be termed as friendship. We are just, humans with a sense of humanity.
If you are asking why Jerol was able to forgive his brother and not Ellie, then you should have heard about that blood is thicker than water? Family is family, and that is a bond that can never be compared to anything, just like the love bond. I am actually happy with Jerol being this way - without any camaraderies or concerns or attachments to Ellie.
Call it whatever you want, but I want things to remain this way forever!
You must as well be asking what kind of blood bond I am talking about given the way Gracia treated me, right? You must also be wondering where that woman is? Well, it turned out that of all the zillion shits that had come out of that woman's mouth, there were only two truths in all of them. One, is what she always used to tell me ever since I was young - that she abhorred me. Second, was what she told me the last time we spoke - that she indeed gave birth to me. Unbelievable, but it's all true, and I could have lived my whole life in denial of that fact if only my sweet husband didn't see it wise to investigate that woman!
Guess why she scorned me?
Well, apparently, she loved some psychopath who didn't love her back. Went ahead and got herself pregnant just to try and tie the jerk down with the pregnancy. Unfortunately for her, the guy was one of those smart-asses who read through the seal. He refused to be part of the drama, and even threatened Gracia to never look for him again. She was then kicked out by her single mother when the belly became noticeable, and that is when her predicaments began.
She even tried abortion once, but gladly, it failed and that's how I am alive today, and able to marry the man God created for me. And just like that, she had a ravenous resentment for me just because I was a failed project. Seems like I was a deal for her from the start. I did not fulfil the reason why she got pregnant with me, and so, there. She termed me a bad omen.
What was my fault in her stupidity? What was my fault for what she went through, huh? I was blameless, still I am, but she blamed it all on my innocent self.
And just so you know she really disdained me, a single offer from Jerol to relocate to a nearby country and a few notes got her to cloud nine. It was some kind of deportation, but she didn't care, as long as she was getting money and won't have to see my face again. And like wind, she vanished!
I have the right to go see her whenever I want, but even the devil knows that I am never doing that. She and I are history. Not connected. We don't need each other. Whether she is enjoying life in Paris or fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, I don't care as long as she is out of my life for good!
I have embraced the fact that sometimes you find in strangers what you couldn't find in your own family. Such is life. And I do not see why I have to stick where I am not needed at all. I gave it a shot. Bore everything all my years, but it had to end. For good! For the greater good!
I have found a family in the McCalls, and this, is my family. In them I am so comfortable and appreciated, respected and valued. I didn't do much, but I have received all the glory in bringing them back together. This is my new life - with them, and this gorgeous gift that was created for me. Anyway, enough with my tales. It's the beautiful beginning of our happy ever after.
I hoist my head high, slaying in my tortoise catwalk as I approach the altar. The church is filled to capacity, and the decor tops the beauty of it, but my eyes are glued to my all-smiles man dazzling like a Diamond in his tuxedo.
He must be sampling the same aura as I am. He was beyond excited for the nuptials, and I bet he can't wait to be legally bound to me - forever.
"You look, so gorgeous in that gown!" He giggles as I approach him, making sure his whisper reaches my ears, his brother shining bright behind him as his best man.
As the priest starts the ceremony, I can't help but envision my bright happy future with Jerol and our kids.
I have heard and read a lot of nonsense about marriages these past few days. I have heard and come across so many ridiculous phrases. Like that saying that, all men are cheats. That is a white lie, because I know my Jerol. The man I am marrying today is not like any other man. He loves me, and there is no replacement for me for him.
I have also heard the newest slogan that marriage is a sham. On what bases? Just because one marriage broke, all the marriages will be judged by that? Just because one he-goat couldn't get satisfied by one woman, he automatically becomes the ground for the judgment of all men. Because a single lady failed, we are gonna be crucified by that?
Well, hell no! I am not entering this marriage with these ridiculous myths or doubts. I am not like anyone, and neither is my husband like any other man. Our marriage will not fail just because someone else's failed.
You didn't find love and so you concluded that there is no love? Ooh well, girl, boy, then you haven't read the true love story of Tessa and Jerol, because this will clear all the doubts that true love still exists.
Christopher Martins, in one of his tracks titled, LET HER GO, said that love comes slow. I concur wi this part. Sometimes you may even get tired of waiting. And sometimes, you even fail to realize it. Jerol and I are a perfect example. Look at us. It came so slowly that we did not even recognize when it hit us.
When he was making that deal, nothing would have hinted that fate had not only aligned him with his redemption, but she was also his missing rip. And when I woke up in his house that day, even when I was signing that document, I never would have thought that fate had just bundled me into my destined husband. Yet, here we are today. Having fought all the obstacles and surpassed everything.
"I Jerol O'Brian McCall, do take you, Tessa Angeline, to be my lawfully wedded wife. From now on, I promise to give you my all, my love. Everything that I am, and everything that I own, I share them all with you. And I give you this ring as an insignia of my love and commitment to you, from this moment on, until death do us part!"
Cheers echo in the room, shouting for the world outside to know about this, and I can't help the glee of the gold ring shining on my finger. I am about to burst with joy.
"Your turn, Miss Tessa." The priest announces, and I take the ring in my hand, composing myself, and hoping that I don't stutter from the burning euphoric glee.
Ahem!
I said once that I am terrible at speeches, but hey! No matter the crap I spit on this altar, the heavens know that I love this man more than I love myself, more than I can even explain, and I am so certain he too knows how much I love him. To the rest of you, just know that I love this man more than any of you have ever loved someone.
"I Tessa Angeline, do take you, Jerol O'Brian McCall, as my lawfully wedded husband. I vow to love and submit to you, my love, according to the law of matrimony, and to love and hold in bad and good times. And I give you this ring, my love, as a symbol of vows today until death do us part." Gosh! I am running short of breath as I finish. What did I rant about? I hope I will not laugh at myself when I listen to my vows.
All the same, after a long tedious journey, we are both now wearing the rings, bound by love and the laws of matrimony. Nothing can come between us.
I will just jolt this down and emphasize Christopher Martin's saying for the world to know.
One, you are not like anyone. Your life will not run like anyone else's. You will not fail because others failed, and likewise, you will not succeed just because so and so did. You have your own destiny, chase it. Your speed to reaching your goal should not be like anyone else's. Believe in yourself, and trust your course.
Second, true love is there. Sweet and beautiful. It's not about anything, but finding the right person for you. Money, class, power, none of this matters in the law of love. Character does.
Third, just like every other good thing, love comes with its overflowing buckets of ups and downs. In the sweet ocean of love, you must be able to dodge all the tides. Patience, and perseverance are key. How much can you take without having to feel you are giving in too much.
I am a living testimony that patient pays. I still have the scars to remind me of what I went through for this love, but as he promised, he has turned them into beautiful scars, something that I will be able to look at and smile at, knowing that I won this battle. I didn't know he was the reward, but he turned out to be. This was not my idea of my scars being turned into beautiful ones, but they were beautified in the best way I could never have thought back then. All my pains and exertions have paid off.
I am not saying that you should go ahead and get hurt in the name of patience pays. I am neither justifying violence by this. Nor am I saying you should stick in a toxic situation just because you want to win. No!
I am simply saying that you should know when to quit, when you haven't given it your all, and most importantly, know what you want to achieve.
"And now, by the power bestowed upon me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!" The priest announces, as if howling for the whole world to come and witness this.
Well, let whoever that wants to be a witness to this newlyweds come. I had so long anticipated for this part. This part that I will be kissing my wedded husband and not the fake one.
As our lips dance in a sweet rhythm, I fear no one watching. This is my husband, and no one has the right to ask me anything. We are have just tied the knots, and we are swimming in the overwhelming sentiments of the beauty awaiting us ahead. People will understand if we kiss like this the whole day, right? Even God has righted this!!!
~~~ THE END~~~