CHAPTER 21: ON THIS DAY

“Rev..”

“Hmm..?”

I raised my head from his chest to look at him. We are inside his room in their house. He had all my things transferred here after his proposal that night.

Yes! We’re engaged!

“Why were you so mad at me when I confessed to you on the night we graduated?”

He kept on caressing my skin, leaving a whirlwind of sensation in my every fiber.

“I was not angry because of the confession. The truth is, if those things did not happen, I would have proposed to you that night.”

“But you were so mad. Why?”

“One, because you looked at me like you were just pulling a prank. And two, you threw away the rose I gave you. I thought you found out how I felt and is playing with my feelings.”

“Rose? When did you give me a rose?”

He sighed. “Don’t you remember? You accepted Xander’s rose. You threw mine.”

I sat up abruptly and faced him.

“Was that what you and Xander were talking about before?”

He nodded lazily. Then I suddenly remembered my conversation with Xander when we met at the park.

“You mean to say.. the second rose that boy was giving me was from you??”

He looked up at me with confused expression. “You didn’t know?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t even know that the first one was from Xander. I thought someone was just pulling a joke on me. So when another one came, I did not accept it anymore.”

“I happened to buy the rose from the same shop and time that Xander did. Although we never talked, we both knew who that rose is for. I didn’t know that we asked the same boy to deliver the flower, but I told the kid to tell you it was from me.”

“But he just said it was from someone. He didn’t mention your name.”

“I saw a rose in a trash can near the gym. I didn’t know if it was the one I gave you or the one Xander gave. I just confirmed it that night, when you handed me the rose. That was not the rose I bought. That was Xander’s. You threw mine. That, and then you seemed playing with my feelings, and I was pushed over the edge. I was so upset and mad, I couldn’t believe you’d play me. I was your best friend. Even if you didn’t love me back, you didn’t have to mock me like that.”

I bit my lower lip.

“I’m sorry Rev, I didn’t know. I thought you were mad at me because I caused your break up with Jean.”

“Tss.”

“Please don’t get upset anymore. That was just a misunderstanding. I just didn’t have enough courage to face the consequences of my confession, so I took it back by saying it was a joke. I’m sorry. Please forgive me, Rev.”

I showered his face with small, butterfly kisses until he smiled.

“It’s okay now, now that you’re here by my side and we are already engaged. I am happy that my dreams is finally coming true. And that is to marry you.”

“Are you saying that when you were looking at the wedding gown that I drew, you were thinking about me?”

“Do you even have to ask that?”

I giggled as I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach!

I straddled him and held his face.

“I love you! I love you! I love you!” with each word, I kissed him.

He pulled me and pressed his lips to me. “I love you, too. Let’s go to sleep now. We don’t want to be late to our wedding tomorrow.”

I giggled again and rolled on my back. He squeezed me to his side. Contentedly, I closed my eyes as I recall his proposal.

*FLASHBACK*

A spotlight slowly turned towards the stage, and Rev’s voice filled the room. Another spotlight lit up, this time, it’s turned towards me. My face blushed as I hear excited murmurs around.

Ah, this guy knows how to surprise me. I might just get a heart attack.

I just keep my eyes on Rev while he is singing This I Promise You by N’Sync. I started sweating as my excitement grows.

The whole room remained quiet. In fairness to Rev, his voice is really soothing to the ear. It’s as if our surroundings disappeared and I can only see him and hear his voice. He’s the only one I want to stare at, alright.

Rev started walking towards me while he’s concluding his song.

He asked for my hand as I uttered the last line. I extended my hand to him. His hand felt cold, too, as if he’s also nervous. Perhaps, he is as nervous as I am. Slowly, as if in a dream, he lifted my hand to his lips.

“I love you Rein. I don’t know how, or when, and I can’t even explain why. Because this love itself is the reason. And truth be told, I want to live this reason. Will you allow me to live my life loving you, holding you, keeping you beside me?”

My trembling hand covered my lips and my eyes moistened in giddiness. Who would have thought that I will hear these words from him?

“Rein, please be my wife.”

He went down on one of his knees and offered me a small blue velvet box. And my tears freely flowed out of my eyes. I looked at his pleading eyes and got lost in it.

“Please..” he repeated.

“Rev, I love you too. Yes! Yes I will marry you!”

With that, he stood up and grabbed my waist. The next thing I knew, I was swirling in the air.

The crowd cheered us on.

And I giggled.

When Rev put me down, he pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back, tighter.

*PRESENT*

I felt Rev’s deep breathing, proof that he is already asleep. I turned to him and stared at his calm face.

I kissed him gently and murmured, “I love you so much. Goodnight, mi amore.”

And with that, I also drifted to sleep.

I opened my eyes when I sensed a flurry of movements around me.

“Hey, get up. What are you still waiting for, Christmas??” Noelle is pulling me off the bed. Beside her is Rina, my old couturier.

Yes, I still went to her for my gown this time. Rev and I decided to change the design but he let me do it. He said it is my gown, so whatever I say goes. Rina helped me with the design to top the previous one.

It’s amusing how Rev and Rina got close just because Rina said she thinks Rev suits me better than Bryan.

And since Rina eventually became part of our circle of friends, she is now teaming up with Noelle in pulling me out of my bed.

They almost push me to the bathroom to take a shower.

“Wait! Can you stop pushing me?? I just might fall over and break my face, you know,” I complained.

“There’s no more time!” Noelle nagged. “I’ll give you fifteen minutes to take a shower. If you don’t get out, Rina will destroy the door!”

“Eeeehhh?! Why my beauty? Do I look like a carpenter??”

“Of course! It can’t be me. Between us, you’re the guy!” Noelle insisted.

“I am not a guy! I’m a girl!” Rina also insisted.

I just locked the door behind and yawned. I am still sleepy, though.

But I am afraid to have the door destroyed so I took a quick shower and went out of the bathroom in fifteen minutes.

They were ready to do my make-up. I did not hire a make up artist because Noelle is a professional make up artist herself. She learned air-brushing. And Rina can also do make-up, so she will act as the assistant.

After prepping me, they let the photo-videography team in. This isn’t anything new because this also happened before my wedding with Bryan.

After more than an hour, they helped me to the bridal car that will bring me to the church.

I have no family with me. I notified my parents separately but they did not respond. Not that I expected them to. I am not really upset or mad at them. I respect that they each have their own life and I don’t want to ruin it for them.

But of course, at times like this, I wish there would be someone to walk me to the altar. I was trying to ignore my jitters, but as I grew nearer the church, the nervousness proves increasingly difficult to disregard. I wish there’s someone beside me to envelop my cold hands to his or hers.

‘Well, at least I have someone near the altar to walk to, right?’

The thought calmed my nerves.

The car stopped in front of the church. The carpet extended to outside and it stopped right outside the door of the car.

I heard the march started and the entourage began their march. Then the wedding coordinator motioned to the butler outside my door to let me start my walk.

He opened the car door and assisted me out. I really need the support because right now, my knees are turning into jelly.

I couldn’t take a step with my trembling feet and the coordinator looked on, waiting for me to move. But he couldn’t do anything. I took so much time standing here that I think the maid of honor must have reached the front by now. I’m nervous as hell.

‘What the heck!’

I suddenly raised my right leg and took off my shoe. I did the same for the left. I saw the shock register in their faces but I ignored them and raised my chin. I picked up my skirt and then started running to the church.

When I burst in, everyone is turned towards the door, waiting for me to show up. I heard gasps and yelps coming from the crowd when they saw me but I smiled to myself. This is my day. This is my wedding. And I’m sure Rev wouldn’t mind.

I was panting when I reached the altar. There, grinning like a bobcat, is my so lovable, ever so supportive, totally gorgeous and definitely yummy husband.

Wait. He’s not my husband yet. That was advanced.

Rev held my hand and guided me to out seats.

When we turned to the priest, he was looking very sternly at me and Rev and I elbowed each other secretly.

Even the crowd turned quiet. I think they are also scared of Father. I suddenly felt nervous that the priest might walk out on us and the wedding will not push through. What will I do?

All hell broke loose when the priest’s lips broke in a wide grin. Everyone laughed in relief.

“You. You’re such a scene-maker!” Rev pinched my nose.

“You were jealous?”

“You were beautiful. My bare-footed, running princess. I love you.”

He was about to kiss me when the priest spoke.

“My children, the wedding has not yet started. Kissing the bride goes last. Excited much?”

Rev scratched his nape.

“You can still wait a little longer,” the priest added.

The crowd roared in laughter again. When they calmed down, the priest started the ceremony.

When Father asked if anyone is against the wedding, a tensed silence followed. I felt Rev pulling me to his side as if he’s covering me from any possible assault.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you, too.”

When no one spoke up from the crowd, the priest continued the ceremony.

Then came the moment when we are supposed to give our vows.

“Rev, I will love you until my last breath. I will honor your name and will not stray away from your love. After everything that we’ve been through, there is one thing I learned. Running away from problems is not a solution. From this day onwards, you can count on me to be beside you to brave our storms. I will be your partner in creating a wonderful family; I will be your ally in all your fights. You can rely on me to supplement whatever you fall short of. Because we are partners in all this, so we watch each other’s back, and cover for what the other is lacking of. But no matter how many words I tell you now, the only way to guarantee it is to live it. So let me live my vows for the rest of my life.”

I saw how his eyes danced in happiness while I speak to him. And I also saw in his eyes that he is granting me what I asked of him. To live beside him and prove myself true to my words.

When it was his turn to give his vows, he held the microphone. A soft, familiar tune played from the piano were a hired pianist was playing from the start of the ceremony. Then, Rev delivered his message through the song of David Pomeranz, ‘On This Day’.

The reception took place in the garden of their house. I changed into a simpler gown after the photo ops.

“Mama wants to talk to us,” Rev whispered after I changed my gown.

He guided me to the study.

Auntie Eva is sitting on the sofa inside her study. She is holding an envelope.

“Auntie?” I called her as we sit down.

She looked up and smiled.

“Why are you calling me Auntie? You should call me Mama from now on, right?”

“M-Mama..” I felt awkward uttering the word.

“That’s better.” She nodded and stood up to approach us. She sat down beside me and held my hand. “This is my wedding gift for you.” She placed the envelope on my palm.

I opened it and took out the contents. I gasped when I saw that these are documents pertaining to my business which she took from me before. There is also a document for the condonation of liabilities. Another file shows the current statement of operation. The company is earning! The company has been earning all through this time.

I looked at her with questions in my eyes.

“I did not execute the deed of sale, of course. I never planned to take the company away from you.”

Rev and I looked at each other in confusion.

“But, Ma, why did you do what you did? Just to push her away?”

Auntie- no, I mean, Mama just smiled mischievously.

“On the contrary, I did it so that the two of you will end up like this.”

We got more confused.

“It was simple. I wanted the two of you to face what you really feel, and fight for each other. I couldn’t make you both reconcile through normal means, so I used an underhanded method. I just know that in the face of adversity, Rev, you cannot forsake Rein. And I also want Rein to learn to fight for you.”

So that’s it. Facepalm.

“Then what if I didn’t go to the airport that day, Ma? What if I didn’t get to stop her?” Rev sounded irritated at the thought.

“Dear, my plan was foolproof. Of course, I had someone there to make sure that Rein cannot leave the country if you did not come on time.”

“So, you’re telling me that you intentionally had the documents delivered to my office? Did you also intentionally have me hear your phone conversations?”

“Yup! Ain’t I a genius?”

As much as her method hurt me in the past, I couldn’t get mad at her. In fact, I find everything amusing. Yeah, now I know why Mama and I clicked right from the start. It’s because we are both eccentric enough to come up with weird thoughts and bold enough to put it into action.

“Well, I did not factor in the matter with Ashley, so I admit I panicked a bit there. But then, I trusted Rev to take care of that, which he did. Oh, and by the way, I made sure I hired people who deserved to be with your company, Rein. Not people who doesn’t care about it. Some of your former restaurant crews stayed behind until the very end. They endured while the rest went AWOL. I gave them better posts for their loyalty and hired new employees to help them.”

“M-Mama.. Thank you.” I really did not know how to thank her enough. I want to cry because of her kind heart. “Ma, you’re the best!” I hugged her.

She held me tighter. “I’m not sorry that I did what I did, but I am sorry if in the process, I hurt both of you. I love you both, that’s why I did it.”

I heard Rev sigh so I turned to him.

“I really want to be pissed off, Ma. But I can’t. Because that silly plan of yours worked, and it led the two of us to the altar.”

I leaned on Rev and he hooked his arm on my waist. He kissed me at the top of my head.

“When did you come up with that plan, Ma?”

“When you were shot by that woman, Rev.”

We stared at Mama Eva. Her voice became more solemn and emotional.

“That moment, I realized how short life could be. And I was gripped by terror, by fear that my son’s life would turn out short, and he wouldn’t be able to tell the person he loves that he love her; that he wouldn’t be able to fight for his happiness. You now what happened between me and your father. I regretted it my whole life, but no matter how much I regret it, I cannot bring him back alive. He didn’t even know about you.”

She had that sad smile in her face when she recounted her story.

“That’s why when you were there, fighting for your life, I knew that if you made it through, then I would have to take action. I’m sorry if I had to play the villain. I just believed that the two of you needed help.”

She held my hand in one of hers and Rev’s in the other. Then she brought our hand together. Rev and I intertwined our fingers.

“From this point onwards, you’re on your own. Build a life together. Hold on to each other, never let each other go. When the sailing gets rough, that’s when you have to hold on tighter, otherwise, you’ll be thrown apart by the storm. Don’t let it. I assure you, there will come a time when you will feel that you no longer have any love remaining for each other. It’s part of every relationship. It’s a reality, even if right now, you don’t believe that it’s ever going to happen.”

“When that time comes and you find it hard to hold onto each other, then, hold on to your friendship, to everything that you’ve had through together. Remember that while romance is a part of love, love is not all about romance.”

“It entails trust, honesty, friendship, forgiveness, respect, commitment, and everything else in between. So don’t give up your love just because you felt romance is missing. Instead, hold on to each other and bring romance back if you have to.”

I looked up to the guy who is holding me now and I know, no matter how many cowardly acts I did in the past, I will fight for this guy from this day onwards. He looked back at me, telling me the same thing my eyes are telling him.

We heard the sound of a door locking, signaling that Mama Eva left the room quietly to give us privacy. A naughty smile formed in Rev’s lips.

“Do you think what I am thinking, wife?” he winked.

“I think so, husband.” I matched his mischievous grin.

“Are you in?”

My grin widens. “What do you think?”

He stood up and went to the switch of the lights. He turned it off and came back to me. I thought we were going out so I was surprised when he jumped on me.

“Here?!”

“There’s a reason why that scheming old lady locked us here, you know.” He winked while my brows furrowed.

He flicked my forehead.

“Slow. Of course she is our accomplice. If our friends started looking for us, they will raid our room. They would never imagine that we are here!”

I giggled at that. That was brilliant.

Rev smiled seductively at me while his lips slowly descended on mine. Oh, my panty is slipping off again.

I closed my eyes and allowed all my senses to take over me.

Don’t disturb us now. We will start making a family.

*Winks*