Finally found my dream wedding church
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Bagac
*
It was mid-afternoon when Marian decided to step out of her hotel room and take a walk. Hindi rin naman gano’n kainit sa labas, just perfect for a walk in the middle of the afternoon.
Balak nya sanang mag-swimming mamaya pero dahil buryong buryo na sya, naisipan nyang maglakad-lakad muna. Malaki rin ang lugar, mas maganda nga sana kung niyaya nya ang mga kaibigan dahil paniguradong matutuwa ang mga yon sa ganda ng tanawin dito.
Marian was about to go to the bridge nearby when she saw the church. Its exterior is giving Spanish era vibes which she loves. The place is full of heritage houses and structures. Marian knows she will definitely come back.
Sana kapag bumalik ako rito, may kasama na ako bukod sa mga kaibigan ko.
When Marian entered the church, her eyes glimmered. She did not expect to see this kind of church here. The details that are made of wood and stone are intricate, sculpted like it was made for the human’s eye to stare on. The high ceiling along with its perfectly curved arches made her picture herself walking down the aisle, bouquet in hand while wearing her dream wedding dress at her intimate wedding.
The church is empty and it seems like it was just open for public view and whenever they want to surrender their prayers to the Lord almighty. She then went near the altar, roaming her eyes around. If only she could print what her eyes see because the photos she’ve taken did not give justice to the captivating beauty of this hidden gem.
Ang ganda, she whispered while roaming her eyes around.
Marian took pictures of everything she saw. From the design of the altar to the tiniest detail of the columns.
That’s when she decided that she wants to be married in this church. With her favorite flower – baby’s breath decorated along the aisle, chairs are silver just like how she wanted it, and the love of her life waiting for her at the altar.
What a dream.
And in the middle of daydreaming about her wedding, Marian's phone rang.
Mindy
Without any idea why her best friend called, she answered the phone.
“Hello?”
Sa’n ka?
“Dito sa simbahan, bakit?” she asked while walking outside. Mindy’s probably outside, too.
Wala, bigla ka kasing nawala dito. Akala ko naligaw ka na naman.
Marian chuckled. Paano ba naman kasi, naisipan nya ring lumabas mag-isa nong first day nila at dahil sa first time nya sa lugar, naligaw pa sya. Kung hindi nya pa siguro nilakasan ang loob nya, hindi nya pa mahahanap ang daan pabalik ng hotel.
“Don’t worry, kaya ko na ‘to,” she assured. Alam nya naman nag-aalala lang ang kaibigan sa kanya.
Talaga at bilisan mo dyan, ang init dito sa pwesto ko.
Nagulat si Marian, hindi nya naman maitatanggi yon. Normal lang ba sa magkaibigan ang umaktong parang sila? Para sa kanilang magkaibigan na mula kinder, siguro nga.
“Anong ginagawa mo dyan?” natatawang tanong ng dalaga habang nakatingin sa pwesto ng kaibigan na nakakunot na nang sobra ang noo ngayon.
“Sinusundo ka, baka maligaw ka na naman kasalanan ko pa,” sarkastikong banat ni Mindy.
Agad namang hinila ni Marian ang kaibigan para ipakita ang interior ng simbahan. Kahit pa na gusto magpumiglas ni Mindy, wala na rin syang nagawa dahil mukhang excited itong ipakita sa kanya ang kung ano man.
“Look!” Marian exclaimed while showing off the interiors of the church.
Mindy then roamed her eyes around with the same excitement in her eyes as her friend’s. She can’t believe that such exquisite design exists.
“Ang ganda dito, no?” Marian whispered, still in awe.
“Sobra,” Mindy answered, her eyes still glimmering from the view.
“Alam mo ba, gusto ko dito magpakasal,” Marian told Mindy a few minutes later.
The latter looked at her friend. And there she noticed how perfect her face was. Her thin brows, long lashes, brown eyes, pointed nose, and plumpy lips. It’s like God made sure that He will take his time to perfectly create this goddess beside her.
God, she looks so perfect.
“Tara, pakasal tayo?”
Marian was shocked, and so is Mindy. It was supposed to be an inner thought that no one should hear.
The two looked intently at each other’s eyes, forming an unexpected tension between them. Mindy then leaned forward, closing the gap between them. It was a short and sweet, yet unexpected kiss.
“Sorry,” is all Mindy can say after their lips parted ways.
Believe it or not, Mindy did not want to do it– not without Marian’s consent. She liked it, though.
Her hands on the latter’s waist, which she did not notice was there, slowly let go of Marian. Marian looked at her, puzzled. She couldn’t think of any excuse as to why she did that.
“What’s with… the sudden kiss?” Marian slowly asked.
Mindy, out of initial reaction, started to walk away, leaving Marian dumbfounded.
“Mindy, ano ba?!” Marian angrily asked when she got a hold of her friend.
“Tinatanong kita tapos tatalikuran mo lang ako nang ganon? Ano, cat got your tongue?” Marian sarcastically said. Naiinis na sya, sa totoo lang. Hindi naman sya galit dahil sa halik e, it was because her friend can’t even face her nor explain what she did.
Mindy just stared blankly at Marian. She can’t form her thoughts properly as she is distracted at how pretty this lady in front of her is.
“Ano ba? Magtititigan na lang tayo dito magdamag?” Her brows almost met, her look is as sharp as a knife, her lips pursed, and Mindy can make a bet that her fists are tight, too.
“Ano bang gusto mong marinig?” Mindy calmly asks, which made Marian feel taken aback. Her voice was sweeter, eyes looked yearning, and she was slightly smiling. Mindy even felt the urge to tuck Marian’s hair behind her ears, but did not make a move to do so. She doesn’t want her to feel more uncomfortable.
“Why…” Marian paused as if she did not know what to say next.
Mindy pulled Marian closer by the waist and whispered in her ears, “Gusto mo talagang malaman?”
Marian’s eyes widened by the sudden pull and she can even see Mindy’s pores right now. That’s how close they are at the moment. And she doesn’t know if what she’s hearing is her heartbeat or Mindy’s.
Marian looked intently at Mindy’s eyes. She doesn’t know if she’s just assuming things, but all she can see from her eyes is love and longing.
“Hindi ko na dapat to sasabihin sa’yo but you’re so persistent,” Mindy softly whispered. It was like she’s afraid anyone would hear what she’s about to say.
“Ang alin?” Marian innocently asked. She looked at the former with her doe eyes which made Mindy feel the butterflies in her stomach.
Talaga naman, ginamitan pa ako ng kahinaan ko.
“What everything meant to me. What you meant to me,” Mindy emphasized on the word ‘you’ for her.
The two did not even attempt to break the tension in their eyes. Mindy’s feeling a lot of emotions, but above all is the urge to tell the woman she’s holding how much she adores her.
“What is it? Ano ba ako sa’yo?” Marian whispered like she’s longing for the answers that've been in her head for a long time.
Mindy finally gave in to the urge of tucking the former’s hair behind her ears. She can apologize later if she ever made her feel uncomfortable now.
“Everything. You’re everything to me. The reason why I always, and will always choose to get up every morning. The motivation I need to move forward. The breath of fresh air I need in this chaotic world. You are like the coffee in my mornings– the one that reminds me why life feels good. You are the sunshine of my life…” Mindy paused and Marian could feel the tension in her look became stronger. “You are the only one I am always looking forward to seeing. The only person who made me realize that living in this world is not as bad as it seems. That life gets better because I have you. The only person who always reminds me that I can be better. Because being with you makes me feel the need of being the deserving one for you. Na para kapag dumating yung araw na sasabihin ko sa’yo na mahal kita, the only thing you need to do is to let me love you. Not fix me or fix us. Please, just let me love you. You don’t have to give it back, but let me express my affection towards you.”
Pakiramdam ni Marian, sasabog na ang puso niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin sa haba ng sinabi ng kaibigan at sa gulo ng utak niya.
She needs to process everything and let it sink in.
Pero dahil matigas ang ulo niya, hindi man lang umabot ng isang minuto ay kumilos na siya. Ang ginawa niya? She kissed her friend. Her best friend who just confessed to her. Masisisi niyo ba siya kung ayan ang una niyang naisip na sagot sa tanong ng dalaga? Nagmamahal lang naman siya.
“I love you,” Marian blurted after the kiss which shocked Mindy, while Marian looked calm like she just did not say the three words out of nowhere.
She’s at peace– Marian.
Mindy can’t name the emotion she is feeling at that moment. All she knows is that she loves this gorgeous lady in front of her and she loves her, too.
The two spent their time in Bataan admiring the place and talking about how and when they realized they have feelings for the other.
“Naalala mo yung time na hindi ka sumasagot sa tawag ko the whole day? Nong college,” Mindy asked as she peel oranges for her lover.
“Oo, may sakit ako non eh,” sagot ni Marian at sinubuan ng isang parte ng orange si Mindy.
“Muntik na kaya akong umalis in the middle of the class non para puntahan ka sa apartment mo,” Mindy answered which made Marian laugh.
“Patay na patay ka pala sa’kin,” she teased which earned an eye roll from Mindy.
“Sabi ng nag-I love you kanina,” the latter defended.
Marian laughed in response as she knows that her lover is starting to feel pissed. Mabilis kasi talagang mapikon sa asaran ang dalaga kaya tuwang tuwa palagi si Marian kapag nakikita nyang magkasalubong na ang kilay nito.
The teasing continued which ended with Marian consoling her lover with a kiss. Pambawi sa pang-aasar, ani nya pa.
The sunset came and the two are in their room, feeling tired but peaceful with everything that happened that afternoon. Nananakit na rin ang paa nila dahil higit isang oras din silang naglakad lakad sa lugar. Gusto kasi nilang sulitin ang oras dahil babalik na sila sa Maynila pagkaraan ng ilang oras.
Marian was watching the sun go down when she felt a hug from behind. Alam na niya agad kung sino ito dahil bukod sa isa lang naman ang kasama niya sa kwarto, alam na alam niya rin kung kanino ang pamilyar na amoy na iyon.
“Gusto mo mag-extend?” tanong sa kaniya ng dalaga.
Gustuhin mang um-oo ni Marian, hindi niya naman ito magawa dahil may pasok na sila kinabukasan.
“May pasok pa ako bukas, need ako sa set. At ikaw, may shoot ka, ‘di ba?” sagot niya at hinarap ang dalaga.
Mindy’s beauty never fails to take her breath away. Parang palaging unang beses niyang makikita ang dalaga. Hindi nagbabago ang ganda nito. Kung gaano siya kaganda noong una silang nagkakilala, gano’n pa rin ngayon– mas higit pa nga.
“I can ask them to postpone it for a day or two,” Mindy suggested.
“Ewan ko sa’yo. Tara na, kailangan na nating mag-impake,” Marian pulled her lover inside who’s now pouting because she doesn’t want to leave.
Mindy lazily packed her things while Marian helped her as soon as she finished packing hers. From afar, they looked like a domestic couple who’s preparing for a trip.
And for Mindy, that’s enough. Being with Marian is enough. It makes her feel that life is worth living.
She watched Marian pace back and forth, making sure that they would not leave any of their belongings. And right there she knew that this woman is the one she wants to be with. Siya at siya lang ang gusto at patuloy niyang pipiliin sa araw-araw.
“Mahal ko, pakasal na tayo?”