[1] The One With The Surprise Wedding Video
Ten years later...
AUGUST 13
“Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the luckiest man in the world tonight, the groom, Andreau Cortez!”
The crowd’s sudden round of applause startled Zade, who was seating right beside him. “Huh?” Andreau heard her say as she finished off her cake. “Babe, what’s going on?”
Standing to his feet, Andreau swallowed nervously and replied, “Just wait for it, Zades.”
“For what?” Her brows furrowed in mild irritation. “May kalokohan na naman kayo, ano?”
He looked down and gave her his most assuring smile. “Walang kalokohan ’to, promise. You’ll like this one.”
Clearing his throat, he forced a smile as he glanced up at the crowd. Everyone was seated around the U-shaped line of tables, watching him intently when Mars handed him the microphone. Zade’s right, masarap nga sa mata ang white, silver and cobalt blue theme. His eyes focused on the random Doctor Who referenced centerpieces on the tables (fiercely eyeing the Weeping Angels statue on Barbs and Kesh’s table, just in case ma-tripan nilang nakawin ’yon) as he waited for the crowd’s applause to die down.
You can do this, Andreau. You’ve practiced this 17 times already.
Andreau tugged his brown bowtie (one of Zade’s wedding gifts), feeling a bit constricted. He took a deep, somewhat shaky breath, and began.
“Good evening, everyone. Allonsy!” Zade groaned loudly behind him, making everybody laugh when she said Shit, I married the wrong Doctor! He grinned a little, shoving his free hand into the pocket of his pants to keep it from flailing around.
“Before the two of us get into a debate on who’s the best Doctor, in behalf of Zade, we are beyond grateful to have all of you here to celebrate this very special day with us. Thank you, guys. Really. Nag-abala pa kayo kahit ipapalabas ang footage nito sa Sundays Best next week.”
Some of the guests laughed and Andreau saw Kesh whisper something to Barbs, and their whole table laughed in unison.
“The best woman deserves to have the best wedding of her life,” he continued. “That’s why I gave Zade her dream Doctor Who prenup and wedding. I had to. ’Yon lang naman ang condition niya sa ’kin bago niya sagutin ang wedding proposal ko. Actually, tinakot pa nga niya ako na hahanapin si Matt Smith sa London at doon daw sila magpapakasal.” Zade grumbled behind him. Andreau smiled and glanced down at his pouting bride. “As if I’m gonna let that happen, Zades. I even got you a TARDIS replica back there. Wala ka nang kawala sa ’kin ngayon.”
She narrowed her eyes, but kept her lips pressed firmly closed.
“Wala ka na bang pera, pre?” Roldan asked loudly from this seat.
Andreau sighed deeply. “Medyo. Pero okay lang, natupad naman ang mga wish ko.” He paused for a second, then continued. “The first one was a year ago when she finally said yes... and the second one was actually earlier, when she finally said I do. Okay lang naman maubos ang pera. Worth it naman.” He grinned, winking at his bride.
“Wish you can still say that kapag nag-accounting na tayo after this,” Zade shot back, a slight blush tinting her cheeks.
“Ahh, look at that. She’s blushing. See how adorable my wife is?” Their friends and family started to cheer over the first time he said “my wife”. Suddenly, Andreau paused. Then blinked twice. Doon lang nagsink in sa kanya ang ceremony kanina...ang nakakabaliw na wedding preparations...and of course, that unforgettable (and freezing) day in London when she’d said yes. For a second there he really believed he was in an episode of Doctor Who.
Fuck. This is real. After ten years, fucking finally.
“Did I just say my wife?” He blurted out unconsciously. “Totoo na ’to, ano? I’m that beautiful woman’s husband. That’s... holy shit, Zades.” He ran his free hand to rake through his hair. “You really said I do earlier? We’re married for real now?”
“Oh my god Andreau mabaho ka tumigil ka dyan!!” Zade flushed deeply in embarrassment, but the smile on her glowing face didn’t diminish. “Oo na kasal na tayo, okay? Gusto mo bang bawiin ko ’yong I do ko kanina?”
Andreau stared at his wife (oh god, how he loved the sound of that) for a long moment. He loved her so much it was a miracle his heart didn’t climb out of his chest. He didn’t know that she was it when they first met. Good God, he really didn’t. But Zade turned out to be the greatest adventure he had in his life, and he could not, would never want to, imagine his life without her.
Falling in love with his wife was a slow process; and one which opened his eyes and allowed him to live a life he never knew he wanted to the fullest. The only reason he’d made it this far and this long was because of her -- support, love -- but more because of this very thing right here.
She was his constant, his ray of sunlight, and she loved him. And for some unfathomable reason, she had chosen him.
He couldn’t get any luckier than this.
“God, no,” he said, shaking his head. “It took us 10 year--”
“Hoy, 12 years kaya!” Mars interjected.
’Okay, sorry. 12 years. 12 years, Zades. See, I was right. The best stories take time to tell. Look at us now, we’re on the page one of our new book.”
A loud awww ang sweet! Came from Kesh and Barbs’ table, and Andreau swore he heard Zade sniffle behind him.
“Anyway, where was I?” he continued. “Oh, right. So... it’s an established fact that Zade is the talker and I’m the listener in our relationship. Tried and tested yan for 12 years, kahit no’ng mga panahon na best friend pa ang turing niya sa ’kin--”
Groaning loudly in her seat, Zade shot back, “Really? Of all days ngayon mo pa ipapaalala yan sa ’kin!?”
“Of course.”
“Eh totoo naman talaga ’yon, Zades!” Mars said, wiping tears off her eyes. “Halos namuti ang mga tala namin sa frustration no’n!” The crowd laughed at her jab.
Turning back to the laughing audience, Andreau grinned and relaxed. “We’ve been together for almost a decade now. And all these years siya ang madalas na nagkukwento ng mga bagay tungkol sa relationship namin. Not that there’s a lot to say. Sa interviews siya rin lagi ang sumasagot kapag tinatanong ang love story namin.” He chuckled inwardly when he remembered that magazine interview they had last year, after their engagement. That’s one for the books. “Her version’s more interesting than mine anyway. Mas nakakakilig daw sabi ni Mars. I guess that’s kinda true.
“Hindi ko maikwento sa lahat ang version ko kasi... ang tanga tanga ko no’ng una. I was too stubborn to admit that I’m stupid over her the moment she first smiled at me. Kung hindi pa ako kinulit ng ibang tao dyan...” He glanced at Mars, then to Marisse and Dan. “...baka ibang lalaki na ang pinakasalan ni Zad--”
“I’m sure si Matt Smith na ’yo--”
“Dream on, Scheherazade. You’re a Cortez now. You’re stuck with me forever.” Andreau said quietly and Zade laughed while the rest of the crowd joined in. “With that said, I’m about to present to all of you my final surprise for my wife tonight. But before that, I would like to thank Marion Jane Chua-O’Donoughue for suggesting this idea months ago. Sabi kasi ni Mars sa ’kin na ikwento ko raw sa reception ang version ko ng love story namin ni Zade. I know she only suggested that just to embarrass me on my wedding day.” Mars cackled on her seat.
“You know me, I don’t half ass anything, especially when it comes to the love of my life. This... project wasn’t that easy to make--”
“Project? What project?” Zade cut him off.
“While you were busy organizing your dream wedding, I... I mean, we made this... video for you. I know how much you love my pretty face--”
“Oh my god mahiya ka nga! What’s this all about?”
“We made a video for you, Zades. I interviewed people who were with us since Day 1. Sina Mars, Dan, Marisse, Kesh... even si Tristan at iba pa na naging parte ng kwento natin. For six months nagreminisce kami, lalo na ako, ng mga katangahan ko dati. Malaki ang chance na mapapahiya ako rito pero okay lang. Everyone deserves to know my side of this story.”
The atmosphere of the reception hall was quiet and solemn as Andreau walked towards his bride. He caught her left hand and kissed it. “Falling in love was a story I didn’t know until I met you,” Andreau whispered softly. “I... I know I’ve said a shit ton of things earlier in my vows but I still couldn’t put the amount of love I have for you into words. Mahal na mahal kita, Zades.”
Zade held her breath, trying to stop her tears. “Damn it, Andreau. I love you, too.”
He closed his eyes and leaned forward to kiss her. People cheered, holding up their champagne flutes and clapping. Andreau could only stare at his wife’s gleaming eyes as he pulled away.
Turning back to the audience, Andreau lifted the microphone to his lips, letting out a deep breath. “Now, let me have this opportunity to take everyone back to the start. My version of twelve years ago.” He paused and looked down at Zade with a smile. “Are you ready now, Zades?”
She smiled back. “For you? Always.”
With that, Mars pressed play.
****
Okaaaay. Explanation time!
Sinadya ko talagang simulan sa wedding reception ng AZ ’tong #Thing2 (please, don’t call this... COC. Char). I know gusto niyong malaman ang mga kaganapan in between TSIB & Thing #2, especially the wedding itself. Promise, dadating din tayo dyan :)
Ang succeeding chapters nitong Thing #2 ay parang interviews pero written/typed in a narrative, not script type kasi hassle basahin lol. Hindi muna tayo babalik sa present timeline na kasal na ang AZ. Isipin na lang natin na re-enactment ang ilan sa scenes dito. Most of the POVs ay kay Andreau (of course), pero meron ding POVs sina Dan, Mars, Marisse, Kesh, Tristan at iba pang characters. Syempre, kailangang ipahiya si Andreau dahil tanga talaga siya nung una lmao. Hindi muna tayo babalik sa present timeline na kasal na ang AZ. Tsaka na ’yon hahaha
Again, this is not a direct continuation of TSIB.
Some of you may say Ay ba’t hindi na lang Book 2? Ano pa bang bago rito eh nabasa na namin ’to sa TSIB? Kaurat ka naman, ategirl!!!!
Char, kalma ka lang dyan, bes.
Actually, POVs talaga nina Andreau at Zade ang unang plano ko sa TSIB (ito pa nung TDG 2 days ha). Kaso no’ng 2013, gusto kong magsulat ng isang kwento na strictly one character POV lang. Gusto kong mag-experiment. Kaya ayun, tinabi ko muna ang lahat ng POV parts ni Andreau. Lahat ng TSIB chapters ay may outlined Andreau POV, at ’yon ang mababasa niyo rito sa Thing #2. Yeah, marami-raming scenes from TSIB na mauulit dito. Kebs na kung maulit dito, at least alam natin ang tumatakbo sa isip ni Andreau (lalo na nung muntikan na siyang mag-I love you sa TSIB Chapter 42 hahaha) at kung anong nangyari. And kung napansin niyo (sana may nakapansin nga!!!), may malalaking timeline jumps sa TSIB. Doon papasok ang POV ni Andreau.
So may mauulit nga. (Sorry, ang kulit ko) May idadagdag naman akong bagong scenes. Malalaman niyo rin dito kung sino yung nakauna kay Bes Andreau char
