The PreWedding
Another milestone of TS. Kindly play She’s In the Rain (The Rose) and My Love (Lee Hi) for more feels. Ayon kasi pinakikinggan ko habang nagsusulat. Or if you have a Spotify, I shared my playlist.
I just wanted to say thank you. Kasi umabot tayo rito. Sinulat ko ang Tambay Series sa sobrang pagkamiss sa iKON and this is my release of pressure from all the bad things happening around me. This is my getaway, ikanga. Enjoy this chapter na puno lang ng feels ko? I missed Hanbin so much, I missed the old iKON. So for now, hanggang au lang. Okay? We will eventually get there.
Again, thank you sa pagsubaybay sa Tambay Series na out of impulse ko lang sinulat. This is my gift to you!
Sincerely and grateful,
Ye.
--
Riella swayed her Ate’s hand because of nervousness. They rented a house beside the church of San Antonio Pila. It was not that small but can accompany many people in it. They didn’t hire a wedding planner, several people were invited and they rehearsed it at the church near their house.
They picked San Antonio Shrine because it’s Riella’s favorite church.
“Ye, you okay?” Ate Joneng asked her while she was getting prepared by Jenniena, her make up artist.
Tumango siya. Lahat ng nobya ng mga Kuya niya, ang siyang tumulong sa kasal niya. Hindi sila gumastos ng malaki aside sa honeymoon and fare ng mga bisita, lahat ito ay pinagtulungan ng mga kaibigan ng Kuya niya.
Kuya Andrew handled their photoshoots, videos and even the setup of their reception sa isang bahay na nirentahan ni Arthur.
Gavin was the dj in their reception while Baste and Robby will team up for being the master of the ceremony.
Gowns were designed by Ate Jenniena while her brother, handled the catering. Dahil ’yon naman ang business nila in the first place.
Tanging ang hipag niyang si Sethiel ang wala sa okasyon dahil kakapanganak lang noong nakaraang dalawang araw. Kahapon lang sila naghanda ng bahay at pag-aarrange ng bulaklak para sa aisle. Kahit na gan’on, hindi pa rin sila pinagtagpo ni Arthur. Wala naman daw mawawala kung sumunod.
She was closing her eyes as Jenniena focused on her eye make-up. “Tel was looking for you, Jen.” She heard Ate Jem spoke na kapapasok lang ng kwarto. “She was crying kahit buhat na ni Gav.” Aniya.
She felt the brush touched her eyelid, “She was being clingy again. Lalabas naman ako later.” Naiiling na sabi ni Jen. “Pikit lang, Ye.” Utos sa kaniya nito ng subukan niyang buksan ang mata.
Her hair was styled by some parlorista, katabi lang kasi ng munisipyo ang ilang parlor dito kaya nanghatak na agad ang mga Ate niya.
“Pagsusuotin ko na sila ng gown.” I heard Ate Angela said. “Ikaw, Jo. Kailan?” Tanong nito.
“Inaantok kasi ako. Napapagod akong magbuhat ng singsing sa daliri?” Pinakita niya muli ang palasingsingan niya sa mga babae. Napangiti naman si Riella dahil sa narinig.
Binato ni Jem ng unan na nasa sofa kay Joneng. “Kapag ikaw kinasal talaga, hindi kami tutulong sa’yo!” She yelled.
“Aba! Invited ba kayo?” Alma nito. Pabirong hinila ni Jem si Jo papasok ng bathroom.
“I am almost done—“ Jen was interrupted when Gavin went inside their room holding Tel, her niece in his arms. Agad na nanlaki ang mata nito ng makita kung gaano kabagay ang tux na tinahi niya. “Mahal, why are you—“
“Tata!!” Iyak ni Tel na pilit inaabot ang Tita niya.
“Tel was looking for you, dinala ko lang, aalis din kami agad.” Gavin was eyeing his girlfriend from head to toe and he hid biting his lip by averting his stare. “Pagkatapos mo d’yan, puntahan mo ako.”
Napailing si Jenniena sa nakita. When the door opened, napasapo ng noo si Gavin, Arthur was waiting outside. “Hoy! Bawal nga kayong magkita,” Awat nito. Ang iba nilang kaibigan, nagsipagtakbo kung nasaan sila ngayon.
He smacked Arthur on the head. “Atat ka? Mag-a-I do na nga kayo mamaya sa altar.” Saway ni Gavin.
HInila siya palayo ni Robby. “Tado ka talaga, balik ’don!” Agad na sinalo nila Baste.
“Oh, Tel!” Andong shouted. Sumama ang bata rito. “Mamaya na. Naghahanda lang ang mga Tata,” Alo nito.
Sinara naman ni Jem ang pinto. “I really love the gowns, Jen. Alam mo na. Ilan kaming gagawan mo kapag magpapakasal.” Joneng went out of the bathroom.
“Ehem.” Pagpapakita niya ng singsing. “Ako next. Bawal mag-overlap.” Jem rolled her eyes.
“After this wedding okay?” Jenniena sprayed set Riella’s face and let her opened her eyes. “Ye, you’re all done!” She squealed. “You’re so maganda!”
Riella looked at the vanity in front of her. It’s not about the wedding that she was bothered, it’s their honeymoon. He wanted to take her on Maldives, which is fine but she was still bothered because he waited for her for two how many years. He deserved it.
“Sel!” Gising ni Joneng, Kanina pa kasi ito tulog. Her belly was not that big yet but it was very much evident that she was indeed pregnant. “Ayusin na uli natin ang buhok mo.” Akay niya rito.
She yawned and when she opened her eyes, she looked at the girls inside the room. “Ang tagal niyo. Gusto kong kumain.” Ungot niya. Hinila siya ni Joneng para umupo sa harap ng vanity.
“Pagkaayos ng buhok mo, magpasama ka, may malapit na stalls dito.” She said to Selene. She felt her head nodded. “Ano bang cravings mo ngayon?”
Sumandal siya sa upuan. “I was thinking ice cream. I want ice creeeammm.” She whined. “Cookies and cream ice cream.” Jem was drinking her water when she suddenly choked. Napatingin sa kaniya ang lahat and Riella handed her tissue.
“That’s so klutzy.” She gracefully said and wiped her mouth.
Jenniena rolled her eyes as she let her hair loose on her shoulder. “I really can’t believe, you invited Aly here.” Sabi niya at nagspray ng perfume sa leeg niya at ibang parte ng balikat. “Like if someone liked Gavin and she was present in my wedding, hihilahin ko ang hair!” She said.
Jom faked her cough. “Ehem. Ate Ehra. Ehem.” Nilingon siya ni Jenniena at tinaasan ng kilay. “Sungit.” Bulong niya.
“I don’t want to remember all of it.” Tumawa si Angela na tumabi kay Jen. “Are you happy na nakikita mo akong umiyak noon?” She widened her eyes.
Angela’s brows furrowed. “Ano ako, tanga? Syempre hindi. Ikaw lang naman ang gaga e.” Banggit niya.
Halos lahat sa kanila, tumayo na at nag-ayos, in twenty minutes, kailangan na nila lumabas. Ayos naman na ang lahat. Umupo sila sa mahabang sofa, nasa gitna si Riella and they took a lot of pictures. Tinawag pa nila si Andrew para sa photoshoot kahit nagawa na kaninang umaga ’yon simula sa paghahanda ng gamit ni Riella.
“Mga Ate, I am facetiming Ate Sethiel.” She told the girls. Nag-abang naman na nakatingin sa phone ang mga kasama niya.
The call was answered and the first thing they saw was Sethiel’s face. “Baklaaa!” Tawag ni Joneng sabay kaway. “You ire ire well ha! Where’s Tintin?” Tumawa si Angela sa narinig.
They all wooed on how cute her daughter was. She was inside the thing and there were lots of wires connected to her body. But her face was very evident and how cute it was. “Meet Tristine Yvonne.” Her voice was raspy maybe because she was exhausted. Binalik niya ang tingin sa screen. “You’re all so pretty.” Naiiyak na sabi nito. “Riella, ang ganda ganda mo.”
The girls looked at the youngest with admiration, they agreed. Riella is the most beautiful woman today. “Kung kaya ko sana, pupunta ako…” Sethiel whispered.
“Naintindihan naman namin, bes. Pagaling ka ha?” Jom said and Sethiel nodded and she sobbed.
Napatingin sa taas ang mga babae dahil ayaw nilang masira ang eye make up nila. “Hindi naman ako buntis pero ang emotional ko.” Paypay ni Angela sa sarili. “Besh, tandaan niyo ha. Love na love ko kayong lahat.”
Joneng sniffed. “Sana kasi kanina pa tayo nag-iyakan ’nung wala pang make up, di ba?”
--
Nasa labas sila ng simbahan. Andong was done commanding on his team kaya kasama na siya na nasa labas.
His palms were sweating and he was getting restless. Tinapik tapik naman ng ama niya ang balikat niya. “Relax, Art. She will be here.” He jested. He smiled a little.
“I-I am so excited, Dad.” Ngiti niya. “I don’t know, I just want to see her now.”
Humilera na ang mga kaibigan niya sa kaliwa at pinagtitinginan ito ng ilang kamag-anak ng bawat panig. Anim kasi ang best man niya. Kung isa lang ang pipiliin niya, magkakabunuan ito. Si Civic ang best man niya pero mukhang imposible dahil sa huling pag-uusap nila, hindi agad ito makakabalik ng bansa.
Nilingon niya ang mga kaibigan niya na nag-aayos na ng tie. He saw how Andong hold Baste’s neck, on the other side, Robby was giving Gavin an okay sign. Ethan was clasping his hand and being behave. Jazen was waving his hands to her girlfriend on the right side na nasa bridesmaid. Tanging ang bride niya ang wala rito.
Andong was wearing his airpods and he signaled the staff to open the door.
Everyone lined up and went inside. His heart was racing and he just want to see his love right now.
“Sir, papasok na po kayo.” Sabi ng kung sinuman and he started walking inside.
“Ye, gusto kita.” He blurted out while swinging his bat. Riella was muching her usual lunch when she heard that.
“Sus, you like me kasi ako tagahatid ng pagkain mo.” She joked. She was smiling while looking at him. “Or lagi akong tambay sa comshop niyo—“
He was smiling to everyone who attended. His feet were light while taking a step. He looked ahead and saw how his friends were hugging each other by side. Baste was wiping his eyes and he looked like he was sobbing too.
“I love you, Ye.” She looked at him shocked.
“Si Arthur… ang cheesy. Don’t worry, I love you too.” He dived into her lips and she gladly accept it. That’s their first ever long hard make out. He even remembers it up until this day.
Nakaakyat na siya sa altar.
Tinapik siya ni Ethan, “Alagaan mo siya, alam ko namang hindi mo siya papabayaan.” He whispered.
“Tol!” Nagulat siya ng bigla siyang yakapin ni Baste na humagulgol. “Hindi ako pwede magmura pero tang-ji! Finally!” He was trying to suppress his voice not to be notice.
“Art, congrats.” Andong.
“Hindi ko kaya, group hug nga.” Nasa gitna siya at napalibutan ng mga kaibigan niya. “Art, nandito lang kami. Ninong ng magiging anak mo.” Asar ni Baste.
Umiling siya. Pinaayos na ni Jazen ang pagkakahilera.
“Papasok na si Ye.” Andong said as he tapped his airpods. “Focus niyo ang camera 3 and 4.” Utos niya sa mga cameraman niya.
Arthur gulped and clasped his hands. He saw how slow the door opened and only the silhouette of Riella was seen. Her figure was slowly getting near and he wants to see how she would look like. He was squeezing his hands so much and tried to breathe in and out.
When the light struck Riella, he can see her fully.
His lips quiver with delight. He felt his throat tightened and the overwhelming feeling was piling. His future, his happiness is now walking towards him. His everything is now in front of him. He felt his tears running on his cheeks, inabutan siya ni Ethan ng panyo. He just abruptly wiped his face with his bare hands.
“Si Art.. si art,” Rinig niyang sabi ni Robby.
He didn’t notice he was ugly crying right now. Riella’s eyes were watery. But she can’t cry or else, she will sob like her future husband.
Bumaba siya para salubungin ang mga magulang ni Riella. Her mother-in-law was smiling at him. Nagmano siya at nagbeso. Tumango naman sa kaniya ang tatay. When he kissed his father-in-law’s cheek, “Ingatan mo ang anak ko,” That’s when he bowed his head and hugged him.
“Sir, thank you.” Iyak niya. “Thank you for bringing Riella into my life.” He was sobbing and he doesn’t care anymore. He needed to say that. He wanted to say that for so long. “Sir, salamat po.”
Riella sniffed and tried to stop her tears. “Love…” Tawag niya kay Arthur.
He reached out to her and offer his hand. Riella pursed her lips and smiled. “Tara?” Yaya niya.
“Tara.” She said.
..
See you sa part 2. CHAR
