“Ano ang ginawa sa'yo ni Charles?” Pag-aalala na tanong ng Daddy ni Ashley.
“Walang hiyang batang 'yon. Nagtiwala ako sa kaniya. Tapos ganito pa ang igaganti niya? How he's stupid to do that to my daughter? He doesn't deserve any success in life.” Nagtitimping galit ni Gracelyn sa ginawa ni Charles sa kanyang unica-hija.
“I'm okay. Nothing to worry about. Luke saved me from him so, let's put an end to this issue...by the way, paano mo nalaman na naroroon kami? Hindi naman tumawag isa sa kanila, why and how, Luke?”
"Let's say, I have secret agent na parating nakabantay sa lahat ng gagawin mo reason why, nalaman ko kung saan ka naroroon," he genuinely said as he smirk with her. Everything started to turn back what's happened.
~FLASHBACK~
"Who's there? Yaya?" anito na hindi tumitinag sa kanyang kinauupuan.
"Sino ka ba kasi...Sino ka?" nawalan na lang ng malay ang dalaga nang tukupin ang ilong nito ng lalaki ng isang panyo.
Halos dalawang oras ding walang malay si Ashley na nakaupo at nakatali rito. Tatlong lalaki ang nakapaligid sa kaniya. Ilan pang segundo ay unti-unti nagkakaroon ito ng kamalayan sa paligid.
"Boss, gising na siya," ani ng isang lalaki sa kanyang amo. Yabag ng isang tao ang nagmumula sa likuran nito.
"Pakawalan siya," sa boses pa lang ng lalaki ay alam na ni Ashley kung sino iyon.
"Charles?"
"Sorry,"
"Are you out of your mind? Pati ba naman ako?" She slap him. Hindi niya mapigilan ang magalit rito.
"Bakit kailangan mong magpakasal kung walang love sa pagitan n'yong dalawa, Ashley?" nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalaga at tumingin ng makahulugan sa binata.
"Our marriage is not your business. Mind your own-"
"Paano? Kung ang babaeng mahal ko ay ikakasal sa taong hindi naman niya gusto. Pwede ba, Ashley. Bakit kailangan mong mag-suffer at kalimutan ang tunay na kaligayahan para lang sa business na sinasabi mo? Ash, hindi ito ang babaeng minahal ko,"
"Tama ka. Hindi ako ang babaeng minahal mo. Kaya pwede ba, manahimik ka na lang. Paalisin mo ako ng tahimik at hindi lalabas ang ginawa mong ito."
"No. No one knows how much I love you, Ashley. Please, ako na lang,"
"Nahihibang ka na talaga."
"Bitawan mo ang asawa ko." Napa lingon na lang ang dalawa sa lugar ng tinig na kanilang narinig.
"Please Ash, ako na lang,"
"Let's go Ash."
"Akala ko mahal mo ako? Bakit mo pa sa akin pinaramdam na special ako sa'yo? Ashley, noon pa lang minahal na kita. Ginawa ko ang lahat para mapansin mo lang...na kaya mo rin akong mahalin. Ako na lang, nakikiusap ako sa'yo Ash...ako na lang,"
"Minahal kita maniwala ka, pero hanggang kaibigan lang ang kaya ko. I treated you as my twin or older brother at hindi ko kayang ihigit pa ro'n. Hindi ako ang nababagay sa'yo, Charles. You deserve someone much better than me....."
~END OF FLASHBACK~
Ilang araw na rin ang lumipas simula nang kunin ni Charles si Ashley. He kidnapped her for Ashley's own sake but all of a sudden, he realized na hindi siya kayang mahalin ng taong nagugustuhan niya. Hindi siya kayang tingnan na higit pa sa kaibigan at kapatid ng dalaga.
“Madam, the soon to be bride was almost ready!” Daniel said- her stylist.
Nagsusukat sa mga oras na iyon ang dalaga habang si Luke ay naka ready suot ang kanyang coat.
“Let’s welcome, the beautiful bride- Ashley Briones!” anito at hawak hawak ang kamay ni Ashley. She walks slowly to feel her gown- wearing the best smile on her face.
“Ang ganda ng unica-hija mo, Gracelyn,” ani Emma sa katabing si Gracelyn. She smiled at her.
“Kaya mo pa lang maging mas tao sa gown na susuotin mo sa kasal natin?” she raised her eyebrow and laugh. She started to mumbling something about him.
“You’re pretending, Mr. Montecillo. Huwag masyadong tumitig at baka mahulog ka ng hindi mo namamalayan?” she smiled at him- ridiculously.
“Don’t worry, remember I’m a cold and unreceptive guy you’ve known?”
“Huwag kang pakasisiguro. Huwag na huwag ka magsasalita ng tapos at baka magsisi ka?” her whispered.
“What are you doing?”
“Inaayos ko lang ang zipper sa likod ng gown mo, Binibini. But don’t worry I’m not interested sa ganda ng katawan na mayroon ka,”
“Seriously?”
“Okay, let’s take a picture together,”
Every time he’s with her, may isang bagay na hindi niya maipaliwanag sa ngiti at tingin ng dalaga. There's something special to her na hindi niya kayang ipaliwanag.
"Next week na ang wedding n'yo. No one knows how excited I am for that day, sweetheart," ani ng kanyang Mommy as she entered on her room.
"Mom,"
"Thank you, Ash. Thank you but I'm sorry. Kung hindi nagkaroon ng problema ang business natin, hindi ka sana nagsa-suffer ng ganito. Hindi ka sana-"
"Mom, it's okay. I told you, I will do anything for this family at walang makakapagpabago no'n,"
"I love you, sweetheart,"
"I love you too, Mom,"
Dumating na ang araw kung saan sila magiging isa. Today is a new beginning for her. Habang lumalapit siya kay Luke, ‘yung saya, parang hindi na matatapos. She walked slowly towards him. She’s the woman who’s willing to be with him and imprisoned herself just to protect and save their business..
“Do you Luke take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her, protect her and provide for her; to have and to hold from this day forth, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do, Father!”
“Do you Ashley take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, protect him and provide for him; to have and to hold from this day forth, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do, Father!”
“Maaari n’yo nang isuot ang mga sing sing,”
“Ashley Briones, take this ring sign of my love and loyalty. I will love, honor, and cherish you always. As we enter upon the privileges and joys of life's most holy relationship and begin together the great adventure of building a Christian home, I will look to you as a partner and leader in our home as I have looked to Christ as the Head of the Church. I will love you in sickness as in heath, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow as in joy, and will be true to you by God's grace, trusting in Him, so long as we both shall live,”
“Luke Montecillo, take this ring sign of my love and loyalty. In faith, honestly, and love, I take you as my wedded husband, to share with you in God's plan for our lives together united in Christ. I commit to you this day all that I am and all that I can love. I pledge to you, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Before Him I offer this ring as a symbol of my love for you and a symbol of unity. I pray to faithfully fulfill my place as your helpmate and to uphold you in prayer as I submit my heart to you. I pray to always be by and on your side and to always keep the presence of the Lord in our home,”
“Groom, you may now kiss your bride,” he kissed her forehead and they started to clap their hands.
..........
“Where are you going?” she asked Luke with her sarcastic voice.
“Sa baba?”
“No, dalhin mo muna ako sa kwarto mo at magpapalit ako. Masyadong mabigat ang magsuot ng gown,”
“Whatever you say, Hon!” he nodded. Dinala niya ang asawa sa kanyang kwarto para magpalit ng damit.
“Saan ka pupunta?”
“Bababa na,”
“P-Pero, ‘yung zipper sa likod? Will you?” he closed his eyes as he unzipped her gown.
“Thanks!” she smiled at him at tumalikod. Ramdam niya ang pagbilis ng tibok ng dibdib niya nang makita ang kalahating katawang hubad ni Ashley na tanging bra lang ang suot patungong banyo. Nanginig ang mga paa at hindi nito maihakbang papalayo. ‘Ni hindi niya magawang tumalikod at lumabas ng kwarto.
“Nariyan ka pa pala?” she said as she got out from the restroom.
“N-Naisip ko na baka mas maganda kung sabay na tayong bababa para walang makapansin na nagpapanggap lang tayo sa kasal na ‘to?”
“So, let’s go?” kumapit ito sa braso ni Luke. Maya maya pa ay nagpapalakpakang mga bisita ang sumalubong sa kanila nang makarating sa pool area ng bahay.
“Congratulations!”
“Congratulations to the both of you!”
“Congrats Luke and Ashley!” sunod sunod na pagbati ng mga kaibigan at business partner ng family nila. Naroon din si Vina para suportahan ang pinsan.
“Bago natin pakinggan ang mga speech and gratitudes ng bagong naggagandahang at nagguguwapuhang kasal, pakinggan muna natin ang speech mula sa mga loving parents nila. Mommy Emma, what can you say about his new journey na haharapin ng inyong unico-hijo?” unang nagsalita si Emma para magbigay mensahe sa kanyang anak. Sunod namang humawak ng mikropono ang Mommy at Daddy ni Ashley.
“And now, it's the bride's turn. How about you Mrs. Ashley Montecillo?”
“Pwede bang no comment na lang ako? Joke, I’m just kidding. First of all, I just wanna say thank you to my loving parents. Wala ako dito sa mundong ‘to kung hindi dahil sa inyo Mom, Dad. Thank you for making my life perfect. Thank you dahil ginawa n’yo ang lahat para mabigyan ako ng magandang buhay. I didn’t expect everything I had in my life and just because of you guys, I’m already married! And to my husband, I just want let you know, to be married is my biggest dream in life. I marry you because I love you. No matter what it takes, narito ako sa tabi mo na handa kang suportahan at samahan panghabambuhay. That’s all, thank you,”
“Parang gusto ko na ring mag-asawa,” patawa nitong sabi sa lahat.
“Ikaw naman, Mr. Luke Montecillo. What can you say about your beautiful wife?” Ashley sighed beside him as he started to speak.
“To my Dad and Mom, thank you for reminding me that life is a short-term. Hindi natin mababago ang kapalaran at kung ano nakatadhana para sa atin. Thank you for approaching me every time I’m down. I rebelled against you but now, you’re still proud of me. Thank you! And to my wife, like what you have said, I’m here always by your side to love, comfort and protect you the way I can. No matter what it takes, ang loyalty ko ay para lang sa’yo. That’s all, thank you,”
“Wala ba kayong mga kamay? I need to kill myself sa sobrang kilig,”
“Excuse me po, may nag-iwan po ng regalo sa gate. Walang nakalagay kung kanino ito galing,” ani Mang Cannor- ang paboritong driver ni Luke nang dalhin niya ang isang kahon sa kanilang harapan.
“Mukhang may secret admirer ang ating bride?” napatawa na lang ang ilan sa sinabi ni Cindy- ang baklang MC.
“Haaaaaaaa.” Naihagis ni Ashley ang kahon sa sobrang takot sa nakita.
“Hija? Hija? Ashley, sweetheart?”
“Pakihanda po Mang Cannor ang sasakyan,”