"Ready?" my father asked. I met his worried gaze through my bureau's mirror as I fastened my mother's necklace around my neck. "You look ravishing, Anak. Your mother...would have been proud," he added in a choked voice.
"Sa labas na ako maghihintay, Aiyls," my good friend, Joey, who's also my hair and makeup artist and the only one among our group who knew that I was getting married, said. "Good afternoon po, Sir," she greeted my Dad before leaving.
I pushed to my feet carefully lifting the removable train that was attached to the skirt part of my gown. "Is it time to leave, Dad? Anong oras na po ba?"
"Do you really want to do this? You can still back out," my father said, his eyes sad.
"Dad, today is supposed to be a happy day. Bakit naman parang ang lungkot n'yo?"
"I can talk to your Tito Alfred again. I can—"
"Shh..." I gently put my finger against my father's lips. "Nakapagdesisyon na po ako. Napag-usapan na po natin itong dalawa."
"But—"
"I'm fine, Dad."
"Anak—"
"I'm fine, Dad. I really am," I repeated. "Kilala n'yo naman ako."
And maybe it was because my father knows me so well that I felt him tighten his grip on my cold, clammy hands – he knew that I was light years away from being fine.
"I won't be here to tell you to drink your medicines on time. Dapat kayo na po mismo ang magkukusa, ha," I reminded him as we descended the stairs. "Tatawag po ako araw-araw para i-check po kayo."
My father didn't reply but instead clasped his left hand over our joined ones.
"Mag-iingat po ako," I reassured him.
"Ipagpatuloy mo ang pag-aaral mo. Just like what we agreed."
"Opo..." I replied my eyes welling up with tears.
"Magiging doktor ka, 'di ba, Anak?" he queried. "Promise me that you will fight for that dream."
I tearfully nodded.
There was no entourage waiting for me and instead of joyous greetings, I was met by the somber face of Nanay Lucia, my father's younger sister who immediately hugged me.
"Nanay..." I said hugging her back.
"Mag-iingat ka doon. Tumawag ka palagi."
"Opo. Ingatan n'yo pong dalawa ni Daddy ang mga sarili ninyo. Sa susunod na araw darating na po ang mga bagong katulong—"
"H'wag mo na nga kaming inaalala. Kaya napunta ka sa gan'yang sitwasyon, eh, because you worry too much about us. Okay lang kami. Ako na ang bahala sa Daddy mo, aalagaan kong mabuti 'yan."
"Thank you, Nanay. Hindi po ba talaga kayo sasama?"
"Hindi na, iiyak lang ako d'un. I don't want to ruin your wedding day—"
"What's taking everyone so long—my, God, Ate, enough crying! It's not as if may sakit 'yan si Aiyla, magpapakasal lang 'yang pamangkin ninyo," my uncle's wife exclaimed. "Ready na ba lahat? Tara na at baka abutan tayo ng traffic. Dapat kasi sa hotel ka na lang din inayusan, Aiyla, para mas malapit sana sa simbahan!"
"Nasaan ang Kuya, Gemma?" Dad questioned.
"Nand'un na sa simbahan because someone has to be there to represent our family sa mga bisita, 'di ba? Lalo na't mga kilalang personalidad sa business world ang invited," she replied before she turned to me to give me one of her usual fake smiles. "You look lovely, Aiyla. The Ynchaustis are truly getting their money's worth," she insolently added.
