Stonehearts 10: Tourmaline

Prologue

"Aly, how are you feeling, hija?" I looked at my mom's reflection. She's now dressed and ready for the occasion.

My artist just finished doing my make-up and is now finishing my hair. I already did my part of our SDE video and the men disappeared to where Evan was.

"Super excited, Ma." I breathlessly said. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin kasi ma-contain na finally, dumating na kami ni Evan sa point na 'to.

He's the person who proved me wrong. Siya ang nagpatunay sa'kin na hindi lahat ng ipinipilit sa akin ni daddy ay masama. He showed me what true love is, and I can't be anymore happy that after this day, we will spend our eternity together.

Naupo si mama sa tabi ko at humawak sa isang kamay ko. She played with the rock on my finger before she looked at my artist. She understood and excused herself and her team to give my mom and I some alone time.

"I'm so happy for you, anak. Sobrang natutuwa ako na hindi ka matutulad sa Ate mo." her voice was silent. Pati ako natahimik at napatungo. "Pasensya na kayo, alam niyo namang pagdating sa daddy niyo hindi ko kayo kayang ipagtanggol. Kaya salamat sa Diyos dahil dininig niya ang mga dasal ko na protektahan ka."

"M-ma. . 'wag mo naman akong paiyakin. Katatapos lang ng make-up ko." Iyak-tawang ani ko sabay paypay sa mata ko.

"I don't want you to lose your radiant energy just because you ended up with the wrong person. I've seen that happen with your Ate and I don't want it to happen to you."

Wala akong nasabi. Naalala ko nanaman ang mga pinagdaanan ni Ate at mga pinagdadaanan niya. She's a trophy wife. Halata namang pinakasal lang siya ni daddy sa Jeremy na 'yon dahil it will profit the business.

Jeremy is fourteen years her senior. Yes, he provides Ate all her material needs but that's all there is.

Nakakaawang isipin ang mga dinanas ni Ate kay daddy nang mga panahong sinuway niya ang mga utos nito. Pinili niyang makipagtanan sa taong mahal niya kahit alam niyang walang kapasidad ito na buhayin siya. It wasn't a surprise that daddy didn't make any effort to claim her back. He just sat in his office and told mama and me that she'll soon be begging for us to take her back.

Ang nakakainis, tama si daddy. Tama siya ng sinabi niyang hindi magtatagal ay gagapang pabalik sa amin si Ate. Pagkatapos ng dalawang taon, bumalik sa mansyon si Ate para magmakaawa at manghingi ng tulong kay daddy dahil nagkasakit daw ang anak nila ng lalakeng kinakasama niya.

Daddy agreed to help, but regardless, it's a selfish and heartless help. Pumayag siyang ipagamot ang bata ngunit kailangan hiwalayan ni Ate ang lalaking mahal niya at bumalik sa mansyon. Kailangan niyang talikuran lahat, katulad ng ginawa niyang pagtalikod sa daddy.

It was heartbreaking to see my sister go all through that. If I was in any capacity to help back then, I would.  Pero ano naman matutulong ng College student na katulad ko na umaasa sa magulang para sa lahat.

In the end, daddy won and Ate succumbed to his plans. She never saw her son again nor the person she loves. Pero alam ko, kahit ganoon ang nangyari, hindi niya pinagsisisihan ang mga naging desisyon niya dahil naisalba niya ang buhay ng nag-iisa niyang anak.

"I won't, Ma. Feeling ko si Evan din ang tamang tao para sa'kin."

She nodded her head, "I'm happy because you feel that way, anak." she gave me a soft kiss on the forehead before he called in my artists again.

Binisita rin ako ni Ate pagkatapos. Sinabihan ko siyang 'wag iiyak dahil alam kong maiiyak ako. Ilang beses niyang inulit-ulit na masaya siyang naging matigas ang ulo ko dahil kung hindi, hindi ko mahahanap si Evan. Natawa na lang ako, dahil alam niya namang tumigas lang ulo ko dahil iniidolo ko siya simula ng bata pa kami.

The time passed in a blur after that. Hindi ko na masyadong nararamdaman lahat ng pangyayari dahil nag-uumapaw ang kaba ko para sa araw na ito.

Today, I will marry Evan.

Arcie must've seen how dazed I am because she gave me a tight squeeze. "This is it, Aly!"

Nahawa ako sa mga galak niya. Parehas kaming nakadungaw sa labas ng sasakyan, siya tahimik na nagmamasid sa mga dinaraanan namin, habang ako nagbibilang ng mga segundo bago kami makarating sa simbahan.

"Yes! And then soon, ako naman ang nasa pwesto mo sa kasal niyo ni Bryce."

She let out a short chuckle, "Malayo pa, Aly-cat. Same dilemma as the last time. I might not fit my wedding gown if the time comes."

Una, hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi hanggang sa napagtanto ko ang mga salitang binitiwan niya. I whipped my head to look at her, and she's smiling at me impishly.

"Hi, ninang. Three weeks na po."

For a moment, I forgot it's my wedding day. I pounced her with a hug so tight, I almost kill her with asphyxiation.

"Aba naman, si Bryce Aragoncillo! Naka-dalawa na agad." I said laughing.

"Saka na natin pag-usapan, ngayon kailangan mo ng ikasal at bigyan ng best friend ang mga anak namin." sagot niya sabay turo sa simbahan.

Tumango ako sa kanya at hinayaan siyang naunang bumaba. Inalalayan niya ako hanggang sa nakatayo ako sa pinakadulo ng pila ng entourage.

Narinig ko ang simula ng tugtog at isa-isa nang pumasok ang mga tao sa loob. Namamawis ang palad ko at wala akong ibang marinig kundi ang malakas na hampas ng puso ko sa dibdib ko.

"Relax, Aly-cat. Hindi naman kayo nagkita ni Evan kanina kaya walang bad luck." Tugon ni Arcie.

I gave her a smile and puffed out a breath to calm my anxiety. I closed my eyes and savored the last, sweet melody I will hear as a single person.

I marched down the aisle.

Slow, steady steps. But the farther I go, the more our background fades. Hanggang si Evan na lang ang nakikita ko.

My parents handed me to him, the same time I'm permitting him to take everything that I am.

He smiled and kissed the back of my palm before he whispered how beautiful I am.

I blushed and took our place in front of the altar. The priest started the ceremony, but I wasn't paying any attention. My nerves are on overdrive and I just cannot wait to be his.

To be Mrs. Evan Theodore Echaveri.

"Do you, Evan Theodore, accept Torie Maylalaine to be your lawfully, wedded wife? For richer and for poorer, till death do you part?"

"Yes, father. I do." he answered right away before slipping the gold band on top of my engagement ring.

"Do you, Torie Maylalaine, accept Evan Theodore to be your lawfully, wedded husband? For richer and for poorer, till death do you part?"

I opened my mouth, but before I could even voice out my answer there was a big commotion from the entrance of the church.

Lahat kami napalingon. There is a heaving woman who looked like she just ran a marathon to gate crush our intimate ceremony.

"Itigil ang kasal! Buntis ako at si Evan ang ama!"