Prologue
“Axel, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
“I do,” matipid niyang sagot.
“Francine, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
“I do,” wala kong emosyong sagot.
Agad namang binigay sa amin ang mga singsing na aming isusuot sa isa’t isa.
“I, Axel Martin Salvacion, take you Francine Kiel Alcantara, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to… love and to… cherish… till death… do us part." Napatingin naman ako sa kamay ko na siyang sinuotan niya ng singsing. Napatingin lang ako sa mga mata niya habang hawak ang kamay niya.
"I, Francine Kiel Alcantara, take you Axel Martin Salvacion, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death… do us part." Dahan-dahan kong sinuot ang singsing sa kaniya at tumingin sa kaniya. Tinanggal naman niya ang vail ko at hinawakan ako sa aking pisnge.
“You may kiss your bride,” dahan-dahan akong napapikit dahil sa paglapit niya sa akin.
Hindi ko ma-imagine na dadating ako sa punto ng buhay ko na magpapakasal ako. Sa ganito kagarbong kasal kasama na din ang lalaking nasa harapan ko na siyang… lalaking hindi ko mahal at kahit kailan ay bawal kong mahalin.
Dinampi lang niya ang kaniyang hinlalaki sa aking labi dahilan upang mapadilat ako. Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa aking tenga at may binulong.
“Your debt is now paid, Mrs. Francine Kiel Salvacion.”