Chapter Nineteen
1987 Words
Twenty-four hours na lang bago ang big day. Nagising si Luna sa Hart Estate, sa kanyang pamilyar na guest room. The morning light streaming through the curtains. Peacefully and quiet.
Pero ang kanyang puso ay tila nakikipagkarera; halo-halong kaba, excitement, at saya ang nararamdaman niya.
Tomorrow, she's getting married.
To Jace Sullivan.
The man she fell in love with. The man she hurt. The man who forgave her. Real wedding na ito. Hindi na forced. Hindi na purely business. Totoo na.
Bumangon siya at tumingin sa dress rack sa sulok ng silid. Naka-display doon ang kanyang wedding dress—simple, elegant, at napakaganda. Bukas, maglalakad siya sa aisle at opisyal nang magiging Mrs. Jace Sullivan.
Legally, officially and forever.
Kinabahan siya. But good kind of nervous.
"Luna, iha, gising ka na ba?" boses ni Manang Betty.
"Gising na po, Manang," sagot ni Luna.
Pumasok si Manang Betty. May dala-dalang tray. Breakfast. Fried rice, bacon, scrambled eggs, fresh fruits and of course coffee.
"Kumain ka muna, iha," nakangiting sabi niya. "Big day bukas. Kailangan mo ng energy."
"Thank you, Manang."
While eating, nag-check siya ng phone. May messages.
From Jace: "Good morning. Excited for tomorrow. I love you."
Napangiti siya sa message na galing kay Jace saka ito nag-reply: "Good morning. I love you too. See you at the altar."
From Elijah: "Last day of freedom! Joke lang. But seriously, relax today. Tomorrow is going to be intense. Happy wedding eve, Luna."
From Atty. Suarez: "Everything is prepared. Legal documents ready. After the wedding, we execute the plan. Stay calm. Stay focused."
From Don Felix: "Good morning, iha. I'm proud of you. So proud. See you later for lunch."
Napangiti si Luna sa messages. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang suporta at pagmamahal ng mga taong importante at mahal niya.
---
Alas-diyes ng umaga, nagtungo si Luna sa Hart Industries headquarters para sa isang last-minute meeting kasama ang board of directors. Pagpasok niya sa conference room, sinalubong siya ng dalawampung board members—pawang matatanda, eksperyensyado, at puno ng pag-aalinlangan.
Because after the wedding, she'll officially become part of Sullivan Corporation din. Unity of two companies.
At kailangan niyang mag-present ng plans. Future directions. Assurance na the partnership will work..
"Good morning, gentlemen," bati ni Luna. "Thank you for meeting with me today."
"Miss Hart," sabi ng chairman. "We're here because your grandfather requested. But we have concerns. You're young. Inexperienced. Are you truly capable of handling this responsibility?"
"I understand your concerns," mahinahong sagot ni Luna. "And you're right. I am young. I am inexperienced. But I'm not incapable. For the past two months, I've been working. Learning. Training. I worked as an executive secretary at Sullivan Corporation. I saw operations from the inside. I learned how they work. How they think. How they execute."
Murmurs around the table. Bakas ang gulat at pagtataka sa mga mukha nila.
"You worked as a secretary?" tanong ng isang board member. "Why would an heiress work as a secretary?"
"To learn," sagot ni Luna. Honest. "To prove to myself—and to all of you—that I'm more than just a name. More than just Don Felix's granddaughter. I can work. I can contribute. I can lead."
Tumahimik ang conference room.
"And after the merger?" tanong ng chairman. "What's your vision?"
"Unity," sagot ni Luna. "Hart Industries and Sullivan Corporation have strengths. Combined, we can dominate the market. But not through manipulation. Not through dirty tactics. Through innovation. Through excellence. Through integrity."
"Integrity," ulit ng chairman. "The Sullivans are not known for integrity."
"Don Ricardo isn't," tama ni Luna. "But Jace Sullivan is. My fiancé—soon to be husband—he's different. He's been cleaning up his father's mess. Returning stolen properties. Compensating victims. Rebuilding the company's reputation. Together, we can create something better. Something good."
"Very well, Miss Hart," sabi ng chairman, tila kumbinsido na. "We'll support you. But we're watching. Closely. Don't disappoint us."
"I won't," sagot ni Luna nang may paninindigan. "I promise.” At doon natapos ang emergency meeting niya with the board. Pagkalabas ni Luna nakita niya na hinihintay siya ni Don Felix sa hallway.
"You did well, iha," puri nito sa apo niya. "Very well. You sounded like a leader. Like a true Hart."
"Thank you, Lolo," sagot ni Luna. "I learned from the best." Habang yakap niya ang lolo niya nang mahigpit.
"Tomorrow, you're getting married," naluluhang wika ni Don Felix. "My little Luna. You’ve grown up. Naging responsable. Naging strong. And I'm so proud."
"Lolo, don't make me cry," sabi ni Luna habang pinapahiran ang luhang umaagos sa mukha niya. "Hindi pa ako nag-makeup for today. Pangit ang iyakin na walang makeup."
Natawa si Don Felix. "Okay, okay. No more crying. Let's have lunch. Your favorite—sinigang na baboy from Susie's Kitchen."
Ngumiti si Luna. "Talaga? You had it delivered?"
"Special request," sagot ni Don Felix. "For my favorite apo. Last lunch bago mag-asawa."
---
Lunch time sa Hart Estate dining room. Nandun si Don Felix, Luna, Atty. Suarez, si Manang Betty, at surprise guest—si Elijah.
"Elijah!" masayang bati ni Luna. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm crashing your lunch," nakangiting sabi ni Elijah. "Jace is having his bachelor lunch with our relatives. Boring. So I escaped and came here. Hope that's okay."
"More than okay," sabi ni Luna. "Sit. Kumain ka."
Nagkaroon ng tawanan at kwentuhan, and for a few hours, Luna forgot about the stress. The plan. The upcoming war.
She's just—happy. Surrounded by people who love her. Who support her.
"So, Luna," sabi ni Elijah. "Kabado ka ba for tomorrow?"
"Sobra," wika ni Luna. "I mean, I'm excited. But also nervous. What if I trip walking down the aisle? What if I forget my vows? What if—"
"You'll be fine," putol ni Elijah. "Just focus on Jace. Look at him. Everything else will disappear."
Ngumiti si Luna. "You're right. As long as he's there, I'll be okay."
"He will be," sabi ni Elijah. "He's just as nervous as you. This morning, he changed shirts four times. Four. Tapos he practiced saying 'I do' in front of the mirror. Nakita ko. It was hilarious." Tumawa sila nang marinig ang kwento nito.
The image of serious, composed Jace practicing in front of a mirror—cute. Luna think he’s cute.
"I love him," bulong ni Luna. "So much. Sometimes it scares me how much."
"That's how you know it's real," sabi ni Don Felix. "Real love is scary. Kasi you're vulnerable. You're opening your heart. You're risking pain. But it's worth it, iha. Always worth it."
Tumango si Luna. "I know, Lolo. I know."
---
Nang hapon ding iyon, binisita ni Luna ang venue sa garden ng Hart Estate. Ang lugar ay ganap nang nagbago—puno ng white chairs, puting karpet, fairy lights sa mga puno, at mga bulaklak na puting rosas at peonies.
"It's beautiful," bulong ni Luna.
"It is," sabi ni Madam Celeste, the wedding planner. "Simple but elegant. Exactly what you wanted."
"Thank you," sabi ni Luna. "For making this perfect."
"You're welcome, iha," sagot ni Madam Celeste. "Now go rest. Tomorrow is your big day. You need to be fresh, radiant and happy."
She walked around the garden alone. Taking it all in.
Tomorrow, dito siya ikakasal. Dito siya maglalakad towards Jace. Dito magsisimula ang forever nila.
Napaupo siya sa bench. The same bench where she and Jace talked before. Where they reconciled and where they chose each other.
Sa gitna ng kanyang pagmuni-muni, biglang sumulpot si Jace mula sa likod ng isang puno
"Hi," sabi niya. Awkward. "Sorry. I know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. But I—I needed to see you."
Tumayo si Luna saka siya lumapit. "It's okay. I needed to see you too."
"Nervous?" tanong ni Jace.
"Terrified," admit ni Luna. "Ikaw?"
"Same," sagot ni Jace. "But also—excited. Happy. Ready."
"Tomorrow, we get married," sabi ni Jace. "And the day after, we go to war with my father. Are you ready for that?"
"As long as you're with me, yes," sagot ni Luna. "We'll face it together."
"Together," ulit ni Jace. Ngumiti siya at may kinuha mula sa kanyang bulsa—isang maliit na kahon na naglalaman ng kanilang mga wedding rings. Simple gold bands.
Kinuha ni Jace ang mas maliit na singsing at hinawakan ang kaliwang kamay ni Luna. "Luna Marie Hart," sabi niya, seryoso at emosyonal. "Tomorrow, I'll marry you in front of everyone. But right now, I want to promise you something. Privately. Just between us."
"What promise?" tanong ni Luna, nangingilid na ang luha.
"I promise to love you," sabi ni Jace. "Through everything. Through good times and bad. Through happiness and pain. Through war and peace. I promise to be honest. To be faithful. To be your partner. Your ally. Your best friend. Your forever."
Umagos ang luha ni Luna. "And I promise," sabi niya. "To love you unconditionally. To support you. To fight with you. To build a life with you. To be the wife you deserve. The partner you need. Your home. Your safe place. Your always."
Isinuot ni Jace ang singsing kay Luna, at gayon din si Luna kay Jace. "There," sabi ni Luna. "Now we're engaged. For real. Not because of contracts. Because of love."
Tears streaming down Luna's face.
"There," sabi niya. "Now we're engaged. For real. Not because of contracts but because of love."
Ngumiti si Jace. Then he kissed her, a soft and sweet kiss that’s full of promise.
When they pulled apart, both were crying. Both were smiling.
"I can't wait to marry you," bulong ni Jace.
"Same," bulong ni Luna. "I can't wait to be Mrs. Sullivan."
"Mrs. Luna Sullivan," sabi ni Jace. "Sounds perfect."
"It does," sagot ni Luna. "It really does."
They stayed there for another hour. Talking while holding hands. They are planning and dreaming about the wedding. About the future. About their life together.
About defeating Don Ricardo. About rebuilding both companies. About creating something good.
About starting a family someday. About growing old together. About forever.
Everything.
When the sun started setting, nagpaalam na sila sa isa’t isa.
"See you tomorrow," sabi ni Jace. "At the altar. I'll be the one crying at the end."
Natawa si Luna. "I'll be the one ugly crying sa gitna ng aisle."
"Impossible," sabi ni Jace. "You could never be ugly. Even crying."
One last kiss. Then he left.
Luna watched him go. Smiling.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, she becomes his wife.
Tomorrow, they start their forever.
At kahit may war waiting after the wedding, kahit may challenges ahead—
They're ready.
Kasi they have each other.
At that's enough.
More than enough.
That's everything.
---
That night.
Nang gabing iyon, hindi makatulog si Luna sa sobrang excitement. Alas-tres na ng madaling araw nang lumabas siya sa balkonahe at tumingin sa mga bituin. She kept looking at the ring on her finger. Simple gold band. But it means everything..
At three AM, sumuko na siyang matulog dahil kahit anong ikot niya sa kama ay hindi siya dinadalaw ng antok
She went back to the balcony. Looked at the stars again and at the garden below.
And she prayed. Not to any specific god. Just to the universe. To fate. To whatever force brought her and Jace together.
"Thank you," bulong niya. "For him. For this chance. For this love. Please—let tomorrow be perfect. Let us be happy. Let us win against Don Ricardo. Let us have our happy ending. Please."
Sa kabilang dako, sa kanyang sariling penthouse, ganoon din ang ginagawa ni Jace. Nagdarasal, umaasa, at naniniwala.
That tomorrow will be the beginning of something beautiful.
Despite everything. Despite the pain. Despite the war.
Tomorrow, they choose love.
Tomorrow, they choose each other.
Tomorrow, they become one.
Forever.
- Writer
