The Runaway Groom: Not a Wedding Story

by Hanash They say love wins. But what if the world was never ready for our love to begin with? We planned the wedding of our dreams — not because we believed in forever, but because we wanted to believe we were allowed to. Two grooms, one altar, a thousand stares. In a country where boys are told to man up and love means a ring only between a man and a woman, we tried to change the story. We booked the garden, wore matching tuxedos, practiced our vows. But behind every “Congratulations!” was a whisper. Behind every smile was a warning. “Hindi ’yan totoong kasal.” “Sayang ang pamilya.” “Ginagawa niyong biro ang simbahan.” We weren’t just fighting for a wedding — we were fighting for space in a world that still refuses to make room for us. We knew there’d be judgment. We just didn’t expect one of us to walk away at first. So here I am — alone at the altar. Still in love. Still angry. Still hoping. Because the saddest part isn’t the silence after the music stops… It’s knowing this kind of love still has to prove itself worthy of celebration. So let me ask you, How do you mourn a wedding that was never meant to happen in the first place?