VALENTINO SERIES 2: TO TAME HIS HEART

Kabanata 28

Georgia

There was an ongoing renewal of vows inside the church. With our hands entwined, Boyd and I went to the garden area where we could hear the priest.

We know this day wasn't really for us, but we wanted to borrow a portion of it. To make our own vows even if the only witness we have is the God that ruled the universe that conspired for us to meet in this lifetime.

"Kapag tumanda na tayo, I wanna do that, too." Inakbayan ako ni Boyd saka niya pinatakan ng halik ang tuktok ng aking ulo. "I wanna keep reminding God that I still want the same girl after decades of being together."

My heart warmed. We may be young but what we share is real. It's something most people spend their entire lifetimes waiting for it. Some don't even get to taste it but here we are, embracing it together like we could never breathe without it in our hearts.

"Boyd?" tawag ko habang nakatingala sa kanya.

"Hmm?"

I smiled. "We're so lucky to be in love, right?"

Humugot siya ng hininga bago itinulak ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko patungo sa likod ng tainga. "We are, at araw-araw nating ipagpapasalamat 'to."

Inalis niya ang pagkakaakbay sa akin saka niya inalis sa kahon ang dalawang singsing. He gave me the bigger one while he held onto the one with a slimmer stem.

"How much did you spend for it?" I asked.

Parang nahihiya siyang ngumiti. "Two fifty."

"Oh, pesos? It looks pretty good for its price, ha?"

"Two hundred fifty thousand 'yong sa'yo."

Napakurap ako sa narinig. "You spent two hundred fifty thousand pesos on my ring?"

"One carat diamond lang kinaya ng budget. Hindi bale. 'Yong sa mismong kasal, sisiguraduhin kong mas malaki na, ha?" aniya sa tila nahihiya pang boses.

"Are you kidding me? I will still marry you with or without an expensive ring!"

Umiling siya. "It's not about how much the ring costs, George. This is me showing you that I am willing to do everything just so I could give you the world. Kahit hindi ako galing sa mayamang pamilya, kahit gaano kaimpraktikal 'to para sa ibang tao, gusto ko 'tong gawin kasi ikaw ang ibinili ko. Ikaw ang susuotan ko nito." Pinakatitigan niya ang singsing na hawak niya. "Mahal na 'to para sa karamihan pero . . . gusto pa kitang ibili ng mas maganda kahit hindi mo naman kailangan ng mamahaling singsing. Mahal kita, Georgia. I want your ring to be a reflection of the life I'm willing to give you."

Iyon pa lang ang sinasabi niya ay naluluha na ako. Yes, the price of the ring doesn't directly reflect someone's character, but sometimes it does. Boyd didn't come from a well-off family. He takes multiple jobs and do a lot of side hustles just to save up for my ring. Ni hindi ko nga nalaman ang tungkol dito. Ang alam ko lang ay masyado siyang nagsipag sa mga nakalipas na buwan.

Kung sa ganitong bagay pa lang ay handa na niyang gawin lahat masiguro lang niyang mabibigyan niya ako ng magandang singsing, paano pa kung nagkapamilya na kami? I know I will never starve when I am with him because he will always do everything to give me a good life. It's not about the ring and its price. It's about the kind of security that I know I will have if I will choose him to be my other half.

Suminghot ako. "Your ring? How much is it?"

"Mura lang 'yan. Tatlong daan pero matibay naman daw."

Napahikbi ako. "You spent so much on my ring pero sobrang tinipid mo ang iyo."

Ngumiti siya habang pinupunasan ang mga luha ko. "Eh, ikaw naman ang pinakamahalaga sa'kin. Alam ko namang hangga't suot ko 'to, panatag ang dibdib ko dahil ikaw ang girlfriend ko."

I sobbed. "I love you. I love you so much."

His eyes softened. He cupped my cheek and gently wiped the stain of tears on my skin while he stares into my eyes.

"Mahal na mahal kita, Georgia. I don't think I could ever love someone as hard as I love you. Sobrang swerte kong tinanggap mo kung ano pa lang ako ngayon. Kung ano pa lang ang kaya kong ibigay." His eyes flickered with love. "I will do everything for you, baby. No matter how hard it might be, I vow to give you the life that you truly deserve. My arms will always be here to offer you home. My ears will always be ready to listen to everything you wanna say. My eyes are only devoted to admire you even on the days that you don't see yourself as pretty as I see you, and my lips will never get tired of telling you how lucky I am that you let me love you . . ."

My lower lips trembled as I watched him put the ring on my finger. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala. I couldn't even care about our surroundings because all I see is him and this beautiful moment that we are sharing.

"I don't know what to say . . ." I sobbed while staring at my ring. "I don't know how I could ever possibly tell you how much I really love you kasi parang . . . parang hindi sapat ang mga salita. This love, it doesn't burn me, Boyd. It calms my heart. It tames the monsters in my head. It . . . It gives me the freedom to be who I am. To be real." I smiled as I met his gaze. "You are my own definition of heaven, Boyd Kennedy. Thank you for loving me in the realest way . . ."

Boyd let me put the ring on his finger before he held me by my nape. He leaned while I tiptoed as we shared one of the most beautiful kisses we ever shared. Napuno ng pagmamahal, kaligayahan at kapayapaan ang dibdib ko. I kissed him with all my heart, wanting nothing but to make him understand that he's the only man I would ever love this way.

Maybe love was never about butterflies and fast heartbeats.

Maybe love, after all, is meant to be peaceful. To be warm. Heavenly, perhaps. Because that's what I feel. That's what we have, and I never want it in any other way.

Boyd sniffed as he caressed the back of my ear with his thumb. "You're my Mrs. Fortillo kahit si Lord lang ang witness sa ngayon."

My eyes watered as I gave him my sweetest smile. "And you are my Mr. Fortillo. My only love . . ."

He kissed me on my forehead before he locked me in his arms. Maya-maya ay tiningala niya ang langit saka siya nagsalita.

"Lord, akin na ho, 'to ha? Hanggang dulo na 'to."

I laughed softly then tiptoed to kiss him on his lips again while I asked God in my head for the same thing.

If only I knew God doesn't always answer prayers without putting people on trials . . .