TRUE LOVE WAITS

Fifteen

Tiningala niya si Edward at masuyong hinaplos ang nangingitim na nitong stubbles. She gave him a fleeting smile. "I am so sorry for mistrusting you, Edward. And I---"

"No...I should be the one to say sorry, Babe! You were very young then...Dapat inintindi kita. Dapat nagtiwala ako sa'yo",he cut her off in agonizing tone.

Kung sana lang ay hindi siya nakinig sa mga kasinungalingan ni Yvette at Harold. Sana ay hindi nawala ang ilang taon sa kanila ni Cassie. Sana ay magkasama sila sa mga panahong nagbubuntis ito sa kanilang anak. Sana ay magkatulong nilang pinalaki si Ianne. So many years had been wasted for their love....for their family.

"When you offered me your proposition, I felt so cheap and low. Nasaktan ako sa pag aakalang napakababa ng pagkakakilala mo sa akin.", mahinang wika ni Cassie. "Kaya kahit gusto kong magkaayos tayo ay naisip kong hindi ko maaring tanggapin ang ganong klaseng proposisyon. Mas liliit lang ang tingin mo sa akin. At paano tayo magsasama kung wala man lang kahit respetong natitira sa atin?", patuloy na wika ng dalaga.

"I am so sorry for making you feel that way, Babe. Believe it or not, I feel so stupid para alukin ka ng ganun..But I am hopeless, I wanted to win you back at wala na akong ibang alam na paraan", Edward said.

"Why didn't you tell me that you still love me? Kung inamin mo lang sakin iyon ay tatanggapin agad kita", she winked at him playfully. Ang declaration of love lang naman ang hinihintay niya at agad niya itong tatanggapin.

"Knowing your rumored relationship with Fernando Rivera...,I must say that my pride's the only thing that's left with me, Babe. Pero kung tinanggap mo ang alok ko, aaminin ko rin naman iyon sa'yo in the long run." Edward explained. Nakangiti ito nang yukuin siya.

And to Cassie's delightful surprise, walang anumang hinalikan siya nito sa mga labi at unti-unting inihiga sa buhanginan. He pressed closer against her that Cassie feel his maleness arousal in her thighs.

"Oh...Edward, I love you so.....", she whispered.

"I want you so, Babe...",he groaned, his tongue sliding between her lips. "You don't know how much!."

Ang mga kamay niya ay malayang humaplos sa dibdib nito. Feeling the warm and silky flesh. Nang madama niya ang bahagi ng dibdib nito na may pinsala ay wala sa loob siyang napatitig rito.

"E--Edward..."

"You can't stop me now, Cassie, please!", he almost begged.

"P--Pero ang dibdib mo...", her voice filled with both concern and anticipation. Nilinga niya ang paligid. Halos naglalaho na ang liwanag sa kalangitan. The beach was deserted. At alam niyang pribadong pag aari na iyon ng mga Garcia.

"Then do something, Babe...Huwag mo lang ulitin ang ginawa mo sa pick up.", Ibinaba nito ang katawan sa buhangin at tinangay siya. She went on top of him. "Love me please, Cassie."

Pumaloob ang kamay nito sa palda niya at hinawakan ang garter ng bikini panties niya. Then he pulled it down. "I'm glad you're wearing a skirt...", he moaned as he raised himself inches from the sand and bit her n****e through the fabric of her blouse.

Her n****e hardened instantly. "Edward....."

"You don't know how much I've missed this, Babe...." he groaned and she helped him unzipped and pulled down his jeans. He held her buttocks tightly as he pressed her against his maleness. "Take me, Babe...I don't think I can prolong this any longer.! It's been a long time, Cassie."

Cassie sheathed him and flinched a little. It had been more than five years. And it was a wondrous feeling, like coming home once more.

"Oh,.. Babe...! I don't know how I've ever lived without this...without you..."

Nakipagpaligsahan sa hampas ng alon sa baybayin ang bugso ng damdaming namagitan sa dalawa. But it was over almost too soon. Ganoon man ay nanatili pa rin silang magkayakap.

"I'm sorry, Babe. But you have no idea what you did to me right now", he whispered. Hinawi nito ang buhok na tumabing sa mukha ng dalaga at inilagay sa likod ng tainga.

"Oh...I have,... Edward",she teased. Hinagkan ang dibdib ng binata at masuyong tumingala rito.

"Don't start, Cassie...", bahagyang saway nito at kinindatan pa siya. "Hindi ko nagawang kontrolin ang sarili ko matapos ang mahabang panahong pananabik ko sayo...But I want our next time to be perfect.. I just can't lie here and let you ravish me", he grinned at her lovingly. Though his eyes turned darker this time. At alam ni Cassie na nagsisikap itong puksain ang apoy na pareho nilang nilikha.

Inalis niya ang sarili sa ibabaw ni Edward at humiga sa tabi nito. Ginagap nito ang kanyang kamay at masuyong hinagkan.

"Thank you so much for loving me, Edward. Matagal na panahon man ang lumipas ay nanatili ka pa ring nagnamahal sa akin..Just as I love you too", she declared emotionally.

Edward pinned her hand near his heart. " My love for you is willing to take all the risks and endure all those pains. And no matter how long it takes, hindi ako mapapagod na mahalin ka...na maghintay para maging tayo ulit..Ikaw lang ang totoong minahal ko at walang iba... Hindi ko kayang ibigay sa iba ang pagmamahal na iyan,..no matter how I tried", he answered sincerely.

Three months later....

Ang kasal nina Cassie at Edward ay ginanap kasabay ng pasinaya sa bagong tayo nilang four-bedroom house sa mismong resort na binili noon ng binata. Natupad ang pangarap nitong manirahan malapit sa dagat at doon ay bumuo ng sariling pamilya.

Nagawang kumuha ng emergency leave ni Jenny mula sa pinagtatrabahuan nito upang daluhan ang kasal ni Cassie. Kasama nitong umuwi ang asawang si Jake.

It was a simple beach wedding though flowers were abundant. Pink japanese cherry blossoms were freshly exported from Japan.

Tanging mga kamag anak at malalapit na kaibigan lang ng pamilya ang mga imbitado. Kahit na anong pilit ni Donya Benita na gawing bongga ang kasal ay nasunod pa rin ang kagustuhan ni Cassie na gawin lamang iyon ng simple. She wanted to made their vows solemn and sacred. Walang press...walang publicity.

Si Angelo ang tumayong bestman samantalang si Yelena naman ang maid of honor. Ang awitan ng mga ibon...langitngit ng mga dahon at palapa ng niyog sanhi ng hangin...at ang banayad na hampas ng mga alon sa dagat...ay mistulang nakikipag sabayan din sa saliw ng musikang "Beautiful in White by Westlife" while the bride is gracefully walking towards the makeshift altar.

Masayang pinanood ni Donya Benita ang dalawang ikinakasal. A genuine smile played on her lips. Nagpapasalamat siyang pagkatapos ng lahat ng mga unos at pagsubok ay narito pa rin ang dalawang pusong nagmamahalan...pilit na pinagbubuklod ng pag ibig nila sa isa't isa.

Si Aling Lourdes ay nakahilig sa balikat ni Mang Diego..kapwa naluluhang pinagmamasdan ang anak na napakaganda sa suot na Victorian wedding gown.

Don Fernando was happily staring at his daughter. Nakakapit sa braso niya si Cassie habang naglalakad sila patungo kay Edward. Ito man ay masaya rin sa kinahinatnan ng anak at ang magiging asawa nito.

"Take care of my daughter, Edward", wika ni Don Fernando nang iabot sa kanya ang kamay ni Cassie.

"Promise, I will, Papa!", tiyak nitong sagot at inabot ang kamay ng dalaga at masuyong hinagkan. He got misty-eyed while looking at his bride.

"Cassandra, do you take this man as your loving husband and vow to love him as long as you live?", the celebrant ask.

"I do", she whispered and then gazed at him. " I will be your wife, Edward. Your lover...your friend...and the mother of your children. I want to spend my whole life with you. And I love you more than everything in this world.", She smiled at him lovingly. Then she added softly. "And if endless time is possible. I will still love you through!".

Tumikhim ang marriage celebrant and smiled with pleasure at the unexpected vow.

"Edward, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife and vow to love her for as long as you live?"

Edward held her gaze for a long moment bago siya sumagot. " Yes, I do. You're my only love, Cassie. This body is an empty shell without you. You're my world...you are my life and my day. I vow to love and protect you. At mananatili kitang mamahalin hanggang sa panahong walang takda.", he stared at her lovingly.

"I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride, Edward", the marriage celebrant declared.

Humarap siya sa asawa at hinawi ang veil na nakatakip sa mukha nito. His hand went up to cup her face and softly touch his lips to hers.

"Daddy....Mommy.."

Atubiling pinakawalan ni Edward ang mga labi ni Cassie. Magkasabay na nilingon ng dalawa ang munting tinig. Yumuko si Edward at kinarga ang anak. Then his free arm went around Cassie's shoulder.,holding both the two most important women in his life.

"Tell me you love me too, Daddy,...till...till----?", nilingon nito ang ina. "What is it suppose to be, Mommy?", nagsasalubong ang mga kilay na tanong ni Ianne.

Nagkatawanan ang dalawa. "I love you, Ianne!", magkapanabay na wika ng mag asawa.