Anthurium (DFFF) **COMPLETED**

The Wedding

CRYSTAL'S POV 

 The twisting in my stomach, would it ever be stopped?  The cool white quilt wrapped around my legs like a snake. My eyelids dropped heavily and fell asleep eager for the biggest day of my life to come. 

The chimes rang again from my purple cased mobile device. It vibrates on the wooden top of the bedside table. As I started to wake up, my eyes were flickering around until that feeling hit my stomach and realized today is June 19. 

My eyes started to water. Sa wakas, ikakasal na ako sa lalaking pinakamamahal ko. 

Waiting for this day is every girl's dream when they grow up. It's every girl's dream to be in that beautiful white gown and to have a handsome sweet groom. 

 "My wedding day!" I keep on reapeating to myself. 

 I saw my mom walking out of her room. Tumakbo ako papunta sa kanya. 

 As soon as she looked at my eyes, tears started to flow.  

"Why are you crying anak? Something wrong?" Bahagya niyang hinagod ang kabuuan ko. Sinalat niya rin ang aking noo't leeg. 

 "Nothing, Ma. It's just that, today is my wedding day. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala. I'm...I'm just happy... So happy!" 

Ginantihan niya ako ng yakap and later on she led me towards my changing room. 

Finally its time to get prepped and be beautiful for my forthcoming husband. Many curls , thick curls filled the back of my head which were spiraled up into a thick bun. The top were lined with a diamond white ribbon covered with crystal beads and pearls that led to a vintage flower shape with diamonds inside the settings. A light brown powder covered the base of my eyelids, the outer lids had a darker brown that made a shadow look. The mascara was fresh and newly opened which made the lashes thicker in volume. It brought out my crystal hazel brown eyes. Rosy pink powder lined my cheek bones. Light pink gloss filled my lips making them sparkle. A powder pink and white French tip completed my manicure. Pearl settings sat at my ears. The white strapless dress shaped my body beautifully. Clear crystals filled out the top with flower designs scattering in random places over the dress. The left side twisted the white silk fabric into more crystal settings. 

 Lastly, I wore a pair of white beaded pumps. I took one last look at the mirror. 

 "Ready?" I smiled at my mother and reached her. 

 "I'm ready, Mama." 

 Mama hold my hand while we settled ourselves at the back seat of the bridal car. I turned off my mobile device and asked Mama to do the same. 

 ❇❇❇❇❇❇❇❇❇❇❇❇ 

Hinawi ko ang mga tuyong dahon sa ibabaw ng puntod ni Papa saka ko nilagay ang isang basket ng puting rosas. Ganun din ang ginawa ni Mama. I closed my eyes and uttered a silent prayer for him while mom stood beside me. 

 "Pa, as I promised , dumaan muna kami dito bago tumuloy sa simbahan. Here I am, wearing my wedding gown. I owe you and mama my life. Hindi ka man makakasama sa paghatid sa akin sa altar, in my heart nandito ka parati. Papa, me and mama will always love you." 

 Hindi ko napigil ang pagragasa ng mga luha ko. 

 "Lino, parang kailan lang noong karga-karga natin si Crystal. Ang bilis ng panahon. Ikakasal na siya. Aalis na siya sa poder ko. Wala nang mangungulit sa akin tuwing umaga. But I am so glad kasi matutupad na ang pangarap niya. Ang maikasal sa lalaking mahal niya. Wherever you are, I know you are filled with so much joy for her. We love you so much." 

 Pagkahinto ng bridal car sa harap ng simbahan, nakatayo na doon si Ma. Feliza. Nangunot ang noo ko nang makalapit siya. I immediately looked at my wrist watch. It's 4:50 pm. We arrived on time so what's there with the look on her face? 

 "C-Crystal .." Tila nababahala ang mga matang tumitig siya sa akin. 

 "Hey bestfriend, past muna tayo sa pag e-emote. Masisira ang make-up natin." Nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya. Pero sa loob-loob ko ay labis akong nagtataka kung bakit ganyan ang kanyang reaction. 

 "S-si Salvo. Wala pa rin hanggang ngayon. H-hindi pa dumarating. We tried to call him a countless times but unattended ang phone niya." 

 I remember to switch on my mobile. No message from him. I dialled his number. 

 'The subscriber cannot be reached. Please try again later.' I tried again. Again. Again. Again.... Halos mapudpod na ang daliri ko sa kaka-dial. But same thing.... UNATTENDED! 

 Brandon, Salvo's bestman and the other members of the entourage asked the guests to calm down and wait for another 30 minutes dahil baka na-stuck lang sa traffic ang groom. Ngunit lumipas ang isang oras, wala ni kahit anino ni Salvo ang nagpakita. 

I suppressed the urge to cry out of embarrassment and dismay. The pain inside is unbearable. But I still walked down the aisle. 

 I cleared the lump in my throat and face the guests. 

 "Thank you very much for coming here to witness our nuptial. But sad to say, hindi na po matutuloy ang kasal. Kung gusto niyo pong dumiretso pa rin sa reception, ok lang po. Thank you once again."  I smiled bitterly at them. 

Hindi nakalampas sa pandinig ko ang mga bulung-bulongan nila pero I'm too occupied to absorb those. 

Nakakatatlong hakbang pa lang ako nang magkagulo. There I saw my mom lying unconsciously on the red-carpeted aisle! 

Panic ang lumukob sa akin. 

 I screamed for help! Sobrang nakaramdam ako ng takot para sa Mama ko. It couldn't be! Hindi pwedeng may mangyaring masama sa kanya. Hindi ko kakayanin! 

 "Hush friend, Tita wil be fine." Pang-aalo sa akin ni Feliza. 

 "Fell, bakit? Bakit nangyari sa akin ito? Hindi na nga ako sinipot ng groom ko sa simbahan, inatake pa sa puso si Mama. Sobra naman yata yun! Bakit sunud-sunud naman!" Humagulgol ako ng malakas. Sobrang naninikip ang aking dibdib at nahirapan akong huminga dala ng matinding pag-iyak ko. 

 "Kailangan mong magpakatatag, Crystal. Whatever happens, you need to be strong. Makakaya mong lampasan lahat ito. I'm just here. You know you can always count on me." 

 Humiwalay ako sa pagkakayakap sa bestfriend ko nang bumukas ang pintuan ng emergency room. Nayanig ang buo kong pagkatao matapos kong marinig ang mga sinabi ng doctor. 

 "I'm sorry. Ginawa na namin ang lahat to save her life. But...she didn't make it." Patuloy ang pagtulo ng luha ko. Pilit kong pinaniwala ang sarili ko na mali ang narinig kong sinabi ng doctor. 

 "Crystal...be strong...Oh God! Wala na si Tita." Tinakpan ko ang magkabila kong tainga. Tama na! Ayukong marinig! Huwag niyo nang ulit-ulitin! 

 "Friend. Kaya mo 'yan." Mahigpit akong niyakap ni Feliza. Hinagod-hagod niya and aking likod. Humulagpos ang malakas kong paghikbi. Bakit? Ano ba ang kasalanang nagawa ko sa mundong ito para pasanin ang ganito kasakit na pangyayari? It hurts! Parang mamamatay ako sa sobrang sakit!