Three
2704 Words
I lay in bed with my eyes closed as I hummed to the tune of "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley that was playing from a ceramic music box with a wedding cake and bride and groom topper on the bedside table. Pretty old for me, for us, but it was our wedding song. Not by choice though but by chance.
Love me tender
Love me sweet
Never let me go
You have made my life complete
And I love you so
Love me tender
Love me true
All my dreams fulfilled
For my darling I love you
And I always will
Every word to that song still holds true to my heart and I can still remember how we danced to it after our wedding ceremony, the first one. I can still feel her soft palm against my cheek, her breath on my neck, her body on my chest and the wild thumping of my heart that was bursting to the seams with joy to finally call her MY Mrs. Dinah Maines-Faulknor.
***
The days following my impromptu proposal were chaotic. The press, fans, and social media went wild with a turbulent concoction of contrasting reactions. Everyone was surprised of course, some including our family and friends were happy for us, some were apprehensive, some hated and bashed and mostly had myriads of questions about us.
"May comeback ba in the works for Dinah? PR stunt pa ito?" A reporter asked.
"Totoo po yung proposal. Totoo lahat." I politely answered although I was displeased by the question.
I was backstage in my dressing room of The Novo theatre in LA for a concert. One of the few projects that I accepted over the past year. Despite my requests not to have any press around, my manager insisted on letting a few reporters in who were given the specific instruction to only ask about the show and my new album and not my personal life.
It was inevitable, I guess, so it was better to lay all my cards out on the table and proudly declare to the world that Dinah Maines has agreed to become my wife.
"So kayo talaga? Kailan pa? Di naman namin kayo nakikitang magkasama. Mas madalas pa ang social media posts niya with her other guy friends and classmates sa training." Another reporter said sarcastically.
My jaw clenched and my fists balled instinctively at what he was trying to imply but I kept my resolve and answered calmly.
"Matagal na po kaming nagde-date. Almost everyday talaga, I make an effort to see her and call her lalo na nung busy na siya sa training. We worked on our relationship kahit na medyo challenging po talaga dahil sa oras. Pinili po talaga namin to keep everything private. Sa amin lang po. Kasi yun naman ang mahalaga, yung kami ni Dinah." I said.
"Pero sa video na kumalat, dinig doon na kasasagot lang din niya sayo nung araw na yun. So hindi naman kayo official magkarelasyon all that time." That was a reporter I knew and he knowingly smiled at me.
I nodded at him with a little smile. "Hindi pa po. Hindi pa po kami official na kami pero yung love... yung care... yung commitment namin sa isa't-isa andun na po. Officially, Dinah had my heart. I guess siguro, I never really asked pa kaya hindi pa namin talaga nalagyan ng label pero between us, sa amin ni Dinah, malinaw na mahalaga sa amin ang isa't-isa and we wanted to protect what we have."
"So pagka-yes niya propose agad ng kasal?" The reporter followed up.
I looked around the room with a giddy grin plastered on my face. "Nauna po akong nag-propose ng kasal. Yun na po talaga eh. I don't see us going anywhere else kaya dumiretso na ako sa end game." I chuckled and they laughed. The cloud of doubt that was in the room left when they saw how happy I was. "One thing I learned these past months with Dinah, sobrang halaga ng oras and the time I spend with her are golden kaya. I don't want to waste them. Bakit pa magpapaligoy-ligoy kung sinisigaw na ng puso mo at pininta na lahat ng Diyos sa harapan mo kung ano ang dapat? Kasalan na agad!" I grinned.
"You look happy." A Fil-Am LA based blogger remarked.
"I am po." I answered with a smile. "Very happy."
"Si Dinah kaya? Baka ikaw lang ang masaya. Asan ba siya ngayon?" Another one asked.
"Masaya po siya. We started looking at possible venues and churches tsaka wedding gowns and she's very excited about that. Medyo busy lang talaga kami pareho. Right now, she's at work on a flight to Vegas. Baka pa-land na nga po siya ngayon." I said as I showed them my phone that has the screen on a flight tracker. "May layover sila dun for two days tapos uuwi na siya ng Pilipinas for a short break para makapag-plano na kami ng maayos. Gusto niya po talaga hands on siya sa wedding plans. Syempre po special day yun and I want to give her everything she wants for the wedding."
There was a unified sigh after that like they all got the answer they needed.
"Wow. Bantay na bantay. So susunod ka ba sa Vegas? Malapit na lang yun." A female reporter I haven't seen before asked.
"Unfortunately po, may mga commitments pa po ako dito sa LA for GMA Pinoy TV after that I have to catch a flight back home para sa shoot ng next TV drama guesting ko po. Dinah and I agreed na sa Pilipinas na po kami magkikita."
"Okay lang sa kaniya?" It was the female reporter again.
"Opo. That's what's great about Dinah. She always understands and is very patient din po siya." I answered.
Sam, my handler, then cut in and announced the end of the interview and ushered the reporters away because the concert was about to start.
I sang at that show with a full heart, dedicating each love song to Dinah, like she was there seated at the front row with her bright brown eyes looking at me. Only me.
Although the tell-all interview was a surprise, the night turned out to be great or so I thought.
In the car, on my way back to my hotel, my phone started pinging wildly with notifications. When I opened my IG, a photo of my fiancée in Chateau Nightclub having drinks with her co-workers posted 10 minutes ago was all over the feed. It was dark and only the side of her face could be seen. She was with three other cabin crews, Stephanie, Miles and Jeff and the two pilots, I have yet to know. One of which was sitting beside Dinah and leaning towards her, his face hidden from view behind her side profile. He appeared to be whispering something to Dinah and she was laughing at whatever it was.
I have always admitted to being a very jealous guy. I felt my blood start to boil and my hand shook as I scrolled through my phone.
I knew she was not that kind of girl. Dinah is the most faithful and loyal woman that I know. She is beautiful, kind, smart and fun to be with. A lot of people especially guys want to be with her and they're not shy about it but she never gave them more attention necessary for a friend or acquaintance and she always backed away and told me if someone was making her feel uncomfortable.
I know she loves me and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt. I want to understand, although I was already trembling with rage. My imaginary fist already punching the brains out of that guy and slamming him against the wall.
The comments did not help me either, they were feeding my fury.
BeMyBaeby : Knew it! Landi talaga.
RikersBabe : My innocent boy, kinawawa na naman ni bagang. Leave that b***h!
DinahGirl03: Uy! New beau? And a pilot! Go girl! I always knew that Class B actor is not good for you. You deserve better, queen.
RINAHWasReal: I once held on to the fairytale of Riker and Dinah. I believed in magic but now the fairy dust has settled and that book has closed for me. Sorry for shipping you so hard.
LaKerForever : Riker, tignan mo. Kung saan saan ka pa kasi tumitingin. Kay Lara ka na lang mag-focus. Mas bagay kayo. Ang pangit ni Dinah, flirt pa.
I closed that app immediately, took a deep breath and blankly stared out the window. Before I knew what I was doing, I had dialled her number. She answered. She was still at the club. I could hear the music blaring and the laughter from the group she was with, her own giggle being stifled as she said "Hello, Baby ko?"
She excused herself until the music could only be heard through a wall.
Dinah was having a great time while I was being tortured by the green monster. The conversation started normally. She asked how the show was. I said it was okay. She promised to watch the videos later. Then I asked where she was. She said she was having a few drinks with the flight crew after dinner to celebrate the new pilot's first international flight. She said Fred was a fan and looked forward to meeting me. My jaw clenched at the sound of his name and I cursed by just imagining how those letters rolled on her cherry lips. She asked if I was okay. Then all hell broke loose, all of a sudden, raging and unbridled.
I didn't realize how I was yelling at her over the phone, telling her how jealous I was, accusing her of cheating and pouring out all my insecurities until I heard her sobbing heavily on the other line like she couldn't breathe. The sound doused me like iced water.
"I-I'm sorry, Love. I... I don't know what came over me." I said more calmly.
"Maybe this is a bad idea." She sobbed.
"Ha? Ang alin? Dinah..."
"Us. The wedding. Ricardo, how can you marry someone you can't trust? Wala ka namang tiwala sa akin." She said.
"No. Dinah, hindi ganoon. I trust you. I really do. Naunahan lang ako ng galit." I sighed, clenching my fist and digging my nails to my palm. It hurt. I deserved that pain for the tears I caused her.
"That's not what I heard." Dinah sighed.
"Hey! Are you okay? Umiiyak ka." I heard Stephanie's voice in the background.
She sniffled, probably wiping her tears away. "Okay lang, Steph. I'm tired. Balik na ako sa hotel." Dinah told her friend and I knew the message was for me too.
Pagod na siya.
That wasn't the first time I got jealous. There was always someone for some reason that madr me upset, an old friend, a handsome gay co-worker, a fanboy who let her cut the line in Starbucks or stared at her too long, my cousin who complimented her too much and she knew each time. Dinah always reassured me. She made an effort not to make me jealous, even avoiding her friends for a time until I told her I was cool with them. She always thought of me first. Always.
"I have to go." She whispered, her voice weak, defeated.
The line clicked and the call ended.
Pagod na siya.
That's when it hit me. I was wrong. I was stupid to be blinded by my insecurities and doubt the woman that I love. And I would be the biggest imbecile on the planet if I let her go.
"Sam, cancel everything. We're going to Vegas."
Three hours later, at 3 am Pacific Standard Time, I was knocking on the door of her hotel room.
She opened it, her doe eyes and button nose all red and swollen from crying, tears still trickling down the sides of her face. She stared at me quietly, raw, vulnerable and broken.
I did not say a word. I couldn't. Instead, I pulled her in my arms and held her tight, letting her sob and cry on my chest as I cried my own tears. When she was calm enough, she looked up to me and touched my cheek.
"I'm sorry." Two words. Two words was all I could say after all the tears we've shed.
She answered by pressing her lips on mine. By kissing me slowly and passionately, she washed away all the pain. She leaned her body against me, wrapped my arms around my neck and opened her mouth to my eager tongue as I kissed her deeper, surrendering herself to me, showing me that she was mine. All mine.
"Let's get married." I whispered on her lips when we briefly paused for air.
"We are." She answered before pressing her lips on mine again.
I groaned in her mouth as I painstakingly pulled away from her hungry kiss. I had to. I was in the moment and I had to tell her. "I mean right now. Here." I said determinedly.
"You're serious." She observed breathlessly.
"I am. Dead serious." I grinned. "Will you hate for marrying you in a Las Vegas chapel and destroying your dream wedding?" I asked.
"I can never hate you for anything, Ricardo Faulknor. My only dream is to marry you. It doesn't matter where or when, as long as you are my groom." She smiled.
So that was how it happened. We went to the first available chapel on the strip, A Elvis chapel, where the king's impersonator officiated the ceremony.
Dinah wore a simple white dress with her hair held up in a high bun and a white veil they provided on her head. I was still in the white long sleeved polo and black slacks that was part of a suit I was in from the concert. Sam and Stephanie stood as witnesses as we said "I do."
We were both smiling from ear to ear, eyes sparkling and glued on each other, hands held tight, not letting go. Never letting go... Then.
Love me tender
Love me long
Take me to your heart
For it's there that I belong
And we'll never part
Love me tender
Love me true
All my dreams fulfilled
For my darling I love you
And I always will
Two Elvises sang a couple of songs after the ceremony and we danced to them under a little flower arc while Sam and Stephanie took photos and videos of us.
"I love you, Mrs. Dinah Maines-Faulknor." I whispered in your ear as we danced, cheek to cheek.
You turned your head and looked into my eyes. "I love you more." You smiled as we continued swaying to the music.
Love me tender
Love me dear
Tell me you are mine
I'll be yours through all the years
Till the end of time
Love me tender
Love me true
All my dreams fulfilled
For my darling I love you
And I always will
Our first wedding, like everything about me and Dinah, was sudden and unexpected but divinely perfect.
***
I closed the music box and sighed. I should be crying. I have cried every time I heard the song but I guess I ran out of tears to cry or maybe I was hopeful.
I then looked at the picture on IG. It was an image of you leaning on a steel railing on top of a lighthouse in Santorini, staring at the ocean with a soft smile on your face and the pink skies of the sunset painting your cheeks. You looked at peace as the wind blind blew your hair from your beautiful face. Finally.
The photo was posted under the account @/dinahf. A first after a year of you not being here, a year of not hearing from you.
"I still love you, Dinah. I will always love you. I'm sorry." I whispered as I traced my finger along the lines of your face. My heart ached with yearning. How I wished to touch you again.
"It's time to come home, my love. Please come home."
- Writer
