Epilogue

My heart was beating so fast and my tears began to roll down my cheeks when I saw her walking slowly down the aisle. God, she’s so beautiful. I just can’t believe she’s all mine.

“Dude, you’re cheesy.” Von who’s standing beside me chuckled when he saw me in tears so he handed me his hanky. But he’s obviously emotional as I am! I just smiled nervously as I wiped off my tears. Ah, can’t help it.

“Niko, oo naalala ko nga ang unang beses na nagkasalubong tayo..napaka suplado mo at sinungitan mo pa ako.” She said smiling.

“But I never thought na ‘yong guwapong suplado na ‘yon ay ang magiging asawa ko pala. I actually wrote my vow but I won’t read it anymore and I will just speak my heart out today; my vow to you in front of God and of our loved ones.”

“You are Mr. Suplado who eventually became my Mr. Perfect. Yes, you may not be perfect dahil wala naman talagang perpekto ‘di ba? Pero alam kong ikaw ang perpektong pinili ng Diyos para sa akin na makakatuwang ko sa habang buhay.”

“You showed me what love truly is. Niko, mahal na mahal kita. Handa na ako sa bagong kabanata ng buhay natin kasama ang anak natin at katulad nga ng sinabi mo pati na ang magiging mga anak pa natin.”

“I promise to honor you, love you, and cherish you as my husband today and every day. I will laugh with you, cry with you, scream with you, and grow old with you. I give you my hand.. for the second time. I give you my love, I give you myself, the good, the bad, and the yet to come. I love you forever my Mr. Perfect.”

God, I don’t know what I did right to deserve her.  She’s the most amazing woman I have ever known and loved. And I promise to love her more and our family with all my heart and soul.

 Jazmin’s POV

“Mommy, you’re so beautiful!” Masayang sabi ni Aedin habang nakatingala sa akin.

“Aw, thank you baby kong guwapo!” Sabi ko naman sa kanya at umupo pa ako ng bahagya para mahalikan siya.

“Aedin, let’s go?” Tawag naman ni Max sa kanya at pinapapunta na kasi sila sa venue.

“At the beach?!” Sabik nitong tanong at tumakbo na nga nang tumango si Max.

Napailing na lang si mommy at nakangiti pa itong bumaling sa akin. Ang ganda ni mommy lalo sa suot niya ngayon.

“Your happiness is my happiness, anak. Always remember to put God in the center of your marriage and of your family. And I know everything will fall into place.” Nakangiti at masuyo niyang sabi.

Hindi ko napigilan ang pagpatak ng luha ko at niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit. “Thank you so much,’my. Thank you for being the best mommy in the world. I love you!”

“I love you more, anak.”

“Are you ready?” Masayang tanong naman ni Jen habang palabas na kami ng suite. Napangiti pa siya lalo nang tumango ako.

Magpapakasal kami ni Niko sa pangalawang pagkakataon. Ngayon ay saksi na ang mga mahal namin sa buhay kaya sobra ang saya na nararamdaman ko.

Napangiti ako at halos matunaw ang puso ko nang makita ko siyang lumuluha sa harapan habang naglalakad ako palapit sa kanya. Napakaguwapo at napakakisig niya sa kanyang kasuotan kaya naman lalo pang nagwala ang puso ko.

 “I still remember the very first time I saw you. You were so beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off you and even days after; I couldn’t.. I just couldn’t shake you off from my head no matter what I do. See, how smitten I was? I knew you will be the only girl I would want to spend the rest of my life with and here we are. This might not be our first wedding but this is the first time I get to say my vow to you in front of God and to our loved ones.”

“Jaz, baby, I love you so much and I always thank God for your life..from the very first day we met and until now and forever. Thank you for being the best mother to our son and to our future sons and daughters. I’m really looking forward to that.”

“I may not be perfect in so many ways but I promise to love, honor, and cherish you forever. I look forward to raising our family and building our relationship under the guidance of God. Your love and trust makes me a better person, each and every day. There’s no one else I’d want to build a life with. I get to have you by my side, my love, and my wife, for eternity. I love you forever, baby.”

“Daddy Niko, gising!"

Tinapik tapik ko pa siya sa pisngi para tuluyan siyang magising. Napangiti na lang ako nang bigla siyang mapabalikwas ng bangon kahit na inaantok pa siya.

"Yes, baby mommy?" Halos nakapikit pa niyang sagot. Natawa na nga ako nang tuluyan dahil napaka cute niya!

"Nagugutom ako eh.” Nakanguso kong sabi sa kanya.

“Hmm? What do you want to eat?” Tanong naman niya sa akin at pinipilit talaga niyang imulat ang mga mata niya. Naaawa na nga ako sa kanya pero ginugutom talaga ako eh.

“Patupat ang gusto ko eh..” Nag-aalangan kong sabi sa kanya.

"P-patupat? What's that?" Tuluyan na ngang nagising ang diwa niya.

Naaawa ako sa kanya pero diko talaga mapigilan mag crave at hindi lang basta crave dahil madalas ay sa madaling araw pa ito mangyari.

Mabilis niya akong hinalikan sa labi at agad na siyang tumayo at nagbihis. Mayroon kayang mabibilhan ng gano’n ngayon? Sa Pangasinan ko lang natikman ‘yon dati eh. Mahilig ako sa kakanin ngayon pangalawang pagbubuntis ko.

Napangiti naman ako nang maalala ko kung gaano kasaya si Niko nang malaman niyang buntis ako. Halos magtatatalon siya sa tuwa kaya naman mas lalo pa siyang naging maasikaso sa akin. Kulang na lang ay hindi niya ako palakarin.

Nasa first trimester pa lang ako kaya naman sobrang arte ko ngayon. Medyo nahihirapan din ako dahil sa morning sickness pero laking pasasalamat ko kay Niko dahil lagi siyang nandiyan at nakasuporta.

Sa tingin ko ay sa Sagada nabuo ang baby namin dahil doon kami nag honeymoon bago lumipad patungong Maldives. Natupad na din ‘yong sinabi namin noon na babalik kami muli doon ng kaming dalawa lang.

Pagkauwi naman namin galing sa Maldives ay lubos akong nasuprisa nang iuwi niya kami ni Aedin sa pinagawa niyang bahay para sa amin!

He has been working a lot lately. Minsan inuuwi pa niya ang work niya para kahit paano ay makasama pa din niya kami lagi. Kung dati ay ako ang napaka clingy, ngayon ay siya naman!

"OMG! Patupat! Thank you, daddy!" Tuwang tuwa kong saad nang makauwi siya kinaumagahan, I mean magtatanghali na!

Kaagad naman niya akong niyakap sa bewang. “Are you happy?” Masuyo niyang tanong kaya nakangiti naman akong tumango.

Ikinawit ko naman ang mga braso ko sa leeg niya at tumingkayad para halikan siya. Hindi siya nakahuma agad at nang makabawi siya at akmang lalaliman pa ang halik ay kaagad na akong bumitaw. Nagugutom na ako ng patupat! Wala na siyang nagawa kundi mapakamot sa batok kaya natawa ako sa itsura niyang parang nalugi.

"Saan mo to binili?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang nilalantakan ang binili niya.

Napakadami nga niyang binili at pakiramdam ko ay pinakyaw niya pa lahat ng paninda! Hmm grabe napakasarap talaga!

"I went to the moon just to buy patupat so you better finish that all." Nakangisi niyang sabi sa akin habang pinapanood akong kumain.

"Moon? Kaya pala ang tagal mo! Naiinip na si baby." Kunwari namang nakasimangot kong sabi.

"I’m sorry, baby! Daddy loves you so much!” Masuyo nitong sabi sa impis ko pang tiyan.

Uminit naman ang puso ko at halos matunaw pa ito dahil napakalambing niya at lagi niyang kinakausap ang baby.

“I think our baby is a girl." Sabi pa niya kaya napakunot noo akong napatingin sa kanya.

"Bakit mo nasabi?" Tanong ko.

"Maarte like mommy!" Nakangisi niyang sabi kaya inirapan ko siya.

Tinawanan niya lang ako at kinintalan ng halik sa ulo. Lalo pa akong na-i in love sa kanya sa bawat araw. Para pa din kaming bagong mag boyfriend dahil hanggang ngayon ay sobra pa din akong kinikilig sa kanya lalo na kapag tinutugtugan niya kami ng gitara.

Nobody’s perfect but I believe God has destined us with someone perfect for us. And he indeed is my Mr. Perfect. I love him so much and I promise to be the best wife to him and the best mother to our children.

Niko's POV

"Daddy! When will my baby sister come out? You always tell me soon but what's taking her so long?"

"Oh! So impatient like daddy!" Jaz said laughing.

"Come here and let's ask the baby.” He immediately sat on my lap and he gently caressed his mommy’s big tummy.

"Hi baby sister! Come out already because I can’t wait to play with you!"

"Oh! The baby is kicking! You see that, baby?" I’m still amazed although I already saw it many times now!

"Wow! The baby's moving daddy!"

"Ouch! Nag co-contract na tiyan ko Niko!" She seemed in pain! I didn't know what to do so I immediately carried her.

"Are you going to give birth now, baby?" I said panicking but she suddenly laughed!

"Hey! Don’t tell me you’re kidding?"

"Ibaba mo ako Niko. I can still walk, you know! Nagco-contract pa lang naman. This will take hours pa before I give birth. So relax daddy!" I can't believe she can still laugh while here I am, already panicking!

"Are you sure? Shall I call your OB?"

After 8 long hours of labor, she finally gave birth to our beautiful baby girl. Hell yeah, I almost fainted when she screamed my name while pushing so hard.

I’m so proud of her. I have so much regrets that I wasn't there when she gave birth to Aedin.. So I gave my best when she got pregnant with our second child.

She always wakes me up in the middle of the night because she's hungry and she'd been craving for weird food like patupat, kambal na strawberry, tupig and so much more! But no complaints, I am willing to do anything for her and for our kids. Ah, I love her more with each passing day.

My heart melted when I heard our baby’s cry!

 “You did well, I’m so proud of you. I love you, baby.”

“I love you, Niko.” She smiled sweetly back at me before she drifted off to sleep.

"Here's the baby, daddy!" The nurse happily handed me our precious little baby.

Tears suddenly ran down my face when I held her in my arms. I fell in love instantly for the third time. First to Jaz and then Aedin, and our little Nikkie. She's so beautiful like her mom! Oh, my little Jaz!

"Hi there, my little princess!”

My family is best thing that ever happened to me. Priceless!