9. The day of my dream

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The woman looking back at me was almost unrecognizable. My hair was styled in loose waves, my makeup was flawless, and my wedding dress... my wedding dress was a fairytale come true.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I thought about the journey that had brought me to this moment. The laughter, the tears, the late-night conversations, and the countless moments of pure joy.

Jarred's face flashed in my mind, and I couldn't help but smile. My heart skipped a beat as I thought about the promises we would make to each other today. The promises to love, to cherish, and to stand by each other through all of life's ups and downs.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle in. Today was the day I would become Mrs. Jarred Garcia. Today was the day our love story would take on a new chapter.

As the soft knock on the door interrupted the silence, I turned to face Jarred's mom, her warm smile illuminating the room. "Clyde, may I have a moment with you?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with affection.

I nodded, my heart swelling with emotion, as she stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over me. "You look breathtakingly beautiful," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.

I blushed, feeling a sense of gratitude, and replied, "Thank you, Tita."

But she shook her head, her eyes shining with tears. "No, hija, call me Mama. Today, you become my daughter, and I promise to love and cherish you as my own."

Her words wrapped around my heart, filling me with a sense of belonging. I felt overwhelmed, yet grateful, as I listened to her wise and loving words.

"Mama, I'm listening," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She took my hands in hers, her touch warm and comforting. "Hija, marriage is a journey, not a destination. It's a path filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. But the key to a happy and successful marriage is to always choose each other. When the storms come, and they will come, don't let go of each other's hand. Face the challenges together, and you'll find that your love will only grow stronger."

Her words were like a warm hug, enveloping me in love and reassurance. I felt my heart fill with gratitude, knowing that I had found not only a husband in Jarred, but also a mother in his mom.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I listened to Jarred's mom, Mama, as she shared her wisdom with me. Her words were filled with love and experience, and I could sense the sincerity in her voice.

"Thank you, Mama," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll always remember your words."

Mama smiled and took my hands in hers. "I know you will, hija. You and Jarred have something special, and I'm so grateful to see my son happy. Just always remember to choose each other, no matter what challenges come your way."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I knew that marriage wouldn't be easy, but with Jarred by my side, I felt like we could face anything.

Mama looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I remember when Jarred was a little boy, he would always come to me and say 'Mama, I want to find someone who will love me for who I am.' And I would tell him, 'Jarred, you deserve someone who will love you with all their heart.' And now, I see that someone is you, Clyde."

I felt my heart swell with emotion as I listened to Mama's words. I could sense the love and pride she had for Jarred, and now, for me.

Mama leaned in and hugged me tightly. "I love you, hija," she whispered. "Welcome to the family. You are now a part of us, and we will always be here for you."

I hugged her back, feeling a sense of belonging and love. "I love you too, Mama," I said, smiling through tears.

As we hugged, I could feel the weight of Mama's words settling in. I knew that I had found not only a husband in Jarred, but also a family. And I was grateful for that.

Mama pulled back and looked at me with a smile. "Now, let's get you married!" she said, laughing.

I laughed too, feeling a sense of excitement and joy. I was ready to start this new chapter of my life with Jarred, and I knew that with Mama's love and support, we would face whatever came our way, together.

As I stood at the entrance of the church, my heart racing with excitement and nerves, I couldn't help but think about the journey that had brought me to this moment. The moment I would marry the love of my life, Jarred.

I took a deep breath, feeling the delicate lace of my wedding dress rustle against my skin. I looked down at the intricate details of the dress, the way the light danced through the fabric, and I felt like a princess.

But it wasn't just the dress that made me feel like royalty. It was the love that filled my heart, the love that I shared with Jarred. I thought about all the memories we had made together, the laughter, the tears, the adventures. And I knew that this was just the beginning.

As the wedding began, Jelly, our adorable ring bearer, made her way down the aisle, her tiny feet pattering against the floor. She was a vision in her beautiful pink dress, her bright smile lighting up the entire room.

Jelly seemed to revel in the attention, twirling and spinning as she walked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She waved at the guests, who couldn't help but "awww" at her cuteness.

As she approached the altar, Jelly carefully held out the tiny pillow with our wedding rings, her face serious for a moment before breaking into another grin. She looked like she was having the time of her life, and her infectious joy spread throughout the room, setting the tone for a truly unforgettable wedding celebration.

Now. It's my turn to walked down the aisle. I looked up to see Jarred standing at the altar, his eyes locked on mine. He smiled, and my heart skipped a beat. I felt my kuya's hand on my arm, and I knew it was time. Kuya and Mama will walked me on the aisle.

As the melodic strains of "Palagi" filled the air, I felt a rush of emotions wash over me. This song, our wedding song, held a special place in our hearts. It was a poignant reminder of our journey, of how we had started, and of the love that had grown between us.

Every note, every lyric, seemed to whisper our story, our struggles, and our triumphs. It was as if the song had been woven into the very fabric of our relationship, a constant reminder of the love that had brought us to this moment.

I glanced at Jarred, and our eyes met in a tender, loving gaze. We had chosen this song together, knowing that it would be the perfect accompaniment to our vows, our promises to love and cherish each other.

As the music swelled, I felt my heart swell with emotion. This song, "Palagi", was more than just a melody - it was a testament to our love, a reminder of the journey that had brought us to this moment, and a promise of the forever that lay ahead.

"Ready, kiddo?" My kuya whispered.

I nodded, taking one last deep breath. "I was born ready," I said, smiling.

And with that, we started walking down the aisle, the music swelling around us. I felt like I was floating on air, my heart full of joy and love.

The lyrics of the song spoke directly to my soul, and I couldn't help but feel like it was written specifically for Jarred and me.

"Hindi man araw-araw na nakangiti" - I thought about all the times Jarred and I had laughed together, and the times we had faced challenges side by side.

"Ilang beses na rin tayong humihindi" - I remembered the times we had disagreed, but ultimately, our love had always prevailed.

"'Di na mabilang ang ating mga tampuhan" - I smiled, thinking about how we had always managed to find our way back to each other.

"Eto tayo," But as the song continued, the lyrics pierced my heart, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

"Ngunit sa huli, palagi, Babalik pa rin sa yakap mo" - I looked up, and my eyes met Jarred's. He was smiling at me, his eyes shining with love.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I walked towards him, the music swirling around me. I knew that this was it, this was the moment I had been waiting for.

As I reached Jarred's side, he took my hand, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me. We were in this together, and nothing else mattered.

The song continued to play, but I was lost in the moment, lost in Jarred's eyes. I knew that I would always choose him, that I would always go back to his arms.

And as we stood there, surrounded by our loved ones, I knew that this was just the beginning of our forever.

"You look stunning," he whispered.

I smiled, feeling my heart overflow with love. "Pogi mo," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The priest cleared his throat, and we turned to face him. But I couldn't help sneaking glances at Jarred, my heart racing with excitement.

This was it. This was the start of our forever.

Jarred's voice trembled with emotion as he began to recount the story of how we first met. His eyes sparkled with tears of joy, and I couldn't help but feel my own eyes welling up with tears.

"It was during our college intramurals," he started, a smile spreading across his face. "The assigned photographer had gotten into an accident, and my friend and professor begged me to take over the photo booth."

Jarred chuckled, and a gentle laughter echoed through the church. "At first, I didn't want to do it, but they convinced me, and I'm so glad they did."

He paused, taking a deep breath as he composed himself. "That day, I met this girl. She was bubbly, positive, and radiant. She was with her friends, but there was something about her that caught my attention."

Jarred's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my heart flutter. "I admired her from afar, wanting to talk to her, but I was too afraid. So, I tried to find ways to show my affection, to get her attention."

A soft laughter rippled through the audience again as Jarred continued. "I even spent hours in the library, reading books on how to express my feelings to her."

He smiled, wiping away tears. "And then, fate intervened. The trio walked past me in the library, and I overheard her talking about her love for cherry blossoms. That's when I got the idea to make a paper cherry blossom to talk to her."

The church erupted in a gentle "awww," and I couldn't help but smile, feeling my heart overflow with love and gratitude.

Jarred's eyes shone with tears as he gazed at me. "That's how it all started. A simple paper cherry blossom, and a chance encounter that changed my life forever."

Jarred's voice cracked with emotion as he spoke, his eyes locked onto mine with a depth of love and adoration that took my breath away.

"Clyde, you always say that I fulfilled your childhood dream," he began, his voice trembling with feeling. "But the truth is, it was the other way around. You fulfilled my dream. You made the impossible possible."

I felt my heart swell with emotion as I listened to Jarred's words, his voice weaving a spell of love and devotion around me. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I gazed at him, my soul overflowing with gratitude and love.

"You make my world a better place, Clyde," Jarred continued, his voice filled with conviction. "You bring light and joy into my life, and I am forever grateful for that. I love you, not just for who you are, but for who you help me to be."

The church was silent, the only sound the soft sniffles of our guests as they wiped away tears. I felt like I was melting into Jarred's eyes, our love a flame that burned bright and true.

"I love you, Jarred," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Jarred's voice rang out clear and strong, his words echoing through the church as he made his vows to me. His eyes shone with tears, but his voice was steady, filled with conviction and devotion.

"And now, in front of God, in front of our families and friends, I vow that I will be there for you," he promised, his words wrapping around my heart like a warm embrace.

"Loving you endlessly and always choosing you," he continued, his voice filled with passion and commitment. "For sickness or health, for lowest lows and highest highs, I will be there."

I felt my heart swell with emotion as I listened to Jarred's vows, his words painting a picture of a love that was strong, steadfast, and unwavering. I knew that he meant every word, that he would stand by me through all of life's joys and challenges.

"Kung makikita natin ang dulo, bumalik tayo sa umpisa."

As Jarred finished speaking, he took my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine in a gesture of eternal love and commitment. I felt a sense of peace and happiness wash over me, knowing that I was promising my life to this amazing man, and that he was promising his life to me.

I took a deep breath, my voice trembling with emotion as I began to speak my vows. "When I was young, I loved watching fantasy movies where the princess was saved by her prince and they lived happily ever after," I said, a smile spreading across my face. "I saw how in love they were, the flutter, the hugs, the 'I love you's', the kiss... I saw it and I dreamed of experiencing it."

I paused, my eyes welling up with tears. "Since then, I was so sure of what I wanted - to get married and build a family of my own." I said, my voice cracking with emotion.

I looked at Jarred, and my heart swelled with love and gratitude. "Jarred, just like what I always say, you fulfilled my dream. You made me feel love. You gave me the love that no one could imagine." I said, tears streaming down my face.

Jarred's eyes were shining with tears too, and I could see the emotion written all over his face.

"Ikaw lang 'yung lalaking inintindi ako," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You're the only one who understood me, who knew how to calm me down when I was stressed, who knew how to make me feel better when I was down."

I glanced at Ashley, who was laughing and crying at the same time. "My friends always asked me about our sex life," I said, a hint of a smile on my face. "But when I told them that we never did it, they didn't believe me. They always said it was impossible because we spent so much time together, alone. But despite all the times we spent together, we never slept in the same bed because you always respected my boundaries."

I looked at Jarred, my heart full of gratitude. "Thank you for never taking advantage of me. Thank you for never taking me for granted. You made me feel seen, heard, and loved in ways I never thought possible."

I took a deep breath, my voice filled with conviction and emotion as I continued my vows. "And in front of God, in front of our families and friends, I vow to love you no matter what. To stay by your side, through thick and thin, through every up and down."

I looked into Jarred's eyes, my heart overflowing with love and commitment. "Despite the challenges we may face, I'll stay by your side. For sickness and health, for lows and highs, I'll love and cherish you every day."

I smiled, feeling the weight of my promise. "Mamahalin at pipiliin kita sa araw-araw," I said, my voice filled with conviction.

I paused, my eyes locked on Jarred's. "Kung makikita natin ang dulo, bumalik tayo sa umpisa," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

As we finished exchanging our vows, the priest smiled warmly at us and asked, "Jarred, do you take Clyde to be your wife, to love and cherish her, through all the joys and challenges of life?"

Jarred's eyes shone with tears as he replied, "I do."

The priest then turned to me and asked, "Clyde, do you take Jarred to be your husband, to love and cherish him, through all the joys and challenges of life?"

I nodded eagerly, my voice trembling with emotion as I replied, "I do."

The priest smiled and nodded, his eyes shining with warmth. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Jarred's face lit up with a radiant smile as he took my hand and pulled me close. Our lips met in a tender, sweet kiss, as the church erupted in cheers and applause.

As we broke apart from our kiss, Jarred smiled at me and whispered, "I love you, wife."

I smiled back, my heart overflowing with joy and love. "I love you, husband."