S IMPLE ang kasal. Second wedding iyon nina Daniel at Blanca. Hindi nakapaghintay si Daniel na hindi sila maikasal agad kaya nauna ang civil wedding. Ngayon ang church wedding. Buntis si Blanca, pero kanina lang niya nalaman. It was going to be her gift to Daniel. She knew he wanted lots of children. Talagang mahilig ito sa bata.
Kaunti lang ang imbitado sa kasal na gaganapin sa bahay ni Daniel, sa farm na nabili nito. Funny, they still lived in her house. Ang naiba lang, sa kuwarto na niya natutulog si Daniel. They liked it better there. Umaalis man si Daniel araw-araw, bumabalik din agad. May mga empleyado ito. He would rather spend time with her and their family.
Ang pastor na rekomendado ni Mitchell ang officiating minister. Kahit hindi makaka-attend ang kapatid ni Blanca, walang kaso kay Mitchell dahil may representative ito, ang girlfriend na si Angeline.
Sa lilim ng isang punong mangga, may nakapaikot na upuan. Sa gitna, naroon ang altar. Si Helen ang matron of honor at ito naman ang buntis sa kasal ni Blanca. Helen said she did not plan on getting pregnant, but there she was.
“You look so happy,” sabi nito sa kanya bago magsimula ang wedding ceremony.
“As you do.”
“I am. Never thought I’d ever be. And I’m so horny all the time because of this baby.”
Biglang natawa si Blanca. “Kailan ka ba hindi naging horny?”
“Touché. Seriously though, I’m very happy for you, Blanca. I’m glad that man came to his senses before it’s too late. I mean Edward Ting is so hot. So hot.”
“Hoy, may asawa ka na.”
“Wala na ba akong karapatang makita na guwapo ang iba? Excited akong makausap si Dante Cardinal.”
“Luka-luka ka, father-in-law ko siya.”
“Hindi ko naman pagsasamantalahan.”
Nagkakatawanan sila hanggang sa magsimula na ang seremonya. Naka-gown kahit si Yaya Dahlia na siyang nagtutulak ng stroller ni Baby Sam. The kid looked so pretty in her plum dress with matching headband that Blanca made herself. Habang naglalakad sa aisle, nakangiti siya at nagmano nang mapadaan sa tapat ni Dante Cardinal. The old man looked dignified. He was larger than life. Napaka-warm din nito sa kanya.
Nang makita naman ni Blanca si Miranda, ngumiti siya sa babae at niyakap ito. Lahat ng hindi inakala na puwedeng mangyari, naranasan niya kay Daniel. He actually introduced her to Miranda. Dinala siya ng asawa sa Amerika para ipakita ang farm nito. There, she met his ex-wife. They became fast friends. Katabi ni Miranda si Carlo. The two were going to get married soon as well.
Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad, nakatingin kay Daniel sa unahan. He was smiling at her. Nang makarating doon, hinalikan nito ang kanyang kamay. “You look so beautiful, Blanca.”
“Thank you.”
Nagsimula ang pastor. Mitchell helped prepare the sermon. It was about forgiveness, about mistakes, about the love of God and His grand plan. Napaiyak si Blanca at nakita niyang tumutulo rin ang mga luha ni Daniel. Mitchell’s presence was there for sure.
“You may now kiss the bride,” sabi ng pastor mayamaya.
Daniel lifted her veil up and their lips met. What more could she possibly ask for? Nothing. Everything fell into place, just as the pastor said. Ipinasa sa kanila mayamaya si Baby Sam para sa family portrait.
“This will be our best photo so far,” sabi ni Daniel.
“I think we need to have another one taken in about nine months,” sabi ni Blanca.
Napahagikgik siya dahil siguradong nakunan ng photographer ang pagkasorpresa ni Daniel. Tuloy-tuloy ang click ng camera.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Who doesn’t ever use a condom?” bulong niya.
Hinalikan siya ni Daniel sa mga labi habang karga ang kanilang anak. The band played “Happiness Is You .” Blanca thought how apt.
Wakas