A Chance To Be With You

Today is her wedding day.

She should be happy, right? After all, this is what she wanted to happen for a long time.

It was Jannilyn's dream to become the lawfully wedded wife of Xander Delgado. He is the man she pursued for a very long time. Jannilyn dreamed a long time ago to walk on an aisle where her soon-to-be beloved husband is waiting for her at the altar with a happy smile on his face. And today, Jannilyn managed to make that dream come true.

But Jannilyn feels detached and lifeless as she watches the wedding-Her own damn wedding-happen right in front of her eyes. The smiling faces of their guests is making her feel nauseous and disgusted. She feels like running away from this glamorous yet suffocating wedding but the arm wrapped around her waist is like a rope that prevents her from doing all of it.

"Jannilyn."

Turning her head, Jannilyn can see the face of the man she is marrying today. He is wearing a white suit that matches his angelic face. His handsome face is plastered with a smile that shows their guest how happy he is to marry her.

But is it really a smile of happiness because of their wedding?

No.

He is faking it.

All of it.

It took Jannilyn several years to understand and see it. But the gentle smiles on Xander's lips are all but fake and pure acting. Jannilyn thought if Xander would marry her someday, she could put a real happy smile on his lips.

But she is just delusional to think such things.

"We should greet our guests, love."

Jannilyn had a good look at him today. Jannilyn can no longer count how many times she fantasized about seeing his handsome face every morning once she woke up on their bed. But this is the first time that Jannilyn has a better look at him with observing eyes.

When Xander notices Jannilyn is looking at him, he gives her a smile. But instead of her usual gazes filled with admiration and love, Jannilyn gives him a disgusted look. The sweet smile on Xander's face stiffens but he quickly fixed it before anyone could notice it. Like a doting and loving husband, Xander helps Jannilyn to walk in her heavy wedding dress.

One guest noticed that Jannilyn's smile is a bit forced. She just made an excuse saying the heels she is wearing today are already killing her feet. That statement made a few guests laugh before they told the groom to let his wife have a rest first. Xander, who is determined to make a good image in front of these people, excuses themselves for a bit before bringing Jannilyn to the bridal room.

"Do you want me to call someone to accommodate your needs?" Xander asked with a soft smile on his face.

"...No need. Just lock the door once you leave. I will go out after I change my shoes."

Xander stares at his wife. Then he let out a soft sigh before reaching for her hand. Xander holds it gently as if she is a fragile glass. If it was before, Jannilyn would be swept off her feet because of this gesture in an instant.

But Jannilyn is no longer willing to be deceived by him.

"Jannilyn, we are now husband and wife. You can always ask me if there is something that troubles you." Xander said in a doting voice.

"...I know. You should go back now. Our guests are all from important and rich families. They must be bored since no one is entertaining them." Jannilyn said while pulling her hand away from him.

Xander's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. But he quickly put his emotions under control. He returns the affectionate look on his face while facing his newly wedded wife.

"Don't be like that, Jannilyn. You are still more important than our guests today."

Jannilyn no longer entertains his words and keeps her mouth shut. She also lowers her head so Xander cannot see the expression on her face. She heard him let out a soft sigh before he walked toward the door.

"You should go back to the reception area after you get a little rest and change your shoes. I will be waiting for you."

This time, Xander did not wait for Jannilyn's response and left her alone inside the resting room. The sounds of his footsteps are slowly fading into the background until silence quickly envelopes the room.

There is a full-body mirror inside the room. When Jannilyn lifts her head, she quickly sees her beautiful image while wearing her elegant and glamorous wedding gown. This is exactly the white gown she wanted to wear on her wedding day. The wedding dress she is wearing today was based on the design her mother made for her years ago.

Jannilyn promised herself that she will wear this gown on her wedding day. So even if Jannilyn was starting to be hesitant with her decision, she still paid a lot of money to a famous dress shop to make her mother's drawing into a real gown. And the finished product is so breathtaking.

Jannilyn shed a few tears when she wore her wedding dress for the first time. Her mother truly knows the best for her. The gown emphasizes her curves making her look like a real model that comes out from a fashion magazine. Even the details of it are showing her best assets.

But it's a pity that her parents refused to attend the wedding and let her mother see the gown that she designed exclusively for her.

During the wedding ceremony earlier, no one walked Jannilyn to the altar. She only walked alone on the red carpet filled with rose petals and ignored the confusion on the guests' faces. Although it should be the day when she should be the happiest bride in the world, Jannilyn's heart feels so dull and empty-something that a person should not feel on their wedding day.

"Why the long face, my dear? Today is your wedding day. You should stop wasting your beauty like that and smile."

Turning around, Jannilyn can see an old man wearing an off-white suit. His short and white hair is properly combed. Jannilyn almost bursts into tears when she sees the old man's gentle look towards her.

"Grandpa..." Jannilyn whispered before running towards the old man and giving him a tight hug.

The old man wraps his arms around his granddaughter's body. When he feels Jannilyn crying on his shoulder, the old man gently rubs her back to soothe her.

"This child... You should stop crying now, my dear. You will just ruin your make-up."

"Grandpa..." Jannilyn called him in between her sobs.

The old man helps his granddaughter to sit on the sofa. As expected, her make-up is now ruined. Even her hair can now be compared to a bird's nest. Her grandfather gives Jannilyn a clean handkerchief first before he sits next to her.

"Grandpa, I am so glad to see you today. You are the only one who..."

Jannilyn stops herself before she can even finish that sentence. But still, her grandfather already knows what she is trying to say. No relatives or family attended her wedding except for him.

This is one of the things Jannilyn has to pay to be with the man she chooses to marry.

"Thank you, Grandpa. I really don't know how I can thank you for this." Jannilyn said as she gently wiped her tears. "I thought you would not also see me today."

"My dear, you are my only granddaughter. Although I am already late, I still want to see my favorite grandchild in her wedding dress." Her grandpa kindly said.

His soothing and gentle words are making her cry again. The old man patiently coaxes his grandchild until her tears finally stop dripping on her face.

"Grandpa, why are you late? Did something happen to you on the road?" Jannilyn softly asked.

"I visited Gio earlier." Her grandpa said straight to the point.

Jannilyn's shoulders flinched in surprise when she heard that name. That is the name of the man who did literally everything for her so he can see her happy for the last time. It has already been a month since she last saw him. Gio told her not to visit him again and live her life in happiness with the person she chose to love and to spend her entire future with.

"Grandpa, how... how is he?" Jannilyn carefully asked.

She is scared to know that Gio despised her now. He must also be cursing her entire existence and wishing for her death. But still, Jannilyn will never blame him if he did.

He was sentenced to stay in prison for the next fifteen years. It was because he accidentally killed the man who tried to force himself on Jannilyn. Gio stabbed that man in his chest several times with a blunt knife until he was no longer breathing. When the police arrived, that was the scene they had witnessed.

They arrested Gio on the spot and brought him to prison. Before Jannilyn can prove his innocence, Xander stopped her out of nowhere. He told her not to help Gio or else, he will not marry her. Xander even made an excuse saying he cannot have his future wife thinking about another man.

Blinded by her love, the foolish Jannilyn indeed did not say anything and kept her mouth shut. Soon, she received news about Gio's imprisonment for the next fifteen years. The worst part of it, Gio just turned thirty-one this year.

Once he gets released from prison, Gio will be having a hard time looking for a job. Many things will certainly change and he will have a hard time adjusting to it. His years inside the prison will also steal his chance to build a good family on his own and have children that will bring more joy to his life.

And it was all because of her.

Jannilyn knows that she deserves to be the recipient of their hatred. She deserves to feel and receive all of their anger and disgust toward her. After all the things she had done just to marry Xander, she is always ready if someone will get revenge on her someday.

Seeing how tense Jannilyn is right now, her grandfather let out a soft sigh before tucking stray hair off her face. Then he opens her bag to get something inside of it and put it in Jannilyn's hands. It was an old voice recorder.

"Grandpa, this is..."

"Gio recorded his last message for you."

Jannilyn tightened her hold on the recorder when she heard that. Gio still has words to tell her. But what are those? Did he pour all of his emotions into this recorder so she can feel his hatred, anger, miseries, and grief?

"You are overthinking again, my child." Her grandpa softly said. "Trust me when I say Gio's only wish is for you to become happy."

Jannilyn stares at her Grandpa Nell. The old man really resembles her father. Jannilyn can already imagine what her father will look like if she also reached his grandfather's current age. When Grandpa Nell gives her an encouraging nod, Jannilyn exhales first before she pushes the play button on the voice recorder.

(Jann...)

The moment she heard that familiar soft and baritone voice, her tears are threatening to fall once again.

(I heard from Grandpa Nell that you are getting married today. Congratulations, Jann. You finally marry the man of your dreams.)

Then she heard him let out a sigh.

(You should be good from now on. You are no longer a single woman who can do everything she wants. You are now a married woman, Jann. Please be more mature and responsible from now on, okay?)

"Gio..."

(I hope that Xander will love you, Jann. I hope he can see how precious you really are. You are a woman who deserves to be happy. I hope that your husband will have a lot of patience dealing with you. Most importantly, I hope he will never hurt you or make you cry. You are the most beautiful when smiling, Jann.)

"You are the only man who can think like that, Gio..."

(And you should be brave all the time and stop crying when things do not follow your plans. I can no longer wipe your tears and be by your side anymore. There is now a new person who will do that for you. Please live your life happily from now on. I am always wishing you a good and healthy life.)

"Gio..."

(Maybe I am not really the man who can stand by your side and spend the rest of my life with you. But it does not mean I cannot love you anymore. Ever since I realized that I am in love with you, I know that you will be the only person I am going to keep in my heart.)

"Gio, please..."

(Jannilyn Rodriguez, I love you. You are the only one I will love for the rest of my life.)

"Gio..."

(Goodbye, Jann.)

Soon, the recorder stops playing. Gio finally ended his message for her. This might be the last message he will say to her for the rest of their lives.

Fresh tears are now dripping from Jannilyn's eyes. No matter how many times her grandfather wipes her eyes, it seems like her tears will never stop. On her wedding day, Jannilyn is crying so hard while calling another man's name. She is crying her heart out but no one knows how to stop it.

"Grandpa... This is all my fault... I made all these mistakes..."

The old man did not say anything. She only gives Jannilyn a gentle hug while consoling her. Jannilyn did not know how many minutes had already passed. Still, her tears are still flowing out from her eyes.

"Grandpa, I am so stupid! Gio... Gio is the one I truly love. And I realized it was already too late for me to discover it. Everything is now too late for me to fix all of it. What should I do?! This is all my fault."

Jannilyn cried like a child in front of her grandfather just like she usually does in the past. She doesn't care anymore if anyone can hear or see her right now. Jannilyn messed up a lot and now she is starting to earn the karma she deserves.

She is too stupid. Gio is the one she truly loves. Why does she need to realize it when everything is now a huge mess? Why does Jannilyn stupidly need to realize it late when she is now married and Gio will be imprisoned because of her? Why cannot she make a better decision even once?!

"It is too late for me to fix everything now, Grandpa. I ruined everything."

"It is not yet late, my dear." Grandpa Nell whispered in her ear. "You can still return everything back to its rightful place."

"What?"

"Jannilyn, everyone deserves a second chance."

Before Jannilyn can ask the meaning of his words, Grandpa Nell pulls a golden necklace with a lotus pendant from his pocket and puts it in her hands.

"This is your last chance, my child. Please cherish what is more important to you and live your life with full smiles on your face." Grandpa Nell said as he pats Jannilyn's hand that is holding the necklace.

"What are you talking about, Grandpa? And what is this necklace?"

"Just close your eyes and have a good sleep, my dear. Everything is going to be okay once you open your eyes again."

After that, Jannilyn feels a throbbing headache enough to make her eyes close tightly. She tries to ask for help but the pain is getting worse. Before she lost consciousness, the last thing Jannilyn can remember is the gentle kiss that her grandfather placed on her forehead.