Chapter 167 - The Box

Allie was facing the full-sized mirror when she saw the door opened, revealing Ajie in tie and coat Wondering where they were going, she raised an eyebrow as she glanced at him. He walked towards her and hugged him from behind, resting his chin on her shoulders.

"You look so beautiful," he said, planting a kiss at the top of her ear.

Covering his interlaced hands in front of her, she replied as she looked up to him, "Thank you. Where are we going?"

Ajie released her, held her hand, and walked her to the window. He opened the curtain, and as Allie looked down, she saw her family gathering at the garden at the side of their house. They sat at a long table covered in white with floral centerpieces. At the side, were smaller tables filled with chafing dishes and another round table with a three-layer cake.

"What's going on? Have I slept too long to be unaware of what's happening around?"

Without replying, Ajie pulled her again to an embrace and kissed her afterward. He then held her hand back and led her out of the house. Just as they stepped out of the main entrance, a car pulled out in front of the house, and to Allie's surprise, Hayri stepped down with a frown.

Hayri strode towards them and hollered, "You, fool! You should pay for making my travel endless."

Gaping at his disarrayed expression, Allie met and kissed him, "What's happening? Why are you here?"

Hayri looked up with a questioning gaze at Ajie, and instead of answering, a soft chuckle came out from his lips. Before any of the three could speak up, the sound of Jane's giggling interrupted them. They all turned to her, and she winked at Ajie before approaching Hayri to greet him with a hug and kiss.

"Let's go!" Jane said, pulling Hayri towards the garden, leaving him and Allie's questions unanswered.

As the three reached their waiting parents, Allie's gaze fell at the same judge who officiated her and Ajie's wedding before. Their eyes locked for a moment before she gave him a smile and a nod. To her surprise, Atty. Manloza was also there, smiling right beside him. Needless to ask, Allie realized that she was his husband.

The judge then stood up, gathering all eyes towards them.

"Adrian, Allyza, shall we start?"

"Start...," Allie swallowed her question as Ajie coiled an arm around her neck and led her in front, facing the judge. 

Judge Manloza looked at them right away and started his litany. "Six years ago, I pronounced you as husband and wife. A few months ago, I approved the nullity of your marriage, and here am I now, tasked to bind you again."

Allie's eyes darted between the judge and Ajie, absorbing the shock of this event into her system. She was just taking a long sleep, only to wake up for her wedding?

"Adrian, Allyza, God originally designed marriage as a lifetime commitment. You can't just say I'm bored with this union. You can't just say she or he fails my expectations, so I'm going to end this up. And you can't just say, I am angry, and I think I'll hate you forever, so let's better end this."

Without waiting for anyone's reaction, he went ahead. "Adrian, Allyza,  do you both promise to stay together for all times, in joy and trials, in anger and peace? Do you both promise to solve your marital issues by talking it out first and not in deciding to break your union right away? Do you both promise to be each other's strength and shield against the trials of this life? Do you promise to be honest with each other and make plans together?"

Allie knew that the judge hit them right where they went wrong, and she couldn't help herself from laughing out at its irony. Ajie smiled as well, though it couldn't hide the sense of shame and guilt he felt inside. They both nodded to the judge questions, taking to the heart the meaning of each vow they committed.

Allie completely forgot that Ajie did not give her a chance to prepare her mind on this. How could she be angry when she, herself, desired to build her home again? How could she deny Ajie's effort to bring them back to their once broken home? The obstacles were all gone, making their paths clear towards each other.

In a few minutes, the ceremony commenced, proclaiming them back legally as husband and wife. Everyone stood up and congratulated them, including Hayri, who grumbled for the unplanned decision, and for making him fly back to the Philippines just as he reached the airport.

"If only you're not special in my heart, I would not kill myself of fatigue just to attend your wedding!" Hayri murmured as he pulled Allie close for a hug. 

Allie got stunned; she had no idea about this discomfort just for this event to push through. She had yet to ask Ajie on what prompted him for that whirlwind wedding. Seeing the guilt imprinted in her face, Hayri felt guilty, and he chuckled to console her. 

"But if you did not inform me, I would also be humiliated, and you would no longer see me. "

"You're so confusing!" Allie pouted at Hayri's justification. What really was his stand?

"It's all my fault. I couldn't wait another day to make everything legal between us. Allie doesn't want a public wedding so..." Ajie didn't finish anymore. He knew everyone understood. 

"Not only that, you cheated. While Allyza was asleep, you gave me the task to become a superwoman," Jane said, exposing their secret. 

While they were confronting merrily, a motorbike rider stopped at the entrance. He alighted from the vehicle then pulled out a box from his compartment. He then walked towards the guard and handed the box. 

"Guard, this is for Mr.& Mrs. Adrian James Lopez."

The guard accepted the box and with a nod of approval from Ajie, he opened it. To everyone's surprise, the box opened to another black box.