Wedding

It was a big wedding, quite the opposite of what she imagined she’ll be having.

White petals carefully thrown along the ivory colored carpet of the center aisle, its sides adorned by bouquets of daisies. From one small post to another white cloth was interlaced. Alternately with the flowers, small white candles were lighted. The hundred of benches from either sides of the aisle were full and packed. He invited everyone. From his parents to his neighbors, even some of his old classmates. From her parents to her co-workers, even some of her teachers. Truly, it was a big wedding.

He was quite zealous, reserving the old grand church on its busiest month, June. She’ll be a June bride. She always thought she’ll be married on a December, when the weather’s cold just as she is.

The theme of this beautiful occasion was a white wedding, from the flowers to the dress of the flower girl. Even the guests were wearing white.

She was wearing this custom made sleeveless white mermaid-like gown that fit her like a glove and accentuated the femininity of her body. From her knees down to the very end of the cloth, it floated freely and she can almost feel like this mythical sea creature. The dress had this intricate design of flowers interweaved to one another. There’s this thin silk cloth tied right around below her breasts that drew attention to her beautiful figure.

She was wearing these white laced gloves that end right on her elbows and a sheer veil that partially covered her face.

They say at a wedding, the bride must have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Something old, his mom gladly gave her a family heirloom, a simple diamond encrusted tiara that she has worn on her wedding. And that tiara rested peacefully atop the veil, atop her dark brown her curled to perfect locks.

Something new, her pierced ears prettified with a pristine set of tear-shaped silver dangling earrings.

Something blue, her left fourth finger was embellished with the cobalt blue diamond engagement ring her fiancé has given her. It was lovely, with smaller diamonds surrounding it like petals.

Now, something borrowed? She was wearing a borrowed white silver bracelet from an old friend. It was so simple that it will pass for a man’s. And the old friend was a man. He lent her his bracelet. He doesn’t wear it but he kept it for the memories it has went through.

Now, she’s just wondering if that old friend of hers came.

She tightened her hold of the bouquet of white daisies as the music began. As she walked at the aisle, she stared directly at the altar and there stood a man wearing a three piece and vested white suit but instead of a tie, he was wearing a pink bowtie.

He was her fiancé, her husband-to-be. And maybe this was how her love story’s supposed to end.

♣♣♣

He can’t believe that he’s wearing a three piece suit on someone else’s wedding. And it was white. He placed a black handkerchief at his breast pocket for maybe he’s a little sentimental. It was a day of mourning; it was the end of what they have. For now, she’s no longer free just like he is.

The time ticked by quite fast and he just sat on his black car waiting or simply stalling. He can’t move his feet to move out of the vehicle and be part of the audience staring in awe of her beautiful wedding.

He was dumbstruck when he received an invitation. After their cold war and sudden drift he never thought he’ll receive an invitation for her wedding. Their common friend urged him to come for somehow this maybe the closure they both needed. And he can’t quite fathom that he said, ‘yes.’

He thought it’ll be easy to watch her go. But it isn’t. As he willed his legs to move, memories of their relationship flashed through his mind like an old movie with its complex plot and its even more complicated characters.

When he checked his watch for the nth time of the day, he realized thirty minutes has passed since he arrived. That’s when he decided that he really must see her for the last time of her unmarried life.

As he entered the old church, he was greeted by one question and one answer.

“And do you, Katherine Garcia, take Leonardo Alvarez, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and promise to be faithful to him until death do you apart?” The aged priest asked gently as a smile adorned his wrinkled face.

She swallowed the lump on her throat and whispered, “I do.”

The moment those two words left her lips he was already out of the church, out of her life. He took a cigarette from his pocket and a lighter. Yes, now he was smoking. It became his vice. For the nicotine soothed him at times of great depression. He never knew she, sealing the deal, will be a depression of his.

♣♣♣

Christian sighed as he watched her said, “I do.” He was happy for her but somehow he felt a broken presence entered the vicinity. He turned his head to face the dark mahogany doors and was surprise when he saw him.

He left immediately with his precise and fast pace and left the church. Christian was their common friend, the same friend who convinced him to come.

He looked back at the bride and how her eyes stared directly at the groom’s hazel ones. Then he looked back at his friend, the one with the white suit, with a black handkerchief on his breast pocket, the man who bolted out of the grand wedding the moment the bride said, “I do.”

He walked briskly and followed Tony to his car.

“Hey! Tony!” He yelled. Tony was fidgeting something in his hand, he was lighting his cigarette.

And he has to wonder when he developed such habit. He was walking faster now towards his car, ignoring the call of his name.

“Hey! I’m talking to you.” Christian yelled ten paces behind.

Tony closed his eyes for a second as the toxic started to take affect. His lungs were filled with the smoke and somehow the hazy feeling made him numb.

“What?” He said almost too softly.

“I never thought you’d come.” He said, finally arriving to the spot next to him.

“So did I, but here I am.” He replied, taking another drag from the cigarette. He unlocked his car and opened the door when he was interrupted once again.

“Are you happy for her?” Christian asked, he was really curious for Tony and the bride used to be such wonderful friends.

The stick fell from his fingers as the question sunk in. He stepped on the stick to stop the small light it still ignited.

“What do you think?” He asked, still not facing his friend. He opened the door not waiting for a response and turned on the engine immediately. He can’t stay at the same proximity as her. It was too depressing.

Christian watched as the black car sped away. In such haste, he saw the tire markings on the gravel. He just sighed and decided to go back to the wedding. They used to be such wonderful friends to one another. He can’t remember when everything became so damn complicated.

♣♣♣

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.” The priest smiled warmly at the couple in front of him with a hand movement to emphasize that they really can kiss now.

He was more than willing to do it. He carefully unveiled his bride and was greeted by a simple smile. With his palm, placed gently on her face, he leaned down and gave her a soft kiss.

She closed her eyes as she felt his lips on hers and when he let her go, she let him held her tight as they smiled in front all of the guests.

The moment they faced their audience, she can’t help but try to find a particular someone. Hundreds of guest applauded and she can’t see that familiar face, that familiar friend.

Aside from the simple gold wedding ring on her finger, she saw that familiar white silver bracelet hanging effortlessly on her wrist. She looked again for him.

But when the cameras clicked and the flashes glinted that’s when she realized he never came.

The air was filled with the aroma of flesh flowers and the subtle aura of disappointment.

He intertwined his fingers with hers as the photographer asked for the official wedding picture of the bride and groom. She looked at him and noted the difference of their features, the difference between her husband and her friend.

He placed a feather-light kiss on her forehead and whispered, “I love you.”

She closed her eyes and the camera clicked.

♣♣♣

He swiftly turned to the left as he heard the honking of the different drivers directed at him. He sped through the highway not bothering to even look at the signs or lights. He was itching to get away from her as fast as possible.

“I do.”

She looked so beautiful in her pretty white dress. She looked like a princess. He remembered when those words were directed at him.
Years ago, she let her guard down. She didn’t look like a princess back then just a damsel in distress. She looked vulnerable that night as she confessed everything.

“I do. I do love you.” She whispered and he heard every word.

As he fastened the pace of his car, those two words kept repeating on his head like a broken record.

Flashes of memory rushed in his mind. The past and the present interweaved to each other in this delicious cacophony of depression and regrets.

“I do.” She was wearing a veil that barely covered the magnificence of her features.

“I do. I do love you.” She looked so weak with a broken smile.

“I do.” She wasn’t looking at him.

“I do. I do love you.” She held onto him.

“I do.” She chose a different man.

His mind became hazy with thoughts of her.

♣♣♣

“Well, Mr. Know-It-All, a big ‘fuck you’ coming your way.” She shouted at him as she turned around and left him.

He doesn’t know how it feels to be turned away. He was one of her closest friends and he simply ignored her, didn’t believe her.

All she asked from him was loyalty. She needed it and even that he can not give. What more with what she wanted.

She felt like she was living in hell the moment she saw the judgment in his eyes. They were friends and that relationship grew to something more.

She felt herself falling for him, deeper each day. She felt the deep pounding of her heart when she was in close proximity to him, when their hands touched coincidentally. She felt the light chill that run through her spine when he playfully put his arm around her shoulder. She felt the warmth that covered her being when he whispered compliments to her ear.

He made her laugh. He made her cry. He made her want to live. He made her want to die.

He made her feel these strong emotions, she has never felt before.