WEDDING DAY

VERONICA

It was my wedding day. I had still thought it was all a joke and at some point, I had even laughed the imagination of it off but standing before the gigantic mirror in the wedding preparation room starring at myself in it, cladded in a long flowing white sparkling wedding dress and a face I struggled a bit to recognize as mine, it all began to register in my head. I must say I looked quite pretty in my make over and all.

“How is it? do you like it?” my stylist snuck up behind me and asked with anxious expectant eyes.

For every woman, this was supposed to be their happiest day or maybe one of it but for me, this was my worst day. Getting married to a man I not only barely knew but a man I could say I detested. A playboy.

My friends were still super mad at me, my boyfriend had walked out on me days back with a disappointed look that scared the shit out of me and here I was being shoved into the den of a lion.

“Ma’am? Ma’am?”

The voice of the stylist pulled me back from my wandering thoughts.

“Is there something you would like for to be adjusted? Do you not like the dress? I would ask my girls to have it changed at once...”

I glanced away from the mirror and stepped back. “It’s fine this way,” I mumbled. It wasn’t important I looked any much pretty; it wasn’t my happiest day after all.

One of the maids walked in. Her face beamed with excitement. One would think she was to be the bride.

“How is it out there?” I asked her.

“So beautiful out there, ma’am. Oh gosh, Lawrence Williams is so handsome! You are so lucky ma’am. I bet many girls out there are dying to have him but he chose you...oh my heart nearly dropped into my stomach when I saw him stepped down from his car...”

She was ranting on and on while I glared at her but she didn’t notice my glare until a moment later when she shushed at once.

“You may leave,” I ordered her. Her sharp mouth could really have landed her in trouble if she had said another word about that playboy near me. What was so good about him anyways? He was just some damn handsome playboy. Unfortunately, being handsome was not so much of a big deal for me. His shitty attitude irked me.

Moments later the door creaked open and my mother and sister stepped in.

“Oh, my gorgeous daughter! I always knew you would look so beautiful on your wedding day!” Mother squeaked excitedly. Sis smirked as she came and stood in my front.

“Oh, congratulations my dear sister...” she grinned.

I glared at her. She was supposed to be the one wedding that playboy.

“You look so beautiful... and glowing too. I bet he would be swept off his feet the moment you step out there.” mother said again as she twirled me and caught full glimpses of my full dressing. Her face glowed, more than mine, I dare to say.

“Come, let’s take you out there. Your husband to be is already waiting.” She said, grabbed my unwilling hand and pulled me along with her.

“Mother, do we really have to do this? Must I marry him?” I said as I forced us to a stop.

Mother let out a breath, she held my shoulders and slowly turned me to face her.

“Come on baby, don’t be this way. I know this isn’t what you wanted and your father and I are really sorry you have to do this but I assure you no love is planned and marriages these days don’t really start off with so much loving.”

“Mom, he is a known playboy!!” I cried.

“For all the time the media painted him as one, there was never a solid proof for it.”

“That’s because he has a conglomerate family that is always cleaning up his mess!”

My breathing had shot up. As it got clearer that I really was on the verge of been thrown off to a playboy, my body blew up hot.

“Calm down baby girl, calm down...don’t worry, mother is here for you anytime. Don’t you worry your pretty self, okay?”

“Mother, they are waiting!” my sister yelled from the outside.

Mother grabbed my hand. “Come on let’s go. We can’t keep them waiting for long.”

Stepping out and my eyes were met with the most beautiful, grand sight. Magnificent. Whatever exquisite word that could be used to describe a very beautiful place.

I scoffed inside of me. For a wedding that weren’t anything close to being real, I wondered why they would spend so much.

I stood in the hallway and father appeared.

“My daughter, I’m supposed to be ashamed today for letting you do this but I couldn’t ruin a day like this for you.” He opened his arm and I linked mine without saying a word.

Don’t worry mother, father, I will be back to you soon. Once I get our family’s business booming again, when it’s all done, I wouldn’t waste a second before divorcing him, I thought.

Father and I marched forward to the front where obviously the vows were to be said.

A few feet from there, I caught sight of him...my husband to be.

Cladded in an Armani suit, a bow tie and a white shirt underneath the suit. Black shoes shone. His hair shone against the light of the room. All girl’s eyes seem to be on him.

Looking at his face, it was difficult to tell between us who was more irritated with the facade of marriage.

Once our gaze met, he looked away.

“Mtssssssw, I hate you as much as you hate me dude!”

Father stopped before him and handed me over to him. He opened his arm and I reluctantly linked mine into his.

As we walked towards the podium where our vows would be said, he leaned close to my ears and whispered, “Don’t get too excited, it will only be for a few years.”

My jawline twitched hearing his words, but I managed to feign a smile, leaned close enough for him to hear me and said, “I hate this moment more than you do, I promise you.”

He let out a chuckle. One that sounded so annoying to my ears that I nearly unlinked my arms from his and turned to the whole crowd to tell them this whole marriage was nothing but a fake!

However, I held my peace. It was just for a few years. My family business would get back to its feet even before the years we agreed and then I wouldn’t have to put up with a face like his own.

We finally stood before the marriage officiator. He flashed us a big smile. what? why was everyone so happy on our behalf? Well, I guessed it was because they weren’t the ones to be trapped in the damn marriage. They would be clenching their teeth if they were in my position.

He led us in saying our vows. I was grateful to my cheekbones that at the end of the whole lies of vows it didn’t burst. I smiled way too often to cover my annoyance, anger and hatred with every word and vow he made us say to each other. God, I fuvking wished it was Vincent before me.

 “Now, I profess you man and woman, live in peace, love and respect each other and multiply as the Lord has commanded. Now you may kiss each other to seal your love.”

What, ki...kisss????!

I clearly told Mother to make sure the kissing part was scraped off.

“Erm, Sir...” I guess Lawrence hated the thought of us kissing like I do and tried to put up a protest.

The priest took another look at the little book he held, the vow book.

“Urh, yes, this part wasn’t included in the book of vow for reasons best known to the printer. I would take that as a mistake but then since we have been joining together a man and woman for decades, isn’t it only human for it to have gotten registered in my head?” he said with a smile and the congregation giggled.

It must have been fun for them...the congregation.

“This is a seal of your love. Go on, groom, kiss your bride.”

I turned towards Lawrence.

He had this rigid look on his face.

To make matters worse, the congregation began to urge us on with a clap.

Lawrence pulled me close in a flash, his arms circled around my waist.  I yelped as I hadn’t seen it coming.

Our gaze locked. It was at that moment I had a closer look at his face. He really was handsome, no doubt. His perfectly carved brows and the bones of his chiseled face sat pretty on his face and his nose, straight and pointed. It had to be why girls tripped for him. He had a face of a demi-god.

His face started to move closer and closer towards me. He cupped my face full and his lips came so close to mine that another move from him and our lips will be crashing against each other.

My heart started to thud against my chest and quickly I shut my eyes. I would just imagine it was Vincent kissing me, that way I won’t feel bad.

“Don’t worry I have no intentions of kissing anyone other than the woman I love.” I heard him mumble in my ears after which he slowly leaned up, a devilish smirk lurking in his face.

The congregation started to clap and cheer. He fooled them.

My fists curled angrily as I glared at him.

“You may go have your seat as the ceremony will continue at once...” The priest said.

“Shall we?” Lawrence with the devilish smirk still in his face, opened his arms for me to link mine. I was still fuming inside. His words had touched a spot. How dare him! He really was messing with me but I wasn’t about to let it go his way. After a moment of hesitation, I flashed a smile as I yielded.

“Don’t worry. Even if you had done it, it would have meant nothing to me. You are nothing close to being my type.” I whispered to him as we walked to our seat.  He didn’t say another word; it could only mean my clap back had poked a spot in him too.

Veronica 1: Lawrence 1