Chapter 3 – Wedding Day

Sarah's wedding day. In the bride's waiting room, Lynd met Sarah first before the event started. There were a lot of things Lynd needed to talk to Sarah about. Lynd felt bad when Sarah delivered the invitation for her, searching until she came far enough to meet her but Lynd wasn't there. And Sarah was forced to return without them having a chance to meet. When the event started later and Lynd met Sarah in the wedding room it seemed there was no time for them to exchange stories, must have been too busy.

"Sarah..." said Lynd.

The bride sits elegantly in a wedding dress with all the sparkling beauty of the world shining on her, a happy face but looks tense facing an important day in a phase of life Sarah can't hide. Lynd slowly approached. Seeing the face of a person who she wanted to meet recently made Sarah stand up even though the small movements made it difficult for her because all the knick-knacks of the attributes of her magnificent wedding dress moved along with her movements.

"Lindy!" Sarah greeted with high enthusiasm.

"Congratulations!!" Lynd gave her a light hug, not wanting to spoil her best friend's perfect make-up for the day.

“Oohh Lynda.. I miss you so much!!” Sarah couldn't stop herself from crying when she saw Lynd again.

"I'm sorry. At least I'm not late this time right?”

Sarah nodded with wet eyes, a wide smile graced Sarah's happy face at this time. Sarah's hand didn't let Lynd go. The two of them shared a couch sitting there, where Sarah had been relaxing and welcoming the other friends before Lynd arrived. Sarah didn't care anymore about the busy schedule of events going on around her, Lynd's presence occupied all of her attention. In that brief moment, Lynd and Sarah shared the lost time between them. It's not enough time, but it means a lot to both of them.

"Ah! Lynd, there's someone else who wants to see you…” Sarah remembered someone.

"Huh? Who?"

"Joan. We met at a school reunion.”

True, it seemed as if Joan was as desperate to meet Lynd as she was, at least that's what Sarah caught at the time.

"Joan?"

"Yeah, he seemed so eager to see you that he asked me to call him when we met."

Lynd's expression suddenly changed. I don't know, Sarah had a hard time interpreting Lynd's facial expression, which looked strange, and felt foreign.

"Lindy, what's wrong? You and Joan... Is something wrong with you guys?” Sarah couldn't stop herself from asking.

"Oh no! There isn't anything." Lynd forced a smile even though she was starting to feel agitated inside.

“Sorry, the event is about to start. The groom has already entered the wedding hall.” The WO employee reminded her that the time had come for Sarah to prepare.

"I'll meet you inside. Congratulations again, I'm so happy for you Sarah." Lynd stood up, letting go of Sarah's hand that was tightly gripping her reluctantly.

Sarah sensed that Lynd was hiding something from her. But now wasn't the time to demand Lynd speak up. “Lynd, we have to meet again. We still have a lot of stories to share, promise me!” Sarah asked.

"Yeah sure, I'm not going anywhere. Promise." Lynd had to say that to calm Sarah down and focus on the event.

Lynd didn't plan to stay in the party room for long because she felt uncomfortable meeting old acquaintances. That's why she accidentally met Sarah in the waiting room. Lynd only intended to be present until the main event was over and then she would say goodbye to Sarah and leave. That's what Lynd had in mind to attend today's event. But the massive party performance made Lynd's plans not go as smoothly as imagined. The sea of guests who took turns greeting the bride and groom never diminished or even deserted. Lynd was waiting for an opportunity when she saw from a distance the figure of a man she hoped not to pass each other, talking to Sarah.

"Oh, Joan! Thank you so much for coming." Said Sarah.

"Congratulations Sarah, I wish you both happiness forever." Joan also did not forget to congratulate the groom too.

”Thank you very much. Did you come alone? Where's your wife?" Sarah did not see the figure of Joan's companion with him.

"Ah, yes. I came alone.” Joan's bitter smile. "The gestational age is getting bigger, I think it's hard for her to come to an event like this." The excuse.

"Ah, you're right." Sarah felt she had asked the wrong question. “Oh! Have you met Lynd yet?”

"Lynd? Is she here?” Joan asked looking at Sarah seriously, which took her by surprise.

"Y-yes. I met her a moment ago in the waiting room.”

"I haven't seen her. Thank you, Sarah." If Lynd was here now, Joan had to find her.

Meanwhile where she was standing Lynd was moving backward, away. Lynd couldn't see Sarah right now, nor did she want to see Joan. Not now. Lynd moved to find an area where she could hide among the crowd of guests. Her desire was getting stronger to leave the event as soon as possible after saying goodbye to Sarah later. But her efforts were in vain, Joan's determination to find Lynd was stronger than Lynd's way of avoiding it.

Among the crowd of guests, Joan recognized Lynd's figure very well even though she mingled among other people. Because his sight radar is installed to detect Lynd's whereabouts. Joan came from a direction Lynd didn't notice.

"Lynd.." he called.

"Hey, uh. Joan!" Lynd greeted stiffly, awkwardly having to act as if she had just realized Joan was also there. "How are you?" Lynd smiled with insincere eyes.

"Fine, and you?" Joan still hadn't noticed Lynd's strange behavior. Not careful enough to read the expression on Lynd's face that looked reluctant.

"Sure, I'm fine too." Lynd was busy thinking, her gaze wildly searching for things around her to be an excuse to avoid Joan right now. She felt uncomfortable with Joan any longer.

"Oh really, is that so..." Joan was grateful that Lynd was okay because he was worried that Lynd could no longer be contacted with the contact number that Joan had saved earlier. “Lynd, can we talk alone? I want to-"

“Joan, I'm sorry, I… Um, I have to go. Yes! I think we can talk and meet some other time. Sorry, Joan..."

Previously Lynd had heard a little from Sarah that not only was Sarah looking for Lynd but Joan was also very determined and said he had something to say. This information boggled Lynd's mind to the point where she acted the way she is now, avoiding Joan. Not because she was afraid to hear what Joan had to say, but Lynd didn't think she would be able to contain her hidden feelings either.

“Lynd wait, but Lynd!” Joan was confused by Lynd's avoiding him.

Unknowingly he chased Lynd out of the wedding hall. What was on Joan's mind was, if he lost Lynd now he don't know when they could meet again.

Joan caught up to Lynd's hasty pace in front of him. There was no choice, but to make Lynd stop Joan took her hand gently but gripped it tightly. “Lynd, wait!” he couldn't help but ask Lynd not to go.

Joan saw Lynd wipe the corners of her eyes and when Joan tried to look her in the face to find out what was going on, Lynd looked away again. This situation and Lynd's situation made Joan even more confused.

"Lindy, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly leaving, you are avoiding me?”

"Oh, Joan! Sorry to misunderstand you. I…” Lynd tried to free herself, but Joan wouldn't let her go. "Joan, please let go of my hand first .." She begged.

"I told you I wanted to talk to you," Joan said firmly. "Lynd? Did I do something wrong to you?” It was clear that Joan had misunderstood Lynd's attitude when she was like this to him.

"Joan I don't think now is the right time." Still with her head down Lynd tried to hide the expression on her face from Joan.

Lynd's words made Joan aware of the surroundings. Their current actions could attract the attention of those around them. But Joan still hadn't let go of Lynd's hand. Somehow his heart didn't want to let Lynd go. Joan started walking, toward a quieter place—more privacy for them to talk. Lynd looked panicked because she had to go where Joan went.

“Joan, wait! Let go first.. W-where are we going?”

"Lynd I'm sorry." Joan himself didn't understand what he was doing now, half of himself felt out of control to act out of his mind like this. “Right now I don't understand myself, what I want by being like this to you. One thing I know, my heart won't allow you to leave like this."

"J-Joan?" Lynd was worried about what might happen next.

Joan's frontal decision to pull her away together made Lynd shocked and scared. Not at Joan but afraid that she would lose control if she was alone with Joan.

“Sorry, can we talk after finding a quieter place?” In other words, Joan asked Lynd to come with him without asking anything.

This is a disaster, Lynd thought. The more she tried to free herself, the tighter Joan's hand gripped her. Believe it or not, what Lynd fears the most is her pent-up desire for Joan. Yes, Lynd has feelings for Joan. Since their meeting 10 years ago, Lynd has had feelings for Joan. And the man knew nothing about Lynd's feelings for him.