Chapter 3 : Wedding!

Chrisanna

I left everyone discussing my decision and came back to my room to take a shower. I'm indeed a little nervous about the thing I have done only to teach Samuel a good lesson. What if it somehow goes wrong?

I hope it does not. I'm doing it after joining all the practical thoughts together. If I wait for Samuel to announce his actual decision, he's going to eat up all the time we'll be getting before the wedding. I can't carry this facade for so long. And it's gonna build more excitement and expectations in everyone. 

I'm sure Samuel is going to lose his mind and immediately announce his decision to call off the marriage. 

A knock occurs on my door after I get dressed in my sweatshirt and yoga pants. 

I open the door and discover paa standing over there.

"Were you about to take a nap?" he asks.

"No, paa. Please come inside", I say.

My heart races faster. Paa knows me more than anyone. And I hate to lie to him. I hope he doesn't ask me anything about my decision.

"How's your learning going on?" that's his first question. "Does marketing suck?"

"Definitely", I sigh. "But as you said, you're surprisingly good at doing stuff that we hate"

We laugh together.

Paa sits on the couch. "I hope you don't assume that I'm not paying attention to your new field. I just don't want you to think that I'm pushing you to learn the business"

"No, paa. I know you", I sit next to him. 

"It's been a really long time since we talked", he says. "Especially, ever since you moved out, we don't share things, or talk like before. I hope I'm still your best friend"

"You are, paa. It's just we're like those besties who got into different colleges after school and can never get into a specific time to meet and talk"

Paa laughs and holds my shoulder, bringing me close to him. 

"You know you're the other half of my heart, my sweet child", he says, making me smile a bit. I nod. "And you also know that we got you as a blessing. We were almost losing you. We were not sure if you would make it past seven. But look, my little princess is twenty-five now. I can't believe that"

The affection I find in paa's eyes every time he looks at me washes away all the difficulties I'm going through.

"I have always tried to protect you. But I also made you capable of protecting yourself. And I didn't think anyone could ever protect you the way I did until Samuel", his words make my heart numb. "You might not remember. When you both were small, only seven— you hurt yourself. Samuel, who just met you that day, being a child himself, managed to get you a bandaid. He put that on your wounds and the view is still fresh in my head"

I truly don't remember the incident at all. But I do believe paa. Samuel had been there always— until he was not. He had a crazy habit of leaving. 

"Definitely, if anyone ever asked me, I would say my choice is Samuel. He always had been. I can't think of anyone else. But I never told you, until you asked me to choose a groom for you. That doesn't mean you have to marry him. I want you to know that the way you trust my decision, I trust your decision. I respect your choices. I have made you capable of making your own decisions. So, if there's anything, if you aren't happy—"

"Paa!" I hold his hand right away and meet his eyes. "I'm happy. I'm truly happy. It's not a formality I'm doing. Because you always come up with something my heart eventually wanted. Sooner or later"

I'm not lying to him. 

I'm not the one. 

It's Samuel. 

A smile of relief comes across his face. "He's a lovely soul. I have been his guardian since he was a kid and he trusted me more than his parents. That boy is a gem. I know you wouldn't realise that now. But soon, you'll know why I'm saying this"

Paa's words are like the stars in the sky for me. They exist yet feel unreal.

Samuel, in paa's words, is like those stars in the sky. That version of him may exist but I find it unreal. 

"So, we have thought about your decision. Three days. It's possible since Samuel has already left it all on you. We just need to start the preparations"

"Paa, one more thing"

"Yeah"

"Can we have a simple wedding? I mean too simple. Without any media coverage and all. I don't want a soul to know about it. At least, until I'm ready to fully take part in business", I tell him. 

This marriage is going to get called off by Samuel. I'm sure about that. I don't want our families to go through all the gossip and public harassment due to our crazy actions. 

* 

"Are you crazy?" my phone beeps with Samuel's message and through the words, I can say he's freaked out.

It makes me want to laugh aloud. So, he had my number yet he didn't bother to talk to me and fix this mess since the last evening we met. It's been more than 24 hours now. 

"Taste your own fucking medicine", I type while petting Zoey on the bed as she's being a good girl today to let me use my phone while she's around.

His reply doesn't come soon as I put my earbuds and music on. Zoey falls asleep and I slightly kiss her, passing my idle time before dozing off. 

My eyelids feel heavy and I wake up from my almost-arrived sleep with another notification.

He took goddamn twenty minutes to reply. 

"I'm not going to change my words. You better know that I'm not that easy Samuel anymore. Your crazy move can make you regret"

That freaking message makes my stomach churn in anxiety. 

I try to calm myself down, taking a deep breath. It's just that classic Samuel trying to be bad-boy material. I shouldn't be worried. If he's so fucking determined to not marry me, he'll definitely not show up!

Without leaving a reply, a doze off.

* 

Tomorrow is the wedding day.

Tomorrow is my FUCKING wedding day.

I'm literally panicking.

Two days passed like air. And I was chilled out even this evening. However, as the night arrives, my anxiety increases. There are only a few hours left before the wedding and Samuel hasn't talked to anyone yet.

Isn't he seriously going to call it off? 

Yesterday, Emmy told me that Samuel told her he had no problem with the marriage date and he had already booked the tickets. 

Since when did he become so stubborn?

Well, he has always been like that. 

"Tada!" Kylee enters my room, holding a bridal gown. 

Despite battling with my messy thoughts, I can't help staring at the gown. My bridal gown! It's so damn beautiful. Literally, the same as I always wanted. 

It has minimal work but chiffon fabric makes it stand out, designed and made by tribal workers. 

"Aww! You finally smiled at anything about your wedding", Kylie chuckles, dragging me back to reality.

I had literally dreamed of getting married. My priorities changed over the years though. Even a few days ago, I believed paa would introduce me to the guy he thinks is the best for me. We would meet and get to know each other. A perfect courtship marriage. 

It turned out to be stupid after that grumpy kid messed it all up.

Silly of me to still call him a grumpy kid. I can't call him a grumpy man either because he's acting like a kid. 

"So, you guys are finally getting married. Wow! It's so cool na! Marrying the person you have known for so long"

Except he has changed.

Except I don't know him anymore.

"Samuel is on the flight now. You talked to him?" Kylee asks, setting up all my stuff for tomorrow. 

"Huh? No. I— was busy"

"Come on. It's your wedding"

"In a busy schedule", I roll my eyes.

She laughs abruptly. "You guys went from not wanting to marry to marrying in just three days"

My heart sinks.

Something isn't right. I can't do it. 

* 

I can't believe I had a sleepless night before my wedding. The suggestion I give all the brides weren't followed by me. Sleep well if you don't wanna get dark circles.

I had been thinking about telling everyone about the truth but I couldn't gather the courage to ruin the happy moments they all were having. 

"You look lovely", Fifi says. Mrs. Fisher whom I call Fifi is now almost seventy. She had been working as the chief house help since paa was a child himself. 

I look in the mirror and stare at myself. I'm the bride!

"Is Chrisanna ready?" Mama surges inside the room and her voice immediately melts when she looks at me in awe. 

There's pure surprise and amusement in her eyes as she walks at me. Teary-eyed, she tries to smile.

"My little baby", she exclaims and hugs me. 

"She's not little anymore", Fifi says. "Look what a gorgeous lady she is. The bride!"

"But she'll always be my baby", mama kisses my forehead. 

I wouldn't say that I had never seen her this happier. Because she was the happiest when I came to her with my biggest paycheck. She was the happiest when I moved out on my own. She was the happiest each time I made her proud.

But I can say this happiness is different from others. 

Mama cups my face. "This is another new beginning, sweetie. And I know you'll nail this phase of your life like others. I'm so happy for you"

We share another hug. I feel guilty. Even though I'm not completely at fault, I can stop it all. 

"Madam! The pastor has come", Flora comes there.

I'm coming. 

Mama kisses me one last time and leaves the room. Fifi follows her. I'm all alone right now. And there's not much time left for the wedding ceremony to start. Samuel isn't gonna do it. 

I immediately take my phone and call him. He doesn't pick up.

"Dammit, Samuel!" I grunt and type a message. 

"You know what you have won. I'm going to tell everyone!" I press the send button and take a moment to prepare myself.

Just before I could step out of my room, his reply came. That was fast.

I immediately open the message.

"No. It's not a good idea anymore", his reply says. 

"I will marry you. Fuck! They never looked so happy. Let's get married"

That is not what I was expecting. 

So, are we really doing it?

*

The wedding ceremony is arranged in our yard and the preparations are minimalistic as I had wanted. Well, I didn't think it would ever reach this situation. 

Everyone looks so happy and I can't help smiling at them, forgetting all my inner turmoil.

Paa walks to me and nods as if he still can't believe it's my wedding day. 

"Nothing to say", he says as we both laugh in tears. 

"Nothing to say", I repeat. 

He hugs me tightly before we walk down the aisle. Kissing my forehead, paa holds my hand and leads me to the destination as per the ritual I had seen all my life, and Zoey as usual quietly follows me. She never looked so confused before. 

Samuel turns to me. Our eyes meet. 

I can say we're anything but stupid to lead this situation to this point. However, there's only one similarity between us— we want our families to be happy; otherwise, we wouldn't be acting so well.

Samuel is staring at me with a smile and I smile back at him. 

We already deserve a fucking Oscar. 

As I reach him, he takes my hand and peers straight into my eyes. I'm sure he had thought about the decision he had made today. After all, arranged marriages aren't that bad. I hope he just stops sulking around and tries to make things work. I'm up for anything.

The way he's smiling at me right now is making me anticipate since our first meeting after the whole marriage thing wasn't pleasing. We didn't talk at all in the past four days when we kept lying to everyone that we did, even though none of us warned the other one. Are we compatible in hiding each other's lies already? 

Leaving my eyes widened in surprise, Samuel kisses the back of my hand. I shiver, staring into his grey eyes as his lips swing up to the right side in a flirtatious smile.

I applaud his acting skills.

Or he has finally accepted that fate.

"Chrisanna Auburn Scott, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?"

"I will", I say, not moving my eyes away from him. 

"Samuel Vance Gabriel, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?"

"I will", he husks.

We have already got the wedding rings in our hands. My heart skips a bit as I take a step closer to him. 

"In the name of God, I, Chrisanna Auburn Scott, take you, Samuel Vance Gabriel, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow", I say, putting the wedding ring on his finger. 

"In the name of God, I, Samuel Vance Gabriel, take you, Chrisanna Auburn Scott, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow", his voice is softer than any time when he slides the ring into my finger.

As I look up, I find him staring back at me again.

I don't know about him but I didn't really hear or sense the rest of the things happening around us. However, a different kind of anticipation flowed through me when I hear,

"Chrisanna Auburn Scott and Samuel Vance Gabriel, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife" 

Did it really happen? Before I could even process that— the pastor announces.

"You may kiss the bride"

Goosebumps surge all over my body as the distance between us decreases to zero. Samuel snakes his arm around my waist and places his lips around mine.

My body clenches with that feeling of our lips just touching. I close my eyes for a nanosecond as I feel his warm breath next to my year.

"I told you, Wife. Your strategy can backfire. I'm not responsible for the moments you would regret not calling the wedding off", his words leave me stunned on the spot as he moves from near my ear and gazes at me with his eyes full of anger.

What does he mean? Didn't he send me the message?

I feel my entire body frozen on the spot.