Chapter 3

The navy suit on my body was so matching in my eyes when I stared at my image in the mirror after my bath. It suited me perfectly and the little bow tie did a great job of glistening my body. I ran a hand on my breast, and couldn't help but let out a sweet giggle. My breasts were a little bigger than average 16-year-old girls, my hips wider and waist tinier too. I smacked my butt and watched it shake in the mirror. Here I was staring at my curvy slender body but I couldn't stop wondering why I hadn't been kissed or asked out by boys yet...Well, not that I minded anyways. 

I didn't see Uncle Richard when I walked out of my room to the living room, just a couple of people I didn't know. 

"Hi ma'am," said an old lady. She was dark in complexion, her hair was neatly tied in a bun. Loads of chains dangled down her neck, diamond-made, they seemed. Three of the fingers in her left hand had some pretty rings, while her right hand had what looked like a Paul Newman's 'Exotic' Rolex watch. 

Wait, I know this lady. Then my eyes went wide when realization hit me. "Granny Lil Valley?" I screamed. 

"That's right cutie". Her African-American accent was strong even for an old lady like her. Elizabeth Stiffen Dewan, known wildly in San Fernando Valley as Granny Lil Valley, was a fashion celebrity. She had media attention and popularity that made her be invited to occasions like birthdays, marriages, graduations and just pretty much anything which needed attention. 

"I want to be popular like you when I grow old" I shot her a smile. 

"I get that a lot" She smiled back. "Good for you, we're now neighbours". 

"No way" I just couldn't believe it. 

I was a big fan of Granny Lil Valley. I could remember crying all day for my mom to get her on my 5th birthday. It was Chris who comforted me, telling me he'd be there for me. That was when I started having a crush on him. 

"But we gotta go. We don't wanna be late for the wedding do we?. See ya". He sounded like uncle Richard.

As Granny Lil Valley walked out, the other persons continued with last-minute check-up decorations. The logo on the uniforms they wore identified them as Lastvia Decors, a high-profile luxury decoration company in Los Angeles.

"Excuse me" I stopped a man walking fast with a bouquet.

"I'm…."

"Melina Garcia, I know. " he cut me short, earning a rolling of the eyes. 

"And I'm guessing you are all set for the wedding, yeah?"

"Well, yeah" I rolled my eyes again.

 "Your ride's waiting for you outside ma'am,"

 I said thanks to him and walked outside just to see Granny Lil Valley walk into a car driven by a chauffeur. There were other cars also parked around. 

"Hello sir, are you the one sent to pick me up?" I said to the only person standing beside a car. "Yes, please come in". 

I didn't wait to be told to buckle my seat belt when I entered the car. Switching on the engine, the driver pulled the vehicle out of the yard and into the road. That was when it hit me...I didn't know where the wedding was to take place. Mom hadn't told me, but I knew that was because I didn't ask her. 

"Hey, you happen to know where the wedding is taking place?" I asked the driver but immediately wished I hadn't. If he didn't know, he wouldn't have been driving right? But the man politely answered anyway. 

"St. Vitus Catholic church".

"Thanks". 

I soon began to miss dad, in the whole wide world, there was simply nobody that could replace him. It didn't matter to me that he didn't have any money like others. I have learned to deal with bullies who called themselves 'rich kids' in school, no matter the insults they had thrown at me, dad would always speak softly to me and some days, even read bedtime stories to me. 

I wished I had attended mom and dad's wedding, a wedding held seventeen years ago. I couldn't attend because I wasn't born by then. 

This particular wedding felt weird, probably because I didn't even know who the groom was. Worse, this happened to be someone who was going to be my new father. I signed, and then an idea hit me. I turned and faced the driver who was so keen on the road to avoid bumping into the many cars.

"Hey sir, I want...to ask you something" he half grunted "hmm?"

"I want to know the name of the groom. You wouldn't believe it if I told you I have no idea who he is". I said ending the last line in a chuckle to hide my embarrassment. 

"Sorry, no can do". His voice held no trace of emotion.

"But I….." I began to insist but he shove me off. 

"Sorry kid, I was given direct instructions to ride you to the church with no pleasantries" He scoffed in a matter-of-fact voice. 

I didn't push anymore. I flopped back in my chair, contemplating whether to put on my air pods and start listening to music or not.

In the end, I went back to my thoughts. I wished Chris was with me. He'd have made me feel better. Thoughts of Chris did nothing but make my heart beat faster again. It's been more than seven years since I last saw him, what was he like now? I wondered if he'd like the way I looked or even be thrilled by the sight of my breast. Don't be ridiculous Melina, Chris wouldn't be.

Then that was it, I caught the driver staring at me in the corner of his eyes,...no, not me but at my cleavage. I hid a smile but did nothing to adjust the shirt underneath the suit. 

"we're here". The driver said moments later,  snapping me back to reality.

I unbuckled the seatbelt, picked up my purse,  walked out of the car and then joined a host of other guests. 

I hugged, smiled or simply hand shook a few of those whom I recognised, though my face clearly indicated that this wasn't the happiest day of my life. 

The church was half filled with guests occupying the pews on either side of the two rows. 

 An usher approached me and said, "Miss, you've reserved a seat there" He said pointing a finger at the first pew on the row to the right. I thanked him and immediately walked to it until I sat where a seat had my name glued to it. 

My eyes immediately dashed to the large clock on the wall which indicated it was 1 pm. I turned back and As if in confirmation, the priest and a host of other clergymen walked up the chancel. I turned just in time to see that the guests had all arrived because there were no moving persons, except the ushers. 

Two men, outfitted in one of the glossiest dark suits I'd ever seen, walked through the door, though I couldn't see their faces clearly, I concluded it was the groom and his best man. As they walked down the aisle, many of the guests turned to have a look at them. 

I turned back in my seat to face the pulpit once again. It was better to have a look at the man when he was in close range. 

"What is this?" The words escaped my mouth before my hands could clasp them shut, when I saw the men in front of me, thereby earning a few stares from the guests sitting close to me. 

Uncle Richard was calm, gorgeous and all smiley face when they climbed the pulpit. The spots of grey on his hair had been dyed black. Who among them was the groom and best man? My mind began asking the inevitable questions. They both stood on the right side at the altar.

Soon, songs which are usually played when the bride walked down the aisle filled the speakers of the church, but the sweet melody did nothing to calm the spike of my heart at that moment. Even when people began standing up, my body failed to yield to the command. I closed my eyes so tight when the bride walked past my pew. I half prayed and half wished that it was another lady in the gown when I opened my eyes. 

Yet, when I heard the people around me begin to sit, the hymn died and the priest talked, I opened my eyes, not completely but slowly and steadily like Chris and I did when we played hide and seek, to see the bridesmaids and best man retreat. 

The sight of the two persons who remained before the priest at the altar nearly sucked the air out of me--Mom was about to get married to Uncle Richard.