Chapter One

Irish is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Manansala. They're neither rich nor poor. They're just in the middle-class. Irish is a party-goer. She always attends parties when someone is inviting her. Ignoring is not her thing. It's kind of a blessing for her and now her friend, Alice is inviting her again. As she goes downstairs, she saw her parents talking in the table. She wondered that's why she walked towards them.

"Hey guys, what is with the serious atmosphere here?" she asked and sit in front of them.

Her parents look at her teary eye. They never said a word.

"Mom, Dad? What's going on? It seems you lost a child." she rolled her eyes.

After saying her last sentence her mother started to cry. Her forehead knotted.

"Okay? You guys are weird. Tell me what is really going on here?"

"Baby you're getting married," answered of her mother and continued crying.

She stopped when she heard her mother. Her eyes winded in shock.

"Our business is getting down Baby that's why we chose the one point five million over you," said of her father.

"What!" She stood up. "You're just kidding right? Mom, Dad?" She looked at them. They didn't speak. "This is just a kind of a frank right? You didn't choose that money over me? Answer me!" she snorted.

"Sorry Baby but we choose the money," said of her mother.

"Besides Baby you're at the right age to be married. Your twenty-five and grow up than being a party-goer. You're not a teenage girl anymore," said of her father.

She blinked her eyes two times. "Wow. Like wow Irish. Your parents didn't bother to ask you if you want to get married to a stranger. They just decide by their own," she said to herself sarcastic.

A silent devour their atmosphere. Irish wipe the side of her eyes when a tear tried to fall down.

"You know what?" she said without looking at them, "Fuck that marriage I'm out of it. Bye!" she turned her back at them.

Her parents stood up to chase her but she's already inside the car. They watch her until the car of their daughter gone.

"I think our Baby will not going back here again?" guessed of her mother.

"Yeah I'm thinking that too."

"Where is your daughter?" enquired a man behind them.

They jumped as they shocked on his presence. They faced him. A man on a black tuxedo is in front of them. His brown eyes are looking at them penetrating their souls. If his looks can kill, they might be dead in the floor right now.

"How did you get in here, Mr. Zafeiriou?" Irish's mother stammered to ask.

"Hmmm. Does it matter? Where is she?" he asked them again.

"She run out from us after telling it to her," Irish's father answered.

"B-but don't worry we know where she will go," her mother added.

Irish is now in the Bar which own by her friend Alice. They are surrounded by different people from their old school. Some of them she knew. Some of them are not. It's Alice's Birthday that's why she throw a party with their old schoolmates. The two are now in the table. Irish told Alice about what her parents did to her.

"You know what girl? Your parents are right. You should grow up. You're not getting any younger anymore. Find a man or just marry instead the guy," Alice advises to her.

She rolled her eyes, "But I don't want yet to get married. I'm not yet ready. I just want to enjoy my life." she said and sip to her wine glass.

"Getting into a marriage relationship is fun, Irish especially the sex part," Alice bitted her lips.

"Oh, c'mon , Alice. Don't talk like you are already married," she said sarcastic.

"Hmmm. Yeah but I'm getting married," she giggled.

Alice raised her hand with a diamond ring. Irish eyes winded in surprised. It lusted as the light reflected in the ring.

"Oh, my gosh girl! Congrats."

"Thank you. So, you start planning about getting into a marriage. Trust me Irish it's fun not only the sex part but also having your own family," Alice smiled at her.

Irish didn't speak; she doesn't know what to say anymore. The fact she is saying that she's not ready, the more they are forcing her about the marriage thing. She's not yet ready and they need to understand.

Bang! Bang!

A roar of gun shots interrupted the party inside the Bar. Everyone stopped in scared. Some of them are under the table covering their ears.

A man in a black tuxedo just step inside the Bar holding his Double Barrel Pistol. When he saw someone trying to make a call for a help, he shot the floor to the woman's direction. She dropped her phone in shocked and fell unconscious in the floor.

"No one will use a phone," he warned.

He looked around and trying to see every faces of the people there. He can't see them clearly because of the darkness inside.

"I will kill every of you, if no one will bring Irish to me," he threatened them.

A woman stood up. "I-I'm Irish."

"I-I'm Irish too." Another woman stood up.

Bang!

They screamed when he pulled the trigger again of his gun.

"All I want is Irish Manansala. So, tell me which of you is her?" he said facing the two.

Irish heart starts to panic. Her toes are shaking. It's me for God sake! She thought and tries her best to hide under the table. Alice raised her eyebrow to her and smirked.

Alice raised her hand. "Oh Mr.—"

Irish eyes winded. "Alice what are you doing? Don't point me to him." She whispered.

The man looked at their direction.

"Those two women in front of you is impostor. The real Irish Manansala is right here beside me." She pointed Irish.

He faced again the two women and just a second, he shot them on their feet. Irish shocked after seeing what he did to the two. Oh, my gosh! Is he going to kill me too?! She bitted her lips on what she had thought.

The man cleared his throat, "Are you Irish Manansala?" he asked deeply of his voice.

She swallowed many times when she heard the man on her back. Alice is gone on her side. She gave a way to the man.

"Y-yes I am," she answered without doing any movement in her place.

"Let's go." He grabbed her arm.

"No! I'm not coming with you. I don't know you!" she snorted and trying to get her arm but the man is too strong than her.

The people there are just watching them and scared to do anything. They are frightened that he might shoot them next.

"Tsk," he hissed and carries her like a sack of rice.

"Wahhh! Put me down! Help!" She hit his back but the man didn't feel any pain on what she's doing.

When they reach in his car, he put her inside the passenger seat. She's about to shout again when someone in the backseat put a handkerchief in her nose then—she fell asleep.

"Too noisy," he said and get inside his car.

(Wedding theme song)

The sound of the wedding theme song made Irish awaked. Her eyes winded when she saw herself sitting in a wheelchair pushing by her father at the back. She's now wearing a wedding gown and she's in the middle of the aisle. Oh, my gosh! What the hell is going on? she asked confused in the back of her mind. She looked around and everything is perfect. The colors, the flowers, the decorations, everything. It's as if her dream wedding has come true. She noticed her mother and Alice, who were both crying. She noticed a Priest and a Greek god-like man dressed in a black suit.

"Baby you're getting married."

"We chose the one point five milk over you."

"Find a man or just marry instead the guy."

"But I don't want yet to get married. I just want to enjoy my life."

When everything flashes back in her mind, her eyes winded. She already knew what's going on.

"Holy fuck," she cussed.

Before she does anything the wheelchair stopped and the man walk towards her. He gave his hand to her.

"Let's go, love," he said and waiting for her to hold his hand but she didn't.

He grimaced and holds her hand instead. He is dragging her in front of the Priest because she's not doing anything. She's not in herself. She's in shocked in everything is happening. This is just a dream. I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming, she repeatedly said in her mind. She even pinched herself.

"Holy fuck! This is real," she unconsciously said.

The Priest clear his throat as he heard her, "We're in the church, young lady." he said.

She suddenly stopped when she felt something in her waist.

"Don't do anything stupid." Pointing his gun to her.

She bitted her lower lips and slowly nodded at him. The Priest can see the gun he is holding. He just ignored it because his paid by him anyway.

"Shall we start?" The Priest asked.

"Yes father," the man answered. " and proceed to the final part." he ordered.

Irish look at her unbelievable and look to the gun he's pointing in her waist. This is crazy! I'm not going to marry this man. I don't even know him nor love him, she argued between her thoughts.

"Basil Zaferiou, do you take Irish Manansala for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worst, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do," he replied.

"Irish Manansala, do you take Basil Zafeiriou for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worst, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I don't," she replied.

The Priest's eyes winded and Basil glared at her. He pressed the gun to her waist. She swallowed two times when she felt it.

"I mean—I do father. Yes, I do!" she shouted.

"Don't shout, young lady. We're in the church," the Priest said calmly. "Where are the rings?" he asked.

Basil gets inside to his suit and it's the rings. She gave the one to Irish and he faced her. Oh, my gosh! Slap me! This is just a dream. I don't want to be married! Huhuhu, she pleased in her mind.

"Irish Manansala, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," he said while placing the ring in her finger.

"Okay?" she replied.

Basil grimaced. "Tsk. Your turn, repeat what I'd say."

"Ahm. What is your name again?" she asked.

"Basil Zafeiriou."

"B-basil Zafeiriou, receive this ring as a sign of my—" she stopped and swallowed. "l-love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," she said while placing the ring of him.

"End this."

Basil ordered when the Priest is about to speak something.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Irish's eyes winded when she heard the last part of the Priest said. She closed her eyes when Basil is coming closer to her. Her heartbeat keeping on beating so fast and she hold her breath when she felt the lips of him to her. One. Two. Three. Four. Five! she counted in her mind as Basil released her lips.

"What? Is that your first kiss Mrs. Zaeiriou?" Basil asked sarcastic.

She didn't say a word and still in shocked. Her parents are watching their daughter teary eye and Alice at the same time. They are only three who witnessed their wedding.

The Priest cleared his throat. "Your wedding is done. The real groom and bride are here waiting outside."

Irish eyes winded. "What!"

"I just buy their time love, I'm on rush. Let's go, I have something to deal with tonight." Basil dragged her.

Her mother is about to hug her but Basil didn't stop walking and keep on dragging Irish out of the church.

"Our Baby is grown up," her mother cried as they watching the both walking out inside the church.

"She will be okay there," her father said while caressing her back.