1 - Beginning of the end

Jakarta, Indonesia
January 27, 2010.

_____________________

"Hold your breath for a moment, Miss."

Canadia took a breath while lifting her chin then held it for a moment.  Her chest stopped pounding for a few seconds when she did.

"Done," said the woman who was helping Canadia put on the white dress.

"Huh ..." Canadia sighed with relief again but, the heart that had been beating normally was again beating fast.  "Gosh, I'm so nervous, Mama."

Julia walked over to her only daughter.  She took her daughter's hands and put on white gloves while her face didn't stop smiling.

"Mom's sweetie is getting married early," said Julia.

Canadia chuckled.  "Right, Mom keeps asking when Marvin will marry Nadia," said Canadia.

Julia smiled.  Her eyes began to shake when she finished putting the glove on her daughter's hand.

"Mama still doesn't think that Nadia will leave the house and move to Marvin's house. Who's going to wear a mask for Mama. Mama will also be lonely, with no friends fighting."

"Ah ... Mama."  Nadia grabbed her mother's body and hugged her tightly.  Juliah couldn't hold back her tears anymore.  She cried over her daughter's shoulders.

TOK .. TOK

Someone knocked on the door, making the mother and child suddenly release their arms.  The moment of emotion was forced to stop when Vincent Smith, Canadia's father approached the two of them.

"Why you are crying ... it's a happy day, c'mon ...," said Vince.  He grabbed the body of the child and his wife and hugged them tightly.

"Mama, stop crying, my make-up will run," complained Nadia.  Julia pulled herself away and wiped her daughter's tears carefully afraid that the makeup on her beautiful face would wash off.

"The show will start, are you ready?"  asked Vince.  Nadia nodded with a smile.

"Then come on."

Vincent Smith and Julia Amariah immediately took their only daughter into the Church where many people were waiting for them.

Today, the day, Canadia Smith has been waiting for five years.  Finally, this is where she proves herself who always got the nickname 'beast' at her former school.

She will prove that the man who has been her friend for a long time is the one she shares with and the only person who never makes a big deal about her weight.

"Marvin is still in the dressing room."

Marvin Aditiya Wijaya, the name of the groom who wanted to bring his relationship with the Indonesian and Canadian crossbreed girl to a higher level, namely marriage.

Canadia continued to smile as her feet walked down the corridor of the Church.  Some people seem busy taking pictures and others stand to greet the bride who is flanked by her parents.  Canadia took another deep breath as her eyes caught the Church door.  Her heart was beating fast again as her footsteps continued to enter the door.

"Calm down, dear."  Vince gently rubbed his daughter's arm.  He understood very well how his daughter felt.

"I'm trying on it."  Nadia tightened her fists as her feet made it through the church door.

"Psst ..." Someone gestured.

Nadia frowned when she saw the altar in front of her.

"Marvin suddenly wanted to relieve himself, he seems very nervous," whispered  Marvin's uncle, who was standing by the altar.  Vince just smiled.  He continued to take his daughter to the altar even though the groom was not there yet.

Canadia took another deep breath when her feet almost reached the altar.  She could understand the anxiety her future husband was feeling.  Even Nadia had to try to hold back the urge to relieve herself because she felt nervous.

'I am a lucky girl to marry a man like Marvin. One more step, and we will become a legal husband and wife. We will fulfill our desire to have many children, a small house, and share in joy and sorrow. Marvin is always enthusiastic when telling the story.  It's only natural that he's nervous now,' thought Nadia.

Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes.

Canadia continued to count in her heart.  She glanced back and found whispers starting to emerge from the invitees.

"Where's Marvin?"

"You know ... it's been so long, just go to the toilet."

"Could it be running away again?"

"Tch ... yes times."

"He seems to be thinking again about marrying the Goliath."

"Hush ... shut up. The person looks at us, huh."

Canadia's head was bowed.  Her hands were clenched tightly down there.  She shook her head.

'No ... Marvin can't be like that. He can't possibly leave me,' thought Canadia. She still trying to believe in her marriage and waiting for the man who promised to marry her.

"Mr. Smith ...."

A man walks up to Vincent.  His face was sweaty and his eyes looked wary of glancing here and there.

"What's the matter, Josh?" Asked Vince.

Josh brought his face closer to Vince then said, "I saw Mr. Marvin leaving in a hurry. I followed him and I saw a white van approaching Mr. Marvin and he was leaving in that car."

"What?"  Vince gave a low cry.  "Hurry and find him."

"Fine, Mr. Vince," Josh said.  He leaves from there and hurries to carry out his master's orders.

"Nadia ...," Vincent called.  Vince turned his face hoping his daughter wouldn't hear Josh's words but in fact,

"Is he leaving, Dad?"

Josh's words were too clear in Canadia's ear.  She heard it all and she knew what was coming to her.

"Don't worry, Daddy will handle this."  Vincent is still trying to convince his daughter.  He grabbed his daughter's body from the side and then kissed the top of her head.  Vince's eyes then moved to find his wife.  He called out to Julia by his eye signal.  Julia, who understood what Vince's gaze meant, rushed to the altar.  The woman could guess what was going on now.

"Mrs. Smith ...." A woman suddenly approached Julia and stopped her path.

Julia looked up to see who it was.

"What's going on? How long do we have to waste time waiting for this drama to end?" said the woman with a look that intimidated Julia.

"Sorry I have to go," Juliah refused gently.  She didn't have to answer that woman's words now.  Canadia needed her much more.

"That's why ... if you have a husband who is a medical practitioner who performs surgery, just tell him to do a facial surgery for your child to look like a little foreigner ..." The woman pouted.

Julia turned around.  The woman's words seemed like an explosive burning her blood.  Her fists clenched tightly and her legs spun rapidly.  She walked over to the woman then,

PLAK!!!

Julia's hand landed right on the woman's cheek.

"Don't ever insult my daughter," said Julia.

The woman still didn't give up.  She chuckled sarcastically as she slowly turned her face. "You're mad?"  She glared while holding her cheek.  "Of course you are angry that what I said just now is a truth that even you can't accept it yourself. An ugly child-"

PLAK!!!

Julia slapped the woman again.  Without them knowing it, all pairs of eyes were watching them.  For a moment, Juliah and that woman became the center of everyone's attention.  The invitees even had to stand up because they were so curious about what was going on.

"Who are you? You dare insult, my daughter, huh?"  said Juliah.  This time, she couldn't contain her anger.  Julia was really angry.

"Hah!"  The woman chuckled again.  She brushed her gaze to look around.  She knew that everyone was watching them.  "Should I tell you what's going on now?"  Said the woman.

Julia frowned.  She knew something was wrong but, Julia didn't know exactly what had happened.

"Your daughter's future husband has left his bride. He has left and I saw him first."

"Huh ..." Several people muttered too.

"What's she saying?"

Sounds of bees began to emerge. Julia froze.  She could only move her eyes but her head was too heavy to turn around to stare at the altar.

"What kind of lesson is this?"  One of the guests presents stood up and gave his opinion.

"What precious time should we have wasted witnessing all this?"  He turned to stare at the altar and shouted, "Mr. Smith ...."

People started arguing.  Even though some of them were still curious and some of them felt worship, they couldn't feel what Canadia was feeling right now.  Her heart has been shattered to pieces.  Her ears were so dizzy.  Suddenly her vision became blurry as tears began to trickle down her eyes.  She wanted to run from there but, her legs seemed to be stuck firmly.  So that all she could do right now was to lower her head.

"Darling ...,"

"No ...." Canadia shook her head.  The tears were unbearable.  More than the embarrassment she was feeling right now, she wanted so badly to disappear from the face of those many people.

Five years was all it took Canadia to convince herself that she was the luckiest girl because there was someone like Marvin who was willing to be her lover.  Share everything both joy and sorrow.  Become a playmate and a place to complain.  Canadia didn't even care about everyone scoffing at her weight and even her not-so-attractive face.

Canadia had suffered enough all this time, could she have suffered any longer?  What's wrong with that he should be humiliated in such a way?  Can't Marvin just wait for a little?  At least do the wedding procession first after that, let's talk about what's going on and surely Canadia will help him find a solution.  Why did Marvin have to leave Canadia on the wedding day?

"That's why, if you have children, you will be well taken care of. In front of you, I hope to get married."

"Yes ... where to use inviting us again, it's a waste of time."

Should everyone make a fuss now?  Why couldn't they hold their lips from sneering at Canadia?  If they were in Canadia's place, would they have endured all the insults?

"Dad ...." Canadia called her father without glancing sideways.  "Get me out of here, please," Canadia pleaded with trembling lips

It is all over.  There is nothing left.  Everything has been destroyed.