Chapter 5: The Wedding

[ R E D ]

"Perfect! Red, I already knew what to do. You just have to trust me on this!"

Replay of the words on my head that Tita Beks said earlier when he comes up of that 'golden plan'.

I could still remember the sparkle on his eyes as if he had already hit the jackpot prize with his plan. And upon just seeing his grim reaction, I knew his idea won't do us any good. But I trust Tita Beks and his judgements, I knew he knows what he's doing. So that's why we're still here! The wedding is still going as plan.

I get back to stand in front of the altar once again after the commotion. Tita Beks really did a good job on calming down the guests who have been really worried since the wedding is not yet starting. But now the situation is under control, we're just gonna wait for my bride to come in and then the ceremony starts. And damn! Why am I getting nervous again? I know that I shouldn't be, but maybe because of the fact that what we will be doing today is a hoax and a fraud wedding. We will lie not just in front of these people but also in the eyes of the Lord, and right now I'm feeling really guilty. Will I just be honest and stop this nonsense now?

What is this mess I put myself into?! Marriage is not a joke, but why did I agree with Tita Beks idea? I shouldn't have agreed on the first place because I knew it's wrong to deceive people, but damn my ego for not accepting the fact that my Mom is right when she said that Skye is not the right one for me. I should've listened to her, I should've listen and not propose for marriage.

I stop myself from overthinking and erase the negative thoughts running on my mind. I'll just repent for everything later, for now I need to stand for my decisions. My mind gets back to the present when the church door opened and the entourage starts the procession. When it's time of the bride to walk down the aisle, the song Skye picked herself as her bride entrance song starts to play in the background.

🎵"Heart beats fast

Colours and promises

How to be brave?

How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

But watching you stand alone

All of my doubt

Suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer~"

Everyone in the place stares at her lovingly, admiring the beauty of her face that even without so much make-up on still stands out. And I agree to that.

🎶 "I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more~"

♩ "Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me

Every breath

Every hour has come to this

One step closer~"

As Scarlet got closer, I can really see how beautiful she is wearing that white lovely dress. Even saw the eerie and striking resemblance between her and Skye.

"I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more~"

Few more steps, she is already close to me. I can now clearly see how nervous she is, and somehow I find it kind of cute.

"And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more~" 🎶

My heart beats so fast as if it was about to explode every step she take to approach me. Is this how getting married feels? The feeling of a groom? Am I suppose to cry? Nevermind! If this is what it always feels like, I don't wanna get married again!

When she finally reach me, I hold her shaking hand gently and guide her all the way to the altar. She's wearing a white lace gloves but I can still feel the coldness of her palm, maybe she's that nervous. I squeeze her hand lightly to reassure her, she looks at me faintly and then nod. When we already reach the altar and settle down, the priest formally starts the ceremony. "Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Red Andrew Salazar and his beloved Skye Blue Reyes, in marriage. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife ... "

I couldn't remember what happened next as my mind went in a dazed, I just return to my right state of mind when Scarlet nudge me because it's already time for us to exchange vows.

"Do you Red Andrew Salazar, take Skye Blue Reyes to be your lawfully wedded wife, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?"

That's the fucking question already! If I answer, there's no turning back now! Will I proceed? Or stop this nonsense now? "Do you, Red?" The priest asked once again. "I ... " I look at Scarlet's face and she looks confuse by my action, and I myself do too. "Yes Father, I do." I replied once again, hiding my uncertainty on my voice.

"Do you Skye Blue Reyes, take Red Andrew Salazar to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?"

She stare at me for a few seconds and glance at the crowd whose waiting for her to answer then back again at me, a tear stream down her cheeks as she speak the words "Yes Father... I do." I breath a sigh of relief, I thought she wouldn't answer and that she would just runaway from here.

"And now it's the time to exchange rings." The priest continued, our ring-bearer, Clay, Timothy's nephew come and handed each one of us the ring. We'll just need to recite our ring exchange statement. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day." I stated while slowly putting the ring on her finger that should have been a symbol of my love for Skye, but now it has become a symbol of mine and Scarlet's lie.

I saw another batch of tears trickle down her cheeks, and I'm aware that it wasn't tears of joy but tears of despair. I wipe her tears away, this is the only thing I could do for her now. But I'm kinda nervous for her, maybe she didn't know what to say next because she wasn't the one with me during rehearsals. I just hope she can improvise and don't mess things up.

With a shaking hand, she hold my hand and slowly place the ring on my finger, she said ... "I have for you a golden ring. The most precious metal symbolizes that your l-love is the most precious element in my life. The ring has no beginning and no ending, which symbolizes that the l-ove between us will never cease. I place it on your finger as a visible sign of the vows which have made us husband and wife." I was amazed on how she deliver that lines smoothly, (well not on the 'love' part as she stutters but that's understandable) as if she already memorized it since a long long time ago. Although it's not the statement prepared for her, it's fine as long as she manage to do her part.

"By the power vested in me, I hereby pronounce you as husband and wife." Announced by the priest that received a loud applause from the guests.

"You may now kiss your bride."

Damn! I totally forgot about that.