EXCUSES

< Athaire Starlight Hotel

UTC+2 0504 PM SAT

Wedding Reception Hall, Entrance >

This had to be a joke. Why…was this happening? But the wedding planner insisted.

"As part of family and close friends, I will bring you up to the photo studios. We are currently shooting ladies and gentlemen separately." His mood dropped beneath the floor.

A few minutes ago, everything was looking fine, a pleasant outlook of a cocktail hour in a spacious and glamorously decorated wedding hall, promising a wonderful nearly magical surrounding to get to know a person of mystery to him. Angel was like the character from your favorite novel, popping up out of nowhere suddenly in real life right in front of you. You don't quite know where to begin the conversation, but a thousand questions that storm your mind have enough potency to last a lifetime. Although the curiosities flowing through his head were followed by reminders to keep cool and not be too hasty, this sudden ice age breaking over his head certainly came unexpected and left a bitter aftertaste.

He hadn't even had the chance to talk for five minutes with Angel, and already they were being told to split up. With envy, he peeked past this insisting woman to the other guests enjoying cocktail hour freely in the hall.

"If you'd follow me to the elevators, please?" The woman asked, but her tone did not leave room for rejection. For a minute, he considered proposing to Angel to elope right then and there and forget about the party, but it was his sister's wedding. And any excuse was invalid before that fact. It was her day. Mostly at least. The wedding planner started stepping towards her goal, splitting out a whole waterfall of useless information and Angel followed along with a respectful business smile stuck on her face and pulled him along. For lack of a better conversation, the first question that came to mind was set free before he could think twice about it.

"Do you enjoy weddings?" If Angel was surprised, she hid it well. Why did he ask that? It was the wedding of her ex and the best friend who betrayed her. To find a much-dumber question would be difficult. But she took the question without letting her expression betray her emotions.

Leaning in, she lowered her voice, "I guess I prefer the normal workday, but don't tell her that." The nod towards the wedding planner was unnecessary. The wedding planner wasn't bothered, in fact, it seemed like she hadn't noticed that the two had started their own private conversation; she was in the middle of explaining that they had just finished with rooftop photos and how lovely they had turned out to be.

The elevator arrived and took them to the top floor.

"Before I forget," One Shot mumbled while he brought out Angel's cellphone from the pocket of his jacket, "you forgot this earlier today. I wanted to give it to you…earlier…but forgot…" His voice trailed off, realizing he was spinning in circles and stumbling over his own words.

Angel let go of his hand to receive the cell phone with both hands. "Thank you for picking it up for me. I was starting to wonder where I had lost it." She flashed a smile to him, but something was off. It was the same business smile she had given to the wedding planner. She was forcing herself, he realized. Of course, she would. There could be no way she was going to enjoy the wedding. Being at work, no matter how challenging, would be preferable.

"I know this day is not what you have hoped for, but later, I do have a small surprise for you." He said and saw her pupils widen before she chuckled.

"A surprise? I'm not at an age where I am easily surprised anymore."

"Every age has its surprises, and I hope mine will cheer you up at least a little bit." His tone was genuine and gentle. Angel opened her mouth to reply when the wedding planner pushed them both out of the opening elevator doors.

"We're here. May I ask the gentleman to go to the room to the left, and the lady to go to the room to the right? Please enter quietly as the photoshoots are on-going as I explained earlier. You will find a bar in each room with refreshments should you wish for such. If you need a breather, you will also have access to the rooftop garden through the terrace doors. If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of the employees that are part of the wedding committee. Be reminded that the buffet in the wedding reception hall will open in an hour so please find your way back by then. Enjoy!" With that waterfall run dry, she closed the elevator doors and returned to the lobby along with the elevator, leaving One Shot and Angel alone.

"Seems like we'll have to say goodbye again. For now," she added.

One Shot nodded. She offered her hand. He took her up on it and brought it to his lips.

"See you soon," he said and let her go. This time he was feeling like it was a shame to let her go. Although he did not know it yet, the next he saw her, he would look at her in a different light.