Happily ever after doesn’t start at weddings

Rachel fixes herself in front of her bathroom mirror. She couldn't decide what she should do with her hair. Should she put it in an updo or just let it down? She didn't know what to choose. In the end she decided to just let her hair down. She braided the top left side of her hair as and curled the rest into big waves. Her hair wasn't really that long so it didn't take too much time. She also put some small flower accessories in her hair. She looked at her reflection again in the mirror and she was satisfied.

After fixing her hair and make up, Rachel headed to her closet to take out the wedding dress she picked out the day before. She put the dress on and carried the matching veil into the bathroom. The dress was a perfect fit and it looked absolutely beautiful on her. She then pinned the veil into her hairstyle. She went back into her room to get her shoes. Rachel wore a silver open toed heels.

Once she put it one, she looked at her reflection in her mirror. With the whole look finished, she can finally look at herself. Her heart suddenly started beating faster as soon as she sees her reflection. She looked like a bride, even though the wedding she was going to was not real.

She started getting nervous and she wasn't even sure why. It's not a real wedding. She reminds herself. But even though it wasn't real, she can still feel her emotions taking over. Is this what real brides feel on their wedding day?

A sound that came from her phone snaps her out of her thoughts. It was a text from Isaac. He sent her the address of the venue for their wedding. He sent another text mentioning that he was on his way there and reminded Rachel that she shouldn't be late again. Rachel just rolled her eyes at the text. She received another text from Isaac asking if she's asleep.

"I'm coming, don't worry." Rachel finally replies.

She puts down her phone as she takes one more look at herself in the mirror. She smiled at herself. It might not be a real wedding but at least she get to experience one. With her love life it's not like she was gonna be married soon. Rachel decided she would at least enjoy this moment as long as it lasts.

With that, Rachel takes her keys and her phone, and headed outside. She walked to her car and drove off. The venue wasn't far. It took her less than an hour to finally reach her destination. As she stepped out of her car she was greeted by the staff. The place had valet parking so Rachel gave them her keys and they drove off with her car. She was lead by another staff member to the actual set up of the wedding.

The staff lead her into the garden. There was an open area in there were a much bigger event could be held with more people. However, Isaac wasn't there. They continued to walk until they reached a more private part of the place were some tall bushes of plants separates it with the rest of the place. The staff leads Rachel into the opening wherein she is met with roses scattered on ground and candles lighting her way into an arch filled flowers. Under the arch was a man in a suit, who is most probably the one to officiate their wedding, and Isaac who was wearing a black tuxedo.

Rachel couldn't help but smile instinctively at the sight. Isaac was absolutely handsome in his tux. The place was beautiful too. The candle lit aisle filled with flowers, the arch, the entire place under the stars, it almost feels like a real wedding. Rachel shakes her head at the thought. Focus Rachel, this isn't real. It's all just for show. She tried to convince herself.

Once they arrived, the staff member handed Rachel a bouquet of flowers and gestured her to continue on her own. As she walked down the aisle, a familiar music started playing. Rachel was surprised so she stopped for a moment to look where the music came from. The staff member that lead her there was now holding a speaker on his hand, which was where the music came from.

Rachel then continued walking down the aisle after that. She kept her head down as she did so. She didn't know why but she felt so nervous. Maybe it's the wedding or maybe it's the entire agreement itself that's making her nervous. Now that she thought about it, as she walks down the aisle everything feels so real and final. The marriage and the agreement, there's no going back from it now.

As she approaches the altar her heart was beating faster each step she took. In order to distract herself, she tried to focus on other things. Rachel remembered the music. It was like a mixture of piano, cello and violin. She was absolutely sure that she’s heard this music before, she just can’t remember where. It was so familiar.

When Rachel was almost at the altar, she looked ahead and her eyes met Isaac's. He was smiling at her. Rachel absentmindedly smiled back at him. The reaction just came naturally to her. She didn’t really think much of it, most probably because she didn’t even realize it. She just focused on Isaac and she felt a bit calmer.

Unknown to Rachel, Isaac’s heart was beating as fast as her. When he first arrived at the venue, he was so nervous too. Now that he is about to get married, he realized how crazy his plan was. He planned on marrying a random girl in the beginning just so he can escape his parents arranging him to marry another stranger. Luckily for him he found Rachel. He found someone at least familiar. Their arrangement, it was scary, but somehow for Isaac, it feels a lot less scary because it was with Rachel.

The moment Isaac saw Rachel arrived, his heart skipped a beat. She was beautiful. Isaac had to remind himself that about the agreement as he was starting to loose himself in his emotions. Even though in his mind he keeps saying that all of these wasn’t real, he still couldn’t help but smile at Rachel and how beautiful she looked.

They continued looking at each other even as Rachel reached the altar. Focused on each other, they didn’t notice how the man to officiate their wedding was looking at them. He was smiling too, recognizing the way Isaac and Rachel look at each other.The ceremony started without fail. However one question from the officiant brought back Rachel’s nervous feeling.

“Rachel, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Her heart started beating fast again. Rachel knew in her mind that once she says yes, there will be no going back. This is her last chance to back out. She looked at the officiant and then at Isaac. She couldn’t really read the expression in Isaac’s face and somehow that made her more nervous.

She started spiraling again. She was overthinking about the entire thing. All the what ifs are going around in her head. She didn’t know how long she was silent. She just couldn’t form any words. Her nerves were taking over so she closed her eyes. All of a sudden, she felt hands holding her own. Rachel opens her eyes and sees that it was Isaac’s. She looked him in the eyes again and finally answered.

”I do.”

The officiant didn’t question Rachel’s reaction and just moved on to ask Isaac the same question.

”Isaac, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Isaac looked first at the officiant while he was asking the question and then looked at Rachel when he answered.

”I do.”

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The officiant nodded and smile at the couple. “You may now kiss your bride.”

Rachel’s eyes grew wide at the statement. She completely forgot that the groom is supposed to kiss the bride after. How she forgot about it might be caused by her nervousness, which was now starting to come back.

Isaac noticed Rachel’s reaction and squeezed her hand to try and calm her down. He looked her in the eyes. Rachel felt her hand being squeezed by Isaac so she looked back at him. He gave her a look as if he’s asking for her permission. Rachel took a deep breath before nodding, giving him her consent.

With Rachel’s approval, Isaac stepped closer to her. He placed his hand on her cheek and closed the distance between them. The kiss was chaste, almost like a peck on the lips. But even though that was the case, both Rachel and Isaac knew they felt something there. What it was is still unknown to both and if asked they would probably both deny it’s existence as well. But it’s there and they both know it.

Once they pulled away, they looked away at each other, creating an awkward environment for the two of them. The officiant who seems to be clueless about the tension, congratulated the two. Rachel and Isaac thanked him and shook his hand.

After the ceremony, the officiant and the staff immediately left the venue. Rachel and Isaac was left there on their own. They walked slowly out of the garden and into the field. Rachel was walking with her arms kind of covering her body while Isaac was walking with his hands on his pockets. There was still an awkward silence between the two.

Before they reached the end of the field, Rachel was about to go back to the entrance of the venue where she had her car valet parked. Isaac noticed that they were about to walk on opposite side since he was going inside the main building of the venue. He immediately called out to Rachel.

”Hey, do you wanna get something to eat?”

Rachel looked back at Isaac. She wasn’t sure what the purpose of the invitation was, after all they already achieved the part of their agreement for tonight, which was the wedding itself. She was reluctant to agree, but then she felt something in her stomach. She was hungry.

”Yeah that’ll be great actually.”

She followed Isaac inside of the building. Unknown to Rachel, there was a restaurant inside. She and Isaac walked towards the restaurant. It was Isaac that talked to the receptionist to give them a table. A staff then came and lead them to their table inside. It was a two floor restaurant and they had to climb the stairs to get to their table, which was on the second floor balcony.

A waiter comes to take both their orders, and once he leaves, Rachel and Isaac was stuck in an awkward silence. Both of them were too reluctant to say anything to the other. There weren't anyone else close to them since the table they were sitting in was in a more private area of the restaurant.

"So umm," Isaac mumbles, finally breaking the silence between the two of them. Rachel immediately turns her attention to Isaac as soon as she heard his voice.

"I hope what happened earlier didn't cross a line. I know we were both against unnecessary kissing and PDAs when we discussed the agreement." Isaac continued.

Rachel looks away, "Yeah well, that was necessary, so it's okay."

"I know, it's just, I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."

"You didn't." Rachel responds, finally looking Isaac in the eyes.

There was another wave of silence between the two. Luckily their food arrives soon. They both thank the waiter who immediately leaves. The two eat their food in silence, not knowing what to say to the other once again. After they both finished, Isaac calls on the waiter for the bill. When the waiter arrived, Rachel was about to take out her wallet. Isaac immediately stops her and hands the waiter his own card, who then leaves.

"We could've split the bill." Rachel says to Isaac.

"I just, I think you're already doing me a huge favor with all this. It's my treat." Isaac replies.

Rachel was reluctant, but still said, "Alright."

After the waiter returns with Isaac's card, the two prepare to leave. They wait outside in silence for their respective cars. The first one to arrive was Rachel's. Before she leaves, Isaac waves at her, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Rachel waves back in return, "Yeah, see you."