Ann’s POV
I hear the door shut behind me and finally let the tear I have been holding in slide down my face.
With a final glance at the image of a beautiful, teary bride in the mirror, I pick up my phone and dial his number.
Ryan.
He picks up at the first ring as if expecting my call. I sniffle, suddenly lost for words.
“Annette, I was just about to call you. I heard today is your wedding with the boss,” he utters solemnly.
With a smile, I reply. “Yes.”
Everyone knows already. They definitely will. We can’t get married again, so they needed to know that the first time was accidental.
But this is the real deal. Now.
“I should have done this a long time ago, Ann. But I want you to know that you deserve every form of happiness you can get. I see the way he looks at you and I know he adores you,” he trails off. “And I want to use this medium to tell you how sorry I am. I’m so sorry.”
He sounds like someone about to break down into tears.
I didn’t call to remember our love life and how it ended. I just wanted a clean end with him.
“Thank you, Ryan. That is what I wanted to hear. If you didn’t leave, I wouldn’t have met Vicente. Everything is working well for us both now, with you married and me about to walk down the aisle…”
“I’m getting a divorce,” he suddenly announced, cutting me short.
I blink in confusion.
“Thanks anyway. Sorry for not coming to your wedding. Be happy.”
He disconnects the call before I can even say what I wanted to. Instantly, I delete his number because this is the end for us.
Then I dial another number.
Vicente.
It rings for a while, but he doesn’t pick. More tears roll down my eyes and I find myself whimpering and laughing simultaneously.
I can’t believe this is me. I can’t believe I am here, about to be married for real to Vicente, a man I have come to love and who loves me back more than life itself.
It reminds me of Tessa’s saying. Falling for a man who has never been in love is scary. The moment they fall, they fall deeply and madly in love, with no remedy for their sickness.
I laugh, wishing she was here with me.
There was an emergency back at home, and she had to catch a flight home in the early hours of today.
Meaning I have no maid of honor.
I keep wiping my tears, but more tears roll, and I finally give up, letting them slide until I can taste the saltiness of my tears in my mouth.
I wish Mom were here.
She would be so proud of me. Not only am I getting married today, but I am also going to have my restaurant open today. It was a wedding gift that came early, according to Vince.
Suddenly, a knock resounds at the door, making me wipe my tears quickly. The door is pushed open from outside, and Vince peeps in.
A gasp leaves my mouth, and I almost stand up, but he mouths to me to sit down as he slowly walks in, closing the door gently.
“Isn’t it a bad omen for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?” I find myself asking as I glance at his outfit.
A suit with a unique fabric. It is a three-piece suit: one button suit jacket, a vest and pants suit.
“I couldn’t wait. I had to come see for myself if my bride is already having a change of mind or not,” he grabs my waist and plants a kiss on my lips.
He pulls away instantly with a furrowed brow. “You crying?”
I shake my head.
He helps me to sit back on the chair as he squats in front of me. “Did something happen?”
I can no longer hold it in as more tears roll. He doesn’t say a word for some moment until I get a hold of myself.
He leans forward and darts his tongue out as he catches my tears with the tip of his tongue.
His tongue disappears, and he lets out a silly moan. I laugh and hit his shoulder.
He laughs, too, and squeezes my two hands.
“I love you, Ann.”
“I love you too, Vicente but I called for a reason…”
“Which is why I am here. Let’s talk.”
“I know you love me, Vince but I have always imagined what my wedding would be like. I have always envisioned having a heart-to-heart conversation with my to-be-husband and here we are. Love is important but I want us to vow to stand by each other all the way. I never want to be left alone again. I never want to face the sidewalk of life alone again. Having you means not being alone anymore. This marriage, our vows, the exchange of rings this time will mean a lot to me but I need…”
“Assurance?” He asks, and I bite my lower lips, hoping I am not asking for too much. Vicente has done a lot already.
He kisses my lips again, briefly. When he pulls away, he mutters. “I have never felt this way my entire life. You made me believe in love. You change everything about me. I love you Ann and I will always do. All I want is for you to be happy because your happiness is my happiness. Your happiness therefore is my priority.”
Relief washes through me.
“I don’t want you to cry, Ann.”
“Thank you,” I say with all sincerity, wiping my face. “Thank you for everything.”
“I should be the one to thank you for letting me feel this emotion called love. Thank you for loving me.”
I turn slightly, pull the drawer out, and grab the box and the bow tie I got for him. His eyes widen when it falls on the gift. I stretch it at him. “I know I haven’t done anything for you…”
“Shhh,” he bends and kisses me, darting his tongue in to explore the insides of my mouth.
Breathlessly, we pull away and I help him fix the bow tie. Fortunately, it goes well with his suit.
He grabs the box and opens it. It’s a Rolex wristwatch. A grin appears on his face, and he pulls me in a tight hug.
“This means so much, babe,” he says and quickly takes off the wristwatch he is wearing before putting on the one I got for him.
I watch in admiration.
I am lucky indeed. Not only is he handsome, but he is also kind, generous, and appreciates little things.
What I did is nothing compared to the amount of happiness he has given me. He has fulfilled my dream. Made me a queen in just a few months, and now his wife.
“You look beautiful in this dress,” he compliments me, his eyes not leaving mine.
Shyly, I nod.
I wanted something simple but Tessa wouldn’t hear of it. I am wearing a classic A-line wedding gown with a sweetheart neckline and delicate beading.
“You look GOOD, husband,” I compliment him, too, and he raises his shoulder in pride.
I laugh.
“This is what I want henceforth. No more tears. Just laughter and happiness in our home till forever?”
It sounds like a question.
So I nod. “Yes. Till eternity.”
“Good,” he nods in satisfaction. “So shall we go get married now, my beautiful bride?”
“Yes, husband.”
He opens his arms for me to entwine mine, and I do. With smiles on our faces, we take slow steps out of the large dressing room door with one hope and thought in mind.
The thought of tying that knot. This time, for real. Not accidentally.
And the hope of a better, brighter future filled with nothing but smiles on my face and that of Vicente.
The dressing room door opens, and we walk into the next page of our lives.
THE END