Her 20th Fiancé

“May I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” I rolled my eyes for the nth time. What am I doing here? I shouldn’t have attended. They made me feel like puking. I hate them, I hate the fact that my father is marrying a b*tch. Gosh… I looked at the clear blue sky and talked to her—my mom. ‘Mom… If I felt so betrayed, what more would you feel while looking down at us? I felt so sorry for you.’ The father I know is a sweet, loving man who always cherishes my mom and me but… that’s what I thought. The truth is, he’s having an affair with his secretary and has a son two years younger than me. Sh*t, I’m still mad at him because I learned about it a year after mom passed away and now, they're married. I looked at the annoying brother of mine who’s clapping and smiling from ear to ear while cheering. I hate him. At the reception, I was given a task to say something to the newlywed. They asked for it. I will give you what they want. “First of all, I hate both of you,” my father’s smile faded, and his face became sour. “I wonder if mom knew about your affair–” “Andrea…” Dad signaled me to stop what I was doing, but I ignored him and continued. “To be honest, I’m so against this marriage, but since you talked to me last night, dad—I behaved during the ceremony, but it doesn’t mean, I accepted her and your b*stard to be part of our family. To me, they will always be strangers and nothing but a piece of trash—” “Ma’am—” The master of the ceremony almost snatched the microphone from me, but I moved it away from him. “I’m not done yet,” I said and looked at him with sharp eyes. He stepped back. “You,” I looked at Melissa, the b*tch, who embarrassingly shows her fake small smile—cannot look anyone in their eyes. That’s right! She should be embarrassed by herself. “You already knew that he’s a married man but still throw yourself at him like a wh*re. What a gold digger b*tch.” I scoffed and smiled in satisfaction when she’s fuming mad but cannot make a scene. Go on, burst into madness, b*tch. “I love you, dad, but I wish you a very, very unhappy marriage,” I rolled my eyes. “And you b*tch, f*ck you.” I tossed the microphone at the master of the ceremony, and he nervously but gladly held it at the right moment. Silence filled the room as I exited, but I heard murmurs before I could even reach the door. “What an ungrateful child.” “For sure, Mr. Martinez is very ashamed of her.” “She used to be a sweet, angelic girl.” “Maybe the accident really made her worse.” I raised an eyebrow but didn’t bother to confront them. Who are they to talk about me like that? Do they really know me more than I know myself? They always compare me to my old self. Who really was I before the accident three years ago? I don’t know. I don’t have a tiny bit of memories from that moment. Sometimes, I felt so incomplete, as if something at the back of my head felt missing. Anyway, the past is the past. I love the version of me right now. I should just focus on the present and protect what’s mine to begin with. “Hey, babe. How’s the wedding?” Daniel, my boyfriend, asked. We met at a fine dining restaurant after the chaotic wedding earlier. I looked around, felt the atmosphere like something special was going to happen, but I didn’t bother to ask. I’ll just let him do whatever he wants. And as I expected… He’s kneeling in front of me, asking for my hand in marriage. “Will you let me be part of your life, babe?” he asked in his sincerest tone. If I accept this proposal, he’ll be my 19th fiancé. Crazy, right? I know. I’m just 23, but I have had a lot of wedding engagements since I was 16 but all of them were called off by my family for different reasons I don’t want to name. Those were just so unimportant to reminisce with. “Yes,” I smiled and nodded at him. He slid the ring into my finger and offered his hand for a sweet dance. He kissed me passionately, looking at me so lovingly. Not after a month, while preparing for the grand wedding which will happen next year, I learned something about him—my fiancé, Daniel. At a ‘family’ dinner, I was holding myself back before I said or did something awful. It’s my dad’s birthday and the least thing I can do for him as a respect is to behave tonight. “When’s the wedding again, Andrea?” Dad asked. “Next year, dad. This coming January,” I replied. I felt Daniel’s hand on mine, looking at me with doting eyes. “Oh… It’s almost two months away. I’m expecting to have a grandson as soon as you settle in,” he said, really wanting to be a grandfather because he’s not getting any younger. But I guess it will be postponed again. Sorry, dad. ““How many children are you planning to have?” Mrs. Gomez, Daniel’s mom, was invited to this family dinner. Daniel chuckled and said, “We haven’t talked about it yet.” “You need to, son.” The b*tch, my dad’s mistress, joined the conversation. Thank goodness, my mother taught me how to have manners even though this old hag is getting on my nerves. As if she belongs here. “You don’t have—“ I was interrupted when someone suddenly opened the door without even knocking. “Oh… Am I late?” I grabbed the wine glass and gracefully drank the red wine, giving no care to my stepsister—Margareth—who is a carbon copy of her b*tch mother. Tss… Always craving the spotlight. “Glad you made time tonight. Have a seat, Maggy.” My dad offered her a seat beside my fiancé. I caught them exchanging intimate glances, Daniel and Maggy, I mean. These two idiots. I’m sick of them. I cleared my throat and put down the glass on the table. I intimately slid my fingers on Daniel’s arm. “Actually, I want two. How about that, babe?” I smiled at him. He’s blushing and I almost roll my eyes. “If that’s what you want,” he kissed the back of my hand. Ew. “I love you,” he whispered, but I didn’t respond. How am I supposed to believe that lie, huh? After having an affair behind my back? No way.