The Wallflower's Revenge

AWR Chapter 49: Seems real

I went out from the car as I walked on the pavement going to a familiar crowd. I grinned as I opened my black umbrella. Oh, of course. How can I ever bring it without a matching outfit? 

It's a simple above-the-knee, black dress. It has a stylish, sleeveless design almost exposing my cleavage which I really intend to. 

I headed almost seven meters away from the familiar faces of other people with beaming smiles. The motif of this event is white and gold, I wanted to cringe. I raised my eyebrows as soon as I saw the groom near the altar.

I gazed at his face from a distance and he looked so happy. He's smiling to the attendees of that simple wedding wearing a familiar tux. How will I ever forget that exact design? We even bought it together six months ago. I personally picked it for him and he's very excited to wear it. He even promised to wear it on the day of our wedding. Ironically, it didn't happen. Funny thing is, he's even getting married to another woman and not me. How cool is that?

Hazen Roithe. My first love. The only man I ever dared love with all my heart. Ten years. Ten, f*****g years of investing my whole life to him and he dared do this to me? The worst is, I knew the woman very well. She's my brother's girlfriend, for pete's sake. That uncontented b***h. How could she even become possible? I laid my whole, damned life and heart to Hazen. She screwed it up by marrying him. The whole thing didn't even last for a year!

I closed my fist and I can feel my fake, long nails were hurting both of my palms because of what I feel right now. I am fuming mad but my vision is already blurry with tears. How could they do this to me? The whole thing is too sudden, I did not see this one coming.

If not from my best friend, I ended up hanging myself because of the hopelessness that embraced me that time already. However, it also came from my best friend to think about revenge instead. That's sweeter compared to anything else. A sweet revenge to my ex: gate crash their wedding for both of them to feel humiliated.

The wedding vows were not inside the church. It was placed in an open garden near the town, so I got to find and witness it for myself.

I came in just in time for the groom to be in front of the altar, waiting for his bride to come any minute by now.

"Gosh, you're not going to run in front of him to show up, right?" Someone commented beside me. I always consider her my best friend. An emo-looking woman having a seven cut. She's wearing an all-black T-shirt with striped black and white sleeves. She paired it with pants that's loose, like that of trendy ones. When I looked down, she paired her outfit with a white sneakers, too.

Her name is Jenessa Hughes. Her name is as weird as what she looked like. She has a very dark eyeliner around her eyes, a piercing on her nose. She only wore a black lipstick and she's chewing a kind of gum right now.

"I am still going to wait for the bride to come near him. I badly wanted to know what would be her reaction as she went near him."

"Are you sure you'll be fine?"

"Y-Yeah, I guess so," I stammered as I looked into her eyes. She smiled as she nodded. I could hear my friend sigh.

"Are you sure? You looked really affected until now. Do you still love him?"

"I won't have to waste my time going out of our house and witnessing his wedding if I don't love him."

"You really love to hurt yourself."

"Jenessa, it's normal. We have to endure pain no matter how painful it is for us to see."

Gosh, self-harm is far different from other external factors. You don't want to be tagged as a masochist, right?"

As much as possible, I don't want to argue with my friends. I just looked at Jenessa and sighed.

"Hal?"

"What is it?"

"Please be strong. I need you to accept some things and move on instead of dwelling from the past."

"I can't accept it, Jenessa. Most especially if I knew I was the one who lost almost my life from the very start."

Jenessa started to hold my hand tight as we witnessed the bride coming. I was just staring at her beautiful face, honestly speaking. I knew Hazen for being picky and selective with girls that they lasted for ten years. I know I'm the only girl that could give both his needs and wants. However, things got different today.

I looked at him again. Her lover, her man, her everything. He looked so happy as she followed his gaze on the bride.

"If there is someone who is against this wedding, I will give you the chance to speak up for yourself before we start." The minister announced loud enough for me to hear from where I am standing at the moment.

Jenessa held my hand firmly but I let it go right away.

"Hold my umbrella. The best part is not yet over." I said, grinning. I winked at my best friend for her to wish me the best of luck.

I started walking with poise as if the pavement is my runway. Everyone who was sitting on the chair fixed their eyes on me right away. 

That's right, bitches. Believe in my presence because I will be the granter of all your nightmares. Well, at least I am dressed in a daydream. I walked on the red carpet where the bride made her slow motioned walk. I love how everyone followed me with their eyes as if they were all having a puzzled look.

"Hello, sweetheart." I greeted the groom. I can see my Hazen froze all of a sudden. I know he couldn't believe he will see me on his special day today. I put both of my hands on my hips.

"Yeah, this is me. Why? Did you miss me that much?" I said it aloud that it made him swallow hard.

Everyone gasped. I could even see more people fainting from where they were sitting on.

"I...I thought you're...you're..." 

"Dead? Well, don't you like it? I came straight from my own grave to stop your dream wedding, young woman." I referred to the woman Hazen is supposed to marry. 

"This can't be real! You're an impostor! You're not real!" Hazen shouted on top of his lungs that their audiences and relatives scampered outside the building. The soon-to-be bride also fainted after hearing the news.

I rolled my eyes as the chaos started to unfold. I can't blame them, though. How can someone return from the grave and invade someone's wedding? I understood how the other relatives of Hazen reacted as soon as they saw me. I remembered each of their faces while they witnessed my funeral rights and last moments before I was buried...alive, when they thought I was already dead.

I could feel that he's pulling me closer to him. My heart raced wild with anticipation that I couldn't help but to close my eyes.

Everything was silent. I slowly opened my eyes and Tyler is still looking at me as if feeling very amused. He started to chuckle as he pinched my nose. I removed my hand on his nose and frowned as I let go of his hands. I stomped my feet as I sat back on the roots of the tree where I always sat on. He chuckled as he followed me.

"You're even beautiful when you're annoyed." He said between chuckles. He even let me face a mirror with a wooden handle. I pushed it away and he laughed more. I feel like blushing. I hope he didn't see it. It would be too embarrassing.

"You're crazy."

"I like what you're thinking." 

"What?" 

"You want me to kiss you, right?" He said confidently while grinning. I poked his arm again, this time, I made sure it would hurt him.

"Ow! You know what? You're getting physical. It hurts, you know!"

"How could you ever think about that?" I answered defensively. However, it was too late because he could see me blushing as hell.

"I want to kiss you but I am afraid I will be slapped on my cheeks." 

I chuckled because he's really funny. Well, at the same time I am afraid he might see that I am being too awkward. I hate it so much! Why do we feel the same way? I really thought he would kiss me a while ago but then I did not see this one coming.

If only he knew a lot of trying-hard guys in the year 2020 badly wanted to taste my lips. I don't know what to feel right now. I am confused between insulted or embarrassed, or maybe both. But then...why am I happy deep down? Am I enjoying the moment of anticipation that would possibly happen? 

"See? I'm just stopping myself from kissing someone, especially you." I looked at him as he said those words.

"We're friends and I respect you so much. If I will kiss a girl, I always make sure she would feel the same for me. I don't want to get slapped, you know." Upon hearing it, I burst out laughing. Tyler is really weird and funny in his own way I can't handle it sometimes.

"I don't know what to say anymore." I said between chuckles. When everything is in good shape, we enjoyed looking at the breath-taking view from the hilltop again.

"Why do you badly want to get a scholarship this time?" Tyler asked me from out of the blue. Should I tell him? I gazed into his eyes and he's really waiting for an answer coming from me.

"I just realized what you've said to me months ago. It's 1958 already but then those words coming from you is a realization."

"Which one?"

"That particular thought that says, "Everything comes with a price."

I could hear him sigh. I know it is not also making him happy. This is the main reason why he's trying his best to be on his own. He even worked as a part-time staff almost everywhere around town. I just don't want to mention it to him because he might feel inferior towards me.

However, everything about Tyler's personality is admirable.

"Yeah. That sentence. It always keeps me going no matter how hard."

"Does your parents insist that girl you would marry every time?"

"Thankfully, not anymore. I don't know why. I guess they're up to something but I don't care."

"Have you seen the girl?"

"Hmm…" Tyler glanced at me as he smiled.

"Is she beautiful?" He just shrugged as he looked down. "Well, I must admit, yes." I bit my lower lip as I sighed. I looked at the beautiful scenery again but this time, it looked blurry. I realized I am already crying. I could feel that he's glancing at me and he went closer to my side. Without warning, he kissed me on the cheeks.

"That's a friendly kiss so I may snatch it from you sometimes."

"Gosh, you're unfair." I couldn't help but chuckle as I also kissed him on the cheeks.

"That's what makes it even." He touched his cheek dreamily. From the way he looked at me, I can feel that he loved what I did. My heart almost jumped out of my ribcage. That's totally scary yet exciting. I kissed a boy and I liked it.

"I hope we'll always stay this way."

He glanced at me as soon as he heard from me those words.

"I don't want to."

"Why?"

"Everything requires growth, even feelings."

I swallowed. Here he goes again. He's always straightforward when it comes to expressing himself. I guess he really intends to give me a heart attack because of this one.

"Do you know why I didn't like the idea of arranged marriages?" I looked at him as if anticipating an answer without waiting for my response. He knew it, most probably.

"I don't want to get married to someone I don't love. I don't imagine myself regretting every decision I will be making." He added as he gazed into my eyes, not blinking even once.

"M-Me too." I muttered but then I guess he never heard it because my voice is almost a whisper.

"What about you, Sunny? What do you think of arranged marriages?"

"I don't agree with it, either. I don't believe that you get to love the person because you don't have a choice."

"We always have."

"That's my point. Others may choose for us but it is our heart who could really choose whom to love."

He's only nineteen. I always remind myself. I am also fifteen this year and yet our topic is this one. I am almost forgetting we're still young and we're still allowed to be carefree when it comes to everything.

"I don't want you to compliment me in a straightforward manner."

"Do you hate it when someone calls you beautiful?"

"Nope. Not at all. What I hate is I might fall for it, which I hated the most."

"Don't worry. I am always responsible for my words. What do you exactly want to hear?"

"I don't want to hear compliments coming from you."

"Because you don't want to fall, am I right?"

I nodded, as I can't put it into words anymore.

"Please do. I don't mind catching someone who's falling for me, especially if it is you."