Chapter 2 Wedding Bells

~~~Dreaming of a life, a happy ever after I couldn't imagine if it wouldn't with you. Each day is like a fairy tale come true. I wouldn't ask for more than being with you. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, I do. With you, I wanna spend the rest of my life, baby, I do~~~

-Baby I do (Juris Fernandez)-

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Wedding bells. Wedding bells.

I can hear the wedding bells ringing even though I was still inside the bridal car and it gave me different kinds of emotions, well, aside from...

Joy.

My grip on the bouquet in my hands tightened as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Today is my wedding day but no matter how hard I tried to brush the sadness that I felt inside me, I still couldn't.

I should be happy. I should be celebrating because this is one of the most memorable things that can happen to a woman like me or should I say once in a lifetime celebration, but no because what I have in my heart right at this moment are sadness and uncertainty.

I don't know what will happen after this celebration and when we are left alone. At the same time, I also wonder what will happen if I jump into the now empty driver's seat and drive the car away from this chaos. But then I bit my lower lip, shook my head hard when I thought about my parents. I love them so much and I don't want to see them down.

"Rafi,"

I slightly gasped when Paul and Jace, my gay best friends knocked on the car window.

"Are you ready?" Paul asked me the moment I opened the door but the only response they got from me was a loud sigh and a long pout.

"Oh, my God! If you're having cold feet, I will support you! Come on, fasten your seat belt and I'll drive you away---ouch!"

"What the hell, Jace! What are you suggesting?" Paul glared at Jace as he slapped his arm causing him to wince.

"I was just asking her!" Jace replied with a shrug, rubbing the skin where Paul's hand landed. "Besides, this is just an arranged marriage, so it's up to her if she's going to walk into that church, marry the rudest man she has ever met in her life and soon become her husband--- if ever--- or fly away from here!"

I looked at Jace and suddenly I remember one of the quotes I read somewhere... arranged marriage is such a funny concept. All your life you are taught not to talk to strangers and suddenly you are asked to sleep with one.

"Haist! This is nonsense, Jace! You know how powerful her husband could be---"

"Husband to be!" Jace corrected and I chuckled.

"Wait--- girls! Stop it, I'm fine! You don't have to bicker over this thing! I mean, getting married is just a simple thing, duh!" I said rolling my eyes. Well, I had to interrupt them before their conversation turned into something serious. I know they both love me.

"Simple thing?" They both asked me in unison with their eyebrows almost forming a straight line. It's as if they couldn't believe I said those words where from the very beginning I kept telling them that 'marriage' is not my thing.

"I'm the one who's getting married, so you don't have to fight about this."

"Even if your 'husband to be' has anger issues and can swallow you at any time in the future?"

At that moment, I have to laugh at Jace's question... the word is that I have to... because I don't want to show them how hard this decision is for me.

"Come on, girls, yes, he's got anger issues but he's not a monster, is he? Besides, have you forgotten who I am? Hello, I'm Rafi Gonzalez and there is nothing I can handle!" I said proudly just to convince them.

And they agreed so they helped me out of the car and soon I found myself standing in front of the church double wooden door.

"Whew!" I let out the nervousness by taking a long, deep breath. My friends were already inside the church and here I am, waiting for the door to open.

And a few minutes later...

"Ohh..." I gasped when the door finally opened and the simple yet elegant interior came into my sight. Yes, this is just a forced marriage, but I have to admit that my in-laws put their extra efforts to decorate the church and of course, to make me look more gorgeous on my wedding day.

People were staring at me and I know, my husband who will be in a few minutes is doing the same, so I tried my best not to look at the altar, especially in his direction.

-'Huh! Yeah, keep on staring!'- I mumbled.

So, pretending to be happy, I started to make slow steps towards the altar.

The wedding singer started to sing the wedding song and I couldn't help but hiss the moment I heard it.

"🎶You're always on my mind since I've had this feeling. I found in you in a dream I've believed to be true...🎶"

-'Tss! You're always on my mind---I don't even know him!'-

"🎶Finally you got me fallin' like this, I don't wanna end a feeling like this...🎶"

I rolled my eyes. Well, I had the audacity to roll my eyes because I know no one can't see me. I have a veil covering my face.

"🎶You know I want to share my world with you, I promise to you my feelings will never change. You know I want to forever live in this moment, I wanna spend the rest of my life with you...I do...🎶"

I've already reached the altar and my parents have passed my hand to the coldest and rudest man I have ever known in my life... Liam Samuel Clarkson.

You wouldn't believe how I met this man. I didn't know that such an accident would turn into a 'disaster' and would end up meeting him at the altar.

I tried to smile at him, but like I said he's the coldest man I've ever met, so for sure you already knew that he didn't reciprocate that simple gesture.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen..."

I heard the priest's greetings, but my mind was still on the man standing next to me who seemed as cold as ice.

-'Tss! I can't believe I'm marrying a zombie! If I just didn't love my parents, I wouldn't agree to this agreement!'-

I noticed that he looked at me too, but I continued to talk to myself as I stared at his handsome face.

-'I don't know what happened to you in the past as you turned into that, I mean, why did you develop such a behavior, but one thing is for sure, I will never let my guard down and even though this marriage is on papers only, still we are equal. I won't let you make life a living hell like what you showed two weeks ago. Never! As in never---'

But my mind went blank when he suddenly leaned forward.

"Can you stop staring at me and focus on what the priest is saying, dumbhead!" He said in a whisper but I still heard the hint of annoyance.

-'Huh! D-Did he just call me dumbhead?'- I blinked repeatedly as I looked at him in shock.

He then threw me a glare before looking back at the priest who was speaking in front of us.

-'Oh, my God! Help me, oh, dear God, please give me more strength to control myself and my fists so, we can continue this ceremony, argh!'-

I closed my eyes, clenching my fists tightly.

-'Yes, you are incredibly handsome but that good looks just don't suit your personality, jerk!'-

I made sure he saw how I raised my eyebrow at him.

After that, I tried to focus on what the priest was saying and when it comes to the moment where the groom and bride should seal their wedding ceremony with a kiss...

-'Oh, no... don't you ever kiss me on the lips, you, jerk! I don't want you to be my first kiss!'- I looked at him, slowly shaking my head and silently telling him what's in my head.

But he just gave me a devilish smile before cupping my face with his hands.

"No..." I whispered, my eyes were a pleading him.

That made him frown for a few seconds, but what I did, didn't actually help as he continued the opposite of what I was begging for. He pulled me closer to him and in the blink of an eye, his soft lips touched mine and I stiffened.

I felt him smirk in between his kiss, but much to my surprise, he pulled me around the waist and delved into what must have been a simple kiss.

We both heard the cheers from the guests inside the church who seemed to be enjoying the show in front of them... of course, who would not be when almost all of them had no idea what this wedding was.

I clutched his shoulder to make him stop, but he didn't budge and continued his assault on my poor lips. Yes, deep inside I enjoy it. I felt a sudden spark ignite all over my body when he pulled me, but my mind screamed before I completely lost my sanity. So yes, I probably would have enjoyed it if I hadn't known that he was just doing this for a show.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson!" I heard the priest say and that's the time I pushed him, but not enough to get the attention of the guests.

I felt my face heated from annoyance and awkwardness at the same time as I looked at him and noticed the winning smile on his lips. It's as if he had won a lottery.

"You didn't tell me I'm your first kiss, sweetheart." He whispered, smirking

A small growl rumbled in my throat when he brushed my lips using his thumb.

"Tsk.Tsk. Don't be mad, sweetheart, it's just for a show." He whispered again, trying to suppress his laughter.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I'm not mad, sweetheart," I smiled, sweetly. "I mean, why would I? At least I should be proud to say that my first kiss happened on my wedding day and the one who got it was none other than my husband." I shrugged, emphasizing the words first kiss and husband. "See? You are my first kiss, congratulations!"

A surprise was instantly written on his face, but it only took a few seconds for it to change into a scowl.

He then grabbed my hand and pulled me towards our family and...

...the show has begun...