Chapter 5 5

I looked at myself in the mirror, and with a sad smile, I held a drawing in my hand. It's a sketch of a wedding gown that I designed back in high school. I had kept it hidden in my bag and just gazed at my reflection in the mirror.

" you're so pretty," Hazel, who had just entered the room where I was getting ready, said with a smile. I returned her smile and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, Zel," I replied, and I heard her soft laughter as she playfully swatted my hand.

"You're so dramatic!" she teased, and I could only chuckle before letting go of our hug.

Later, she seated me again in front of the mirror and started adjusting my veil at the back.

"I'm so happy!" she said with a smile while fixing the crown on my veil.

I just stared at her. "Why?" I asked in surprise, and she smiled.

"Because you're marrying the one you love," she replied, glancing at me in the mirror, and we locked eyes.

"H-how?" I stuttered, but she just smiled.

"We're siblings, I know you. I know it wasn't an accident that you got pregnant by Erren; I know you planned it. But even so, I'm happy because I know you've dreamed of this for a long time... I accidentally read your diary," she said with a smile.

"H-Hazel," I said, on the verge of tears, and she hugged me from behind.

"Even though I don't exactly know what you did, I'm happy for you and your unborn child, because I know Erren will take care of you," she said, tears streaming down her face as she buried it in my neck. I couldn't help but cry too.

I felt sick because I had done something wrong, something worse.

"Hazel... will you still accept me if you learn that it's all my fault why our sister is dead now?"

We were separated from our embrace by a knock and a call from the door. I immediately got up from my seat and wiped the tears from my cheeks. Hazel smiled at me before opening the door.

"M-mom...d-dad," I stammered as they entered.

My mother hugged me tightly when she saw me. "You look so beautiful, dear," she said with a beaming smile.

"Thank you, Mom," I replied with a smile, but I noticed a hint of sadness in her smile as she held my wedding gown.

I knew she was thinking about Hannah again. I had tried my best to accept that they loved Hannah more than me, but I couldn't help feeling hurt.

"Hanni," I heard my father say. I was about to hug him when I remembered he was still upset with me.

"Yes, Dad," I replied with a smile, but I was surprised when he embraced me.

"Be happy with him, okay? Just let me know if he ever hurts you, and I'll be ready to sue him," my father said with a chuckle, which brought tears to my eyes as I hugged him tightly.

"I-I thought you were mad," I said while crying, but he just touched our foreheads together.

"I-I am mad, my child, but even so, you're still my daughter, and you're getting married today. As a parent, I'm happy because I know he'll take care of both of you and my future grandchild," he said, bringing tears to my eyes, and I hugged him tightly.

"Th-thank you, Dad. I-I love you," I said through tears.

"I-I love you too, Hanni," he replied and kissed my forehead.

After that, my mother and Hazel also joined us in tears.

We were just starting to separate from our embrace when there was a sudden knock at the door.

When Papa opened it, the wedding planner entered.

"Let's go to the wedding, Ms. Ramos... or should I say soon to be Mrs. Buenavista," she said with a smile.

We all laughed at what she said, and my cheeks blushed slightly.

They assisted me because my wedding gown was quite heavy. They helped me until I got into our wedding car.

"We'll go ahead, Hanni," Mama said and kissed my cheek. Papa also smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"We'll see you at the church," Papa said with a smile. I just smiled back and nodded.

Hazel, my maid of honor, also got into the wedding car with me, and we headed to the church together.

Hazel gave me a smile, and I returned it, then looked out the car window.

My dream wedding was a beach wedding... but it seems like that might not happen anymore.

It's been 30 minutes since we arrived at the church, but Erren still hasn't shown up.

"Hazel, maybe he's just stuck in traffic," Hazel said worriedly, while I forced a smile. I sighed silently because we had arrived early and even beat some of the guests.

I glanced outside as people began to chatter and guests whispered among themselves. We had been waiting for half an hour, and Erren was still nowhere to be seen.

I lowered the window to eavesdrop on the conversation between aunt Eloisa and our wedding planner.

"Sister," Hazel tried to stop me, but I just smiled and lowered the window further to hear the commotion.

"Find that bastard now!" I heard uncle Errol shouting into his phone.

"Dad, calm down. He's not going to escape. Maybe he just forgot he's getting married today, hahaha," Enzo joked, earning him an intense glare from his father.

Enzo pouted and avoided eye contact. "I just wanted to lighten the mood; you're all so tense."

"Just shut up!" Uncle Ely said seriously to his brother.

"He's been late for 30 minutes! It's embarrassing for the guests!" I heard aunt Eloisa yelling from the side.

"Madam, calm down," our wedding planner said, trying to soothe her.

"How can I calm down? Half an hour has passed, and your 'sir' is still nowhere to be found!" she angrily retorted. I saw aunt Faith trying to calm her down.

"Eloisa, nothing will be achieved by shouting here. You're going to raise your blood pressure," aunt Faith calmed her.

"I will have high blood pressure because of your unruly nephew!" she yelled again.

"I've already sent Fierce to look for him," aunt Faith said.

I also noticed my dad, along with my mom, approaching where uncle Errol and aunt Eloisa were.

"Where is your son, Errol?" my dad angrily shouted.

"Alejandro, calm down," my mom tried to calm my dad.

"How can I calm down when we've been waiting for our son's wedding for an hour!" he shouted in anger.

The guests also started to approach their location, as if they wanted to eavesdrop on the situation.

"We're doing everything we can to find Erren," uncle Errol calmly stated, trying to prevent my dad from losing his temper.

"Eloisa, Errol, I understand Erren didn't like the idea of this wedding, but I wish he had told us it wouldn't happen, so our child wouldn't be humiliated like this," my mom tearfully said before following my dad.

"Reason for the guests to whisper more"

I just quietly cried because of the pain I was feeling. It's as if I'm being repeatedly stabbed in the heart.

I'm completely shattered, and I'm hurting so much because of what's happening.

"H-hey, don't cry, it's not good for the baby... M-maybe Erren is just stuck in traffic," Hazel said worriedly.

I just shook my head and continued to cry, and she kept on hugging me.

I took a deep breath and looked outside, where people were looking at me.

"Ma'am, sir, please come back inside, we're about to start... just wait a little longer," our wedding planner said with a forced smile while holding a mic.

I heard some of the guests complaining about the delay and worrying that the wedding might not happen.

I took a deep breath, wiped my tears, and opened the car door.

"Sister!" I heard Hazel try to stop me, but I was already outside. As I stepped out, all our guests, whether they were our relatives, Erren and Hannah's relatives, or our friends, turned their attention to me. Some looked at me with pity, and others continued to whisper.

"Dear Hanni," Aunt Eloisa said and approached me. I just smiled at her and took the mic from our wedding planner.

No... not their wedding planner, Erren and Hannah's wedding planner.

I get it now... I know why he hasn't arrived, or maybe he won't come at all. He has no intention of coming because he's not going to marry Hannah; he's going to marry Hanni... he's going to marry me.

I took a deep breath and looked at the guests.

You can do this, Hanni. It's your fault too. You're insisting on what you want, even though you know that no matter how hard you try, if it's not meant for you, you'll never have it.

"I'm sorry... but there won't be a wedding..."