15th of April. The heat is expected to be high with relatively low humidity. It is summer in this part of the world. The sun is extremely bright, like a fiery ball in the sky, making everything underneath golden. Arrows of sunlight bathed the ground. It brings new hope and happiness to everyone. Everyone is preparing for the coming festivities towards the end of the month until mid of June. Everyone is full of cheers except for Mei.
Today is her wedding day. A wedding day she dreaded to come. She will be married, no not married, she was just sold to one of the most powerful people in the country. How cool is that? They said that when it rains, it pours. It really does. Her boyfriend betrayed her, she lost her virginity to someone she doesn't know, and now she will be married to someone she doesn't know. Someone who is ugly, crippled, or has a horrible disease. Well, she did not meet the person but she knows his family. They own a lot of businesses from malls, shipping, clothing, food, and many more. Their family is always on the news but she has not seen the person she is marrying so she assumed he must be looking horrible. That is the only reason she can think of why he would need to pay for a wife. He has everything, he is the sole heir of the Tan family. His family is excellent and they can do whatever they want to do which is not limited to buying a wife.
Her train of thoughts was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in", she lazily said.
"Mei, they are here to help you prepare.", her nanny Aileen said.
"Let them in, thanks", she replied. She turned around and gasped seeing around a dozen people inside her room. Well, that's what you get for marrying the wealthiest man in the country.
"Madam, we were sent here by the chairman to prepare you for the wedding", said the leader of the group. He looked elegant in a white shirt underneath a black stylish coat and black leather pants. One look and you can say that he is a member of the LGBTQ community.
She faintly smiled and motioned them to start whatever they have to do and they all began to unload things and go about preparing her. A group of them are doing her make-up, some of them are doing her nails and her hair.
"Perfect", she can hear the head stylist occasionally utter. Mei just sat there and let them do what they had to do.
After a while, "let me see... perfect, perfect, perfect!" the lead stylist said with satisfaction.
"Miss Mei, you are beautiful. And you will even be more beautiful if you put a smile on your lovely face", he said and urged her to style.
She obliged and it turned out to be a very awkward smile which made him frown.
"This is your day, this is a dream wedding so you must be very happy. Smile like there is no tomorrow", he said dramatically.
She just sighed. How can she smile when she is in this predicament?
"It's about time, Mei", nanny Aileen said.
The people dispersed and she is now left with Aileen who has been like a second mother to her. If her mother is here, she would not have let this happen. She would have protected her.
She shook her head in disbelief. Just last week, she found out that she was betrayed by her boyfriend and then he had a one-night stand with a stranger, and now she will be married? Will her groom mind that she is no longer a virgin? Will it matter?
'Why am I thinking about it, anyway', she said to herself. She felt ridiculous. She is pretty sure that their marriage will not be consummated.
In the mansion.
Knock, knock, knock! Series of knocks can be heard from inside the room. Xander squinted his eyes when the ray of sun hit his face. He held his aching head. He had a lot to drink last night. He did not even remember how he ended up in his bed.
"Ahhh", he growled.
"Master Xander, I'm going in", the butler called from outside.
Creak, the big door to his room opened.
"Master Xander!" the butler gasped upon seeing him still on the bed. He should have been ready by now for his wedding. He shook his head in disbelief.
"Ahem", Mr. Tan followed him inside. He motioned for Robert to open the thick curtains wide to let the light come in.
"Ugghh, Robert!", he shouted which brought the butler shaking in fear. He wanted to find a hole to hide.
"Get up!", shouted Chairman Tan to Xander which completely woke Xander up.
He slowly got up and looked at the old man.
"What is it?", he coldly asked.
"Don't you remember that it is your wedding day?"
"Oh, yeah. Yay, it's my wedding day!" Xander blurted sarcastically.
"I'll give you 15 minutes to fix yourself and get out there!", the chairman said authoritatively.
"Or should I cancel it?", he said meaningfully.
"Let me know", his grandfather said before turning his back on him.
"Damn!" Ahhhh!" he shouted and stood up. I guess he has nothing he can do now. It feels like jumping into a never-ending pit.
20 minutes later, Xander went out of his room and out of the mansion. He was wearing a navy blue three-piece suit. He looked dashing, like a knight. He got into his black Maybach. The driver carefully went out of the driveway and out into the streets. The hotel where the wedding is 15 minutes away but the wedding will start in 15 minutes. The groom is late. Beads and beads of sweat can be seen on the driver's temple. He was told to take Xander to the wedding venue 5 minutes ago, so they are 5 minutes short. He made a quick glance at the back where his boss is.
He is sitting calmly at the back, his forehead wrinkled.
At the reception.
"Where is the groom?" Mr. Benitez asked in a panicked voice. He feared that Xander would not show up and everything would be compromised.
"Dad, relax", said Trixie, who is the reason why they are in this predicament. Trixie is younger than Mei and is very opposite in every way. Mei is the responsible and affectionate one out of his two daughters. Trixie knows nothing but to party and changes boyfriends like she is changing clothes.
"Shut up", he discreetly shouted at her.
"If it wasn't because of you, we will not be in this mess and your sister will not have sacrificed herself", he reminded her.
As if she had made sense for the first time, Trixie sealed her lips.
"The groom is coming please be ready", shouted the gay wedding organizer. He then went inside to get the bride ready.