"Hey, how do I look in this dress?" Alicia came out of the changing room and showed me the new dress she had tried.
She was wearing one of those short shorts with a yellow top that exposed her shoulders and neckline. She wore a small necklace around her neck. The dress was a bit racy. Though she looked really good in it. So much so that I couldn't take my eyes off her.
"Stop spacing out and say how do I look!" Alicia's voice brought me back from my thoughts.
"Yeah, you look stunning."
"Really?!"
"Yes."
"Okay, then." With stars in her eyes, she ran towards the counter and asked one of the employees for a bag to put the clothes she had worn before. She had decided to walk around wearing her new dress.
We paid for the dress and exited the shop.
We took the elevator down to the ground floor and made our way to the cafe on the right.
As we walked, hand in hand, the eyes of many people were on us. I could tell.
"People are watching us, aren't they?" Apparently, Alicia realized it as well.
"Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
"A bit. Though I am a bit happy as well."
"Why?"
"Because they all seem to have jealousy in their eyes when they look at us." She giggled like an innocent child. That smile combined with her short stature made her look unbelievably cute.
"They seem jealous, yes, but I am not happy. In fact, I am displeased."
"Why though?"
"Because all the jealous stares are from the boys. They are jealous because I have such a bomb of a girlfriend." The reason for that was most probably the dress she was wearing right now. It was attracting a lot of attention and I wanted her to change back. I did not want anyone else to see her in this dress. But she looked so good in it that I wanted to see her in this dress and did not want to ask her to change back. It was really conflicting.
Alicia did not respond immediately. She looked at my profile for a while before breaking into a teasing smile.
"You look cute when you are angry, you know?"
"Shut up, okay!" Of course, I will be angry when other guys stare at my girlfriend. I almost want to go and punch them in their face.
"Hehe. But it's not all boys, alright? There are many girls as well that are looking our way."
I tried to look around as subtly as I can. She was saying the truth. There were some females that were looking at us with something resembling jealousy as well. I can say for sure that they were not jealous of Alicia for having a hot or handsome boyfriend. After all, I knew I was an average kid when it comes to looks. Then, what were they jealous for?
The answer to that question was provided by Alicia.
"They are all jealous that the two of us look so happy together."
She tightened the hold of her hand. I did the same. We interlocked our fingers and looked at each other. Both of our lips curled up into a smile.
"I love you, Alicia."
"I know. I love you too."
And without giving a damn about how many people were watching us, we pressed our lips together.
***
"Hey, hey, dad, watch this. We made this picture of us."
Two little kids came running toward me as they each held a drawing that they made using crayons and pencil colors.
"Okay, let me see."
"Tell us which one is better!"
I took the paper from their hands and narrowed my eyes as if thinking about their drawing very hard. The drawing consisted of the four of us. Me, Alicia, Beth, and Rudy.
"This is really tough."
I looked at their faces. They had their hands clasped in front of their chest as anxiousness swum in their eyes. Beth was even rubbing her feet together.
"Hmmm...Both. Both are equally good! Both are first!"
"R-Really?!"
"Yup."
The two kids joined their hands together and did a cute little dance on the spot.
"Since both of you were so good, here's your prize."
I took out two big pieces of chocolate and handed them to them. They opened their mouth big and said in unison.
"I love you, dad!" They both jumped at me and I wrapped my arms around them. Their cute little squeal was music to my ears. I would never get sick of hearing it.
After hugging me to their hearts' content, they once again went back to playing.
This time they were playing with some blocks trying to build different patterns as they joined them randomly.
"Here you go."
A cup of coffee was handed to me as Alicia sat herself down next to me. I took a sip. The coffee was nice and strong with just the right amount of sugar.
"This is tasty as always."
"Mm-hmm." She sipped her own drink. It was tea for her. She was not a big fan of coffee.
The two of us sat silently sipping our drinks as we watched our kids play and laugh and have fun in front of us.
"I am really happy with this, you know."
Alicia said as she put her cup down.
"I am too."
Alicia turned to look at me.
"I never thought that I will be marrying you and establishing a family with you. I never even imagined that I will fall in love with you."
"It was the same for me."
I had never imagined that I will be falling in love with her. But, fall I did. And we ended up marrying each other. Now we have a family with two wonderful kids. We are a happy family now.
Our friends and relatives say that they always knew this was bound to happen but for me, and I am sure it was the same for Alicia as well, it was all unexpected. We had never imagined this outcome. We were just friends. Good friends and that was all. And back during our school days, we were sure that we did not have any romantic feelings for each other. But come college, it changed. We started realizing that we were in love with each other. It was sudden but we both felt that and we both dealt with it, together. And here we are, today. Happy and married to each other.
"But, I am glad. That I fell in love with you."
"I am too, Alicia. I really am." The turn of events was surprising but for the good.
I placed my hands on top of her. She leaned in close and so did I. Then we kissed, sharing all the love we had for each other.
When we separated our lips, after what felt like an eternity, we saw two little demons standing in front with their eyes glued to us.
"Didn't I tell you, Beth? That dad kissed mom every night before going to bed."
"You were right, Rudy."
We were shocked for a moment. I heard Alicia laugh blushingly from next to me. I ended up laughing as well.
"You little peeking toms!'
I grabbed both of them and started tickling them all over. They rolled with laughter. Alicia rolled with laughter. I rolled with laughter.
I am really happy right now.
That thought crossed my mind at that moment.
*****
There was a cold and hard sensation underneath.
I slowly opened my eyes. It was dark all around except for the small light above my head.
I rubbed my eyes to take in the surroundings more clearly.
There were shelves filled with bottles of different colors and glasses of different shapes. The cold and hard sensation I felt through my cheeks came from the wooden table I was resting my head on.
"I ended up passing out here again, huh?" It was no surprise now. It happened frequently to me.
I pushed my hands to uplift my head when a piece of paper danced slowly toward the floor below.
I crouched and picked it up. Something was written on it. I read it aloud.
"Don't forget to come to the wedding tomorrow. You have to come. At any cost." At the end was written the name of the writer.
"I hate you for this, Nancy." I knew she had not done it knowingly but this note she left was a splash of cold water on my head. It made me realize instantly that what I had seen was all my drunken fantasy and the reality was different. The reality was that Alicia and Alex were getting married. Tomorrow. But, I closed my ends and tried to remember what I had seen in my fantasy land. It felt real. It felt good.
I got up from the seat and made my way outside the bar. I took out my phone and checked the time. It was 1 am in morning.
"So they are getting married today." It was no longer tomorrow. I breathed out and headed to my home.
After getting in, I placed an alarm for 8 o'clock in the morning and slept without even changing.
The next day I woke up at 10 am. I was sure I had placed an alarm but it seems I was in such a deep sleep that even the nasty alarm could not manage to wake me up. I was supposed to be there at the wedding by 12.
I hurriedly got out of bed and went to shower. After taking a bath, I smoked a cigarette. I had two pieces of bread and strawberry jam and a glass of mango juice.
I went to the cupboard and picked out a black suit to wear for the wedding. I quickly got ready and by the time I left my house, it was already past 11 am.
I quickly booked a cab instead of waiting for the bus to arrive. If I was late today, Alex will never forgive me for his whole life. I did not want that.
The cab brought me to my destination in half an hour. I paid and thanked the driver.
The wedding destination was a big church located in the eastern part of the city we lived in. It was big enough to be called a castle and from what I have heard before, it used to be a castle in medieval times. After a huge civil unrest, the royal family of that time was killed and the castle was abandoned. Later, it was converted into a church.
I made my way ahead as I passed through a huge gate made of flowers of different colors and types. There was a long blue carpet rolled ahead with white chairs placed neatly in equal intervals. Everything around me was decorated and draped in colors of white, pink and green, and blue. All colors were beautiful and exotic exuding purity.
As I stepped in, I started feeling intimidated by my surroundings. It was as if the whites were telling me not to step foot inside. It was telling me that someone like me, who was all black today, was not welcome on such an auspicious occasion. Far in the distance, I felt like I caught a glimpse of Alicia in her beautiful wedding dress. The dark emotions swelled in my heart.
My legs started to shake. My hands too. I was feeling scared. I was getting cold feet. Suddenly, my feet refused to move. It did not want to take me any further inside. Instead, it took me backward. To the way, I had come from.
I ran away.
Luckily, no one else was around to see me run.
I saw the blue cab I had arrived earlier in parked in the parking area a little ahead. He was probably searching for customers around. I called out to him. He looked surprised for a while when he saw that I was trying to return when it had not been even five minutes since I had arrived.
But he did not question me and agreed to take me to the place I wanted.
He dropped me off and I paid him.
I opened the door.
The sound of the bell jingling reached my ears.
When he saw me enter, Anthony widened his eyes.
"Wait. Aren't you supposed to be at the wedding as of now?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"Then why are you here?"
"I did go but then I got cold feet and ran back."
"That is pathetic, you know."
"You don't have to tell me that. Just pour me some drink, will you?"
"Do you plan not to go to the wedding?"
"I will go. But not right now while I am still not ready."
"When will you get ready mentally then?"
"After I have a drink."
Anthony was still hesitant to pour me a drink. He was doing nothing wrong. He was worried that if I started drinking now, I will not be able to go to the wedding. That was why he was not preparing drinks for me.
"Don't worry, old man. I will go after I have one, no, two drinks. I promise."
"Just two?"
"Just two."
"Fine." Anthony relented and quickly made two drinks for me.
"Drink up and get your ass moving already."
I quickly drank the two glasses empty and looked up at the wooden ceiling above. I then slammed my head on the table in front.
Anthony was clearly shocked by my behavior.
"Hey, you aren't going to pass out here and now, are you?!" He yelled with worry in his voice.
"Don't worry. I am not."
*****
I got up from the table and spoke to Anthony.
"I am going."
"Good. Best of luck."
"Thanks." Although it was not my wedding today, I felt like I needed that best of luck more than the bride and the bridegroom today.
I closed the door to the bar. The same cab driver was still out there.
He noticed the surprised look on my face.
"I felt like you will need me again. So, was I right?" He said, with a smile on his face.
"Yeah, you were."
I got in and he took me back to the wedding venue.