The massive church glimmered, glittering chandeliers were dangling down the ceiling, white flowers were hung by the edge of the seats. The doors were widely opened, and smart looking guards stood by.
The room was filled up with dignified guests. Most of the men, wore an ash suit, the ladies, gorgeous gowns and glowing jewelries.
The priest stood in the pulpit with a few priests, wearing an ash suit.
Everyone stood up awaiting the arrival of the bride.
Andres, the groom, stood close to the altar grinning from ear to ear. His hair was well-gelled, his suit, pink colored. His beards glistened.
Celia was sitting calmly in her limousine, she held a bouquet of pink flowers. Her head bowed hesitating to step out of the car. She weakly dropped her right foot down as the guard widely opened the door.
Celia seemed tensed. She put her head out, and stepped out of the car. The guard immediately shut the door. She stood silently, by the door for a minute pondering. It dawned on her that the congregation are expecting her, and she walked towards the flight of stairs. She took each step of the stairs towards the door. When she reached the doors, the guards quickly pulled the doors open and everyone turned staring at the doors.
Andres turned and he noticed Celia stepping in. Celia noticed the cheerful smiles on everyone's cheeks, and her heart sank. Her veil stretched to her elbows, her gown was wobbly and it was glittering.
Celia walked unhurriedly towards the altar fighting back the tears building in her eyes thinking, "I hope you forgive me. I am going to make a decision that might break your trust, " staring at the gleaming smiles on Andres's cheeks, made her heart sink deeply, "I know I don't deserve to be married to you, for what I'm gonna do. But, in all, I hope that you'll forgive me. I have no choice, I'm sorry Andres."
She reached the altar, and Andres stretched out his hand to her, Celia placed her hand on his, and he held her hand firmly. Celia smiled back at him, and the congregation sat down.
The priest looked at Celia and Andres, and he said wearing a cheerful look, "Andres Harper do you, take Celia Fox to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold for better or worse till death drew you part?"
Andres chuckled, "I do father."
Celia felt jittery, and feeling pained with guilt, she lowered her head slightly.
"Do you, " the priest's voice jolted her out of her reverie. She felt feverish as she listened as the priest reciting the wedding vows to her. She was hesitating to respond, and everyone was quite stunned.
Dora, Andres's grandmother was also unsettled.
Andres whispered to Celia, "Babe, he's asking you?"
Staring into Andres's anxious eyes, she felt pressurized to speak, and didn't want him to be restless and upset.
The priest re-recited the vow, "Do you take Andres Harper to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold for better or worse till death drew you part?"
Andres was hoping she will speak at this point.
"I do!" Tears rolled out of her eyes, and the congregation happily cheered them.
Andres pulled up her veil and he kissed her but she didn't kiss him back. Everyone clapped loudly.
"Forgive me Andres." She muttered and put on a feigning smile.
Andres and Celia walked to their seat, and sat down. Andres was still gluing his hand with Celia's. "We are now married my love." He whispered to Celia's ears.
"I'm happy, you are happy." Celia looked deeply into Andres's eyes. Andres held her hand kissing it.
Their friends walked up to them congratulating them.
Dora stood in the center of the room staring at Celia disdainfully,
"Why did Celia hesitate to respond to the priest? Why was she so nervous?" She pondered.
At around 7 p.m. the wedding reception began. The chairs in the room were well styled with flowers and ribbons.
Celia was asked to walk towards the stage with Andres. The DJ started playing a music and Andres grabbed Celia's hand, pulled her closer to him and he held her waist dancing with her.
"Are you okay? You don't seem free. Are you nervous about everyone watching us? Or don't you want to dance?"
"No, I'm just stressed."
"If you are stressed out, you can go sit down."
He tries to move from her arms, and she pulls him back hugging him tightly, "No! Don't walk away."
"I thought you were stressed out."
"Yes I am.....not anymore." She embraced him tightly, "don't leave me. Don't stop dancing. Don't want you to leave. Don't go, don't go."
He laughed, "ok I'm not going anywhere. I'm just gonna let you sit so you can rest."
"No don't walk away." She pulled his hand and he turned to her, "Don't walk away, you don't understand, I don't want you to leave." She embraced him warmly, "let's just keep on dancing. I don't want you to go from me. Don't leave...." She cried out.
"OK, I'm not."
Andres held Darci's waist firmly, and she was enjoying the streaming music. She was deeply thinking and she clasped him in her arms and didn't realize she was sobbing till she felt her cheeks wet.
Andres spotted few of his guests entering the room, and he moved from Celia's arms. Celia immediately rubbed her cheeks.
"I'm coming back love." He said, and Celia didn't want to let go of him, she held his hand and he stroke her cheek, "No, I'm coming back. I promise, I will be back."
He budged from her and Celia stretched her hand in air towards him to try to grab his jacket but he was far from her and she slowly dropped her hand.
Candy, her friend approached her.
"Are you alright Celia?"
"Hun?" Celia jolted and nervously huffed out and her heart was palpitating, "I don't think Candy..., I don't think I can do this anymore. Just the mere thought of Andres and I staying apart, is frightening. I can't do it."
Candy placed her comforting hands on her shoulders, "relax Celia. Remember how important it is for you to do it. It's for the best."
"I know...but, knowing that after tonight I won't be with Andres anymore, it's difficult to accept. I am already anguished. I don't want to stay away from Andres not even for a second. I can't even shut my eyes from looking at him."
"You already mapped out the plan. You can't afford to be so emotional."
"I wish I can stop myself from feeling this way or make my heart numb. I just can't take the hurt. But, I'll do this for us. It's for the best. " Celia exhaled.
She turned glancing at Andres laughing with his friends.
"I wanna say goodbye to Andres, or give him a hug. He's just right there."
"You know you can't else he might get suspicious of you."
"I want to just hug him."
"Celia! Stop! From this night on, he's no longer your husband. He's Andrea's. Let's go."
Candy pulled Celia's hand. Celia stared back at Andres till they exited. Candy and Celia were heading towards the patio of the church.
Celia stood outside the parking lot and was on the phone with Andrea, her twin sister.
"Where is your car?" Celia glanced left and right.
Andrea replied, "I'm already in the limo Celia. I can see you. Just take a few steps from your right."
Celia spotted at the limousine, "no worries Andrea, I'm gonna meet you really soon."
The reception room was quite filled up and more guests were coming in. There was humming in the air. The waiters ambled toward each table in the room serving meals and drinks.
Dora approached Andres, "Andres, do you know where your wife is?"
Andres glanced left and right and he slid his hands into his pockets, "maybe she's in the washroom."
"But for how long?"
Celia reached Andrea's limousine and quickly opened the door and entered inside the back seat.
"Andrea!" Celia pulled her into a hug.
Andrea hugged her back, "Celia!"
They moved slowly from each other's arms.
"Andrea, you are aware of what you have to do. Dora is always inquisitive and suspicious, so if she throws you a question, don't delay to speak. Andres loves having honey on his bread, he likes his coffee strong and bitter."
"Okay." Andrea clutched the door knob.
She was almost opening the door and tears welled up in Celia's eyes.
"Andrea!" She called weakly and Andrea turned to her feeling quite irritated and put on a frown. "What?"
"I want you to take great care of Andres. Always keep in touch with me."
"Goodness Celia! I've not even started playing the role of you yet, and you're already bugging me? You do not have to remind me about that. It was part of our agreement." Andrea yelled.
"I know you are already aware on what to do."
Andrea looked into her eyes, "I promise you Celia, nothing would go wrong."
Celia grinned wildly and hugged her tightly, "thank you."
"That's enough, " Andrea moved from her arms, "bye!" Andrea stepped out of the car and shut the door.