George and Claire's wedding was postponed six months from the original plan because Claire's father suddenly had a heart attack almost coinciding with Sheina who had just come out of the hospital. It made George and Claire decide to postpone the wedding until they were fully prepared and all family members could be present at that sacred moment for Claire and George.
Claire chose Sheina as the bride's companion and Oliver as the groom's companion. While the invited guests had already filled the outdoor area that had been prepared for them, Sheina and Claire were in the room.
"From the way George looks at you, I know he loves you very much." Sheina smoothed Claire's hair ornament.
"Yes." Claire nodded, "We went through a lot of things and not all of them were beautiful." Claire looked at Sheina from the reflection of her face in the mirror that was directly in Claire's presence. "What about you and Oliver?" Claire turned to look at Sheina.
The young girl sighed deeply, "He's a half of me." Answer. "But I don't know if we'll catch up with you guys, taking a big step towards starting a commitment as husband and wife, Oliver hasn't even proposed to me yet." Sheina said.
Claire took Sheina's hand, "You know very well that he loves you very much."
"Yes." Sheina's nod. "I just feel like he's still keeping a secret from me, the thing that keeps us apart to this day."
"I think he took you to live with him." Claire linked her eyebrows.
"He said it for a while, but later it seemed that he no longer thought about it."
"Chat with Oliver, I'm sure you guys will find your way." Claire smiled and Sheina nodded. "I'm happy for you." Sheina hugged Claire.
The last six months they became close because Sheina helped the school where Claire taught to get the rights to the land on which the school building was erected and it became a dispute with one of the foundation's donors who sold the land to the developer to make it a shopping mall, and no longer a school. Sheina managed to help the school to win the right to the use of land and buildings, and since then, Claire and him have become closer and closer.
Sheina left Claire as soon as Mr. Parker came in and prepared to take her to the front of the altar for Claire and George's wedding vows. While Sheina walked towards the venue where Claire and George's sacred promise was going to be held.
Sheina walked through an aisle full of flowers on her right and left as well as chairs filled with invited guests. Meanwhile, those already standing in front of the altar were George with his tuxedo and Oliver standing behind him.
Oliver's gaze was clearly attached to Sheina who that day was wearing a dress of the same color as her skin which made her look very graceful. The man smiled as soon as Sheina stood in front of the altar facing them, waiting for Claire and the father who were walking towards the altar accompanied by the soft music of a piano played by Ben, George's uncle for his nephew's wedding.
Adrianna stood beside her daughter, Mrs. Parker in a matching dress. Although they are already aged, but the two still look equally beautiful. What made Adrianna touching was that day Aldric was not beside her just as her son's wedding was right at the wedding of his son, the day that should have been the happiest day of his life, this half of the happy day was a day full of sadness for Adrianna.
Her tears even shed as Mr. Parker let go of her daughter and gave her a brief hug before handing her daughter's hand to George's.
Mrs. Parker took Adrianna's hand, she cuffed it and squeezed it lightly. As a fellow woman, Mrs. Parker felt the sadness Adrianna was going through even though it was the happiest day for their two sons and daughters.
Meanwhile, in the invited guests section, Javier Walton appeared to be present among the guests. He appeared to be wearing a gray suit, matching the color of his hair that was starting to turn white, but his good looks were still striking compared to the suit he was wearing.
"Today is the happiest day because we are brought together under such a beautiful twilight sky." The priest started with an opening that made everyone feel how romantic the twilight was this time.
"And today we can gather in this place to bear witness to the binding of the sacred promise between Claire Parker and George Bloom. Those who have loved each other all this time will eventually unite themselves in an undistributable bond of marriage for the rest of their lives." The priest said it all with a beaming face.
"Mr. Bloom, your words please." The pastor said, looking at George.
The young man took the hand of his partner Claire and stood facing each other. "Claire Benedict Parker, I promise to be the one who will always be there for you in joys and sorrows, in profit and misfortune, and in good health and sickness as your husband. I chose you to be my wife and for that, I will love you all my life, that's my promise." George said his promise with bright eyes. "Will you be my wife?" He added.
"I do." Claire replied to the warm applause of the audience.
"You want to say something?" The priest asked Claire and the woman nodded.
Claire faced the invited guests and looked at her parents. "I learned a lot from the two of them, my father and mother. They raised me lovingly although maybe during that time they were also still learning about what love really means." Claire spoke amidst her trembling voice. "I don't know how much they love each other, which I know I've never lacked the care and love of them. Thank you for your love, I love you both." Claire smiled and instantly the corners of Mrs. and Mr. Parker's eyes were inundated with tears.
"Such a beautiful woman sitting next to my mother is a great woman. She raised my husband lovingly, and I know how my mother-in-law and also my late father-in-law love each other. The love of the two of them became role models for me and George in living our relationship in the future. I hope he is as romantic as my late father-in-law, as my mother-in-law always told me." Claire said and all the invited guests laughed even though their faces also seemed to be holding back the emotion.
"Thank you for your great love for my husband ma." Claire looked at Adrianna and the woman immediately had tears in her eyes. "Although I am your son-in-law, you treat me as your own daughter. I love you, ma."
"Of course." replied Adrianna with a lip gesture while she was busy wiping her tears.
"Now I am in your presence." Claire twisted her body until she returned to face George. "You're the one who never cares how bad I'm going to be, you're the one who never asks me things that will make me feel bad. It's you who always support me and there's a time when I need you. I want to be your wife, and will love you all my life. Keep it that way, my love. I love you George Bloom." Claire looked at George and everyone applauded boisterously welcoming the happiness between the two of them.
Sheina wiped the ends of her eyes with the tissue she had been holding since just now, and Oliver looked at her deeply. From the way the two of them looked at each other even without talking to each other, everyone also made Sheina and Oliver a highlighted couple and highly anticipated marriage.
"May your marriage be filled with blessings of happiness and also children who will make you happy." The priest blessed them both then both Sheina and Oliver stepped forward and opened the box of rings they each carried with them, and gave it to Claire as well as George to attach to her partner's ring finger. Claire paired the ring from the box Sheina was carrying on George's ring finger, as well as George who grabbed the ring from the box carried by Oliver and paired it on Sheina's ring finger.
"Your first kiss as Husband and Wife." Said the priest. Both George and Claire stared at each other for a while, the extremely deep gaze that only two people who loved each other so much could give.
***
All the attendees stood in their seats while Sheina and Oliver had just taken up positions on bench number two from the front, just behind Adrianna as Claire prepared to throw her bouquet of flowers.
"One, two, three . . ." The count ended at three, just as Claire threw a bouquet of flowers and was caught by Oliver, and was greeted with cheers in the audience.
"Can't wait for the next wedding!!" George shouted as he pointed at Oliver and the man looked like he had no answer even though he was smiling. The music changed and dusk rolled into night. Right with the change of events from wedding blessings to receptions that carry the concept of close family.
A long table with the bride and groom in the middle of the invited guests and dining together enjoying a dinner served by the cheff of a five-star restaurant who was deliberately booked for their event today. Everyone seemed to be having fun dining while chatting while Sheina and Oliver, who were sitting next to each other, didn't seem to have much conversation.
After eating some enjoying the dance amidst the vast green grass, some were engrossed in chatting while the bridal couple enjoyed intimacy with their families to chat.
"Dance with me." Olvier stretched out his hand to Sheina just as the girl was chatting with several other girls, Claire and George's friends. Sheina looked up and stared at Oliver, considering a few moments later agreeing to dance with the man.
Oliver meraih pinggang ramping Sheina dan merapatkannya ke tubuhnya, sementara satu tangannya tertekuk dan berpengangan dengan tangan Sheina saat tubuh mereka melangkah mengikuti irama musik dengan harmonis.
"Kau terlihat sangat cantik hari ini." Bisik Oliver di telinga Sheina.
"Really? Kau mengatakannya bahkan saat make up yang ku kenakan hampir luntur." Jawab Sheina.
"Aku baru mendapatkan kesempatan untuk mengatakannya, karena sejak tadi kau menghindariku." Jawab Oliver.
"Aku tidak menghindarimu." Sangkal Sheina.
Oliver menghela nafas dalam, "Jangan berbohong karena itu bukan keahlianmu." Oliver menatap Sheina tepat saat gadis itu mendongak menatapnya.
Sheina menatap ke arahnya, "Ok, aku memang menghindarimu." Jujurnya.
"Why?" Protes Oliver.
"Karena aku tidak tahu apa yang sedang terjadi diantara kita sebenarnya." Jawab Sheina.
"Apa yang terjadi diantara kita tidak pernah berubah." Oliver menatap Sheina dan menegaskan kalimatnya.
"Justru karena itu tidak pernah berubah, aku merasa perlu mengambil jarak darimu sementara waktu untuk berpikir." Sheina mengatakan kalimatnya dengan tatapan dalam pada pria tampan di hadapannya.
"Apa yang membuatmu harus berpikir ulang setiap saat soal hubungan kita?" Tanya Oliver.
Sheina membuang wajah untuk beberapa saat, barulah setelah dia yakin dengan apa yang akan dikatakannya, dia kembali menatap Oliver. "I need more, I want more." Bisiknya.
"What do you mean?" Alis Oliver bertaut.
Sheina menghela nafas dalam, "Untuk beberapa saat aku sempat iri pada Claire." Ungkapnya. "Sepupuku George dengan sangat berani meminangnya dan menjadikannya isteri meski mereka belum saling mengenal dalam waktu yang lama." Ujar Claire.
"Jadi ini soal pernikahan?!" Alis Oliver bertaut dalam.
Sheina membuang pandangan sekali lagi, kemudian kembali menatap Oliver setelah beberapa saat berusaha menetralkan dirinya, "Oliver, aku tahu mungkin cara pandang kita berbeda soal hubungan. Bagimu sejauh kita saling berkomitment, pernikahan hanyalah legalitas diatas kertas yang tidak diperlukan sema sekali sejauh masing-masing dari kita memegang komitment itu." Sheina mengulangi kalimat Oliver karena entah mengapa belakangan ini dia berubah pikiran soal membawa hubungan mereka ke jenjang yang lebih serius.
"Tapi bagiku tidak." Shiena menatap Oliver dalam. "Aku ingin menikah, dan jika kau bukan pria yang bisa kunikahi, maka aku harus berpikir tentang mengakhiri hubungan kita." Ujar Sheina.
"Tunggu, kau mengancamku?" Alis Oliver bertaut.
"No, tentu saja tidak." Geleng Sheina. "Aku hanya merasa kita berusaha berjalan bersama sedangkan tujuan kita berbeda." Ujar Sheina sedih.
"Jadi apa yang kau inginkan?" Alis Oliver berkerut.
"Pernikahan." Jawab Sheina.
"Jadi kau mengancamku atau melamarku saat ini?" Tanya Oliver dengan senyum tipis dan wajah Sheina memerah.
"Aku tidak melamarmu." Geleng Sheina. "Tentu saja tidak." Imbuhnya dengan wajah yang masih merona.
Oliver melepaskan tangannya dan berhenti menari membuat Shiena membeku menatap pria itu.
"Aku tidak akan berlutut dan mencuri spotlight pernikahan Claire dan George." Bisik Oliver. "Tapi cincin ini stuck di kantongku sejak beberapa minggu yang lalu." Ujarnya sembari meraih kotak cincin dari saku jasnya dan membukanya di hadapan Sheina.
"Will you marry me?" Tanya George dengan tatapan dalam, dan Sheina dibuat tak bisa berkata-kata melihat cincin berlian di kotak itu.
"Aku membelinya sebelum kau mengalami kecelakaan, tapi kita bertengkar beberapa waktu sebelum itu jadi aku menundanya. Berbulan-bulan cincin ini berada di lemari pakaianku, dan beberapa minggu terakhir aku berpikir untuk mengatakannya dalam waktu dekat tapi momentnya tak pernah tepat." Ujar George.
"So, Sheina Anthony, Will you marry me?" Tanya Oliver sekali lagi dan Sheina mengangguk dengan mata berkaca-kaca. "Yes . . . of course yes."
Oliver menghela nafas lega kemudian mengambil cincin itu dan memasangkannya di jari manis Sheina. Gadis itu mengagumi cincinnya untuk beberapa saat sebelum mengalungkan tangannya ke leher Oliver dan membiarkan Oliver mencium bibirnya dengan begitu lembut dan dalam.