The wedding venue was a stunning oasis situated in the centre of lush countryside. It was surrounded by rolling hills and vibrant meadows, providing a peaceful and captivating setting for the special occasion.
As the guests arrived, they were welcomed by a curving gravel path that guided them through a fragrant garden filled with blooming, colourful flowers. The air was filled with the delightful scents of freshly cut roses and lavender, creating an atmosphere of pure romanticism.
The primary ceremony space was a delightful pavilion that was open to the air, adorned with flowing white curtains that swayed gently in the breeze. Rows of charming wooden chairs were meticulously arranged, all facing an exquisite floral archway where the couple would exchange their vows. This archway showcased a breathtaking arrangement of roses, peonies, and delicate greenery, forming a natural and enchanting altar.
The pond nearby, with its crystal-clear water, brought a sense of calm and tranquillity to the scene. Its surface mirrored the vast blue sky above. Graceful lily pads floated gently on the water's surface, accompanied by a swan gliding through, enhancing the picturesque charm of the venue.
As organ music began to play, everyone who was seated stood up and looked behind, watching the bride slowly approach the groom.
[Flashback]
"How are you feeling?", Zephyr asked his dad who kept straightening out his black tuxedo.
"Nervous", Matt answered, looking at the human-sized mirror in front of him and adjusting the purple tie around his neck. Taking a deep breath, Matt looked at his son via the mirror, "You know, you're far more calm about this than I thought you'd be".
"Hm", Zephyr hummed, "You say that as if you expected me to act like a child and have the unrealistic expectation of you never remarrying. I am not an idiot. Ever since you started dating Desiree, I knew there was always going to be a chance that this day would come".
Looking at the reflection of his son, Matt sighed, "You don't act like a 17-year-old".
"What do you mean?", Zephyr inquired, leaning against the wall.
"At your age, there are normally two types of students. The first are the type who don't care about their future and waste it by messing about, causing their grades to be average at best. And the second are the ones who take life overly seriously, focusing only on their studies, achieving great academic success but do so by sacrificing their social life", Matt explained, "You fall into neither group. You don't take your education seriously but you also aren't wasting your life, evident from your successful grades".
"I don't see the problem in that", Zephyr argued.
"Of course, you wouldn't, but I do", Matt remarked, "Despite not being there as much as I'd like, I am still your father. Because these stereotypes have been established for a long time, when a person who doesn't fit into them appears, they tend to be ... isolated and out of place. Detached and disconnected if you will".
"That doesn't seem to describe me", Zephyr remarked.
"You're right", Matt agreed, "But that's what worries me. When you want to, you're really good at hiding what you feel like so I can never tell if you're truly happy or not. The only exception to this is when you and Alex are together".
"It sounds to me like you're worried over nothing then", Zephyr commented.
"Hah", Matt sighed as he looked at his son, "You don't get it, do you? But then again, you're technically still a kid. You may act mature, but the reality is, you lack experience. No matter how old you become, a parent always worries for their child, it's an instinct. So, seeing you act so disconnected makes me feel like you're forcing down all your worries and concerns in order to act strong for everyone".
Zephyr took a deep breath and stared at his dad's emerald eyes, "Who would I need to be strong for?".
"Still in denial I see", Matt muttered under his breath, "From what I've seen and what I've heard from Claire, Phil and Desiree, you're the emotional rock of Alex and the glue that keeps your friendships as close as they are now. On top of that, you've got your company, which is already hard enough to manage. With the addition of three new subsidiary companies, your workload has without a doubt intensified. Such a task is bound to be mentally exhausting, and yet you never falter, remaining as amicable as ever. You can understand why I'd be worried, don't you?".
For the next few seconds, instead of answering, Zephyr remained in silence, which gave Matt the answer he was looking for.
"You know?", Matt questioned, "If you want, I could hire a therapist to help you".
"I don't need help", Zephyr resolutely answered, "I just need time to relax and take breaks".
"I see", Matt muttered, conceding to Zephyr.
"Hey!", Phil exclaimed as he entered the room, "Guess who's the best man to the groom?". Then pointing at himself, he enthusiastically answered, "This guy".
"Truly, you have the best timing", Zephyr muttered, shaking his head as he looked at the excited form of Phil.
Looking around confused, Phil asked, "Did something happen? Why are you guys so quiet?".
"Hah", Matt sighed, but then shook his head, smiling as he looked at the infectious happiness that Phil created, "Nothing's wrong. We're just having a conversation".
"That's good", Phil remarked in relief.
[Time Skip]
"How are you feeling?", Alex asked Zephyr with concern upon seeing him.
"Don't most people ask the groom that?", Zephyr remarked.
"Normally, they would", Alex agreed, "But you're my boyfriend so of course I'd be worried about you".
"That's sweet", Zephyr muttered, "But I'm well".
"Are you sure?", Alex questioned.
"Yep", Zephyr nodded his head.
As they began walking away from the changing room, Alex nervously grasped his hand and shyly whispered, "Hey".
"Yeah?", Zephyr gently asked, immediately noticing the way in which she grabbed his hand.
"What do you like about me?", Alex quietly questioned, looking down at the floor as she walked.
"What brought this on?", Zephyr curiously inquired, halting in his steps as he looked down at Alex.
"I pretend I don't hear, but the girls in our year constantly whisper about you and me", Alex explained, not willing to meet his gaze, "They talk about how you don't really like me and that I'm just a fling and-".
Alex couldn't continue her rant because she was stopped by Zephyr who quietened her with his lips. Although surprised, Alex melted into the kiss, calming down once they separated. "I've told you to ignore them", Zephyr stated, wrapping his arms around Alex's waist and pulling her in for a hug, resting his chin on her head, "They're jealous because they're incapable of sustaining a relationship for longer than 2 months and we've been dating for over two years".
Although she wasn't as volatile as before, Alex still felt upset and mumbled into his chest, "You still didn't say why you like me".
"What do I like about you huh? That's a tough question to answer", Zephyr remarked, "Because there are so many things I like. You're smart. You're adorable. You're independent. You have a unique sense of humour which I find really funny. You don't obsess about your appearance like almost all the other girls in our year. You do this really cute face when you're concentrating. Most of all, you don't like me purely because I'm handsome, but rather you like me because of my personality. You don't see me as rich, popular, handsome Zephyr, you see me just as Zephyr".
Separating from the hug, Alex looked up at Zephyr, tears brimming in the corner of her eyes. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked at him and hugged him once more. Although surprised, Zephyr was quick to react and hugged her back, smiling as he did so.
After a few moments, Zephyr reluctantly ended the hug, muttering, "Despite how much I love this, the official ceremony starts in 15 so we need to get a move on".