CHAPTER 3: DESPERATE BRIDE

SHE never met him before marriage. She only have Madame Madelle by her side. It confuse her, if she will continue or just step back. It's pretty obvious that Denver don't like her. It's just she's martyr. But she wonder, for how long?

"There, this off-shoulder gown is pretty for you, right? But I bet your backless too, that's also your bet, isn't it, Tina?" Tina happily nodded.

"Seriously, Madame. Even if it's not me who's gonna marry, I'm very happy."

She just smiled at them. She shouldn't ruin the mood. She's getting married. She's getting married a day after tomorrow. But until now, she has not even seen her future husband in person.

The preparation went well. From flowers to gowns, souvenirs and designs, foods to reception. This wedding is everyones dream wedding. She is happy but not as happy as how happy everyone was at her upcoming wedding.

"Anthony and I bought this house a year ago. What do you think, hija? Tell me if you don't feel comfortable here." 

"Thank you, Tita." Madame Madelle pouted.

"Tita? Mama, Sandra. Not Tita, it's Mama." She smiled. Her mother-in-law, on the other hand, is very smart, kind, generous, unlike her fiancé, very witch like. "After the wedding, you will go straight here. This will be your home."

"CONGRATULATIONS, Man! You're finally getting married." He didn't say a word. He was standing in front of the full length mirror while watching himself in a tuxedo. "Don't worry about me, I'll be married too, but not as how early like you."

"I do not care about you." Cali laughed.

"Thanks for the concern, Man. Appreciated much. By the way, I saw your bride earlier. She's dead gorgeous effin 'h-- fvck, Denver!" He laughed as he left Denver while massaging his punched arm. "So effin 'indenial."

Denver glanced at himself again in front of the mirror. His bride may be dead gorgeous, it's still useless for him. He gets annoyed as he thinks about how desperate that woman is to marry him.

After a minute of staring in the mirror, the door opened, his Mom entered. "Look at you, my son. My son is handsome." His Mother adjusted his collar and neck tie. "I am happy and excited."

"I didn't know you wanted me to marry a desperate woman." His Mom tighten his neck tie. "Mom."

"Never disrespect a woman, Denver. If only not because she want to have a family for she didn't have a family since childhood, I wouldn't let Sandra go to a disrespectful man." His mother smiled at him. "I can guarantee you one thing, my son. Sandra is a good lady. She genuinely love you. How would I know? Because I knew from flesh to bone."

He can't still trust his bride but he trust his Mom. He knows that his Mom knew the best for him. When he was in front and all he had to do was wait for his fiancée, he closed his eyes again and took a deep breath.

"Man, I am the happiest bestfriend in the world." 

"Could you please shut the hell up, Cali." 

"But I am no--" The church giant doors opened. A silhouette of a woman in a gown is there. From her silhouette you can tell she is wearing a tiara. Her curves is fully exposed. She indeed a beautiful woman. A song played as she start walking and he stand still there. The light behind the woman is too strong. 

SANDRA is nervously walking. From the opening of the church, she can see a beautiful man standing near the altar. It is Denver. She lower her head as Denver is looking at her. She silently walk as the music is playing. She hate it, the song. Because he didn't even ask for her hand. Who will Denver ask for her hand for marriage? To her neighbor?

She smiled when Tina greeted her. "I'll be the one who'll march you yo him, is that okay?"

She nodded. "Sure. Who else but you? Thank you, Tina."

"Oh, no! Are you for sure? Of course, it is because you are my bestftiend." Her gaze softened on Tina as she cried in front of her.

"Why are you crying?" Tina laughed at her while shedding her tears.

"I am so happy for you, Sandra. I really am."

"Thank you so much, Tina."

"When you're having a hard time, just run back to me, huh? If he oppresses you, go home to the province, huh? I'll take you back when he hurts you I w--"

"Tina. . ." Tina accompanied her in tears to the front of Denver. He grew up very manly. When they looked each other straight in the eye, it was as if their hearts were pounding.

"Take care of it my friend, huh? If you ever hurt her, I'll take Sandra back from you." But Denver just remains his eyes on her. His eyes doesn't have emotion so as Sendra's eyes.

"Don't be like that, Tina." Madame Madelle, who was behind Denver, laughed.

"Oh my gosh, Tita. If this son of yours really hurts this friend of mine, I'll beat him up even he is your son."

"Alright, alright." Sir Anthony said to Tina. "I won't let my future daughter-in-law get hurt either, you do too, Madelle?" Madame just nodded in response to her husband.

It was there that Sandra found out that her fiancé did not have any single for her. There she realized the man didn't like her. "Thank you, Tina." That's all she could say.

She hold onto the mans arm. They went to the altar together and faced the priest together. At that altar, Sandra prayed all her grievances. At the altar you she prayed.

"I, Sandra Ybarra, bow to cherish and love you. Take this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. I promise to hold on to you until the end. I promise nothing but I can give you my love. I promise to be a good wife. I promise to be a good mother someday. I promise to stay with you, 'til death do us apart." 

That's what she said as Denver wore the ring. When she put on the ring Denver, he took another ring.

"I, Denver Ybarra, bow to be a good husband." The disappointment in Sandra's eyes is visible while looking at him. He doesn't have emotion, from eyes to vioce. How would she live? "Take this ring as a symbol of my faithfulness and love. I promise to care for you. I promise to be a good husband. I'll stay with you, 'til death do us apart." 

They faced the altar and the priest together. "By the power bestow upon me, I announce you as husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Sandra's heart pounded as Denver lifted her veil. His cold stare kills her. She can't hear the cheers anymore but she can hear her heart crying. Denver's eyes were the cause of her heartache. 'He didn't even smile.'

Denver brought his face close to Sandra's face. Sandra slowly closed her eyes. Denver's lips touched the side of her lip. Disappointed, she opened her eyes and stared straight at Denver as their lips parted.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Ybarra." 

"CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. Ybarra." A young couple greet him. He just nodded in response. He walks away from the reception but gets hung up every time those who know him greet him.

He just hides them. Most of them are their bussiness partners. Others were his friends and colleagues at the university he attended. Celebrities. Most of the visitors came from his part. He remembered only Tina and her husband and Sandra's workers came.

"We were really surprised when we heard that you were getting married." Said one of his colleagues.

"You even heard before he knew that he was getting married." Cali laughed. Followed by the other's.

"I was wondering who you're going to marry, Denver." Said by a sophisticated lady. "I'm disappointed that a florist and underrated designer is the only one--"

He turned his back on them and left the reception straight away. Unbeknownst to them, Sandra just turned her back on the table of Denver's colleagues. When she looked back at Denver he was already out. Cali followed him. 'Is Denver ashamed because of me?'

"I heard that Madame Madelle talked to her husband. Maybe Madame Madelle can not look for another who is suitable so who is the chosen one." Said a woman.

"Maybe not." Said another one. "I'm not sure, because if you're find someone who is going to marry your son, you know, mother knows best."

"You mean, Madame was looking for a desperate marriage to a rich man like her." The sophisticated lady said and then they laughed.

Sandra smiled sadly. 'I am a fvcking desperate woman to get rich.'

IN THE EVENING, Madame Madelle and Sir Anthony drove him to their home. Everything she had was there, and Denver's belongings too. When they left him, she went straight to the master bedroom on the second floor of the house.

To vent her resentment, she went down to the shower and quietly closed her eyes under it. When she came out of the bathroom Denver was sitting on the bed.

"You can have this bed, I'll sleep next door. I don't want to sleep with someone who is desperate."

What she just heared is that he will sleep next door and was not able to hear the last phrase. "All right." That was all she could answer.