19

"Britanny, all I want is some light make-up. Please don't turn my face into a coloring book."

She simply laughed at me and applied a light brown eye shadow and thin eye liner, just enough to draw attention to the shape of my eyes.

"Where's the bride?" Janna, our batchmate, inquired. She looked stunning in her light blue gown.

"Still preparing, I guess. Since they arrived at Kaley's house, Haxilla hasn't called me," While checking my phone for any missed calls from Hax, I said.

"Yeah, Sel, you're done now."

I looked in the mirror and realized that my hair and make-up made me look like a fairy, and that the dress had picked up on the assignment.

"Wow, you're absolutely stunning. Let's take a picture, shall we?," Janna took out her camera and took a selfie of the three of us including Britanny.

The bridesmaids are nearly finished with their preparations. Because Hax is the maid of honor, she is now with Kaley.

"Wow, you've all changed. You have such a lovely appearance." Aunt Mellise complimented us and took a photo of us, as she always did.

We walked into the location where the proposal was made. Because the couple's lovestory is based on a fairytale, the theme is reminiscent of a fairyland.

That may sound corny, but it is their desire, so I grant it. However, for the couple who just met in the bar, it's a rather corny reason.

Before the wedding ceremony began, the guests took photographs at the venue. I'm just relaxing in my chair, scrolling through my I*******m feed.

"Hey, do you mind if I ask if you're all right?" Geno, a former classmate, had suddenly approached me and asked.

"You haven't changed at all. You're still using formal language, aren't you?," I laughed a little and put down my phone to speak with him.

He straightened his tie and gave me a friendly smile. He courted me for almost three years while we were both in college, but they moved to Texas in the middle of our third year, which is why we haven't spoken in years. Since then, this is our first conversation.

"Okay, I would not talk in formal way now. Anyway, how's life?"

I shrugged and looked ahead, recalling what happened at the park with Haru the day before.

"Let's just say fate treated me like a toy, which is why it has been playing with my emotions and thoughts these past few weeks. But I'm fine now, in fact, I'm better than I was before," I stated.

He approached me and looked at me as he took my hands in his. Because he's already married, I wouldn't assume he still has feelings for me based on the way he looked at me before.

"What happened, why?"

I simply shook my head and leaned against the chair, removing his hand from my grip.

"I can't tell you about it because it's personal."

He simply nodded and stated that he would speak with our other friends. When he was finally gone, I took a deep breath and my heart began to beat quickly again.

The ceremony had already begun after a few minutes had passed. Outside the ark, we form a line and enter the venue one by one. While other visitors clap for us, Krause is teary-eyed and smiles at us.

The music suddenly turns to sweet melody as if a queen will enter soon. They shifted smoothly from Canon D to Crazier by Taylor Swift. 

I'd never gone with the wind

Just let it flow

Let it take me where it wants to go

'Til you opened the door

And there's so much more

I'd never seen it before

I was trying to fly, but I couldn't find wings

But you came along and you changed everything

Kaley's younger sister appeared out of the ark, carrying a basket full of petals. She's tossing it around, and the event's best moment has arrived. 

You lift my feet off the ground, spin me around

You make me crazier, crazier

Feels like I'm falling and I

Am lost in your eyes, you make me crazier, crazier, crazier

We all stand up as Kaley stepped inside the ark. She's breath-taking beautiful with her white balloon wedding gown. She's walking slowly with her mother and father, Haxilla is holding her gown at the back. 

I'm teary eyed while watching Kaley and her parents finally trusted Krause to take care of their daughter. That moment is full of tears of joy. 

I looked at Raven who is staring at Haxilla like he's already daydreaming about their wedding in the future. It's obvious to his eyes how he love so much my best friend. 

"Raven is already daydreaming his wedding with Haxilla," Britanny said and I just laughed at her. 

We sat down as the pastor starts speaking, sign that the wedding is officially starting. 

"We come now to the words Kaley and  Krause want to hear the most today…the words that take them across the threshold from being engaged to being married.

A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.

Before you declare your vows to one another, I want to hear you confirm that it is indeed your intention to be married today.

Krause Smith, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Kaley Whitson in marriage?" the officant asked. 

Krause looked at Kaley's eyes as he says," I do."

The officant shifted his eyes to Kaley to ask the same question. 

"Kaley Whistson, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Krause Smith in marriage?" 

"I do," Kaley answered in shaky voice. 

"Krause and Kaley, having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, I now ask you to declare your marriage vows. ease face each other and hold hands.

Groom, please repeat after me…

I, your name take you, name of your wife to be my wife."

"I, Krause Smith take you, Kaley Whitson to be my wife..." 

"I will share my life with yours..."- officant

"I will share my life with yours..."- Krause

"And build our dreams together..." 

"And build our dreams together..." 

"Support you through times of trouble..."

"Support you through times of trouble..."

"And rejoice with you in times of happiness..." 

"And rejoice with you in times of happiness..." 

"I promise to give you..."

"I promise to give you..."

"Respect, love and loyalty." 

"Respect, love and loyalty." 

"This commitment is made in love,"

"This commitment is made in love," 

"Kept in faith, lived in hope, and made new every day of our lives." 

"Kept in faith, lived in hope, and made new every day of our lives." 

After Krause stated his wedding vow, it's Kaley's turn now. 

"Bride, please repeat after me…

I, your name, take you, name of your husband, to be my husband." 

"I, Kaley Whistson, take you, Krause Smith, to be my husband..." 

And she repeated the same thing that Krause had said. Britanny even hugged me because of too much happiness that she feels now. 

"They're now changing their rings aacckk!" Britanny exclaimed, her face is literally look like a tomato now. 

A little boy who is holding a small cushion with the wedding rings on it, walked and gave the rings to the couple.

"Your wedding ring are the outward and visible sign of the inward and invisible bond which already unites you two hearts in love.

Groom, place the ring on Bride’s finger and repeat after me….

Krause and Kaley changed their rings while saying their promises to each other. 

"May the wedding rings you exchanged today remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love." 

"The kiss is coming," I whispered and Britanny pinched my arm, she's pointing Haxilla who is crying at my right side. 

"Did you already imagine yourself in Kaley's position now?" I teased her. She immediately wiped her tears before she looked at me. 

"What do you mean?" 

We just smiled at her and get back our attention to ceremony. 

"Everyone has advice for newlyweds. Krause Smith and Kaley Whitson, I offer these good wishes to you on this special day.

May your life together be blessed with prosperity and good health. May you always share open and honest communication between each other. May you respect each other’s individual talents and gifts and give full support to each other’s professional and personal pursuits.

May you cherish the home and family you will create together. May all the years to come be filled with moments to celebrate and renew your love. May your love be a life-long source of excitement, contentment, affection, respect, and devotion for one another."

We clapped and the photographers suddenly ran near the aisle and ready their cameras for the main event today, the kiss seal. 

"And so now by the power vested in me by the law, it is my honor and delight to declare you husband and wife. You may seal this declaration with a kiss. Krause, you may now kiss the bride."

You lift my feet off the ground, spin me around

You make me crazier, crazier

Feels like I'm falling and I

Am lost in your eyes, you make me crazier, crazier, crazier

Crazier, crazier...

"Congratulations!!!" 

"Woah, take it easy, Krause!" 

"Krause, you still have honeymoon!" 

"I am pleased to present the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Smith!" the officant shouted in the middle of the celebration. 

When the ceremony was over, everyone was cheering and jumping. The couple posed for their first photograph as newlyweds, and family, friend, and group photos were taken. 

Following some photo opportunities, all visitors were directed to the reception area for refreshments. The newlyweds, like the other weddings, cut their cake and drank wine.

"Are we expecting another wedding in the next two years, Raven and Haxilla?" Jillian wondered aloud while we were eating. Raven pretended to choke, while Haxilla simply rolled her eyes.

"Okay, silence means yes, I'm planning your wedding right now," I said, and Hax slapped my thighs to stop me.

"You're all just messing with the atmosphere. Raven and I are too preoccupied to think about the wedding."

"So you're never going to think about our wedding again?" Raven asked Hax in a solemn tone that caused us to stare at each other. Krause laughed as he shook his head; he knows his best friend well.

"Someone is in pain right now," Britanny explained as she sipped her wine.

"That is not the case. I mean, we have plenty of time to think about it, and we should think about it seriously," Haxilla explained, but Raven pretended not to hear anything.

"Did you hear someone talking, bro? Is that a ghost, or what?" Raven inquired of Krause, and I laughed when Hax looked at him with her brow furrowed.

"Are you serious, Raven?" Hax asked in a serious tone that drew Raven's attention  to her.

Haxilla unexpectedly stood up and walked away. Raven locked his gaze on her as she walked away, shrugging his shoulders and biting into his cake.

"Are you sure you're not going to follow your girlfriend?" Harvy asked while looking at Haru. 

"Raven, you must now follow her. If you just let her be like that, you'll regret everything," Kaley went on to say.

"Relax, I'll just follow her. I'll finish my food first because, due to my duty, I hadn't eaten in 17 hours," While his mouth was full of food, he said.

We laughed at him, and later he followed Hax. I'm just sitting here sipping my wine and watching the others dance in the middle.

I decided to go to the second floor of the events venue because it caught my eye. I walked up the stairs with a wine glass in my hand, curious about what was stored here.

I'm walking down the second-floor hallway, looking at each door as I go, but I hear a moan from the last room.

When I peered through the door, one of Morelli's managers, Mr. Howards, was having a good time with his secretary, and my eyes widened.

"But I know he's already married."

I pulled out my phone to record them. I'm walking backwards, but I hit a baseball bat display nearby by accident.

Shit!