Chapter 3

“now,” he commanded. And I crashed badly.

"Mam, mam," I heard someone called me.

I opened my eyes and found myself in a cab. I had dozed off again—dreamt of him, or say, relived one of the nights again.

I sighed.

"Mam, we've reached," the cab driver told me.

I looked toward the venue in front.

I exhaled.

"Thank you," I said, paying and getting out of the cab.

My thighs were clenching with each other. I was damp down there. It’s nothing new—whenever I dream about or think about those nights, I always end up like this. I sighed.

"Let’s go," I said in my mind, exhaling, looking at the venue.

Yeah right, the venue—today is my mom’s wedding. The weeks passed so quickly, and now I’m here at the wedding as mom’s guest instead of daughter.

I reached inside the venue.

"Mam, drink?" the waitress asked me, reaching.

"No, thank you," I replied with a polite smile.

And went and sat on one of the chairs.

I’m quick, I guess, I thought to myself, as the altar was still empty—no groom, no mom there yet.

I thought to scroll through my phone meanwhile, check on my friends. They are on a weekend out and here I’m at a boring wedding ceremony. I hope the cake would be better; otherwise, it would be such a waste.

I glanced up and saw the groom, though his back was facing me. Gosh, he does work out a lot. I guess he is so tall and has a huge muscular back. He looks like Mr. Stranger from behind.

My thighs instantly clenched remembering him. Oh girl, control—I just thought to focus on the phone.

My friend had uploaded their outing photos on stories. I was just scrolling through them when I got a call from my friend Ava.

I picked up.

"Hey darling," she said cheerfully.

"Hey," I replied.

"What happened? Why are you sounding so bored?" she asked.

"Cause that’s what I’m getting," I told her. "It’s not even 10 minutes since I arrived at the venue and I’m already bored. Don’t know how I’m gonna stay until the end," I said.

"You should have come with us," Ava said.

"Yeah right, but if I did happen to, I would have lost my hold on the house. Guess what?" I said.

"What?" she asked.

"As mom will be married, the whole house would be mine. We’ll party every day," I said.

"We can do something else too," Ava suggested.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Threesome or so," Ava said.

"Shut up, Ava," I said.

"Joking, girl. Come on girl, find someone, you’re so boring," Ava said.

"I already found and lost too," I said in mind.

No one knows about Mr. Stranger, not even my best friend. It was just his and my secret.

"John was asking about you," Ava said.

"Please don’t bring him up again. I’m already getting bored," I said.

"Okay okay fine," Ava said.

Before she could speak further, the bride’s entry was announced.

"Okay Ava, I’ll call later. The ceremony is about to begin," I said.

"Okay, enjoy," Ava said.

"Yeah, will enjoy the cake," I said, cutting the call.

I looked at my mom. She was looking great—a bright smile on her face. She looked at me. I gave her a smile back. She was holding a bouquet in her hands, a long veil was attached to her head, the gown was also too long.

The priest began the ceremony.

"I do," mom said, and with that, the priest announced them husband and wife.

"You may now kiss," the priest said, and they kissed, for sure, 'cause it’s not like I was looking. I was again on my phone.

Actually, I have a project coming up. I’m a fashion designing student in my finals. In this project, we need to make a dress inspired by famous fashion designers. Whoever does the best would get a chance to work with one of the international fashion designers themselves or get to work in their company. I was aiming for both, so I was looking for the best design outfit inspiration possible.

We’ve got limited time—only two weeks—and from that, one week already vanished 'cause of mom showing me her shopping and all, telling the things she’ll do after marriage.

I shook my head.

"Now the groom and bride may cut the cake," it was announced.

I closed my phone, finally exhaling. The thing I was here for was about to begin—cake cutting.

I’m a sucker for cakes, especially wedding cakes.

The bride and groom were making their way toward the cake. That’s when I looked up, and when I did, my handbag literally dropped from my hand with shock.

"Mr. Stranger," words escaped my mouth.

And as if he heard—even though it was just a whisper—he looked toward me. I could see him shocked too, but he covered it and looked away.

This makes sense why the groom looked like him.

Mr. Stranger is my step-dad’s brother.

See, I told you life is such a bitch with me.

Yes, Mr. Stranger turned out to be my step-dad’s brother. I could tell it.

The man moving right behind my step-dad was Mr. Stranger.

How could I forget him when I see him in every breath I take?

He was in a black suit, just like the time we met the first time.

Cut on his eyebrow, a small black ring in his ear, a hand-long tattoo which showed from the cuff of his back neck when he turned—it was him, it was clearly him.

I had been looking for him for the past two years after that encounter, but having no details on him—no real name and no photo—I was unable to find him.

And now he was standing right in front of me as my step-dad’s brother.

I swallowed.

The cake was cut, but I had no desire to eat now, 'cause I was still frozen in my place due to the fact of what just happened.

"Elora, Elora!"

Mom shook me. I looked up.

"From how long I’m calling you," she said.

I stood and looked at her.

"Elbert, meet Elora, my daughter," mom said.

I looked at mom, shocked. Didn’t she say no one knows she was married before?

Mom stepped closer to my ear and whispered,

"Only he and his brother know," and moved back.

I looked at Mr. Stranger, who was already looking from behind my step-dad.

While I was shocked as hell, he was so calm.

"What are you looking at? Say hi," mom said.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi, Elora," my step-dad said, moving his hand forward.

I was still just looking at my Mr. Stranger.

"Elora," mom called again.

I exhaled.

"Hello Elbert," I said, giving him a smile.

But my eyes, still from the corner, were looking at my Mr. Stranger.

"And meet him too, Elora—Christian, Elbert’s brother," mom introduced me to Mr. Stranger.

Christian. So this is your name, Mr. Stranger.

"Hello, Elora," he said, giving his hand to me for a handshake.

It’s wildflower, Mr. Stranger, I said in my mind.

I swallowed and forwarded my hand.

"Hello, Christian," I said.

And as soon as our hands touched, electricity ran through me.

"Nice to meet you, Elora," he said.

Oh God, why, Mr. Stranger?