Chapter 4 - The Wedding

"Audric?" She softly knocked on the door three times. After waiting for a few minutes with no response from inside the art room, "Audric, can I come in?" Slowly, she opened the door.

Audric wasn't there. He was probably in the music room now, but there was no hint of music. As she was about to close the door, her eyes caught sight of a canvas in the middle of the spacious art room, covered by a white cloth.

She hesitated to approach the covered canvas since Audric had made it clear he didn't want her meddling in the room. She was supposed to stay by the door, and only Manang Minda was allowed to enter.

"What are you doing here?"

Audric's unexpected voice made her close the door quickly and face him. "I-I was looking for you. It's time for dinner."

"You go ahead. I'll eat later." He opened the door.

She had to step aside. She wanted to mention that it was already seven in the evening and he might be hungry, but she knew he would get mad if she insisted.

"What are you waiting for?"

"O-oh okay. Sorry."

He grunted as he entered the room and slammed the door shut, almost startling her. She stood there for a couple of minutes before deciding to go to their room. 

Although they shared the same space, there was a noticeable distance. The truth was, there was nothing between them as a married couple. Despite her desire to give herself to him, he didn't want her. He still loved Ivony, and she understood that.

As she lay on the bed, she looked up at the ceiling. How could Audric love her if he kept distancing himself? Yes, she knows he couldn't love her, but could she blame her heart for hoping that one day he would love her too? She wanted more than just being his childhood friend; she wanted him to see her as the one who stood by him when everyone else turned away. 

She sadly stared at the wall. Her thoughts wandered back to how she ended up being the one Audric married, instead of the woman he truly loved—Ivony.

Ffion checked herself out in the mirror, wearing a baby blue dress Audric had chosen for her, and she liked it. But, despite looking good, her heart felt heavy. Today was the day her childhood friend, Audric Villanueva, was getting married to someone else. Tears threatened to fall, but she held them back and took a deep breath to calm herself.

Crying on her friend's wedding day wasn't right. They hadn't seen each other for two months.

"Ffion?"

She turned around, and it was her Mom, smiling warmly. They were going to Audric's wedding together. Her Mom was kind and always showed her love, although she didn't get along with her two step-brothers and step-father.

"Mom, does it look good on me?" She showed her outfit, unsure if she should wear it to Audric's wedding. She prefers black to show him how she was deeply hurt.

"Of course, my dear, you look absolutely beautiful! And it's your favorite color. Besides, Audric chose it just for you." Her mom nudged her affectionately and stood behind her, gently fixing her hair with a loving smile.

"But my heart feels so heavy. I'll see the person I love marrying someone else."

"Oh, don't cry, sweetheart," her Mom said, giving her a gentle but stern look in the mirror. "Sometimes, Ffion, love can't be forced. Just be happy for the man you love. And remember, with your beauty, Audric is not the only man out there. There are plenty of fish in the sea, okay? So, smile, dear."

"I love Audric. It's hard for me. This feeling I have for him is not just simple love, My. It's something deeper— that even i, can't name it."

"Sweetheart, there are two types of love," her Mom whispered, gently stroking her hair and planting a soft kiss on her head. "The first is a love that gives without holding back, where you're ready to offer everything, even if there's nothing left for you. It's a love that allows you to let go if that's what they need, because true love means granting the freedom they ask for. You're willing to give your all, my dear, even if it means setting them free."

"What about the second?"

Her mom smiled, but it's not reaching her eyes. After a deep breath, she put an ornament in her hair and stared at her for a long time in the mirror. 

"A love, dear, that can be selfish at times. It's not that you don't care about others, but sometimes you might forget the consequences in the pursuit of your own happiness. It can turn into an overwhelming passion, an obsession that clouds judgment. A love that may lead you down a path of regrets and challenges, sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of someone else."

Ffion bit her lip and sadly looked at her Mom. She had nothing to say. She felt the sadness in her Mom's voice, and she knew why.

"Sweetheart, which type of love do you feel you're in?" her mom gently asked, her voice filled with concern and understanding.

"The first one," she replied, her voice tinged with pain as tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm proud of you, my dear. I want you to learn from my mistakes and not follow footsteps. I don't want you to experience the pain that I've faced. Despite my desire to break free, I find myself trapped. They may label me as a mistress, but all I did was love, my dear. And I don't want you to go through that. Promise me you'll never imitate me, and choose a love that brings you true happiness."

Ffion simply smiled and nodded at her mom. She understood her mom's struggles, but she felt it wasn't her place to complain.  

***

THEY arrived at the church, and many people were already there, with Audric standing at the front. He looked really handsome in his gray suit with three pieces. Even though she had been avoiding him for the last two months, she couldn't help but notice that he looked even more attractive on this special day.

She and her mother took their seats. She noticed the quiet conversations among the guests, and there was talk that the bride might not show up. Checking her watch, Ffion realized they were 20 minutes late, and there was still no sign of the bride.

Ffion felt a sharp pain in her heart as she looked at Audric, standing alongside Lucas and his two brothers. Audric's eyes showed no emotion, and his face seemed empty. 

The idea of Audric marrying someone else was a painful reality that she struggled to accept. Even though many years had passed, she still held onto the hope that Audric might reciprocate her feelings. But destiny had different plans, especially for two hearts destined to be together.

She really wanted Audric to love her, and she tried very hard to make it happen, but nothing worked. Audric loves Ivony a lot, and now she can only watch him marry someone else.

Unbeknownst to her, tears filled her eyes.  The thought of Audric marrying someone else was heartbreaking, but she understood her limitations in the bigger picture. Who was she to interfere, right? She was just a friend, nothing but a friend and that's her only role.

"Dear?"

"Mom?" She look at her mother.

"It looks like the bride won't be coming."

"Huh?" Confusion washed over her. Looking around, she noticed guests were leaving the church. "My, that's impossible. Ivony and Audric are crazy in love with each other. There's no way she wouldn't show up."

"Maybe she got stuck in traffic."

Maybe... 

Yet, Ffion couldn't take her eyes off Audric at the altar, even though he looked distant. She wanted to go to him, but she didn't. She knew the limits of their relationship. 

However, after waiting for two hours, Ivony didn't come. She didn't show up for the wedding, and all the guests left including her mom. Only Audric, Lucas, and Audric's family stayed. 

"Son, we need to go," Audric's dad told him.

"You go ahead. I can wait for Ivony."

"Audric..."

"Don't feel sorry for me, Mom. Go, If you don't want to wait for my wedding." 

'Audric...' 

Ffion felt like her heart was stabbed. She bit her lip, feeling stuck like a tree nailed to her seat. 

"Son, your fiancée didn't show up. We should leave now. There are reporters and cameras outside the church," Audric's dad insisted firmly.

"I don't care!" Audric kept a calm face, but she could hear the anger and frustration in his voice.

"Dude," Lucas said, "Ivony is calling..." He gave Audric his phone.

"See? She loves me. Maybe there was just a little problem on her way," Audric said, feeling more hopeful, taking Lucas's phone quickly.

But tears were rolling down Audric's face and It hurt her even more to see him suffering like this. It was like a double blow for her.

Audric's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Where the hell are you, babe? It's our damn wedding!" his face contorted with pain as tears fell like raindrops. "The hell are you talking about? Ivony? Ivony! Bullshit!"  He erupted.

Audric's siblings and Lucas tried to hold him back, but Audric's strong body and height made it hard to calm him down.

She couldn't handle it any longer and gathered the courage to approach him.

"Adi!"

He stopped when he heard her voice, turning to look at her, but his gaze seemed to go through her. "Ffion?"

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she softly bit her lip. She walked closer and hugged him tightly. "Yeah, it's me."

He calmed down a bit when he heard her voice and felt her hug, but it didn't last long. He screamed in anger, even scaring his parents. She tried to calm him down, crying herself. She couldn't bear to watch him suffer because of Ivony.

"Damn you, Ivony! Do you think I can't replace you even if I am blind?!"

She was surprised, looking at him with shock. It finally struck her that he was really blind because his eyes lacked their usual sparks and showed no emotion at all.

"Let's get married, Ffion."

"Huh?!" 

"Wait! Audric, no!" His mom objected quickly.

"Ffiona!" Lucas was also surprised and was about to step in, but Audric firmly held her hand.

"Father!" The priest came

over after Audric called out, "I'm going to marry someone else today. Let's start the wedding."

Audric... that's all her heart whispered.