Chapter 1

I stared at the pair of white sandals I am currently wearing for a moment before lifting my gaze to the view of my surroundings. Above me is a blue and clear sky. On both of my sides, there are people close to me, sitting and watching me while I stand here. And in front, few meters away from me, is the man of my dream, standing and staring at me in the way of how I wanted to be stared at.

I saw his nose moved, maybe he sniffed. After that, his right hand lifted towards his eye. That’s when I realized he’s crying!

I chuckled before finally starting to walk in a slow pace. All of my focus was only on my man. I can’t stop myself from feeling various emotions. I kind of feel tickled on the inside while I feel excitement. I want to cry, I want to laugh. I don’t know what to do anymore. But the only thing I can clearly say is… I am happy.

I stopped when I am distant from him few meters away. He took me from my uncle who walked me down the aisle. And the moment he smiled on me while his eyes are still watering, that’s when a tear fell from my eyes.

Just by looking at him, just by feeling his warmth near me, I feel at peace. His presence is just so soothing that whenever I’m with him, I don’t feel scared. I feel protected and certain that no one will ever hurt me as long as he’s on my side.

The whole ceremony, I couldn’t stop thinking how lucky I am. I may have a traumatic experience in the past, but it was all covered with the happiness I now have because of my husband. Though, I might be happier if our parents were alive and are with us right now as we celebrate this once in a lifetime event.

But it all happened. It was all done. The only thing we can do right now is to cherish the moment and prevent things like it to happen again. I don’t want our children to suffer and experience the same situation we’ve been through.

“I love you, Kalia,” he whispered as the ceremony was announced that it has finished.

I did not respond. I just look directly to his eyes, thinking how unexpected and full of surprises life may be. He, asking for my hand and being waited by him in front of the altar seems surreal. All I thought is that I can’t have him, that I am only until chasing him, and he will never like me.

But look how surprising my fate is. The table had turned! It’s him that is crazier over me. I did not even expect that he will court me!

After the ceremony, I went to my friends while he also went to his. I am still far from where my friends are actually sitting, but I can already hear their chants and teases. All of them also have this wide grin while looking at me as I walk.

When I finally arrived in front of them, their voices became louder that many people turned to us.

“Prayer reveal!” one of my friends shouted as she raised her hands. The whole group burst into laughter after that.

Val offered me a seat beside her. I am even reluctant to take it because I know what’s going to happen next.

Brei abruptly held my arm as if I did a crime on her. “Gia was right. You should reveal your prayer format so we could copy it and also get the person of our dreams,” she said and laughed.

Gia and Val immediately agreed with it while I just let out a big laugh as if I just won from a lottery. Well, it’s more than that. What I am experiencing right now is way better than winning a lottery.

Lottery gives you money while marrying the man of your dream gives you a lifetime happiness and contentment.

“Well-” I stopped from talking when a huge box has been placed right in front of me, blocking me from seeing my friends in front. I then looked on the hand that put the box and scanned it, and then my gaze went higher until I saw the face of the person who did it.

It’s a woman who seems unhappy. With her cold stare and bored eyes, I can totally say that giving this gift to me was none of her will, that she was just forced to do this.

“Congratulations,” she said. And oh! Even her voice sounds too cold. Who is she, anyway?

After congratulating me, she left. She did not even let me thank her or even talk to her.

“She’s pretty!” Brei said. I can almost see her eyes form a heart shape!

“Oh stop, Brei. She’s rude,” Val said as she watched the woman walk towards our boss.

“Maybe she’s just shy?” Gia said.

“Oh, I like shy girls…” Brei said that caused us to look at her. There’s this wide grin plastered on her lips as she leveled with our stare on her.

“You like her?” Gia asked, pertaining to the woman who just placed this one huge box in front of me!

Speaking of the huge box, why can’t she just put this on the corner where all gifts are placed? I am pretty sure that everyone can see the gift corner. Maybe she did this by intention? But what’s her intention?

Oh my god! I can still imagine her face when she gave me this box. It really looks like it is against her will, that she is unhappy for me… or maybe for us! But why? Is she Chly’s mistress? Oh fuck it, what am I even thinking?!

Because of curiosity, I looked to the table where I last saw her. She’s still there, talking with our boss. I squinted a bit and realized that she may be a sister of Sir Ghrys.

I only came back to my consciousness when I saw her looking at me too. Maybe I got myself focus on them for too long that I flinched and panicked when I knew they caught me, but she was still the one who broke our eye contact first. However, before I remove my gaze from her, I noticed her cheeks turning red.

Was she blushing?

“Are you curious about that girl?” Val, my cousin, asked.

I just shrugged my shoulder as an answer for that. I don’t know. Maybe I am a tiny bit curious about her, but there’s a part in me that doesn’t want to know her because I am intimidated. She has this daunting appearance that makes me have a second thought of knowing her.

“Well, you can gain small information of her without actually getting near her,” Val suggested before sipping on her wine glass.

“Don’t do it, Kali, you are already married. Just give her to me,” Brei said and smirked.

I just slowly shook my head while chuckling because of what Brei have said. Does she really think that after I married Chly, I will still be attracted by anyone? Hell, no! I was only attracted to girls before because I thought that Chly doesn’t want me.

Well, not until Chly confessed his reason why he avoided me after the incident. Let’s just say that… I only dated girls back then to divert my attention. So I wouldn’t be bothered by the thought that Chly doesn’t want me.

Yes, thinking that Chly doesn’t like me even a tiny bit really bothers me. I often get confession and gifts from my admirers. I could even pull anyone without pure intentions. Many people said that I have a great charm so why can’t Chly like me too just like the way I like him?

That’s the question I usually ask myself aside from my parent’s death. Why can’t he like me back? But what I thought was wrong! He was just shy to ask me about it. That made me laugh. He could have told his friends about it and let them deliver the news. I should’ve made the first move.

“Hey, are you listening?” Gia snapped her finger in front of me that made me back into my consciousness.

“Sorry,” I said unclearly. “What?”

“I said,” Val started as she reads on her phone, “she is Ghrys’s half sister. She grew up in Italy and just arrived here in Philippines last week.”

If we are going to count it, it’s just few information but that seem big!

I nodded at Val.

That explains why she’s new to my eyes!

I looked at her again and unexpectedly, our gazes met. She immediately removed her gaze at me when I looked at her. Sir Ghrys could’ve noticed it so he looked at our direction. Our eyes met and he waved at me, I did the same thing too. After that, he looked at his sister and said something that made her expression look pissed.

Sir Ghrys again made a serious face and talk. After that, her sister looked at our direction again and as our eyes met, she immediately avoided my stare. I can still see the other side of her cheeks from here so I saw how fast it turned pink. Is she blushing? Again?