Arabel's POV
As the girls get dressed, my phone begins to ring. I want to get Ashley ready before I put on my dress.
I am the bridesmaid. It's part of my duty to do that. She comes before anything else.
When I stepped out, her hair stylist was working on hers.
Noting how lousy this place is, I decide to go back into the inner room where Ashley is, to receive the call.
Given that it's an odd number, it might be important.
As soon as I enter, a familiar voice reaches my ears. “Hi, Bella.”
Fernando.
He has a unique voice. It is him.
“Hi. Fernando?” I ask to be sure I am not mistaking him for someone else. This gets Ashley's attention, and she throws me a wink.
She must have given him my number. Probably last night because none of us had seen the guys this morning.
We didn't go back to the party after speaking and sitting silently on the beach with Richard. Instead, I went back to the room to sleep. I didn't even know when the girls came back.
“Yes, you didn't make it back to the party last night, so I was kind of worried. I just thought to check on you to be sure you haven't bailed out on being our bride’s maid of honor.” His sense of humor is good.
I laugh. “No, no, I haven't. She gave me an important task last night, which I did with all my strength. I immediately went to bed after finishing the task because I was already tired.
I sit on the bed behind Ashley's chair, which is facing the mirror.
Suddenly, she whirls around and approaches me with the chair, and I notice that the stylist and the two make-up artists have left.
The wedding is at ten, and we still have some minutes to go before the ceremony starts. This is the real reason why everyone is relaxed, especially me.
“Oh, I couldn't even sleep well because I was already feeling for Ashley…”
I laugh again. “Enough of Ashley's talk already. I wouldn't hurt her on her day!”
Ashley's ear prickles with curiosity, and she extends her hands for me to provide a hint about the mention of her name.
After throwing an icy glare her way, I ignore her.
She gave him my number without my permission.
“Ok, I'm sorry. Are you ready?”
“For?”
“The ceremony,” he mentions quickly.
“Of course,” I reply with a raised brow.
“Then it means we will see each other in less than an hour, right?”
After a moment of hesitation, I respond. “Sure.”
Instantly, he disconnects the call, making me turn to Ashley with bulging eyes. “He is weird.”
“What did he say?” Ashley asks with excitement, making me roll my eyes.
“First of all, why did you give him my number without my permission?” I ask her, but she only shrugs without saying a word. “Are you not going to answer that?”
"After you tell me what he said," she murmurs, leaning back in the chair.
I sigh. “He was just checking out for you. He thought I bailed out on you, and I wouldn't be your bridesmaid.”
Her eyes widen, too.
“He wants to know if he will see me in an hour's time.”
“Oh, my God, Fernando is heads over heels…”
“Ashley!” I snap at her, cutting her excitement short. She halts her conversation and fixes her gaze on me, perplexed as to why my mood has soured.
“I don't want to have anything to do with Fernando,” I say to her with a tone of determination. “In fact, I don't want to have anything to do with any man.”
“Why?” Her face is filled with concern as she shifts forward to grab my hand. “Is it because of…”
“Daisy?” I inquire and shake my head. If I wanted to consider Daisy, then I would have considered the first man who came on to me. “No. It is me.”
“What happened?”
“I just don't want to…”
“With no tangible reason? Fernando is a good guy, Bella. You shouldn't deny another man a chance just because you've experienced hurt or abandonment before. Caleb and I crossed paths during a time when I was at my lowest. I was betrayed, so I decided I was done with men. I allowed myself to crush on men who are my type, but I never flirt with or approach them until Caleb comes along. Bella, I gave him a tough time, but he stuck around. He didn't give up. He sacrificed a lot for me, Bella.”
I shake my head again. “You don't understand, Ashley.
She is half-right.
I was abandoned. I was betrayed. I was hurt. But she doesn't know how it happened.
Silence ensues, and I decide to tell her.
"It has been really difficult. I just don't want to have anything to do with men because I….” I trail off, staring at her and thinking twice about blurting it out. “I am divorced. I am a divorcee, not just a single mother.”
Shock replaces the curiosity on her face, and she jerks back.
I smile.
She has no idea.
“But… It doesn't matter, Bella. You can tell him…”
“It does. I don't feel ready. Perhaps when I do…”
“Will you ever be? Why not just give it a try, and if it doesn't work out, you let go or tell him,” she objects firmly, determined to make her match a success.
When Richard mentioned loving me over the phone to his mother, I had mixed feelings. I felt numb with emotions. I was happy that I could get my revenge back on him for having a one-sided love, but I was sad that he would never get me back.
Friendship was what I promised him. I felt bad for him. I knew what it meant for one's love to be one-sided.
Even though I know he asked for my friendship so he could get closer to me, After accepting his friendship and going back inside, I regretted it.
But then, this is an opportunity. I can let Ashley do her job of wanting to see if her matchmaking will work out, while letting Richard know he has no more chances in my life.
If I am ready for another relationship, then it will be with another man.
“I will think about it. Let's get you ready so I can also get dressed.”
"Bella," she calls, holding me back with a frowning face. “I know Caleb loves me, but I feel scared. What if…”
“Shhhh!” With a finger on her lips, I stop her. “There should be no what-ifs. The what-ifs ended last night. It is already too late to be pessimistic. Just because I mentioned getting divorced doesn't mean you will end up the way I did. You don't even know what happened or what led to the divorce…”
“What happened?” She cuts me short with full-blown curiosity.
“That will be a story for another day. For now, let's get you married!”
She pulls me back again, and I shut my eyes, thinking she wants to insist on hearing it all.
“Bella, do you know Richard is also divorced?” She demands, staring at me pointedly.
I nod. “You told me that in the elevator, remember?”
“Oh, that's true. Perhaps you two can work. He really likes you. I can vouch for both of them. They are of good character, charisma, intelligent, rich, and good-looking.”
“Ashley, let's get you married!” Finally, I push her chair back to the dresser, determined to stop her from talking about me.
I don't want to reveal too much. I don't even want her to suspect that Richard and I know each other, so she doesn't connect the dots and starts suspecting that we were once a couple.
After getting dressed and making sure she is ready, we troop out. I am behind the bride, whose face is covered in a white transparent veil, and the bridesmaid in purple-colored dresses behind me.
I am also wearing white, just like the bride. And it makes scenes from 8 years ago race through my head, pulling me back into the past I want to forget so desperately.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning.
October 20th, precisely.
I assumed that day was going to be the happiest day of my life because I was getting married to my lifelong love.
He was standing there with a face void of any emotions, and at that moment, I began to question if my decisions and those of his mother's were right.
I should have bolted that morning instead of standing still and going along with the process, because I was scared of what people would say and I was scared of not being with the man I loved.
When we step onto the podium and I hand the bride and groom the ring to exchange, I watch them exchange vows before my eyes meet Richard's, whom I have been avoiding.
A flicker of emotion crosses his face.
He looks dashing in the gray-colored two-piece suit, uplifted by his strong masculine body.
He does not smile, and I do not, as I continue to try so hard to erase all the memories racing in my head like a movie.
But they won't go.
Just as they exchange vows, a tear slides down my cheek. I watch them kiss each other as a round of applause resounds in the hall.
Richard's gaze does not leave mine.
So distracted, I don't realize the other bridesmaids are now on the podium, waiting to catch the bouquet with desperation until something hits my face and I see the bouquet lying carefully at my feet.
I turn to Richard and vow in my heart never to get married again.