Chapter 9: The Big Day

June 26, 2022

1:00 pm

Xiu Grand Hotel

I stared at the big vanity mirror in front of me with Deborrah on my side because she's my maid-of-honor.

"Mom will be so proud of you, Sushmita," Debbie said as she combed my hair in style.

"I hope so," I said while holding my tears back but I really can't help it.

"Hey, don't cry, your makeup will be ruined," She said while helping me wipe my tears gently to avoid my eyeshadows and mascara from destruction.

"I'm gonna miss you all," I said to her.

"We will miss you too. We will keep in touch okay? I'm just a chat away," Debbie said. Her words never fail to comfort me.

"Just don't forget what I said, no matter how hard it is, always look at the good side. Alright?" She said with a smile on her lips.

"Alright," I agreed while wearing my shoes.

"You're all set, you're gonna be an amazing wife, Sushmita," Debbie said as she reached out to help me stand up because the bridal car was already waiting for us.

We we're on the bridal car when Rodney sent me a text message:

'How long will you keep me waiting?'

I replied back and said:

'We're on our way. I'm sorry'

As soon as the bridal car stopped at the Church, I composed myself not to cry in front of the crowd and walked down the Aisle. My hand was shaking because I was very nervous.

As soon as I reached my dad's arm I felt safe. We walked down the aisle while Rodney was waiting for us in the Altar, I can hear the soft instrumental music of Beautiful In White By Westlife.

"Daddy, thank you so much for everything, I love you," I sincerely said to my father as he smiled at me.

"You will always be my little princess, always remember that and now you will be someone's queen. So, enjoy your life as much as possible. Alright?" He said.

"I will dad, please don't worry about me. I will be fine. Rodney is a good man," I said.

As soon as we reached the altar–my father held my hand and placed it into Rodney's palm.

"Take care of my princess for me, Rodney," Dad said as he looked into Rodney's eyes.

"I will sir, I'll promise to love her and to look after her now every second of my life," Rodney said to my father with sincerity in his eyes but I don't know if that was true or maybe he's just faking it.

My hand was still shaking as Rodney pinched it.

"I love you," He whispered those words to my ear and it surprisingly calmed me. The shaking of my hands were gone.

He was wearing a white mask paired with his white tuxedo. He was so groomed and proper.

We are now sitting in front of the altar as the priest is reading some verses in the Bible. Everyone is listening to the sermon, except me- I just want this to be over, my feet are aching bad because of the uncomfortable stilettos.

We performed the exchange of vows and rings. I don't know why but Rodney is staring at me so strangely. It looks like he knows already that I'm suffering from something.

"You may now kiss the bride, Mr. Xiu," The Bishop said.

Rodney immediately lifted my veil and touched my cheeks, he kissed me gently and we faced the crowd as they clapped their hands and greeted us 'congratulations and best wishes'.

We walked through the aisle, exiting the Church now but I can't really walk because of my feet and suddenly I almost tripped but Rodney here held me tight.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Rodney whispered in my ear.

"I'm sorry, my feet hurt because of the stilettos," I said as I gave him an 'in-pain face'.

He then shook his head and lifted me in a bridal style.

"Rodney!" I screamed as he lifted me because I was shocked. I'm so surprised by what he did and he just continued walking while the crowd was congratulating us.

"What?" He asked as he helped me ride in his red Ferrari car.

"Nothing," I said as he turned around to sit on the driver's seat.

We were heading back to the Xiu Grand Hotel for the reception but Rodney stopped his car at a shoe store and immediately got out and entered it and when he finally exited the shoe store, he already had a paper bag in his hand.

"Here, wear it. It's more comfortable," He recommended it to me so I obeyed his orders and opened the shoe box. It's a pair of nude pointed doll shoes and it has no heels so it's really comfortable and nice. I immediately wore it and to my surprise, he knew the size of my feet. It was a size seven.

"How did you know my size?" I asked him because it was really strange and he handed me a brown folder. I opened it and found my pictures printed with my information. It also has my contact number, my body statistics, my weight, the size of my feet, what color I like, what food I like, etcetera.

"So much for information," I said and he started to drive again.

"Rodney, what's wrong with you?" I asked because he was really moody, I don't know why.

He chuckled and said, "Just tired,"

"Yeah, me too." I agreed with him. It's 7:00 pm and we're totally out of energy.

"How was your feet?" He asked.

"They're fine now, thank you," I said.

"You shouldn't wear that kind of shoes, if you're not comfortable," He said while tightening his grip on the steering wheel.

"I guess, I'm used to feeling pain and just endured it," I said as I stared at the window of the car.

Silence came between us until we reached the Xiu Grand Hotel.

"Show time," Rodney said and helped me get out of the car.

Our family and friends greeted us warmly in the reception hall as we were making our way on the couple's seats.

I didn't know that we have a wedding hashtag, it says,

#RodToForeverWithErin

I already noticed the signage on the entrance: 'Garcellano-Xiu Nuptial' but not the hashtag.

Well, it's a nice wedding hashtag, I wonder who made it. Rodney didn't pay too much attention when we got into the reception.

I walked to my family's table and I saw my grandfather wearing tuxedos and all groomed up. He was smiling at me so I held his hand to perform a mano (sign of respect to the elders in the Philippines) and hugged him.

"Congratulations, Sushmita my dear child," Grandpa said as I sat beside him.

"Your husband seems good and polite, I talked to him earlier," he said and I smiled and replied, "Yeah, he is, you talked to him earlier?"

"He said that you deeply miss me, and want me to come to your wedding," he said.

"Yes, Grandpa, it's like mom was with me, when you're here," I said to him and he brushed my hair gently.

"Sushmita dear, your mother never left you, because she was here," he said while pointing at my chest where my heart is.

"Treasure it and love unconditionally, especially now that you are going to have your own family," he said and I just smiled. I didn't notice that Rodney was with us and was listening to my grandfather the whole time.

Love. Unconditionally. A family to Rodney. Will it really happen? I said to myself as I stared at Rodney for a second.

"I'm so happy for the both of you, congratulations again and best wishes," Grandpa said as Rodney held my hand. I just smiled at him.

"Good evening, everyone, enjoy the night please," Rodney said and my family raised their glasses to us and congratulated us.

After the reception, I immediately threw my bouquet and to my surprise, my sister Deborah got it and then Rodney waved goodbye to the crowd as he helped me ride in the SUV car. We are using an SUV now because all of our things are packed and placed there for our honeymoon. Our family driver Miguel is the one who drives us to NAIA because Rodney here has no energy to drive.

I felt his head on my shoulders. He was so still and I just let sleep continue to take me into the dream land.