Chapter 5

The simultaneous singing of the people of "Gloria" resounded throughout the church. I used that as an opportunity to answer Irah.

"Darling, honey, sweetheart, babe, muffin? You have to pick one," I hissed. "If we're gonna push through with this wedding, your endearment to me must be consistent. I'm sure my family will have a lot of questions."

The annoyance passed on Irah's face for a moment when she turned to me. "Eh, you? What will you call me?"

I was momentarily taken aback. I stared blankly at her when she raised an eyebrow at me before she faced the priest praying again.

Of course ... Not only should he invent endearment but me as well.

I quietly bit my lower lip. I didn't expect it to be so hard to think of a sweet name to call the person you just met.

"Y-your majesty ..." I hesitated. I quickly averted my eyes when Irah's cracked-mouthed look clicked back at me. "Your name is Irah. Hari kung Plus you're the queen of entertainment. So, 'your majesty' suits you ..."

I offered my arm to Irah when we were all seated. I was careful not to look her in the eyes when I helped her fix her fun.

I silently prayed that the liturgy for the responsorial psalm would be over. Maybe when the assembly sings, Irah will tear her stare away from me.

"Then, I'll call you 'consort' when we're alone and, 'honey' in public. It's the color of your eyes," he replied. He turned his gaze back to the front. "Sorry, it's not as creative as yours."

"Nah, it's good enough." I took a deep breath.

We did not speak again in the following parts of the ceremony. The only time we interacted were when we stood and sat. She was wearing a heavy gown so, I helped Irah. The three hoops of her petticoat are still slow so, I began to wonder why women love this style on their wedding day.

Well ... We do.

My heart was immediately filled with conflict when we stood for the Statement of Intentions. I quickly grabbed the red handkerchief from my chest pocket.

The scattered mixture of chocolate-colored dirt and black mascara on the fabric grabbed my attention. I internally cringed at the thought that Irah had used, earlier, my dirty handkerchief.

I immediately folded the handkerchief, inside-out, before rubbing it on my leaking forehead. Then, I tucked it back into my pocket again before I led Irah to her feet.

"Ruther and Irah, have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?" buzz of Father's question. He looked around at us with a smile.

"I have." we answer together. We were both disgusted when we answered, so the priest's forehead wrinkled slightly.

"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"

Irah and I hesitated for a few seconds. We looked at each other before we replied, "I am."

I suddenly felt an odd chill because Maya's voice wasn't answering with me. I was ready to love her for the rest of my life but, she stood me up.

In his place, a nice stranger stood beside me, now. She's indeed a stranger but, she's inadvertently protecting my honor.

"Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?" next question of the priest.

"I am." I replied.

Irah mouthed the same but, her voice did not come out. He just smiled sweetly and rubbed his hand on my arm before he pressed his cheek to my shoulder.

Father returned the smile. He didn't seem to notice Irah's non -response.

I realized the bride didn't want to have a child with me. But, that's okay. I also don't want to have an heir with a stranger.

Father's gaze shifted to me. The twinkle in his eyes send terrible shivers down my spine.

"Ruther, do you take Irah as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

I immediately bit my lower lip as Irah slipped her grip off my arm. I compulsively cast spells and blinked before I said, "I do."

It was as if the world had fallen on me the moment those words left my lips. Because of those words, I will be tied to Irah, whom I do not know, until death.

"Irah, do you take Ruther as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" continued the priest. Irah has a brighter look.

"I do." no doubt its answer. A newfound determination laced generously on my wife's doll-like face.

The priest immediately announced Irah and I's declaration of marriage consent. His voice slightly squeaked in excitement.

He prayed fervently that the Lord would bless us. He sprinkled holy water on the ring carried by the ring bearer next to us.

"What God joins together, let no one put asunder" said the priest.

First I was delivered the ring with my name engraved on it, at the bottom. I was hesitant to pick you up before facing Irah.

I was surprised when Irah sniffed softly. I looked up at her face and saw how quickly her tears flowed.

I was confused. I don't realize if her tears are real or not.

Is she acting? If she is then, she's one hell of an actress - which she is.

But, what if her tears are real? Hmmm ... It'd be understandable because, he doesn't plan to be my wife anymore.

But the way she elegantly soaks her tears in her glove while I smiled happily made me wonder. Isn't that really tears of joy? Did she and Maya really plan for her to marry me? What if he really knows and loves me?

Did I really not meet a young girl in the market when I was young?

I grabbed Irah's hand under her veil. I laid his palm on mine and slowly rubbed the gold ring on his finger.

"Irah, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Irah's tears flowed even more so, my chest almost exploded. She gently looked up to my face and drowned me in a lovestruck gaze.

"Ruther," Irah's voice began to growl. He slowly raised my hand in front of him. "Receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

It was as if the floor suddenly disappeared when the ring on the forehead of my finger stopped. For a moment I forgot that Maya's name was engraved under it.

I smiled like an idiot when Irah's beautiful laugh sang. I saw or heard nothing else until Father said,

"You may now kiss the bride

"That's my dad and his wife." Ruther whispered quickly. "His name is Carlos Buenaventura."

I immediately smiled broadly. My dimples buried freely on both my cheeks. I raised both my eyebrows to light up my eyes. I effortlessly looked excited.

My approaching father-in-law quickly responded with a smile. Her eyes were shining.

I didn't waste my time looking at the little lady wrapped around Carlos' arm. Based on the way Ruther tells who she is, she's not his mother and they're not in good terms.

"Mano po, sir." I said modestly. I took Ruther's father's free hand and gently touched my forehead to the back of his palm.

"Bless you, hija." its friendly response. He didn't want to let the smirk dance in his mouth. "And, please ... 'Don't say' sir '. Call me Dad because from today on, you're my daughter."

I stared at the floor for a moment while pinching my runaway hair to my ear. I slowly looked up and shyly smiled at Carlos sweetly.

"All right, Dad ..." I giggled softly. The only part I didn’t act was the awkwardness I felt at Dad calling him.

The laughter went down my mother -in -law's throat. His laughter was mixed with excitement and pride.

"Good! That's good!" happy with this promise. "You know, you're really beautiful, hija, especially now that your veil is no longer blocking your face! But, don't get me wrong. You still look captivating in your posters. I should know because my wife, Lydia, collects all your merchandise! "

Carlos happily patted Lydia's palm, squeezing her arm. He looked at it with a smile and gently urged him to step closer to me.

I raised my forehead to Lydia. Hinead-to-foot ko siya and easily concluded that she's tiny.

But, actually, for a Pinay, her height is average. I'm really tall and I'm still three inches in heels.

I also noticed that Carlos' wife was average she didn't look suitable as a "lady" of a prominent house. If he hadn’t just dressed in branded clothing, most likely, he would have looked like the fishmongers in the market when I was young. If she hadn’t just worn expensive make-up, surely, no good man “of status”, like Carlos, would have looked at her.

Is he careful or good? Oh, please ... Only rich old women can catch women like her if she's either one of those. I’ve seen it so many times in the industry I entered. Often, they are good, not vigilant.

I really hate women like those. They use their bodies as weapons to get what they want! People like them give hardworking women like me a hard time. They condition the brains of men that women are only good in bed so there is always no equality in opportunities!

Lydia's eyes lit up as she raised the back of her hand in the air. At the same time, the gold that adorned various parts of his body sparkled in his grin.

It's obvious from the light on his face that he's a die-hard fan of mine. And, she seems elated that her idol will hand over her.

In her dreams!

"I see. Thanks." bored I said. I wrapped my hand around Ruther's arm and leaned against him.

I quickly felt Ruther's strange erection, under my touch. I also noticed that we have been greeting guests before but, only now he is silent like this.

Something about Carlos and Lydia must be making him extra uncomfortable. So, I stroked the length of his arm before I lightly kissed him on the cheek.

"Honey, let's go? My foot is already singing. Please" I complained cute. I pointed to the center stage when he turned to me.

"A-ah! Yes, your — yes ..." Ruther stuttered. He immediately looked away and he bit his lip.

Slowly the color of twilight rose on his face. He looked just exactly like when he kissed me in front of the altar, earlier.

My palms grew cold when I remembered the feeling when he tore my veil. The feeling was surreal when I first saw him with no netting blocking my sight.

He was drawn to my acting and didn’t seem to know what he was doing. Yet, his supple lips were gentle and shy when he erased the space between us.

"Okay!" contrary-brow said Carlos. He glanced at Lydia's flushed face for a moment, who quickly withdrew her hand. "Go there, hija. The reception will start again."

"Yes, Dad! Thank you po!" I said kindly. I freely showed Carlos my sweetest smile.

I suddenly dropped both my shoulders. I sighed and held my mother -in -law with both hands. Sadly I met his confused look. Immediately my eyes shone with liquid.

"I'm sorry, Dad, if I'm not in my best behavior. I'm just so tired, I can't stay and chat," I said. "I just got back from shooting, earlier. Then, I went straight to the church ... That's why I

"Oh, no! Don't worry, son! I understand," he replied immediately. He squeezed my palms and restored the vigor to his wide smile. "I really admire women, like you, Irah! You're busy with your career, not like other women who just rely on their husbands." He turned to Ruther. "You got yourself a good one, son! For once, I'm proud of you."

Ruther's eyebrows met. But, he still remained silent.

The frown on Lydia's face looked as sour. She was clearly offended by my attitude especially what her husband said.

The woman pulled my father -in -law's arm as he quickly waved at us. He immediately wrapped himself around the old man's side and never looked at me again.

"What's up with that?" Ruther suddenly asked. She helped me sit in our seat behind the garden-like bridal table.

"With what?"

Ruther sat quietly beside me. He stared at me for a few seconds before he explained,

"With how you treated her."

I met Ruther's gaze. I bit my lower lip and smiled lovingly at him. I combed the hair over her ear with my finger. Then, I placed my palm on his hand resting on the table.

"Because it's what makes, sense ..."

The announcement of the masters of ceremonies began to resonate. They welcomed the guest warmly and we were happily declared husband and wife.

Deafening applause rang out in the vast hall. Everyone was happy except for Lydia who I meant to annoy.

Ruther suddenly raised his hand. He locked my fingers between his. "What do you mean, it makes sense?"

His tight grip immediately sent tingles down my spine. My vision was sucked in by the mysterious darkness that danced behind his sharp eyes.

"I-it's because ..." I swallowed. "It's because you're not in good terms!" I quickly withdrew my hand and carefully placed it on my lap. I shifted my gaze to the MC and accompanied the guests with laughter.

"H-how did you know?" he whispered again. He was also looking at the reception hosts.

"Because you'd call her mom if you were close and stepmom if you were civil," I whispered back. I covered my mouth and laughed ostensibly after I clapped. "Yeah, I know she's not your mother 'coz you don't exactly look like your dad and it's impossible that you look like her. Besides, you'd never call your biological mother your dad's' wife' ... So, I acted like I dislike her ...

"Why?" he asked.

I turned to Ruther and gently stroked the flower on the nose. I wrinkled my nose and laughed before he hit me on the shoulder.

"Because I'm your wife, consort. And, we're supposed to have known each other for years," I explained. "It'd be weird if I'm sweet to people you don't like. They'd suspect that I don't actually know you ..."

To Be Continued.....