Still have a wig and a mask,
Kayla
Now tell me where did that ‘I still like you, Kayla’ had gone off to. It was like after almost ten years of no communication, he totally changed into a different person. I took my eyes off him and refused to think anymore about it. Like him, we were all business here. So instead of dwindling in the past, I looked around and checked out the crowd.
Good, at least no one I knew was around.
After another moment, I was at John’s side. In the movies, when the bride finally reached the side of the groom, the groom would instantly flash that passionate smile of satisfaction. But in our case, he just quietly nodded as if needlessly telling the world, ‘Oh, here’s my bride’.
Then soon after, the reverend went on with his speech, “Dear family and friends, on behalf of...”
He was cut off for a while and shook his head before he continued, “...an Anonymous Bride and Mr. John E. Brooks, I welcome all of you for this marriage celebrations.”
Wait. Did he just call me anonymous?
I threw a meaningful glance to John. He looked away and cleared his throat nervously. Murmurs were heard from the audience. Who could blame them? The bride was just named as anonymous.
Nevertheless the reverend continued despite it all, “We are here to celebrate and support the covenant of these two people, Anonymous Bride and John Brooks...”
Someone hadn’t succeeded in holding his laughter and a bashful sound echoed in the crowd. I turned back and saw everyone’s eyes fixated on that guy and the man turned tomato red afterwards. The pungent smell became noticeable as the moment went on.
Someone could make use of a toilet right now.
The next moment, he ran off towards the exit. I shrugged my shoulders and John did the same. The reverend cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses before he continued, “...beloved to us all, now make and to share in the joy that both of them are feeling as they pledge their undying love and commitment to each other. We rejoice...”
I felt my phone vibrating and my newest ringtone echoed in the air, “Sandy is calling. Answer your phone ‘cause you’re about to hear some good news.”
John looked straight to me, baffled. I ignored his gaze and pretended that I was also annoyed at the ringing phone. “Who’s calling at a time like this?”
The reverend and John weren’t convinced as the annoying sound came straight from me. I expected the call to come during the reception and not actually right now as I was in front of the altar. Was my luck this good that as soon as I was justified of my previous misadventures, it already showered me down some extra boost?
“Kaye, you may want to answer it or turn it off for a while,” suggested John and the reverend silently nodded in agreement.
“It’s not mine,” I lied. Okay, so obviously, the sound came from me but I had no plan to admit it. After a while my phone stopped ringing. Now, all I got to do was to call Sandy back after this wedding.
“...and celebrate in the ways life has led them to each other’s arms,” the reverend went on after the commotion.
At this moment, I was fully convinced that no one really listened to the wedding vows except for the overly romantics and the bride and groom themselves. Well in our case, only the overly romantics paid any attention to it. Clearly, John’s distant stare that looked as if he would pass out any moment soon and my relentless fidgeting inside my gown to silence my phone ascertained that.
“John Brooks, do you take,” the reverend stopped for a while but nonetheless continued, “her as your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in marriage? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, so long as you both shall live?”
“Sure,” he casually replied with a shrug. I was certain that the reverend was annoyed with both of us for one prominent vein miraculously found its way on top of his hairless head.
The reverend turned to me and said, “Anonymous Bride, do you take John Brooks as your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in marriage? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, so long as you both shall live?”
“No prob,” I said nonchalantly. Another vein appeared on the other side that looked as if it would explode any moment soon. Maybe he was the only one, aside from the guests, who was not taking part in this charade. Deep inside, I was positive that he wanted this ceremony to be over this minute.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you...”
“Wait, we haven’t exchanged rings yes,” I reminded the reverend just in case he forgot and make us do this ceremony all over again. I couldn’t take another round of this one and my fake husband would agree with that.
John snapped out of his slumber as I asked him where he had put the rings. It took him a moment before he finally realized what I just said to him. He muttered something to the man beside him—the fake best man, I assumed. After a while, a ring came in sight.
John and I pushed the ring to each other’s finger without saying anything much. The reverend went on with the verdict as he pronounced our untimely death, I mean, marriage. And with the power vested in him, we headed off to doom.
“You may now kiss the bride,” Mr. Reverend finally uttered.
John lifted my veil and I threw him a warning look. He wouldn’t dare. Afterwards he smiled and whispered, “I’ve got the perfect plan for that.”
Then suddenly he reached for something in his pocket and in a while he sealed the kiss—over a duct tape. I hadn’t felt the touch of his lips. Instead, what brushed my lips was the uneasy sticky feeling coming from the duct tape. I couldn’t believe that he hated me this much for him to even refrain himself from kissing me.
And worse, he planned it all along.
He hadn’t taken off his hands from my face for a moment, studying me carefully. And after smiling like a fool, he took it off—the duct tape—together with my facial hairs.
“Ouch,” I hissed.
“Shhh.”
The crowd clapped their hands after we sealed the ‘kiss’. What did they know? They had no idea that the passionate kiss that touched their hearts was done over a duct tape. An ample of congratulatory words echoed in the air as we trod our way down the aisle again. I hadn’t paid any attention to them as my thoughts lingered on the luck that was about to come back any moment soon. Maybe Aaron would appear at the door and drag me away from here, but that was just a thought though.
“Oh such a fun and lovely wedding. But don’t you want the world to know who you are?” asked Dorothy as soon as she came to our side.
“I’d rather be called as,” I said and threw an irritated look at John, “anonymous.”
“Oh well, don’t you worry about it, dear. I already took the initiative and announced to the world my new granddaughter,” she told me. Afterwards she signaled something to Nate. The door of the hall opened. I had a bad feeling about this. And to my horror, to confirm my speculation, a bunch of what looked liked as reporters flocked inside the room.
“I already told them who you are. I was quite surprised a while ago when I hadn’t seen any reporters around so I especially picked some of the best in the field so they can fully cover your special day,” she said.
“Dorothy... you shouldn’t...” I was about to tell her the truth when I was cut off by a dozen of questions that were thrown to me. John and I were pushed back as people flooded us from all sides. Dorothy was my worst nightmare. It was as if she was here on earth to torture my perfect being.
“Okay, dear, enjoy your time and I’ll head off to the clerk’s office and submit the marriage license. Oh my, I’m so happy with all this. Aren’t you?” she said to me, her eyes oozing with happiness. Then she began to head off towards the exit.
I hastily pulled John’s tuxedo and mumbled to him, “Johnny, your grandma’s heading off to the clerk office now. With our license!”
I instantly caught his attention because the next moment, he was also looking at Dorothy’s vanishi
ng figure. But even though it wasn’t what we both wanted, we had no choice but to stand there, unable to do anything as a dozen of reporters were asking us endless questions. I tried pushing my way out of them. However, I wasn’t able to do much or move from where I was. And as the clock ticked on, Dorothy’s departing figure became more distant and right there in her hand was our marriage license—duly signed and completed.
Chapter 8
“John!” I shouted to catch his attention.
“What?” He was startled at my screech and so was the rest of the crowd who looked at me in astounded query.
“Are you guys fighting?”
“Will you divorce tomorrow?”
“I heard that John Brooks was dating another girl a month ago. Was there a truth behind the rumor?”
After my momentary lost of sanity, the question showered us one after another. I then realized that maybe it was not such a grand idea to shout to him out of nowhere, especially when this kind of people surrounded you.
“Lower your voice down,” John hushed me the next minute.
“The license,” I hissed back to him in a much lower voice, as asked. But actually, what was utterly important right now was the sole existence of that dangerous marriage license that might give me enough more trouble in no time.
John stood on the tip of his toes, looking over the crowd. Maybe by now he realized that Dorothy was long gone. And she got our marriage license.
Quickly, now aware of the situation, he told the people around us, “I can’t wait to take away my bride. We’ll be holding a press conference a week from now. I hope we can see you all there.”
In another breath, he quickly dragged me out of the hotel as he was saying something on the phone. The moment we got out of the building, I saw that his car was already waiting for us.
It was nice and sleek.
I was quite aware that I had a fair share of knowledge about cars. But still, I couldn’t help but stare in amazement at the black shiny car that was in front of us. I had forgotten what it was called but I was sure that I saw this one while browsing for a car years ago. Yup, this belonged to the category of the ones I avoided to look at. The price itself might kill me if not the fear I had for driving.
John hurriedly pushed me inside. I was still trying to remember the said speed of the car but John resolved to just show me instead. So in another moment, we were driving like crazy in the streets of Creeksburg. By crazy, I meant every letter in it. We got past through every other vehicle in the busy streets. I mean, he was like the only person I knew who could drive so freely in crammed streets like this. It was like he created an invisible third lane solely for himself.
I held on tightly to my seat throughout the ride and prayed that this madness would end any moment soon. Feeling my heart revolting in my chest and the feeling like I wanted to throw up, I tried my hardest to contain myself. This situation called for nothing but bravery on my part. But then suddenly, as much as I didn’t expect it, I felt the car stopped on its track. The loud screech of the breaks echoed around.
Were we dead?
“Are you okay, Kayla?” asked John, pulling me out of my newly formed illusion that we hit something, flew up in the air, and by now—dead.
“J...o...” I tried saying but the words wouldn’t get out of my mouth.
“Hey, are you okay? Look at me!”
I slowly opened my eyes and realized we were not yet dead. That in fact, we only came to a stop. Upon seeing that everything seemed like what real world sounded like as far as I could remember, I felt tears started forming at the corner of my eyes. I hurriedly wiped it off only to realize that I was shaking badly and cold sweats were forming on my forehead.
“I’m sorry. I forgot you were afraid of fast driving,” he finally said apologetically.
I looked away and held on tightly to the seatbelt. “Don’t... mind me. Go ahead, there’s... nothing... wrong,” I stammered. Clearly, there was something wrong with me. As much as I tried, I never got over this.
“Are you really okay?”
“I’m... fine.”
He only nodded, realizing that I refrained myself from saying anything else regarding this matter. One thing that he was always good at—understanding me. As he was driving, he sped up a little. But it was just right, not wanting to scare me again, I supposed. Then in a while, we stopped in front of the clerk’s office. I was somehow relieved that Dorothy just got out of her car and she arrived the same time that we did.
I hurriedly took off the seat belt, regained back myself, and rushed out of the car. Sprinting my way down to where Dorothy was, I snapped away the portfolio that she was holding as soon as I got the chance. With clammy hands, I opened the envelope and looked the contents. I almost fell down to the ground in relief that no damage was done. The documents were still safe and sound.
“Dear, what are you doing out here?” asked Dorothy obliviously.
I turned my gaze to her and saw the perplexed look on her face. Did I overreact a while ago? Clearly not, for what she was about to do was a matter of life and death. That was the least thing any person would do at this moment. Not to mention that I did it dramatically—running around in a wedding dress and sprinting like some crazy runner in the streets.
That was some show I put up out here. They should at least appreciate my efforts on showing off my perfect figure while running. I feared that I would be featured in wedding magazines. Talk about the aversion I had on being famous.
So, back to the main point.
Soon after, John was by my side. He was the one who answered Dorothy’s question earlier. He said, “Grandma, I think there’s no rush in submitting this form. I’ll take care of it myself. You don’t need to bother with any of this.”
“I can’t see the point. We’re in front of the clerk’s office by now. So we might as well submit this one,” she replied as she grabbed the envelope from my hands.
Crap! She was fast. For a moment, I forgot how quirky she was.
I thought hard on how to make her believe that she didn’t need do all this. And somehow as I gave myself enough time to think about things, I also remembered that my face was now all over the news by now. The mess. Everything. How would I ever be able to escape all this? It was so stupid of me to believe that what the fortune teller said was true. It was kind of obvious that trouble seemed to always find its way back to me no matter what I did.
“Grandma, we need to talk,” John finally said, seeing that his grandma was far from letting this go without a credible explanation.
“You can say that to me when we get home. For now, let’s register your wedding. Come along my dear,” she said as she motioned for both of us to follow.
I threw a stern look to John.
He was the one who got us into this mess. He should be the one who should think of a solution for all this. I felt another headache as I recalled what had just happened. The whole world would soon know that I was John Brooks’ bride. We needed to devise something before any of this happen. Or to resolve what had already occurred.
“Grandma, we need to talk first,” said John. And this time, he dragged her grandma to his car. “Come along, Kayla.”
I nodded and followed them to the car. As long as we were not in front of this office which could legalize things that weren’t supposed to be legal, I was perfectly okay with that. The John led his grandma to the passenger’s seat up front and I slipped to the back.
We drove to a very unfamiliar street which led to an open field. Soon after a two-storey house came in sight. The house itself was just right, not that big but not that small either. It was average looking except for the part that it was lost in the middle of nowhere. I guessed that this was where Dorothy lived. It had nature surrounding it. Was she fed up with the hotel and wanted a serene life like this?
When the car stopped, they both got out of the car and I did the same. I was merely following with their leads because I had no clue where we actually were. I saw John op
ened the front door and they both entered in while talking about something I hadn’t got the chance to hear. I was preoccupied with the place. I mean, it was the only house across a green field. The next house was located far across to the other side, like you could barely see it from where I was standing.
Somehow, I felt bad about all this. I browsed my phone and looked at another horoscope for the day. It was like something was telling me that there would be an unusual turn out of events today.
Your kind heart may lead you to places you haven’t seen before. But just sit back and enjoy the ride. You’ll never know, maybe something good might actually happen.
“Kayla, get in here,” called John from inside.
I put back my phone inside my gown and hurried to the house. Good thing that the weather was fair enough to let me travel all over the places in this gown. I noticed a rip or two but everything was still intact.
But with the rip, I couldn’t sell this anymore.
They left the front door open for me so I just welcomed myself in. The moment I stepped inside the house proper, my eyes widened with what I saw. I took back the thought that this house was just average looking. The furnishings inside emphasized every single letter of the words luxurious living. Even the floor mat looked expensive so I avoided it, not wanting to make it dirty or anything.
“In here,” said John again and I followed his voice.
I saw the two of them sitting on the white sofa while discussing something. Dorothy was still holding our marriage license in her hands. The wicked thing must not be kept intact. It should be torn apart any moment soon or else I would not just be a bride of John Brooks in papers and magazines but in the courts as well.
Why didn’t I think of tearing it up sooner?
If Dorothy did not intervene in our perfect plan, everything would have gone well. I came to fully believe that she was born to annoy me. I mean she clearly did her utmost best to make my life even more miserable. Not to mention that she was so good at it.
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