by Laiza Millan
“No way.” Jenna laughed, interrupting her thoughts. “That’s why Tom and Jason are with them. To make sure those two are behaving, just like I’m making sure you’re behaving too. We’ve got your guys back, Em. Have some faith in us as your friends.”
After a few more minutes of hesitation, she remembered Drake telling her to just simply have fun. Alright… fun.
Emma nodded, before turning to a waiting bartender.
“Bachelorette party of three?” He grinned, nodding towards the crown on Emma’s head.
She totally forgot she was wearing that crown… whoops. Grinning back, she shrugged. “Yup! Getting married tomorrow.”
“So please go easy on her.” Jenna added, winking. “But for me, can I please get the Sex On the Beach #1 drink?”
Yes, there is such a thing.
Emma has no idea what that is. She turned to her friend, blinking and praying Jenna would just order for her because she has no damn idea what the name of these bachelorette drinks are.
“And for you, miss?” The bartender asked, giving her a cute smile. “Anything for the bride!”
“I just want one drink.” Emma said, “Nothing too strong, please. What do you recommend?”
“Virgin?” The bartender nodded in understanding,
Uh…
Emma scowled, “Excuse me?”
The bartender laughed in amusement, “No, ma’am. Virgin is a drink that contains gin, white crème de menthe, and forbidden fruit. It's shaken up and strained into a highball glass, which is quite delicious.”
Right. If he says so.
Well, whatever…
This is her bachelorette, so might as well do something different than what she usually does!
.
1:00 AM
“I think you had enough, man.” Tom said, trying to take the tumbler glass away from Drake.
“I love her so much, though.” Drake snapped, grabbing the drink from Tom’s hands.
He gave a huge gulp and winced. The taste was already numbing his throat and tongue, but he could still taste it a bit. This is his what? His fourth or sixth or whatever drink.
“This is just… sad.” Tom said in a disappointed tone. “Emma must be worried sick.”
Laugh out loud.
Not.
“I love her,” Drake murmured, tracing the designs of the tumbler glass with his fore finger as he waited for another round of drink. “I love them, my son, my wife to be, my baby, I love… Oh fuck, I love them I want to throw up –“
“Who fucking knew a completely drunk Drake Rogers is a disgusting, clingy, blubbering idiot?” Ian asked; staring at Drake as if his face is covered in boils. “This is weird.”
“I did.” Richard snickered, his phone already out and trying to take the perfect picture. “Fifty bucks say he barfs in the next hour?”
Drake lazily looked up at his best friend and grinned cheekily, “You’re gay for Ian.” He suddenly let out an obnoxious laugh, shaking his head rather dramatically; failing to notice his posture was drooping from sleepiness.
“What in the actual hell?” Ian snapped, looking at Richard and Drake back and forth.
“He’s an idiot.” Rich rolled his eyes, “He does this all the time when he’s pissed drunk. Watch he’s going to –“
“Whoa!” Tom immediately interrupted Rich, pulling Drake’s arms down. “Put your shirt back on, Rogers! No one wants to see that!”
.
6:00 AM
“Time to wake up, sleeping beauty.”
Emma frowned, burying her face deeper onto the pillow. Five more minutes, please. That’s all she needs, just five more minutes.
“Emma.” The intruder said again, using their fingers to brush the hairs away from her forehead.
“Hurry up, you big baby! Your alarm has been going on for some time now.”
No, it’s far too early. She could have sworn she fell asleep like only an hour ago!
At least her brain isn’t pulsating violently against her skull, though. Thank goodness she only had that one drink and that’s it. Making smart choices goes a long way!
“I will drown you in a bucket of water filled with ice, if you don’t move your ass right now, Emma!” Another voice boomed threatening. “Don’t think I’m fucking joking!”
“Stop yelling, Richard, you damn buffoon.” The first voice snapped quietly, “You’re giving us a headache.”
Too late.
Emma groaned, slowly opening one of her eyelids open until the blurriness shifted itself into their proper vision. “Rich? What are you doing here?”
She felt something weighing down next to her, “Came to help your girl here wake your beauty sleep, princess. Did you forget your wedding is today?”
Just right now, Emma felt that familiar flutter inside her stomach and her nerves knotting themselves.
Of course she remembers how she cans not?!
Hello, she’s getting married today! And no, not just with any man, but with freaking Drake Rogers, the man who can seriously drive her crazy in both the bad and good way.
He annoys the shit out of her, he is an arrogant egotistical idiot, but oh man, no man out there can love her and her son as much as the man she is going to wed.
She loves him, flaws and all.
So how dare Rich come here and ask her such a question. Pshhh…
“You’re quiet,” Rich, the moron, said. “Does that mean you’re experiencing cold feet? Ha! I knew you wanted me instead of him!”
Emma placed her hands on either side of her and pushed herself up, turning her body so she could fully face him and throw him her infamous glare, “Richard Huck, you are the most incorrigible man I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.”
Richard reached forward and squeezed her right cheek, “Got you to wake up, finally!”
Emma slapped his hand away from her face, rubbing the ache beginning to form. “I was already awake.”
“Great!” Rich said, getting up and striding towards the door. “I’m going to wake up the groom in the other room, then. I think it’s best I use the bucket system, though. Hell knows how much of a deep sleeper he is.”
The moment the door slammed closed, Emma released a tired long sigh. Placing her hands on her face, she rubbed the excess sleep off her eyes with a loud groan.
Gods, as much as she’s excited that today is the day her and her son’s life is going to change, she can’t help but feel how fast time has flown. Last year, she was Miss Emma Collins.
Tomorrow, she’ll be Mrs. Emma Collins Rogers.
“Are you ready? The car is ready to take us outside.” Jenna asked, giving her a small smile and extending her hand as she stands up. “Your wedding day officially starts now.”
.
9:00 AM
“You are going to look so handsome.” Drake said, looking at Aidan like a proud father. He finally did the last button of Aidan’s tiny vest, and smoothed the small wrinkles of the baby’s sleeves and pants, chuckling. “The most good-looking ring bearer this city will ever see.”
“Shouldn’t I be the handsome ring bearer, since I’m the one holding Aidan and the ring bearer pillow?” Oscar asked, though that infamous Rogers smirk was etched on his face.
Drake merely looked at his father and scoffed, “A ring bearer is usually a young boy, anyway. Besides, no offense, but people will only pay attention to this adorable little mini me.”
Aidan grinned and let out a shout, as if he understood what they were saying.
“A mini you?” Oscar laughed boisterously; he squeezed an amused Nancy’s hand and shook his head. “I certainly hope he isn’t like you, because let me tell you, you were no angel when you were his age.”
Drake scowled, his lips forming into that small pout which caught Aidan’s attention. The baby reached his tiny fingers and tried to smack his dad’s bottom lip.
“Nope.” Drake winced, when Aidan managed to smack his face by accident. “He might end up just like his mother.”
>
.
12:00 PM
“Oh gods, Jenna.” Emma could feel the rhythm of her heart beating rather abnormally. “Two more hours, two more hours!”
“Stop fidgeting!” Jenna snapped, trying to straighten her friend’s face direction. “You’re messing up the hair stylist!”
“Seriously.” Alona groaned, having to re-braid a section of Emma’s hair. This woman constantly keeps moving due to her nerves, and it’s messing up Alona’s creation! “Just stare at yourself in the mirror or something! Just keep your head straight.”
“Fine.” Emma mumbled, “I haven’t even put on my dress yet!”
“Relax.” The other woman sighed. “You’re almost there.”
.
1:00 PM
“Oh, Drake!” Nancy cried out, placing her hands on her mouth to prevent from letting out an embarrassing sob. “You look so handsome and charming!”
“Thank you.” Drake mumbled, suddenly feeling his face heating up from his mother’s smothering affection.
“Damn it!” Richard groaned, though he was grinning and looked at his friend approvingly. “Now there’s definitely no way I can compete.”
“You never had the chance.” Jason scoffed, checking his time. “One more hour, Drake… It’s almost time.”
.
1:45 PM
Once Jenna finished with Emma's make-up and with Alona with her hair, they made Emma stand up to look at herself in the mirror.
"So? What do you think?" Jenna asked, smiling at Emma's reflection.
Emma swallowed hard and slowly looked up. She gasped at the vision in front of her.
She wasn’t one of those girls who like to stare at themselves in the mirror and overly think how pretty they are, she’s not that superficial. Whenever she looks at her own self staring back at her, she would lower her gaze or just do the basics.
But oh goodness… The woman staring back at her with the same shocked expression was –
“Wow.” Emma let out a breathless laugh. “Alona, Jenna… you both work miracles.”
Her hair was made into an elegant half-do; the upper part was twisted into a fancy bun, and the lower part had her curls cascading in a more lose and flowing way while it went around her neck.
The entire thing just made her realize how much her face shape changed with just the right amount of care to the hairstyle. To accessorize, Alona added a mini crown on the top of her head to help hold the hairs up and in place.
Emma’s gaze shifted to her face and nearly cried from the overwhelming feeling. She’s so damn thankful that Jenna kept a natural – but still stunning! – look for her.
She had applied a hint of sparkling white eye shadow and blended it in with some gray to accentuate her features, along with black eyeliners to make the beauty and shape of her eyes pop out. Her cheeks simply contained small dab amount of blush and the color of her lips made it look beautifully natural with pink.
"Wow. I feel like Cinderella." Emma laughed, after looking at her full reflection in the mirror.
And her dress?
Her beautiful, gorgeous, dress…
It was a corset style that hugged around her waist and chest in such a way that revealed her every curve and – much to her embarrassment – pushed up her top to create the perfect cleavage. The bottom was puffy and floor length, giving her the urge to swing side to side just to watch them swish back and forth.
Swish, swish, it goes.
She let out another giggle and sat down on the bed, watching her maid-of-honor and bridesmaid getting ready. She felt the familiar double flip feeling in her stomach again, but tamed it by taking deep breaths. Jenna noticed her discomfort and eyed her.
"You okay, Emma?" Jenna asked, walking up to her when she was done putting on her dress.
"Great. Just nervous." Emma said in a bubbly way.
"Are you excited?" Alona squealed, reaching forward and finishing the last touch of make-up with a brush.
"Yes." Emma replied back, never feeling surer than now.
There was a small knock on the door, making the girls look up in excitement. Alona gently dropped the make-up brush on the side of the table and quickly strode towards the door, opening it.
"Oh! Jason! What is it?" She asked, opening the door for him to come in.
Jason walked in and stopped abruptly. "Wow. You guys look amazing." He spotted Emma sitting on the desk and grinned, "You’re gorgeous, Emma."
Emma blushed. "Thanks Jason. You look handsome yourself."
"The wedding is about to start. You have ten minutes." He said, holding out his arm to her. "Come on, there's some people I want you to meet before you go."
“Ten minutes already?” Emma gasped, getting up and taking his arm. “My nerves are going to be the death of me, Jason!”
He grinned, shaking his head at her in amusement. "Close your eyes."
Why the hell does she need to close her eyes? She’s already nervous! But, she did it anyway because duh, who doesn’t love surprises?
She felt a small tug and followed, trusting her friend not to let her bump into walls or desks. After what felt like ages, but probably only minutes, she felt Jason stop and followed suit.
"Open your eyes, Emma." He said, squeezing her hand.
She opened her eyes and gasped. "Dad?"
What…
How…
Her dad, John, simply stared at her, his eyes laced with regret and sadness. Yet he managed to keep a smile for both of their sakes, “You look beautiful.”
Silence.
It really feels as if time around her decided to freeze, where everyone around her is just watching at the both of them.
Emma has no words.
So many thoughts sprinting inside her head, emotions are bombing everywhere in the pit of her stomach, she has no idea which ones to react with.
Her fingertips tingling into numbness as the skin of her palms moistened with sweat; her whole body paralyzed with shock. She tried to form coherent words, but it was as if her voice was stuck inside her throat, refusing to be let out no matter how hard she tries to push herself to speak – she simply can’t.
Nobody can understand what she’s going through. People go through the aftermath of this type of “surprise” very differently.
“Don’t start crying, sweetie!” Another voice interrupted from behind her.
Emma whirled around and let out a stifled cry. “Mum!”
Her mother, Gina, was already teary eyed and immediately engulfed her with a hug. “Oh sweetie, look at you!”
The feeling of her mother’s arms around her brought a whole new series of emotions.
This must be what Drake was feeling those months ago during the hospital… Reminds her how family is very important regardless of all the shit they’ve been through. Exhibit A, both her mother and her father being here.
The moment she wrapped her own arms around her mother’s body; joy, confusion, sadness, pretty much all the labeled feelings are mixed into one, basking her in a blanket of comfort and recognition that yes, this is real.
They’re really here with her.
Reluctantly, she let go and stepped to the side so she can face both of her parents. “I’m extremely happy that you both are here but I don’t understand… why and how are you both here?”
“There’s no time to explain, Emma.” John said, looking at his watch. “One minute.”
Oh shit, one minute?!
“We’ll explain everything later.” Nancy grinned, “Just go!”
Jenna gently pushed Emma to her position of the line, and whispered teasingly, “Good-bye, Emma Collins, hello Emma Rogers!”
Emma was still reeling on the surprise that both of her parents are randomly here but clutched onto the flowers Jenna shoved in her hands.
“Emma?”
She looked up to see John by her side, his forehead wrinkled with worry and his lips formed downwards, “I know traditionally the father of the bride is supposed to walk her dow
n the aisle; but I know it’s been a while since we’ve contacted, so I know I don’t deserve to even have the honour of escorting you to your future, but please… you’re my only daughter. I’m sure this is the only time you’re getting married. I just...”
He stopped, swallowing hard as tiny beads of moisture started forming on top of his forehead, while his face was beginning to pink with nerves. He had to look down because of that intense look his own daughter was giving him.
It’s really such a huge blow to his heart having to come to her wedding, literally begging her to let him walk her down the aisle let a good father would do, when he has been anything but.
“Dad?” Emma said, noticing his discomfort.
John blinked and looked back at her, “Sorry, Emma. Forgive your old man, I’m wasting precious time.”
“You are.” Emma nodded, raising an eyebrow. “But you’re my dad. I expect you to take me to my man.”
She grinned, hearing the sharp intake of breath her father just made.
“Hurry up!” Jenna whispered, giving them impatient looks. Now is not the time for a mini reunion, they have a wedding to do!
John held out his arm, his whole entire face looking lighter and relieved. Emma only smiled back as she curved her arm around his, before looking straight in front of her.
She could feel her panic attack coming back, and wheeled herself to calm down by closing her eyes.
Okay, Emma. You can do this.
Inhale.
Everyone has witnessed you and Drake struggled, fought, and love to get this far.
It’s time.
Exhale.
With that thought, she opened her eyes again and watched as the huge wooden door swung open.
.
.
Drake couldn’t even blink.
Oh gods…
This is happening. This is really fucking happening. He’s about to be a married man!
The piano started playing in the background as the small party slowly started walking down the aisle.
Drake’s little cousin dropping flowers on the ground as she walks on…
Alona clutching onto Ian as they followed the little leader…
Nancy and Gina walking side by side like proud mommies…