Zoe by Miu

I checked myself again in front of the mirror. The girl who was looking back at me felt distant. I couldn't even recognize her.

Long pink hair in a tight bun with few strands framing her beautiful face and a tiara and veil holding everything together. Her face was covered with makeup, but it didn't hide the swelling of her eyes. She was wearing an enchanted white wedding dress that complimented all her curves, which made her even more mesmerizing.

I sighed . . .

I couldn't believe I was getting married.

I had mix feelings about this, but this was not the time to ponder about it, or I'd cry again. Or even worse . . .

Leave and run away.

I shook the idea off my head.

Knock!

Knock!

"Come in!"

"Zoe . . ."

I turned and saw my best friend, Leanna, in her stunning Eva Heart signature bridesmaid dress.

"Hey! You made it!" I ran towards her, not minding my dress and six inches' heels, and hugged each other.

I miss her.

It was almost a year since Cain kidnapped her for their honeymoon.

That's right!

I let her go and inspected her –– staring at her belly.

". . ."

". . ."

Nothing!

Not even a slight bump.

"You won't find anything in there but undigested food~!"

Chimed a cheerful voice and came in Estela in her angelic million-dollar designer white bridesmaid dress, carrying her baby girl in her arms, her and Zhander's second child.

"What! Even with all those honeymoons, you still didn't get pregnant?!" I teased.

Leanna frowned. "Cain and I decided we don't want kids at the moment."

"The purpose of honeymoon is so you can get pregnant." I rolled my eyes and went to kiss Estela's cheeks and her beautiful baby girl.

"Our honeymoon is purely for pleasure," Leanna rebutted without a care.

I didn't argue anymore and focused my attention on the beautiful, innocent, adorable sleeping child. I couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of having my own family.

"Where's Zhander?" I asked Estela.

"He's already at the church with Zachary. Leanna and I wanted to see you. Making sure you didn't run away. Tehehehe~" Estela teased and gazed at me knowingly.

I frowned. "Why would I want to run away?"

"Oh~ I don't know . . . Maybe because you don't want to get married~?"

"Estela . . ."

Leanna warned, and Estela zipped her mouth with a playful smile on her lips.

I sighed.

I thought I hid my feelings well.

But these guys could clearly see my hesitation.

Don't worry. I have a veil to cover my face later.

"Elliot is a nice guy. He's caring. He's understanding. He's funny. He's kind . . . and . . ."

I blinked several times to wiped away the tears in my eyes before they could fall.

". . . And I'm going to marry him," I said with finality.

". . ."

". . ."

Leanna held my hand and smiled. "Zoe, it's alright. As long as you're happy."

Am I?

"Yes . . . I'm happy."

I didn't know what happened, the next thing I knew, I found myself being led by grandpa Luke by the arm, walking down the aisle towards a young, handsome man. He was all smiles, looking at me full of adoration.

I didn't even know how my trembling legs made it next to Elliot after grandpa Luke hugged and kissed my cheek. I didn't notice everyone, to be exact. All my feelings, as well as my brain, were jumbled at the moment.

I couldn't even organize my thoughts.

But even so, all those feelings battling inside of me, one rose above the rest –– screaming . . .

I don't want to get married!

I bit my lips and tried to focus on the man cloaked in a white dress, talking about something. But all I heard were rattling sounds of my emotions.

"Zo . . . e . . . oe . . . zo . . ."

"Zoe."

"W-what?"

I faced Elliot upon his frantic voice.

Elliot signaled me with his eyes, and that was when I noticed everyone was quiet, and my eyes shifted to the priest in confusion.

"Sorry . . . what was that?"

"Do you, Zoe Collin, take Elliot Volknov as your husband for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" the priest kindly repeated.

I stared blankly at him.

"Zoe . . ."

Elliot whispered once more when I didn't react. I just stared at the priest, my thoughts elsewhere. Wondering to a handsome young boy with deep brown eyes.

Whispers resounded when I didn't answer, and the priest repeated again, "Do you, Zoe Collin, take Elliot Volknov as your husband for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

I glanced at Elliot. His kind face was smiling, yet beneath his eyes were deep bottomless worry and fear.

". . ."

". . ."

"I-I-I . . . d-d––"

"ZOE!"

My attention shifted upon that voice.

That voice I longed for these past few months.

Everything stopped. Even all the noise in my head stopped.

My thoughts.

The people.

The world.

Everything stopped at the sight of him. And everything fell in place –– and I was at peace.

Lawrence was handsome, as always. His silver hair was cut clean. He had this refreshing, youthful look. Like he came out of bath, even though his swollen eyes said otherwise.

"Zoe . . ."

He whispered, unsure of what to do after he barged inside. I didn't even know how he entered the tightly guarded church.

The twins weren't invited to my wedding –– I don't even have to explain why.

But soon, I didn't have a spare moment to wonder, as all of my thoughts jumbled again in my head. The suppressed feelings exploded. All of me wanted to run to him. Only my feet were shaking non-stop that I was afraid if I moved, I would stumble and fall.

"Zoe . . . I made a mistake in letting you go in the past, twice. Leaving you at that hotel and also not stopping you from leaving me at that time on my thirteenth birthday . . . I don't want to make that same mistake again . . . I don't want to watch you be taken away from me forever!"

Lawrence pleaded, and my heart melted.

"Zoe . . . I don't have anything to offer you, but my love. I'm not old enough. I can't protect you thoroughly. I don't have a company of my own. I'm not even a multi-billionaire . . . But what I can promise you, even I'm not old enough, I'll take care of you until the end of your days . . . I can't protect you, but I will die first than ever let any harm befall you . . . I don't have enough money to buy everything you wanted, but I am willing to give up everything I have to give you a happy and comfortable life . . ."

Lawrence walked towards me and extended his hand, and my tears fell even faster.

"Please . . . choose me . . . be with me . . . ," he pleaded.

I was hyperventilating, suffocating with these traffic jams of emotions.

I glanced at Elliot but didn't say anything. I looked at him as he stared at me with an unreadable face.

. . .

. . .

The silence was deafening as everyone's focus was on us.

I couldn't move nor utter a word like a paralyzed, hyperventilating idiot as my eyes shifted left and right –– unsure of what to do.

The man I love versus the man who was by my side throughout these past years, the man I didn't want to betray the most.

"Go . . ."

My eyes widened with mouth hanging open.

"I'm setting you free . . ."

Elliot whispered with a voice so serious as his face. He then forced a smile, which only made my heart tightened.

"E-Elliot . . . I-I-I . . ."

"Go with him, Zoe . . . before I change my mind," he said with a hard tone that choked a little as he shifted his head when tears fell from his eyes.

I hug him. "This would be so much easier if you were a bad guy," I sobbed.

"Heh, if I am, will you even date me?" He chuckled amidst his tears.

I laughed a little and kissed his cheek, his lips –– one final time.

"I love you, Elliot. I truly love you . . ."

"Mmm . . . I know . . . But you love him more," he said while a melancholic smile appeared on his face.

I hugged him again –– tightly.

Letting him know how grateful I am to him.

Then I let him go and ran towards Lawrence –– towards the future I so dreamed of every day.

I jumped when I was inches away from him, falling into the warmth of his embrace. We hugged each other, making up for the lost time.

He then pulled away and cupped my cheeks while his eyes glistened with so much love and happiness.

"Thank you . . ."

He kissed my forehead and pulled me out of the church, where a white chopper was waiting for us.

"Come with me. Let's travel the world together."

I giggled and grabbed his hand.

Many people went outside, including Leanna and Cain, Estela and Zhander, together with their children and grandpa Luke, all looking at us with confused faces though smiling lips.

I didn't have the time to wave them goodbye when Lawrence held my chin and pressed his lips against mine in a passionate kiss.

----

Leanna gazed over at the sky and couldn't help but smile.

Of course, she was happy.

Her best friend slash sister in law was now truly happy with her brother.

One happy ending.

But she couldn't help but glance at the cold man beside him. "Cain, how did Lawrence get in the tightly guarded church? And why are they riding your chopper?"

Cain just smiled as he embraced her –– bringing her closer to him. "Why don't you stop thinking about insignificant things and focus on me instead?"

He then lowered his head and kissed her hair. "Due to constant disruptions in our honeymoon, I demand compensation of another year," he murmured between kissing her hair.

Leanna's face turned red.

"Can't you think anything else besides sex?"

"It's not sex that I'm constantly thinking . . . It's you I'm thinking all the time . . . naked, of course."

She chuckled and shook her head.

It's useless to argue with him.

She couldn't help but glance at Estela and Zhander together with their beautiful kids.

A boy and a girl.

She stared at them with longing in her eyes before she shook away the thoughts and hugged Cain tight.