In a perfect world, the nearly eight months pregnant young girl would actually be a young woman in her twenties, face glowing proudly in front of the priest with her wonderful groom standing next to her. In a perfect world, Ariel would be marrying a man she loves…and he of course loves her too. It would be a lie if Ariel says she did not feel regret now standing next to a stone face Joe…who minutes ago was laughing with Tiffany by the gate. There were many things that she regretted…, as selfish as it may sound, to Ariel the biggest regret was giving up her childish dream of a perfect wedding day. Ariel knew it was only a childish dream which will never come true, especially now that she had become disillusioned about love…but there was still a part of her, the young seventeen year old part of her that rebelled against being marry to someone she did not love, rebelled against being married at such a young age.
A part of her, the innocent naive part of her wanted to live a simple life...simple happiness with a home filled with children's happy laughs, and a strong arms filled with love holding her...yet that way of living seems so unattainable now.
Ariel glanced to her right and saw Jiro leaning against the entrance door way. He was dressed in a suit with the shirt halfway tucked in as if he was in a rush. Ariel realized he was probably debating about whether or not to attend her wedding, and decided in the end to attend despite the pain and betrayal he felt towards her. The word ‘sorry’ was not enough to make up for what she did… she had promised him ten years, but in the end…she couldn’t even give him a few months. The pain in Jiro’s eyes was clearly etched all over his face, he looked straight in her eyes and the pain pierced into her heart.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, please forgive me.”
She begged her best friend with her eyes, they stared at each other, for a moment it felt as if they were the only two people in the room, Ariel was oblivious to the wedding sermon. She wanted to tell Jiro he will understand and thank her in the future. She wanted to tell him she couldn’t risk his love turning into hate after a few years. She wanted to thank him for his willingness to sacrifice so much for her…but because she cares for him she could not allow him to do that. She wanted to say so much, but she didn’t…she couldn’t.
Jiro stood motionless, his eyes never once leaving hers. Ariel panicked and wondered if she was making a mistake, she wanted to run but then she saw her mother. Mrs. Lin walked quietly towards Jiro and was now standing next to him. She extended her hand waiting for him to reach for her. She shifted her glance from Jiro to her daughter as if comprehending something even the two teenagers did not. With a kind face, she slowly embraced Jiro and allowed the young man to weep quietly in her arms. He was heart broken; his heart wrenching cries was muffled by Mrs. Lin’s shoulder. Ariel saw her mother nodded understanding at her and led the young man out of the room.
The room was quiet…as if everybody was holding their breath waiting. Ariel felt liquid pouring down her face, why was her face all wet? She saw a few drips landed on the floor and realized it was tears. It was her tears; she was crying…crying for her friend. The wedding guests started shifting uncomfortably in their seats. The exchange between Ariel and Jiro even though silently and without any words said had not gone unnoticed by many of the wedding guests. Joe was acutely aware of the silent communication and he did not like it. He frowned at Ariel’s tears but kept his thoughts and emotions hidden. The guests were intrigued, who was the young man who obviously was in love with the pregnant bride? Why hasn’t the bride answer,
“I do yet?”
Could it be…she’s in love with the heart broken young man too? Mrs. Cheng and Director Cheng motioned the priest hoping to distract the guests’ speculations and restlessness.
The priest cleared his throat a couple of times and waited expectedly. Ariel’s dazed eyes focused on the priest but she didn’t know what she was supposed to say. She was still in a state of shock, Jiro’s pain…it was wrong of her to hurt her friend so much… maybe she was making a mistake? Hope kicked her at that moment and Ariel was reminded why she was getting married. She glanced at the priest’s face and frowned at the expected look on his face. He was waiting for her… What was she supposed to say? The room was so quiet.
Ella pinched her best friend’s arm and whispered,
“Say I do! Everybody’s waiting!”
“Ow!” Ariel yelped surprised but understanding suddenly dawned on her. She had completely missed the whole wedding sermon. She opened her mouth to say the words but she couldn’t. She felt Hope kicked again, this time harder and closer in frequency. Ariel grimaced and wrapped her arms around her stomach. She saw Joe leaned toward her, his face filled with worry lines. He reach to touch her but she took a step back, avoiding his touch.
‘Ariel hurry! Say it!” Ella ordered. Ariel clenched her teeth in pain,
“I do!... It hurts!” She gasped the words out and suddenly double over, unable to bear the pain. Joe instinctively put his hand on her stomach and felt their baby’s powerful kicks as the body contracted closer in frequency.
Ariel felt something wet dripped down her legs and realized her water broke. She felt her wedding dress dampen as water continues to stream downward; the ground where Ariel stood was covered in puddle. The room suddenly became chaotic as people started to panic, there was shouting, screaming as people realized what was happening. Ariel stood dumbfounded taking in all the commotion around her, her arms wrapped around her stomach as unimaginable pains assaulted her body.
Joe picked Ariel up and carried her to his car, it seem he was the only calm person in the room. Mrs. Cheng and Director Cheng stayed behind to calm the wedding guests and steered them to the food and music. Ella and Chun followed behind Joe and got in the car with them. Ariel heard her friend asked,
“Joe does this mean you guys are not going on a honeymoon?” and Chun’s answered,
“Ella and I would love to go on the honeymoon trip in your place!”
Ariel vaguely remembered Joe mumbling,
“Shut the hell up, this is not the time.”
The bickering went back and forth in the car as Joe continued to speed through traffic. Ariel felt her body slowly becoming heavy and breathing was becoming more painful, she had to gasp for every air. It was strange but she felt sweaty and hot all over, was this suppose to happen? She wondered. Why had the baby stopped kicking? Ariel bitted her lips in fear. Deep in her heart she knew the baby’s kick shouldn’t have stopped, she knew as the contraction and pain escalated, the pain should increase, yet even the contraction which moments ago was assaulting her one after another was also lessening. Hope’s kicks which had been so strong and hard a few minutes suddenly stopped.
She tried to keep her eyes open, she saw the worried looks on Ella and Chun’s face, she saw them talking but she couldn’t hear anything, everything was becoming blurry and dark. Ariel struggle to keep her eyes open, she saw Ella screaming franticly at Joe. Ariel glance to the front and her eyes met Joe’s in the rear mirror. She saw the painful, frighten look in his eyes and she knew…
She knew something was wrong.
“Chun call for help! Joe hurry! Ariel….Ariel….she’s not breathing!” Ella shouted as tears welled up in her eyes.
Joe continued to race the car through traffic, refusing to believe Ella, Ella was wrong…Ariel was going to be fine, Ariel and Hope…
