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Noel stares up at the towering chapel before her, the pear-coloured glass sparkling differently from any jewel she’d ever seen before. As the attendees began to pour into the venue, she couldn’t stop the sickening feeling inside her from growing. Friends, family, even former enemies had gathered to celebrate the love of her best friend and her husband-to-be. For so many, it was a truly remarkable milestone to witness. She should be thrilled for Rina, but she was not. Deep down, Noel knew this was not what she wanted to happen.
~
After Gaito’s defeat and Sara’s death seven years prior, Rina pulled Noel aside before the princesses parted ways for their respective kingdoms. “Noel,” She had said, her usually calm and collected tone of speaking wavering with anxiety. “There’s something I need to talk to you about. Something I realised after you were captured.”
“Is something wrong?” Noel enquired, concerned about what was troubling her dear friend.
“When you were taken, I was so upset and scared about whether I’d ever get to see you again… At first, I thought it was just pure guilt,” Her emerald orbs met the brilliant periwinkle of Noel’s. “But I know now it was more than that.” Noel met her gaze intently, but nothing could have braced her for what the North Atlantic princess would say next.
“I love you,” Rina smiled. “I always have.”
Noel was stunned at this revelation, yes she loved Rina too, but she had never considered her a romantic partner or a lover. “Rina…” Her voice quivered. “I’m sorry.”
Those two words were enough clarification for the green mermaid. “It’s alright,” She uttered, her smile only wavering slightly. “You don’t need to.”
~
“You ready?” Caren asked her older sister, linking arms with her. Noel sighs in response, smoothing her hands over the skirt of her cobalt shift dress and strolling toward the church. “I don’t think I ever will be, but it needs to over and done with.” The younger twin smiled sympathetically at her, aware of how awful she was feeling right now. “It’s not too late, you know; the ceremony isn’t for another half hour or so. You can still tell her how you feel.” Noel shook her head in response.
“I can’t,” She huffed softly. “Rina loves Masahiro, and that is that. I missed my opportunity years ago.”
“So?” Caren countered her remark. “I know you don’t believe me, but she loves you too. When you’re in love with someone, you never really stop.”
Noel stopped suddenly in her tracks, turning to face the purple mermaid. “You’re not listening to me!” The indigo mermaid snapped at her uncharacteristically. “It’s not fair. On both of them.”
“Noel-“ The grape-haired princess began before the two realise that they have company behind them. Sure enough, Coco, Seira, Sheshe and Mimi had been watching the scene unfold from afar and looking on at them, confused. “Geez,” Sheshe started, cocking her hip. “What’s wrong with you two? Even we’re more excited right now than you guys.”
“How true,” Mimi added, raising an eyebrow at the pair. “We need to hurry up and get inside before all the good seats are gone.” With that, the former villains sauntered off inside. Coco frowned in confusion at her friends. “Is everything okay?” The twins exchanged sheepish glances before turning back toward the girls. “Nothing…” Noel said, trailing off before correcting herself. “I mean, nothing is wrong. Just sisterly bickering.” Coco and Seira were not entirely convinced by this but decided not to press any further. “You know they’re right; we should go inside now and try and get sat down before we’re left to sit right at the back.” Seira proposed, no longer the adolescent princess she once was. Coco nodded in response before leading the way toward the doors. Caren, however, trailed behind to give her sister some well-intentioned advice.
“You always regret what you don’t say.” She stated before walking in after Coco and Seira. Noel was stunned and needed to take a moment to gather her thoughts. Once she had made her decision, she joined her sister and friends inside.
~
Rina adjusted the sleeves of her white gown and looked at her reflection in the mirror. This was it. Today was the day. She was going to marry her long-time boyfriend, Hamasaki Masahiro. Planning the event had been stressful, although the wealth of her fiancé’s family certainly helped when it came to the budget. Honestly, she had everything she thought she could have wanted.
“Rina!” Hanon’s high-pitched voice called at her in the central area of the dressing room. “Are you okay in there?”
“Coming.” She responded, taking one last look at herself before joining her bridesmaids in the other room. “Oh, Rina,” Lucia said, her eyes welling with joyful tears. “You look so beautiful! Hamasaki is so lucky!” Rina smiled at her bridal party, her two good friends adorned in tea-lengthed, seafoam green dresses, differentiated with a single pale blue and pink ribbon, respectively. “Thank you.”
“You must be so excited,” Hanon squeaked, blinking away her tears also. “It’s not long now.”
Rina pondered for a moment, unsure of herself. “Am I supposed to feel like I want to be sick?” She turned toward Lucia. The blonde giggled. “That’s completely normal, don’t worry.” Lucia walked toward her, the veil in hand. “I was terrified, but trust me, when you see him, that’ll all go away.” Rina stayed silent at this, letting her bridesmaids put the final touches on her. Once everything was ready, a knock at the door, followed by the appearance of their penguin guardian friend, indicated that it was time for the ceremony to begin. “Are you ready, your highness?” Hippo asked.
“I think so.” Rina said, sealing her fate.
~
The other mermaid princesses were now sat in the pews of the chapel, anxiously anticipating the beginning of their friend’s wedding. Some, however, were more anxious than others. Noel watched as Masahiro exchanged fond gestures with his family and other guests, her stomach still in knots. Then, suddenly, the organ began to play the ever-so iconic wedding anthem. To Noel, it sounded more like a death march than an indicator of eternal love. She waited with bated breath for Rina to appear. When she finally does, Noel swears that she’s the most gorgeous woman she’s ever seen in her life. For a moment, the indigo princess pretends that it’s her that Rina is starting a new life with and that nothing or no one will ever tear them apart. It isn’t until Caren squeezes her hand that the illusion is shattered, and she can see that her dream is just that. A dream.
“Dearly beloved,” The preacher begins, and Noel decides to make the conscious decision to not focus on any words of any ‘eternal bond’ for the sake of her own heart. She doesn’t realise how far she’s zoned out until the words “Speak now or forever hold your peace.” Snap her out of her daydream. Time freezes. Should she do it? This could be her last chance to let the love of her life know how she feels, even if it’s almost seven years late. What would everyone say? What would she say? It was then Noel realised her sister was right; you always regret what you don’t say. And if she didn’t say anything, she’d regret it for the rest of her life.
Noel takes a deep breath and stands, hands shaking as she does. Suddenly, all eyes, including Rina’s, are on her. She can hear the horrified gasps and feel appalled looks she is getting, but none of that mattered to her. Only Rina did.
“Please forgive me,” Noel begins, her voice unsteady. “I am not the kind of girl who should be rudely interrupting an occasion such as this, but,” Her glassy, periwinkle eyes meet Rina’s, looking at her as intently the green mermaid had when she too had confessed her feelings. “You are not the type of girl who should be getting married to the wrong person. But, please, Rina, don’t say yes. I love you more than words can say.”
There’s a pregnant pause before Rina finally speaks. “I’m sorry,” Noel is about to despair at the sound of those exact words she had uttered all those years ago until she sees that it’s not her who’s being apologised to. “Masahiro…” The groom stares in disbelief at what his bride is doing.
Clear as day, Noel watches as Rina makes her way from the altar toward her. “Are you sure?” She asks quiet enough that only the other princess can hear. “Yes,” Noel says, her tears finally spilling over. “I’m certain.”
“Let’s go,” Rina doesn’t hesitate. “Let’s run away now.” With that, the two join hands and run from the chapel, ignoring the shouts coming from behind them as they soon faded into white noise.
~
“Do you think you made the right decision?” Noel asks, her slender fingers laced through Rina’s hand. The two were sat by the bay of a river they had stumbled upon whilst fleeing the ceremony.
“Yes,” Rina says, her hair now loose from the intricate updo she’d worn earlier that morning. “I knew something felt wrong before you stood up; it just solidified it.” She turned toward the navy-haired beauty, looking into her eyes steadily. “You’re the one I’m supposed to be with.”
The lovers smiled before their lips finally met in a sweet embrace. Their future was uncertain, but it didn’t matter. They had each other.
~