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When he’d walked past the threshold of her suite, he could only think of one word: beautiful.
In fact, beautiful was probably lacking—utterly lacking with the way she appeared so exquisite, even incomparable to the paintings hanging up an art gallery’s walls. She had always been, of course, even prior to the elegant maquillage that now coloured her face, albeit a little too simple for a wedding so grandeur.
No matter, came Marius’ thought. The woman’s smile was ample enough to cast light to a spacious hall, dazzling enough to make her to-be-husband fall for her even more.
Her face brightened when she caught him by the door. “Oh my god, Marius!”
She squealed, motioning for him to come closer. With how her arms were wide open and welcoming , it was not difficult to understand that she wanted a hug. “Hey, don’t just stand there,” she giggled, and however could he resist when she looked so cheery like that?
But instead of coming to her embrace, Marius was the one to wrap his arms around her. “Missy, I’m not interfering with your make-up session, no?” he jested, and she laughed against his chest.
She’s too happy today, isn’t she? It’s her wedding, after all…
“I don’t want your make-up artists to smack me in the face.”
“I’ll smack you in the face if you don’t give a nice speech for me later on.”
“You’re too cruel, Rosa,” he whined, although she knew it was him being dramatic. “Hey.”
The once bright features have now turned into a frown, and if he didn’t know her better than anyone else he wouldn’t have noticed she was about to cry, and so Marius knelt before her, clasping her hands with his.
Rosa peered down at him.
He just stayed there, kneeling on the carpeted floor. His large hands entwined with her smaller ones, fingers brushing against smooth skin. Marius looked up at her fondly. “Nervous?”
Rosa managed to let out a chuckle. “Wedding day jitters.”
“Can’t really give you advice right now,” he said. “‘Cause you know, I’m twenty-five and single.”
“Wow. That’s so comforting.” She rolled her eyes, but it eased her nerves nonetheless, the way he always does. Now that she was about to be wed Rosa wondered how life would be without him, without Marius , his best friend of almost ten years—little did she know the same thoughts roved inside the man’s head, lost in his little reveries, thinking how he was a part of her, of how he’d always been Rosa’s other half. In every single one of her milestones he was there, both big and small, worthy or unworthy of being celebrated. He had always been there, by Rosa’s side, sharing almost the same experiences as her, wanting the same things she liked. Went out of the country the same date he did, landed a job when he did—
Fell in love, exactly when he did.
“Rosa.” His call was soft, however so carefully-laden with… despair. “You’re happy, right?”
“Yeah,” she said, entirely oblivious to the slight burden that laced his voice. “Very.”
“Then you don’t have to worry about anything.” Marius squeezed her hands gently. “Besides, I’m right here. I’ll be cheering for you,” he reassured, “and brighten up, because I’m happy when you are.” And it’s always like this. She was my other half, and I love her, and so her happiness comes first before mine.
“I’m not so nervous anymore.” Rosa returned his gaze, her eyes a little glassy.
“That’s my girl,” he said. Marius patted her shoulders, almost as if reminding her that they had already sagged from her wedding anxieties; Rosa straightened up almost instantly. Marius gave her a little wink. “See? It’s nicer when you smile.” You’re lucky, because not everyone can smile so genuinely today.
“You know what, it’s not too late. Maybe I can still back out and marry you instead,” she countered with a giggle. It was probably the lamest joke she’d ever told him—they both know that won’t happen, and so after a little while Rosa looked him in the eye, told him gently, “We both know we can’t be, right? You’re like a brother to me. A baby brother.”
Marius’ lips curved into a half-smile, half-smirk. “And you, a sister.”
“I love you.”
“Me too.” So much that it’s always you before me. Dammit.
“I have a wish to make, before I get married,” Rosa began, and Marius lifted his chin a bit so he could look her in the eye. He gestured for her to continue. “I know you always put me first. But now that I’m going to be married…” she trailed, “please consider yourself first… and find happiness for yourself…”
It was not a hard request. Marius had been contemplating that for a while now. “Okay.”
Not that it mattered anymore, because this is probably the last thing I’ll do for you. Because the one thing he wants will be taken away from him, today, the moment she exchanges vows. But he had to try, even if the last chance was right now , exactly one hour before the ceremony. Even if the last thing he could hold onto was her answer, one that he somehow already knew beforehand—with how joyous she looked in her wedding dress, surely there was not a modicum of doubt she was eager to marry him.
But, “If you’re unsure, you can always back out.” He was afraid of how his words seemed hostile, but he had to take this shot—if she said no, I’m not really sure about this, then Marius would grab the opportunity to make her walk away, to break this very engagement, and when he succeeds then she wouldn’t have to marry that man.
Marius felt silly. How could he ever think of that? It was obvious she would say—
“Don’t worry, Marius.” A tender smile. “I love him, and all I want in this world is to marry him.”
And marry him, she shall. The moment she’d given her answer, the photographers entered the suite, deliberately shooing Marius off the room; he’d given her a quick wave before he left, and a little too soon the wedding was about to begin. Already? He thought, ambling towards the groomsmen’s place.
When Rosa walked down the aisle, Marius suppressed his tears.
It seemed so long, it was as if Rosa was walking for hours, like the aisle was stretching longer. But when she’d taken the arm of her to-be-husband, Vilhelm , time seemed to fly by quickly. Or maybe Marius only didn’t want to remember the smiles on their faces, the eagerness to slide rings on their fingers. Didn’t even listen to when they’d exchanged I do’s, even though he knew they were in love as fuck.
He looked away when they’d kissed.
At the reception, Rosa asked him to join in for a photoshoot. You know, those photo booths you rent out for weddings and parties. He was hesitant, but Rosa was oblivious to his despair, so Marius had no choice but to surrender to her behest. He needed to remind himself that it was her wedding, after all.
The couple went back to the tables to greet some guests. Marius was left all alone, waiting for the printout of their bittersweet image. Image of him, her, and Vilhelm— ah, yes.
Bittersweet indeed.
He didn’t care anymore if other people would see, but Marius tore at the image the moment he’d laid his hands on it. He ripped it in two and Marius slid the other half in his coat, the latter thrown to the bin.
And when the witnesses sighed of his sorrow, gossiping of a probable love triangle—one that must’ve been the reason for Marius’ heart beset with an unrequited love’s agony—came the hidden truth that, all this time, it was the other way around.
Because when he’d smiled, deep down he did not want to. When he said he was happy, he committed a sin for spitting out such lies. And when they all thought it was Rosa’s image he had tucked in his coat…
It was the image of Vilhelm he had kept in his pocket.