| Fan Fiction |
by bratinella
She's a bit stunned when her mother, Cristina Lin peeked from the door of her bedroom. "Are you ready, Ariel? We need to go," she said.
Ariel picked up the purse from her bed and hurriedly walked towards her Mom, a small smile crept on her face. "I'm ready, Mom."
They walked down the stairs together. They found Mike walking back and forth across the living room. He looked gorgeous with the suit he's wearing. Though, he's only a year older than her, Ariel speaks highly of him. She's more scared of him than her father.
"Mom, Dad, we have to go. Rainie might be already waiting at the church," he muttered.
Patrick, their father, laughed. "Relax, son. It's still early. You'll just be waiting longer at the church and in the end, you'll get more tense."
Mike looked at Ariel from head to toe. "Motherhood really suits you, sis. You've grown even prettier," he said. Sadness then, crossed his face. "Did you know that you're our supposed to be maid of honor?"
Ariel just smiled at him. "It doesn't change a thing, does it? What's important is that you're getting married like the way you planned. The time you're stable enough to build a family of your own."
"If it just didn't happened..." Mike's voice trailed off.
"This is your wedding day, Mike. You should look forward to it and don't bring up your sister's past," Cristina said.
"I'm sorry, sis. But I partly blamed myself for what happened."
Ariel tapped Mike on the shoulder. "Don't feel guilty, Mike. I'm happy right now and I want to thank all of you." She glanced at her parents. "I love you, guys. Thanks for standing by me." Tears started to build on the corner of her eyes.
"What's this? A wedding or a funeral?" Patrick asked, teary-eyed.
"Patrick, you're so morbid," Cristina grimaced, dabbing a hanky on her eyes. "I'm just sad that our granddaughter wasn't here to join us. I really missed Athena."
"After the wedding, visit us. Athena was always asking about you," Ariel said.
"You bet we will," Patrick agreed.
"You know Ariel, I'm still confused. I'm still wondering how you and Joe actually 'do' it?" Mike asked, getting serious. "Rainie and I never go beyond simple kissing. He broke our friendship when he ruined you. I can't forgive him for that."
"Mike, just forget about it. Besides, I already forgot him," Ariel lied. "He's all in the past. But he'll always be the father of my child."
"Ariel, I know that you know that you can't forget Joe. Athena will always be the constant reminder of him. You can erase him in your heart and on your mind, but the memories that you've shared together would still linger on," Cristina said.
Ariel bowed her head down when she felt the hot stung of tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Her Mom was right. She can't forget Joe. Her heart were longing for his touch. He'd been her world once and sad to say, until now. She can't teach her heart to forget him. She doesn't want to. She's still hoping that he'll be back on her life and on her arms. But she knew it's not that easy. Things are complicated between them. They still have to mend all the pain and sorrow they had done with each other.
"One more thing, Ariel," Patrick interrupted her reverie. "We invited the Cheng's. They didn't know what happened between you and their son."
Ariel just nodded. She doesn't know what to say. She followed them when they walked out the house.
=====+++=====
They rode their car and drove to the church. They arrived with a lot of guests already waiting there.
Ella, also Ariel's old friend, tapped Angela and Hebe on their shoulders when she saw Ariel stepped out of the car. "Oh my God, guys!" she shrieked. "Ariel's here."
The 3 girls rushed to Ariel's side and looked admiringly at her. "Wow! You're more beautiful, Ariel!" Ella exclaimed.
"It's a good thing Mike and Rainie didn't include you on their entourage. It's not just us you'll defeat with your beauty, also the bride," Angela said. Her eyes are twinkling, obviously happy to see her again.
Ariel was engulfed with mixed emotions when her friends hugged her tight. They were all misty-eyed when they broke the group hug. "It's good to see you, guys. I missed you all so much!"
"Is it true that you're already separated with your husband, Areil?" Hebe asked in a very low voice.
Areil tried not to show her aloofness with the question. "You're so nosy," she teased Hebe, with a huge smile on her face.
"Girls, you have to get inside," Cristina said as she walked towards them. "The bridal car is here."
"Let's just talk later, Ariel," Angela said. Ariel just nodded her head, letting out a deep breath.
=====+++=====
After such a long time, the wedding ceremony is finally over. They just invited some friends and relatives, but nevertheless, the Lin's mansion were still jampacked with people.
The newlyweds were standing on the entrance as they welcomed their guests. Standing nearby were their parents, talking to friends and relatives. Their attention were shifted to the latest model of Mercedes Benz as it came close on the driveway.
Mr. and Mrs.Cheng stepped out of the car first that made Ariel's heart beat 3 times faster, especially when their driver came out.
"Joe," Ariel whispered that seemed to reach Joe's ears, for he glanced at her direction with a serious face.
After more than 2 years of not seeing him,Ariel felt her knees weakened. She still have the same reaction whenever she see his handsome face. He's more gorgeous than ever. He seemed more matured. He's within her reach yet, he seems so far away.