16 Wedding Preparations Part 1

Fiona Alonzo Mondragon, Andromeda's mother, was busy preparing everything. Being the president of the Lady's Society in their town was a big responsibility and as for her daughter, she wanted her to have the grandest wedding. They are lacking time now, but everything has been planned by her father-in-law, General Alexandro.

"What I want are lilacs, not roses!" Fiona scolded her assistant. She massaged her forehead. "This is my daughter's wedding."

"Relax, Auntie." Kathleen held Fiona's hand and massaged it. "I'll help you with everything." She smiled so sweetly.

"Thank you, Kathleen. You are the daughter I never had." Fiona said as she let her massage her temple.

"Mrs. Mondragon." They turn to the man in a black suit.

"Mr. Pattinson." Fiona stood and faced Rafael Pattinson, Zachary's father. "Mrs. Pattinson." She stood and greeted Angela Pattinson, Rafael's wife.

"How's the preparation?" Angela asked. "I am here to help. You look so burned out. Let me handle a few things. General Alex has been pressuring you about this wedding." Angela smiles sweetly.

"Thank you so much. I need help." Fiona said as she sighed in relief.

Angela looked around the workplace for the planning of Andromeda and Zachary's wedding. She noticed a lot but didn't say a word.

"Does she already have the gown?" Angela asked

"The designer said that she had decided on what to choose. I'll go check on it. I am not confident with her taste in gowns." Fiona said a little guilty so she will work on checking the gown that Andromeda chose.

"Maybe we should let Andy take care of her dress. She's a woman and she won't probably wear something indecent." Angela smiled, kindly as she only thought of Andy's happiness. 

"No. I had decided. I'll go check on the gown." Fiona took her purse. "You can come with me."

"I should let you ladies do your stuff. I'll meet a few people first." Rafael kissed his wife and left.

The two mothers that will soon be in law went to the store and the designer who is so busy adjusting the gown in the other room managed to greet them.

"Bonjour!" He greeted them.

"Bonjour! We are here to check my daughter's wedding gown." Fiona said.

"Okay. Uhm, I didn't see the bride anywhere?" he asked looking behind them.

"Yeah, she's taking a break. Can we see the gown? I have to check it at least."

The designer Damien hesitated for a while. Andromeda told him not to let anyone check the gown that she was going to wear. Not even her parents or relatives. So, he nicely turned them down.

"I am so sorry, Madame. But Miss Andy said that no one can check the gown."

"Uhh, what kind of gown did she choose? Something like the Gothic style?" Kathleen asked. Damien looked at her for a while, paused and it took a while for him to react.

"Honey, I don't design gothic styles," Damien told me. "Besides, I am loyal to the brides. Not to the people who would check on their gowns. No offense but—you aren't going to wear the gown but the bride." He smiled at them forcefully. It somehow made Angela happy. 

"The wedding is in a few days—I have to at least check it and make changes if it wasn't that perfect." Fiona insisted. "Please, I am the bride's mom and I want her wedding to be perfect and we have big guests. They are all expecting the bride's gown."

"Fiona. I think we should let it be." Angela said. "We shouldn't intervene in our children's decisions."

Kathleen was frowning behind them. She wanted badly to see the gown and ruin it. She wanted to ruin everything that Andromeda was preparing. The engagement, the wedding, and the honeymoon. She wanted it all to be ruined. She clenches her fist, gritting her teeth and glaring at Damien.

"Damien, dear, thank you for your time. I am sure that you'll make a very wonderful gown for my future daughter-in-law. We will be leaving now. Sorry for interrupting." Angela apologetically smiles. 

Damien smiled at her and they left.

***

Andromeda's head was going to break. The concussion lasted a long and she feels like the pain that she's suffering doesn't compare to all the pain that she suffered all these years. The first pain she felt was being shot at the age of ten. Her grandfather shot her but she's wearing a vest for protection.

He wanted her to feel how a bullet was and how painful it was. At first, her father was so terrified that her grandpa shot her in front of them.

"Are you okay?" A man's voice asked her. She opened her heavy eyes and looked up at Zach.

"Yeah." She said casually and turned back from him. She pulled the pillow and hugged it. Before closing her eyes, she remembered one thing that he would do when she was like this.

Zach would embrace her and tell her what she craved. The headache would fade away when he started mentioning his favorite foods. She closed her eyes and prayed to God to let him leave. Even though it was a happy memory. She wanted it to fade. She wanted all of it to be washed out. Because the more she thinks, the more painful it is for her.

"You haven't eaten."

"Please leave me alone." She muttered.

"Okay." When she heard him leave and didn't feel his presence anymore, she opened her eyes and looked around. The bed smells like him. The whole room smells like him. She exhales and hugs the pillow more to comfort herself. He looked at the

"Why are you being so nice to me?" She muttered though he was no longer there. "I just wished that you weren't nice. So, it wouldn't be hard for me to let you go."

She hugged the pillow more and shoveled her face on the pillow that smells like him. The man she loved so much and gave her all. Why was she feeling this? Why did she love him so much? Why does she have to stay in love with him all these years?

She lay flat down and tears started rolling down from her eyes. She exhales and falls asleep.

Zach came into the room and strode to the bed. He sat down beside her. She's sleeping again without eating. He wiped her wet cheeks and pulled the duvet to her body.

He failed her many times. He hurt her so much. How can he make her feel better?

"Andy, torture me as you want. I will be your slave all my life. Just don't torture yourself. It wasn't your fault. It was mine." He bent down and kissed her forehead. His heart ached so much upon seeing her like this. This is why hurting herself and pretending that everything is fine made him feel like hell.