PROLOGUE

Xue Guangxi stared at the dark gray sky domineering the horizon. A soft thunder rumbled in the distance and the cool wind howled with it and kissed his frigid face.

It had rained hard. Tears of the heavens drenched the earth. The world poured out its sorrows all at once.

No one was ready for it.

No one had anticipated how a sunny and vibrant celebration would end into a gray, muddy end.

'It's not the end yet.'

'I have to find her first.'

Unperturbed by the gloomy atmosphere, Xue Guangxi refused to halt his search. His feet, as if it had its mind of its own, moved into every place it could need to go with no end.

First, he searched near the chapel, then farther out. He ran and turned and ran again like a madman.

Then it rained, so he used his car to make rounds near the vicinity.

As soon as the rain stopped, he set forth on foot again.

He knew she couldn't have reached far. She had no money with her. She didn't even bring her cellphone with her.

Xue Guangxi halted his steps at once. He descended the road onto the grassy soil which led to the lake's banks. With a meticulous but swift movement, he slid from his sleek black tux coat. He folded it in half, then in another half before laying it on a stone that was cleaner than most surfaces around.

Then he pulled his pants up around the knees and climbed an oak tree. His movements were calculated. The temperature was cool, but the exercise made him break a sweat.

*Thud*

His leather shoes landed on the muddy soil, between the humungous roots of the oak tree.

Mission #1 accomplished.

He slung the red stilettos on his left shoulder, clutching it on the straps, then walked closer to the lake's edge.

"Cold feet?" He meant it literally and figuratively, tentatively so.

"I've been searching everywhere for you." He breathed no more than a whisper. He faced the gloomy horizon and stared at it as if he's talking to it.

The lady in white groaned. Correction. The lady in muddy, dirty, brownish off-white groaned. "You're the last person I would want to see."  She admitted.

Xue Guangxi suspended his right arm in the air, in utter defense, "I come here as a friend. You can rant on me, tell me how you feel. No one's judging you.  Especially not me."

"What a martyr." Kang Sola smirked and gawked at him, but her eyes shouted of guilt and remorse and fear and panic.

...And maybe with so much more like hurt that had cut her too deeply.

Xue Guangxi squatted on his ankles. There's simply no way he's going to slump on the mud uncaringly like the lady beside him.

"You should have a good look at yourself in the mirror. "You're a total mess. What bride would gladly dive into the mud and slump on the earthly dirt? Only you."

'That's why you're special. You and your quirks.'

"So… is there no wedding happening today?" The guy probed gingerly. His words came out slowly, guarded. "I thought you've had a resolve already. Did you have a… change of heart?" His voice shook at the last statement.

"I repeat, I come here as your best friend."

"Guangxi…" She bit her bottom lip. She seemed to be quite unsure of herself.

"Have you had a change of heart about the person you love?" Xue Guangxi pressed, almost a whisper.

Kang Sola stared at his solemn eyes. She knew just being there by her side hurt him but he pushed with it, and he was there. For her. Trying to understand what's going on in her mind and her heart, deciphering her, and patiently so.

"No. But the marriage, it's scaring the hell out of me…" She covered her face with her palms. "Oh, Guangxi… It must be hard on you, huh? I must be a handful."

"Yes, indeed, you are." He draped one arm around her shoulders and gave it a gentle squeeze. Then, realizing that she must have been feeling cold, he fetched his neatly folded tux coat from the stone and covered her shoulders with it.

"You have to make up your mind, Sola. The day is almost over. Some of the guests already left. But it's up to you. Will there be a wedding today? You've prepared for this event for months."

"And I ruined it in just a few minutes."

"It isn't ruined yet. I'm sure your groom understands, or he would never deserve you. Don't be scared or intimidated by the things that haven't happened yet. What's more important is you have found that courage to go for what your heart desires." He gave her shoulders a soft squeeze. His hand trembled.

He must be hurting, but he did not show it. Instead, his face oozed with understanding and warmth.

Seeing him act like this almost brought tears to Kang Sola's eyes. Her cheeks were already tear-stained, and rain-drenched, though.

She felt stupid for pulling this immature act, but she couldn't help it.

Kang Sola bit her lower lip in deep hesitation. "What's important to me?"

They stayed frozen in their respective stances for a few minutes. They looked like they were inside a mesmerizing painting.

"Don't think about what others would think of you or what the consequences of this event would lead you to or how it would impact you. Just think what your heart shouts for you to do – to have. It's all that matters."

"What my heart shouts for me to have…" Kang Sola repeated the words slowly and with such a soft voice, almost a murmur.

The young man seemed composed, but he's, in all honesty, fighting his own internal battle. He chose to stand strong and be courageous. He dared not shed despicable tears in front of the troubled lady.

His heart throbbed and hurt like myriads of countless needles punctured it.

But he knew what his bottom line is, and that's her. Only her. Her well-being, her wishes.

He waited until she made up her resolve.

She stood up and brushed her hands off the plethora of brown mudstain on her lovely wedding dress. It did not seem to budge from the contact.

Xue Guangxi helped her find her balance.

Her countenance cleared of all the past reservations, she stared at the horizon as the afternoon sky revealed a refreshing slit of pink and red rays of the sun hiding behind the dark clouds.