'Wedding Invitation'

"How was it?" Atty. Vasquez asked as he helped Eliza place all her luggage inside the car trunk.

"Good. So weird that they liked him. He's really good at acting." Eliza chuckled. 

Vasquez stared at Eliza. "And you? How are you?" 

"As long as I'll be paid well, I'm fine." Eliza smiled after closing the trunk. "Let's go?"

"Ah, no. You'll be staying in a hotel so that you can immediately prepare for your marriage tomorrow," Vasquez said. 

"Then, who's going t—" Eliza didn't finish her sentence after she heard a honk in front of them.

Vasquez pointed at the car, which honked. "Speaking of, it's Jalil's best friend, Jeffrey. He will drop you off there."

Vasquez walked towards the car and greeted Jeffrey after he opened the passenger seat door for Eliza.

"Nice to meet you," Jeffrey said with a full smile after Eliza got inside the car. She smiled back.

Jeffrey started the engine and drove away. He glanced at Eliza in the front mirror and let out a sigh. "Are you sure you're going to do this?"

Eliza looked at Jeffrey. "Pardon?"

"Your marriage is not like any other typical marriage ceremony. You know Jalil is an Aversin. His marriage before was a big scoop and been a headline for about a week. And now, he's marrying all of a sudden. I think you get what I mean?" Jeffrey said, which made Eliza fall silent. 

She knew what would happen if she became Jalil's wife. Eliza was honestly scared of the thought that her private life would never be the same after the marriage.

Eliza closed her eyes and just leaned her head on the closed rear window. She didn't want to think of anything. She tried as best as she could to see Jalil as someone ordinary, just like what he told her.

She couldn't refuse now—no turning back.

Meanwhile, Jalil took a deep breath before knocking on his grandparents' room door. He could hear their laughter from the inside and was stopped after he knocked.

In a few seconds, the door was opened, and his grandfather greeted him with a warm smile. "Come in, my son. What brought you here?"

Jalil hugged his dearest grandpa and hugged his grandma when he got close to her. "I have something for the both of you."

His grandma was puzzled, but you could see the excitement in her eyes—she loves presents. "Is it something sweet again?"

"Honey. Enough of that. You're diabetic," his grandfather said as he showed an annoyed face to his wife.

Jalil just smiled, looking at his adorable grandparents. "It is something sweet, but it's not edible."

"I'm getting curious now, Jalil. What is it?" His grandfather softly asked as he sat on the bed beside his wife.

Jalil let out a sigh and smiled as he handed two white envelopes to his grandparents. He bit his lower lip while waiting for them to open it. 

To their surprise, the elders looked at Jalil with those dilated eyes. Their gazes were filled with joy, excitement, and confusion.

"My dear, you're getting married tomorrow?" his grandmother asked in a cheerful tone. "But you didn't introduce anyone to us."

"Jalil, this is too sudden; aren't you going too fast?" His grandfather was worried. He was being careful now since Jalil's marriage was cancelled before. He saw how his grandson was devastated and was never the same after.

Jalil just gave them an assuring smile and sat in between them, just like a little kid fitting himself in the small space. "I didn't introduce her because I've learned from my mistakes. I want to know her well before settling down. Also, I want to surprise you."

His grandpa was still worried. "Still, you should've introduced her to us. We couldn't say what this girl was like. You're blinded by love, Jalil. It's possible that you will overlook things."

Jalil just faintly sighed. He never expected his grandparents to be this hard. He thought they would be happy like before and just say congratulations, then look forward to the wedding. Now, it was far different from what he imagined.

What should he do? Should he just cancel it again?

He was about to say something, but his grandma held both of his hands and gave him the sweetest smile. "If you truly love this girl, then love her for the rest of your life. I'm so happy for you, my son."

His grandma looked at his grandfather and tapped his shoulder. "Honey, let him be. You wanted him to be happy, right? Besides, this is also what we want. Can't you just be happy for him?"

His grandpa faintly sighed and looked at the wedding invitation that Jalil had given them earlier. "I know. I'm happy. It's just..."

Jalil kneeled down and held his grandfather's hands. "I don't want you to worry anymore, papa."

Jalil's grandfather stared into his eyes for a moment, then smiled and hugged his only grandson. "I love you so much, my son. I'm sorry if I'm a bit worried. But I'm giving you my blessings. Congratulations, my son."

Jalil hugged him back and tapped his back. "Thank you, papa."

Jalil's grandmother excitedly stood up and giggled as she looked in front of her make-up table. "It's tomorrow, right? Wait! How should I look? What jewelry should I wear? Oh! What's your wedding theme color again?"

"Oh, dear. She's overly excited again," his grandpa chuckled. "Just wear anything, honey. You still look beautiful."

"No, I must be more beautiful. It's Jalil's wedding!" His grandma started pulling her jewelry boxes out of her make-up cabinet. "So what's your theme color, son?"

Jalil walked closer to his grandma and picked up one of her jewelry boxes. "It's the combination of white and teal, mama."

"Good choice! You know I look great in that color. Wait. I have emeralds here." His grandma got two necklaces and showed them to her husband and Jalil. "Which one?"

Jalil pointed at the simple emerald festoon necklace with a shining silver chain. His grandfather just shrugged his shoulders and chose it as well. 

"Okay! I'll wear this tomorrow. Gosh! I can't wait to meet my granddaughter-in-law!"

Jalil couldn't stop himself from smiling. He felt triumphant and satisfied as he saw his grandparents' excitement and happiness.