'Wedding Day'

Eliza's heart was pounding as they parked in front of the church's door. She could hear the loud singing of choirs inside the church and the chorus of flickering sound from the reporters' camera, taking pictures. There were barricades and some bodyguards to control the crowd and keep Eliza unbothered when she got out of the car.

"Are you okay?" Jeffrey asked as he leaned to his seat to look behind. He noticed Eliza's heavy breaths.

Eliza shook her head in response. "I'm nervous."

"It's natural. Just think of it like your real wedding." Jeffrey picked up the bottle of mineral water from his bag and stretched his arm to offer it. "Water? It's unopened."

Eliza smiled as she refused to take the bottle. "I'm fine. Thank you."

They both looked at the staff as she knocked at the driver's window. Jeffrey rolled down his car's window. "Yes?"

"The bride can get out now," the woman said with a smile.

After hearing what the staff said, Eliza's heart was beating faster than before. She slowly opened the car's door and stepped out with that trembling body. She could feel her knees getting weak as she took a step closer to the church's door.

Jalil's secretary, the maid of honor, approached her to give her the white tulip bouquet. She rode a different car because she couldn't fit inside Jeffrey's car. Eliza's wedding gown occupied the whole passenger seat.

Eliza absentmindedly reached for the bouquet. She was too nervous to be conscious of what was happening around her. She even forgot the reporters and journalists taking pictures of her outside the barricades.

After Jalil's secretary entered the church, the music changed into a more slow and romantic melody.

Eliza was waiting behind the door. She didn't know what to think at the moment. She could feel her stomach flipping in anxiety, and her throat was starting to feel dry.

After a few seconds, Eliza saw the double door move. In her perspective, the door opened in slow motion, revealing the blinding light inside the church.

The music was heard louder than before, and the huge altar greeted her from a distance. Her heart dropped as her eyes adjusted to the blinding light, and the people inside the church were now clear to her sight.

"Walk now, ma'am," she heard the staff say, who were standing outside, beside the church's door. She was the one guiding the people included in the wedding entourage.

Eliza took a deep breath as she started her first step inside the church. Her mind turned blank as she continued to pace. The people surrounding her became blurry, and the music began to be hazy. 

At that moment, Eliza stopped midway. A sudden urge to run away enveloped her body. She wanted to escape. She was suffocated by her anxiety and was about to turn around to leave, but a familiar hand wrapped around her arm, which failed her movement. 

Her eyes met her father's teary eyes, and she saw the happiness in his face. It was his time to walk his daughter down the aisle towards the altar. Eliza froze as she read her father's lips saying, 'Congratulations'.

His tears fell down, which stopped her world from spinning. She didn't take her eyes off of her father, even after they started walking.

"Pa..." was the only word that escaped from Eliza's mouth, and then she cried. 

She felt a mix of emotions after realizing the genuine happiness of his father and her deception. She looked away and hid her sob, as she couldn't take the guilt building within her.

How would she face them if they knew this marriage was just a mere contract? What would they feel if the contract ended and she needed to divorce? The thought of it tightened her chest, and her guilt became stronger.

They stopped walking, and her father was now facing her. Eliza held his father's hand as tight as she could with her right hand while apologizing. Her father hugged her, which made her cry even more. 

She felt her father's hand tapping her back. "Don't apologize, my dear. I'm happy for you. Now, you must go to your groom."

As they parted from their embrace, his father stretched his arm and took Jalil's hand, then he united it with Eliza's.

He softly looked at Jalil and said, "Take care of her."

Eliza's sobs escaped after hearing those words. Jalil was caught off guard, but he swiftly changed his expression into an assuring smile. "I will love her as much as you love her, sir."

"Thank you." Eliza's father smiled and left.

Jalil glanced at Eliza, who was now crying nonstop. His face was expressionless, but he could empathize with her.

"I'm sorry," Jalil whispered, but Eliza didn't hear it.

The ceremony started as soon as they reached the altar.

Eliza was still out of her mind throughout the priest's homily. Her mind was filled with apologetic thoughts, both to God and to her family. This marriage was sacred, yet she was here marrying someone without love connecting them.

"You're calm now?" Jalil asked, which pulled her out of her deep thoughts. 

Eliza realized someone was putting a knot around them, then she looked at Jalil. "Ah. Yes."

"It will end soon," Jalil said, focusing on the priest again. Eliza took a deep breath and tried to focus her mind on the priest as well.

"You may now kiss the bride." Eliza was stupefied as she heard what the priest said. 

Yeah, she completely forgot this part. Eliza looked into Jalil's eyes and faintly shook her head, signaling her refusal to kiss him.

Jalil's brows knitted in confusion, and he slightly shook his head as a response to her. "We must do it."

"B-but," Eliza said, looking away in embarrassment. "I never kissed someone."

Jalil was taken aback, but he let out a faint sigh a moment later. "Just look at me in the eyes. Don't move."

Before she could say anything, Jalil was already leaning closer to her, and his subtle lips touched the corner of her mouth. Her eyes dilated as she stared into Jalil's eyes. Then, she heard a round of applause from everyone, which got her attention.

"It looked like we kissed, but we didn't." Jalil looked in his grandparents' direction and sweetly smiled at them.

This marriage was solely dedicated to them, so he didn't bother to look at the guests and just checked his grandparents' reactions. He wanted them to be happy, and seeing that happiness in their faces could give him a sense of relief.

"Yeah, I think it really is," Eliza agreed as she saw the crowd's reactions to the kiss.