Khaos’s P.O.V

"Sir, are you ready?" Evander asks me as I fix the bow tie for the last time.

I'm wearing a charcoal-grey tux, not that there were many choices for me; these are my only comfort colors.

"Yes." I answer, checking my phone and reading Mr. Louis’s text from the morning.

Two days after my argument with Beryl, Evander informed me about her mom's condition.

After that, I called Mr. Louis to apologize and see if they wanted to reschedule the whole thing, but he and Ms. Lea were both fine with the arrangement and said that I should not tell Beryl about her condition.

Only then did I realize that why they were hurrying; it's their sentiments, but I still don't feel that it was right to conceal the truth from Beryl, but Mr. Louis kept reminding me not to reveal anything to her, and this text also says the same; I just reassure him.

I don't have any family or friends; the only two people I some-what trust are Evander and Calix, so they will assume the position of my family in the ceremony.

When I reach the hall, people begin to congratulate and greet me. From a distance, I see Ms. Lea; she is not looking really well.

Why is this lady so stubborn?

Now I realize where Beryl's stubbornness comes from.

I think it's almost time, but I can't see Beryl or her entourage anywhere.

"Khaos, look at you; you look so handsome, dear," Ms. Lea says, keeping a hand on my arm and giving me a motherly smile as I join her.

"Thank you, ma'am, but are you okay?" I ask her; she looks exhausted.

"I'm more than fine, dear; after all, it's my daughter's wedding today; now go and take your position; she will be here shortly." She replies, smiling.

I look at her, the feeling of being surrounded by family is something alien to me. It never bothered me, but today, when I see it, it is the same as always: empty.

The officiant is already making the announcement. Ms. Lea smiles at me, and then, smiling back at her, I walk down the aisle, followed by Calix.

Standing up at the altar, for the first time ever, after so long, I feel nervous.

I look up at the direction of the entrance, waiting for her to come; it's been 10 minutes already, and Beryl is nowhere to be seen.

Ms. Lea, who is waiting alongside Mr. Louis, also seems confused.

No, she wouldn't do this; she will never run away. I have this much faith. As more minute pass, even the guests seem agitated.

Where is she?

I can't take this anymore; even the officiant is confused about what is happening.

All ready to step down from the altar to find out what happened, I hear applause.

She's here, finally.

I release a sigh of relief, looking in her direction. As I have been informed, there are no bridesmaids, so all of her male friends walk down and take their positions at the altar, then Evander followed by her maid of honor.

After that, Potato comes in his car with the rings, the guests applaud and cheer him, and a smile spreads on my face, looking at him.

And at last, Beryl walks down the aisle with her parents by her side.

After a moment, she looks up, and her eyes lock with mine. I have never seen anyone as beautiful as her. Her perfect emerald eyes, her childishness, her stubbornness—everything is beautiful in its own way.

I release a breath, which I don't even remember holding while looking at her.

Mr. Louis looks at me, and after giving him a nod, I extend my hand for Beryl.

She accepts it and steps up. I don't say anything; I want to compliment her, but words won't come out of my mouth.

I feel so immersed in her just by looking at her. She looks up at me and averts her gaze, giving a weak smile.

Something is wrong; she would never behave this way; she would bicker with her eyes at least, but she would never give this kind of reaction.

But this was neither a place nor the right time for me to get into things.

"Are you ok?" I whisper to her.

"Don't worry." She whispers back.

We go by the traditional wedding vows, as we didn't write any.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." and the hall erupt into cheers and applause.

Potato barks and wags his tail, and Beryl looks at him with a genuine smile and then at her parents.

"You may exchange the rings now."

Taking the ring, I put it on Beryl's finger, and after that, she does the same.

"You may kiss the bride now."

There was enough space between the rest of the people on the altar and us.

"Don't you dare." She whispers, stepping closer to me. "Just keep your thumb and pretend." She adds, and I lean down and do the same as she asked me to.

I step back and look at her, and if looks could kill, then I would have already been dead.

"Congratulations!"  Quentin comes and hugs her, but she looks at Ivan and nods.

"You have to get your pictures clicked; there's still a lot of time left before the reception." Wilhelmina, I guess, interrupts.

"Come with me; I need to talk to you," Beryl says, taking my hand.

After that, she drags me to her room, and in a minute, her parents walk in.

"Did you know?" She asks, looking at me, and I can tell what she was asking about.

"It wasn't his fault; we asked him not to tell you." Mr. Louis interrupts, supporting her wife, who is leaning in his arms.

"Why?"   

"Am I that unworthy that you wouldn't even share such a huge thing with me?" She exclaims, her face turning red.

"It's not like that, dear." Her mom says, taking a step towards Beryl. Beryl walks towards her mom and hugs her.

"It broke my heart to see you like that, mom. I felt so useless and helpless that I even wanted to run away when I saw you that way, but then I came back because you are doing all this for me."

"But promise me, mom, that you will not give up; you will not think that you will not be able to make me. For dad, please." Cupping her mom's cheeks with her hands, she sobs.

After assuring and consoling Beryl, they both left, leaving me and Beryl alone in the room.

"This doesn't change the situation between us; you have lied to me from the start, and I can't forget or forgive you for that." Facing the window, she states.

"I understand that—"No, you don't! You don't understand anything; if you did, you would have taken my feelings into consideration and not just yours. I was technically forced into all this. How will you ever be able to make it up to me? You wanted to be with someone, and in search of that, you have just achieved even more loneliness." She exclaims, looking back at me.

"You did whatever you wanted, and now I will do whatever I want, and no one will be able to stop me." And with that, she walks out of the room, slamming the doors shut behind her.

I leave that door to stand between us, and I have no idea how to open it and reach out to her, or for how long it will remain closed, or if it will ever reopen again.