"If you promise to stay, I promise to never leave." -Unknown

Good morning, my love. Greet today with a smile. I'll see you later. I love you. -Xander

☔︎・☔︎・☔︎

There's something magical about weddings that makes you dream of it. I remember imagining my wedding day when I was younger. It was a combination of fairytales and Mom's story of her own wedding.

I even drew how I pictured my wedding dress to look. That is how I realized my love for designing.

Thinking of it now, none of the things I dreamed of were important. It doesn't matter what dress, venue, or theme a wedding should have. What matters the most is the people who would spend eternity together.

"I loved what you did to my sister's dress, Gabbie," Athena, Jay's younger sister said, making me divert my gaze from the bride and groom to her.

I smiled at her. "I could make one for you too in the future when you get married to..." I signaled Bryan's direction. Bryan is Danica's younger brother.

Athena rolled her eyes. "Nothing is going on between us," she said, annoyance evident in her tone. "And besides, Jay wouldn't allow it."

I chuckled. Jay had been so protective of Athena ever since. He's even stricter than Tito Jaden.

"I'll help you convince him." I winked at her.

She just shook her head and focused on Ate Krissa and Kuya Ryan's wedding.

Yes, they ended up together. Who would've thought that Lianna Tyler's Boutique's first child models would get a happily ever after in the future?

I can still remember the days when Ate Krissa would tell me how much she liked Kuya Ryan, and she's too afraid to confess to him because she felt like he treated her like a sister and nothing more than that, but look at them now. They look so happy and in love. They are so perfect together. A match made in heaven.

After the wedding, we moved to the reception area. It was right next door so we didn't have to go very far. I got to sit next to Faith, Ian, Danica, Warren, Andrew, and Xander. Sunshine was busy with work so she couldn't attend.

Maxwell was at a table with his friends and is probably plotting something stupid with Stephen, his best friend, and Shine's brother. The twins were with Mom and Dad who was sitting with their friends as well.

Drew and I agreed to get some desserts so we walked over to the dessert table. As I was grabbing a little bit of everything, I saw a familiar face stood beside me.

"Christina, is that you?" I asked.

"Gabbie, OMG! How are you?" she said before we placed our plates down and greeted each other with a hug. Christina is Tito Christian and Tita Mary's daughter. She's a year younger than me.

"Great," I answered. "How about you? I heard you moved to London?"

"I did," she confirmed. "It was a good thing that I had business matters to attend here. I wouldn't want to miss Ryan's wedding."

I smiled. "I'm so glad you're here. We haven't seen each other in so long," I said.

"Let's hang out soon?" she asked.

"Yes, we should," I answered and both of us laughed.

We talked for a bit before I followed Drew back to our table. The moment I got back, Xander kept stealing my desserts. I just allowed him to do whatever he wants because I know how lazy he is.

After some time, every unmarried lady in the room was called to the center. Faith, Danica, and I stood up. We all know what would happen.

"If I catch it, you have to marry me tomorrow," Danica told Warren.

That reminds me, Danica and Warren are a couple now. They got together after college which was a surprise to all of us because they weren't in the same school but for some odd reason, they always meet.

Warren shook his head while chuckling. "You won't catch it."

Danica scoffed. "Watch me," she said before going to the center.

I looked at Faith. "Let's give her some room to catch it," I told her.

She nodded. "Maybe none of us should play. She wouldn't let anyone win anyway," Faith replied and I laughed.

We were still talking while walking to the crowd of ladies. We didn't really care if we'd catch the bouquet or not.

Krissa faced away from us and got ready to throw the bouquet. After the count of three, the bouquet came flying.

Everything happened so fast and before I knew it, my instincts kicked in and I caught the flowers. My eyes widened in shock. I wasn't even looking!

Faith laughed. "So much for giving Danica her moment," she whispered.

Everyone was cheering and every person I know in the room kept saying that they'll be expecting an invitation.

I shook my head and hid my face using the bouquet before walking back to our table.

Warren was laughing at Danica. "Sorry, babe. Maybe next time?" he said before laughing again.

Nica glared at him. "I hate you," she replied.

I placed the bouquet down. I caught Xander looking at it.

"You don't actually believe that, do you?" I asked.

When I unintentionally caught the bouquet a while ago, I looked at Xander. He was a bit shocked. I wasn't disappointed though. I know he's not yet ready to get married because he still had plans. I am not in a hurry as well and I'm willing to wait until the day he'd ask.

"What if I did?" he said.

I looked at him with knitted eyebrows. "What?"

He shrugged. "When do you want to walk down the aisle?"

☔︎・☔︎・☔︎

"They haven't cleared the place yet," Xander said when we saw the venue where the ceremony was held. We just got back from a quick walk to inhale a fresh breeze. The wedding reception next door wasn't over yet.

Xander pulled me inside. I looked around. The place was so beautiful. Ate Krissa and Kuya Ryan really went all out.

Xander stopped by the end of the aisle and faced me. "Hold it like this," he said while placing the bouquet I brought in between my palms.

"What are you-"

I didn't finish what I was saying when he walked to the altar. He faced me and smiled. "Walk towards me."

"Xander, this is-"

He started singing 'This I Promise You' by NSYNC. I'm surprised he knows that song.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. And by some magic, when I opened my eyes, it's as if everything was real. I felt like I was wearing the most beautiful white dress and I would walk on a white carpet filled with red rose petals.

I started walking towards Xander. I don't know if my eyes are deceiving me but I saw him getting teary-eyed.

Every word from the song made the moment more meaningful and him singing it to me was just beautiful.

And when I finally reached him, he held my hand and looked me in the eye. His hazel brown eyes spoke of so much emotion. Even though his sweet voice was still filling my ear, I heard of his heartbeat and it has the same rhythm as mine. Our hearts were beating as one.

Right at that moment, I wanted all of this to be real. I was sure of it. I was sure of him. He is the person I would want to spend eternity with.

"This I promise you..." He ended the song. "I can't marry you for real yet," he said.

"I know," I answered.

"But I want you to know that it doesn't mean I wouldn't want to see you walk towards me just like what you did now." He squeezed my hand. "I'm sure of you, Brielle. I promise."

I smiled. "If this is really our wedding, you know what I would tell you?" I asked and he raised both of his eyebrows.

"Xander," I started. "The day I heard of you getting hospitalized, I had some realizations. I saw you lying down. You were so weak and I didn't know what to do. I wanted to take away your pain. I wished I was the one who experienced it instead of you," I narrated.

"I remembered what happened right before you got to that state. I was so mad at you and I never gave you a chance to explain further. I thought, f*ck! How would he explain himself now when speaking was one of the things he can't do? This is the reason why I vow to always listen to you. We'll face more hardships in the future but I can assure you that I wouldn't let my anger get in the way. I wouldn't misjudge you ever again," I said before wiping my tears. I hadn't realized I started crying.

Xander cupped my face and wiped my tears. "This is what I'm always afraid of," he said. "Seeing you cry tortures me and it torments me, even more, knowing that I am the one who caused it. I have no justifications for what I did. To this day, I still regret hurting you which is why I vow to never make you cry again. I promise I would only see tears of happiness fall from your eyes and not tears of pain. The Mission: Payback has failed and it wouldn't be repeated."

I shook my head. "No, it has to be repeated," I replied. He looked at me, confusion was evident on his face. I smirked. "I'll have to get back at you and knowing you, you'll get back at me too. All of this will never stop."

He smiled. "Okay, then. I don't care if it's going to be an endless cycle. If it means that I'll get to be with you forever, then so be it. You will never be alone again, Brielle." He kissed the top of my head. "This I promise you."