Sophia
I stood inside my small dressing room, which was basically a rounded black curtain.
"Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale," I told myself, steadying my breathing patterns.
I didn't know how I looked yet because the body mirrors were outside. But I felt alright.
The female sophomore student who served as the hairstylist and hairdresser had handed me a completely different bridal costume from the one Stacy was meant to wear minutes ago.
I wore a strapless white wedding gown, its A-line skirt bathed in fluffy tulle and flowing down to my feet, which were adorned by white glittery flat shoes. The gown was simple, elegant, and it embraced my full curves in a flattering manner. The hairstylist had combed my long brown tresses, parting them between my bare shoulders for dramatic effect, and she had curled the wavy tips of my chocolate locks, giving an emphatic focus to my long bare arms and my bust.
"Miss Sophia, are you ready? Your groom is waiting for you," beckoned the hairdresser.
"I-I'm coming," I stuttered, drawing in some oxygen before exhaling audibly and stepping out.
When I emerged from the black curtain, I felt my mouth open in surprise. I called softly: "Lucas?"
He had his back turned on me, but even then, he was as handsome as ever in a black tuxedo.
Lucas whirled around while still patting the red rose in his left breast pocket. His eyes widened.
"Ya?" He blinked. "Sophia?"
My heart skipped a beat. Not because of how the tuxedo made him more dashing, but because for one fleeting moment, for just one second, he had called me by my the nickname he gave me.
And it had felt perfect between us. Like the old days.
"Hey there, stranger," I awkwardly greeted him. "Heading somewhere special?"
Lucas continued to stare at me with his soft brown eyes. "You.. you look amazing, Sophia."
I self-consciously fiddled with the crisp tulle of my full white skirt, my cheeks deep crimson.
"Thanks, I guess," I told him, and I yelped in surprise when someone nudged me forward. It was the female hairdresser, Charity Santiago. She handed me a bouquet of flowers and a veil.
"Is this really necessary?" I asked while Charity pinned the translucent veil on my head.
"A wedding is a wedding, even if it's not real," said the pretty sophomore.
But it feels too real to me, I thought as I stood in front of the tall groom in a pristine tuxedo.
Lucas leaned forward and I felt my face heat up when his minty breath fanned my flushed skin.
"I mean it," he whispered to me, his brown eyes locked onto mine. "You look beautiful."
"T-Thank you," I stammered while struggling to maintain eye-contact with him.
He pulled away, and I could still feel my heartbeat thumping inside my chest. Darn it.
The "priest" commenced with the "ceremony" by flipping open the bible and reciting the traditional introduction as pronounced in front of every couple engaged in holy matrimony.
"Do you, Lucas De Los Reyes, take Sophia Ann Sta. Ana, as your lawfully wedded wife?"
Lucas looked at me, and my heart leapt to my throat. "I do," he answered, smiling at me.
This is wrong. I shouldn't be here. I wasn't supposed to be the bride.
The priest shifted to me and said: "And do you, Sophia Ann Sta. Ana, take Lucas De Los Reyes as your lawfully wedded husband?"
But why did it feel so right?
I smiled timidly at the priest, then I glanced at Lucas before I answered: "I do."
The priest beamed at us. He said: "Now, the rings."
Lucas and I gaped in disbelief. "THERE ARE RINGS!?!?"
"Of course," hollered Charity, who was standing in the makeshift pews. She was the sole witness.
All of a sudden, a male freshman appeared and carried a pillow bearing rings towards the altar.
He handed the red pillow to Lucas, who slowly plucked both silver bands from the soft pillow.
"Ladies first?" Lucas flashed a polite smile as he proffered the bigger wedding ring to me.
I was so caught up in a daze, I nodded my head and took his left hand, my heart pounding as I slid the silver band over his ring finger. He then withdrew his hand and found mine.
"I thought you weren't into weddings?" I told him to distract my nerves.
Lucas smiled up at me as he wore the smaller band onto my ring finger. "I never said that."
"But.." I gazed at him. "..a while ago.. you didn't.. seem ..thrilled.."
He continued to hold my left hand in both his hands. "I have my reasons, Sophia."
"Are you going to tell me one of them?" I asked him, my eyebrow raised.
Lucas gave me a crooked, disarming smile. "A mystery goes a long way, Mrs. De Los Reyes."
I felt all my blood rush to my face, even more-so when he brought my hand to his lips and kissed the top of it, and I almost melted when his soft lips touched my skin. His kiss felt so light, tender.
"Don't call me that!" I smacked his shoulder, willing my blush to fade away.
All of a sudden, the priest announced: "You may now kiss the bride."
Lucas and I froze. We argued with the priest for ten minutes, never mind that we were in public.
"We don't have to kiss," I protested.
"We're just friends," Lucas added, and I ignored the tightness in my chest.
Charity butted in: "Oh My God, just kiss her on the cheek, you prudes."
I didn't mean to, but my brown eyes traveled to Lucas' pinkish lips. They were full and moist.
When I met his own chocolate eyes, I gulped and looked away because he caught me staring.
"Sophia?"
"Hmm?" I lifted my chin but the second I did, Lucas dipped his head and pecked my cheek.
"Lucas!"
"I'm sorry if I upset you!" he frantically exclaimed.
"N-no..you just caught me off guard," I told him in a feeble voice.
A hearty laugh escaped him just as Charity aimed a digital camera in our direction. "Smile, guys."
"Wait!" I stopped her. "What's with the camera? Are you going to snap our picture?"
"Well, duh," Charity replied, rolling her dark eyes.
I couldn't settle my nervousness. I turned to face her. "Will the photo go public?"
"Sop, calm down," said Lucas, who was standing next to me.
I sighed and looked up at him. "I'm just afraid people will get the wrong idea."
A strange glint passed through his brown eyes. "What does it matter what others think?"
"But Lucas.."
"As long as we know the truth, it's none of their business."
He reached for my left hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, and for some reason, it mollified me.
Charity squinted into the camera. "Scoot a little closer to each other," she commanded.
"Closer!" she barked. "You guys are good friends,right? There's no need to be so tense."
Lucas gave my hand another squeeze, and I sent him a sly smile. "Okay, hubby. Let's pose."
"Did you just---?" I didn't waste any more time and I leaned my back against his broad chest, then I loosened the grip of my fingers around my bouquet of colorful flowers.
I could feel Lucas' heart beating fast, but it was probably because I took him by surprise.
"That's it, Sophia," praised Charity. "Now, Lucas, wrap your arms around her from behind."
My groom drew out a heavy breath before he snaked his arms around my waist. I frowned.
"Lucas?"
"Yeah?"
"If you feel uneasy, just tell me."
"What? I'm perfectly alright." A faint chuckle echoed in his chest.
"Then why are your hands shaking and your heart is erratic?"
"I'm hugging a beautiful girl who is also my close friend. How else should I behave?"
You could have kissed me for real moments ago.
Stop it, Sophia.
"Do you think Ace is okay now?" Lucas asked me.
My shoulders drooped. And just like that, the magic was over.