A Lovely Surprise
Two years later.
"Are you sure we’re not late?"Bella said as she grabbed her stiletto and hastily put it on her feet. Then she let Mo Li put the coat on her.
"I thought it’s good that we’re late. I can’t just let them look at you for more than two hours. Hey... do you think we can miss this wedding?"
Bella glared at him. ’It’s been the twentieth time since you asked me this question. I already told you. We need to attend the wedding."
"Since when do you care about a simple wedding? You didn’t even agree to have a big wedding with me, and now you wanted to attend your sister’s wedding. I feel insulted, Mrs. Mo."
She laughed and fixed his tie.
"I am sure that I am more attractive than Mr. Ting. I think I deserve a wedding too." Mo Li continued grumbling. "We’ve been to Korea and Japan and you still didn’t agree to marry me. I think it’s quite unfair."
"Stop complaining. I just don’t want people to take your pictures and share them. Women will salivate. It’s just not healthy for my heart." She smiled and give him a light kiss before she used a thumb to remove the residue of her red lipstick on his lips.
"You should use something matte next time." He held his wife’s hand and slowly put it on his right hand. He then intertwined their hands together. "Let’s go?" he asked.
Bella nodded and smiled at him before the two left the hotel room that they were in.
Today was Sarah and Mayor Gabriel Ting’s wedding. Just as everyone anticipated, the wedding was grand and will be held in the biggest hotel in the city. It was a beautiful Garden wedding with two hundred guests.
"You told me that she wanted you to become the maid of honor?" Mo Li asked her as he drove the car towards the hotel. "Why say no?"
"I don’t want to wear a dress."
"You are wearing one now."
"Her motif is gold. I think I look bad in a golden dress."
"Who told you that? You would look beautiful in every color."
She chuckled. Maybe Lily would look in all color but Bella wouldn’t. She wasn’t really beautiful. Compared to Sarah, she would look like a wallflower. She was a bland as a tasteless coffee — if something like that exists.
After a few minutes, they finally arrived at Hotel Galeria. Mo Li immediately parked the car
He chuckled and leaned closer. "Would you like me to carry you?"
"What are you talking about? That would be embarrassing."
"Then why wear the heels from hell? Isn’t it because you wanted me to carry you?"
She knitted her brows before rolling her eyes inwardly. "Stop acting like we’re still newlyweds."
"We are only married in the papers. You didn’t really give me the marriage that I deserve." Mo Li complained. "Now you don’t want me to act like newlyweds. Why is that? Mrs. Mo... tell me... are you cheating on me?"
"Why would you think that?"
"Hmmm... let’s see... you always tell me that you are busy talking to Sarah. But you talk until eleven at the midnight. You are always texting her even when you are in the bathroom and you never let me touch your phone. Why is that?"
She shook her head and gave a light laugh. "Was I that suspicious?"
"Those are definitely red flags for newlyweds." While Mo Li was saying all this, there wasn’t a hint of sadness in his voice. It was as if he was only casually talking about cheating and other stuff that could easily ruin a relationship.
The thing is... Mo Li knew Bella is hiding something from him. But he knew she wasn’t cheating.
"What would you do if I am really cheating on you?"
"You won’t." Confidence was apparent in his voice. "I am too perfect. Good looking and smart. I am a good cook and I sometimes wash your underwear. How could you cheat on me?
"Hey! How could you say such a thing?"
"It’s true."
"It was once!"
"Twice. I remember."
"Stop it," Bella said.
"If you cheat on a person like me, then it will be your loss."
Bella suddenly stopped walking. She turned towards him. "I would never cheat on you."
"I know."
She tightened her hand around his and suddenly pulled him towards the archway that was already full of flowers. A gust of wind carrying the smell of fresh flowers interrupted them. "The late-night calls..." Once again, Bella stopped walking. They were already in the middle of the pathway, surrounded by flowers and petals... and the sweet sound of jazz nearby.
"What?" Mo Li asked. Is she going to tell him she was dying or something?
"For our wedding." Her face turned serious. "Sarah... asked if I wanted to have a wedding together. A double wedding."
Mo Li’s jaw dropped as realization hit him. He stared at the flowers. It was red and pink and gold. While he was wearing a white suit that Bella chose for him. At that time, he informed her that white isn’t really good for a wedding. But she only said it looked good on him. Who cares about what’s good or not?
Then his eyes landed on Bella’s black dress. It was a long sleeve dress with laces and embroidered flowers. Its long seams reached the floor, hiding her tall heels. As always, the dress made her more lovely.
"So... "Bella met his eyes, smiling. "Will you marry me?"
"We are already married."
"Only in papers," Bella said as she suddenly opened a small box with their wedding bands. "I hated weddings because of the hassle. However, Sarah offered to take care of the venue and everything. All I need to do is buy the rings and give her some important doc.u.ments. Then... show up in this dress that was just like hers." She beamed. It was a surprise — a lovely one.
"Then the ceremony...."
"It’s just us. Private wedding. The four of us with our witnesses." Bella said. "You didn’t answer my question. Will you marry me?"
Mo Li responded with a smile. Despite marrying her in every world, this was actually the first time that she did something like this. Soon, tears pooled in his eyes as he nodded at her. "Let’s go. We should go... or it will rain."
Bella immediately lifted her head, she looked at the clear blue skies just as Mo Li wiped the tear that fell on his cheek. Before she could look at him, he already pulled her towards the altar where Sarah and Gabriel were waiting for them.