Tua Aeng

The Commitment

It has been a long 2 months, but we are nearing the finish line. It has been so hard working out the arrangements of the commitment ceremony. So many people contributed to our relationship, supported us, cheered us on, and we would love to have them here with us, but it is just not possible. The chances of it becoming public increased with the amount of people we invite. In the end we decided to have a small, intimate ceremony. Gulf chose the location, a beach wedding in the Maldives. We had always talked about coming here on vacation and I am so happy that we will get to honeymoon here instead.

Our immediate family will be the only ones invited. We are lucky; our family is not closely followed by the press, but we still arranged separate flights, on different days, several days before the ceremony. It was like arranging a covert FBI operation. We would have loved to have a longer honeymoon but the longer we are away from work, the greater the chances of being exposed. It was hard but it was so worth it. We get to declare our love for each other in front of the people who are closest to our heart. We are booked into the resort under aliases. The resort is contracted to set up and disassemble the ceremony site on a remote beach and entry will be restricted. Everything will happen in one location, the ceremony, a light dinner, first dance, and the cake cutting.

The family will act as our photographers. Everyone will be given memory cards for their digital camera and my Por will take video of the ceremony. We would love to have professional pictures, but we cannot afford for them to be leaked to the press. The memory cards will be collected, and we will select pictures to print out for the family and ourselves on our digital picture developer at home.

Finally, its 3pm and everyone is seated at the venue. We have asked them to wear shades of blue, yellow, and white. I am standing at the altar wearing a white short pant suit with a light blue tee and white Gucci sneakers. A sunflower is pinned to my lapel. I am nervous, palms damp, restless. Mild is standing at my side trying to defuse my nerves by telling jokes. He is serving as the officiant. We can't leave him out, he was one of the reasons we met, our first fan, our greatest supporter. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and let the scent of the ocean, the light breeze, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, sooth me.

My eyes open as the entry notes of "Only Fools Rush In" begin to play and...there he is. I lose my breath and I feel my eyes dampen as I see Gulf standing at the beginning of the aisle, his parents standing at his sides. We both wear the same suit, but it is like he is standing in a pool of light. He is shining and so handsome, a bouquet of sunflowers in his hands. He walks down an aisle covered in sunflower petals a bright smile covering his face as the ocean breeze ruffles his hair and all I can see is him.

Gulf's POV

I stand at the beginning of the aisle as "Only Fools Rush In" starts to play. I can see Mew waiting at the altar, his body bouncing with nervous energy, eyes closed. He opens his eyes, our gazes connect, and I smile. He looks so handsome. We are wearing the same suit, but on his body, it looks so different. The white suit jacket stretches taut over his broad shoulders, he is haloed in a pool of light. His hair is swept back into a ponytail, the white fabric from the arch billowing behind him. I take my first steps, the final steps to linking my life with his. My heart beats frantically in my chest. I smile for him letting him know that it is ok. I am on my way. I am almost there.

Mew's POV

"Who gives this man to share his life as a friend, a lover, a partner, a life-mate." Mild says. "We do." Gulf's parents answer before they reach out and link Gulf's hands with mine.

We turn and pull them tight to our chest, hugging them. "Thank you, Mae, Por, for entrusting me with your son. I promise to take good care of him, make him happy, to work through the hard times, to grow with him, to love him." We release them and stand in front of Mild at the altar as he reads the vows.