A long lane at night

1.22. MIDNIGHT SCREENING

** BRIAN **

DRIVING HOME THE NEXT MORNING WITH MY fiancé by my side was a great bliss. Every now and then, I would steal a glance at his hand to see the ring matching mine. The ride was peacefully punctuated by loose conversation about wedding details.

'When are we doing it?'

'Can it not be around my birthday? We got together on my birthday, got engaged a few days after my birthday.'

'Well, your birthday apparently brings us luck, then.'

'Good point. But mine was that we already have three celebrations cramped on top of one another. We only have your birthday and Christmas scattered round the year and they're not even that much further apart. I don't know. I guess I just like celebrations.' I felt my cheeks burning.

'It's okay, my love,' Allan said as he stretched his arm, reaching for my nape and caressing the skin underneath my hair. 'What do you suggest?'

'Can we get married during autumn? Every time I see myself getting married to you, I see this open field with leaves falling all around us.'

'That sounds gorgeous. How about September?'

'This September? As in two months from now?'

'As much as I would love to, we have to agree it would be a rushed nightmare—'

'And I don't want anything rushed, Allan. Especially after the soundtrack recording process.'

'My thoughts exactly. So, what do you say to the thirtieth of September next year? It'll be a Saturday and we can make it our day.'

'Thirty September it is!'

'Uuh, Brian...'

'Hm?'

'What about a guest list? We don't really have friends outside us two and our families are incredibly small.'

'I'll be honest with you and admit I've been trying to avoid thinking about this. I guess I'll invite my parents, of course. Mama Maggie will definitely be there. I suppose you'll want to invite your dad?'

'I don't know,' he said with a tone that suggested he was trying to make peace with his own thoughts. 'On one hand, we haven't seen each other since I graduated from college and that was about two years before I even met you. Sure, we have those awkward phone calls on holidays and birthdays, but still ... on the other hand, I don't think I want to be the one to officially pull the plug, you know?'

'I do. I say we invite him with an open heart and let him make the decision. How does that sound?'

'Great. Now, who else?'

'I want Carl to be there. And also, the director and editor of the movie. After all, they're the ones who made the proposal possible. I want to properly thank them.'

'Oh, sure. They have to be there.'

'Allan?'

'Oh boy. Here's the "I-did-something-bad-please-don't-be-mad" Allan. What is it? Hey, boy. Don't hide your guilt behind your smile. Spill it out.'

'About the proposal...'

'What? You're not taking it back, are you? Because you'll only take this ring off my finger over my dead body.'

'No! Not that! Not as bad.'

'What, then?'

'You see ... the director told me yesterday ... they kept the text card on the distributed picture.'