The Silken Crown

CHAPTER 8

Ligaya gathered her courage and proceeded to the church, where she sat in a chair in the back. She hummed as she sat, waiting for the wedding to begin. And then it happened, the long-awaited moment for Ligaya, the songs began, the choir sang acapella. Bridesmaids in peach strolled the red carpet, their eyes shining in an unfamiliar gaze of joy. Then comes the page boys and ring bearers in peach suits. The flower girls and tiny children carrying flowers then walked down the aisle. Some of them walked on tiptoe, holding their bouquets. The girls smiled from ear to ear as they jumped down the aisle. Several twos are present to observe the wedding firsthand. They were wealthy individuals who were interested in the city's current trends. And being invited to a wedding of a former newspaper celebrity is a big honor for them. The fortune teller was also present in their wedding. The majority of the attendees were fellow fours, and most of them were merchants.

The most anticipated moment had finally arrived: Dolores, the bride, appeared. She was dressed all in white. Her beauty shined brightly throughout the room. The ceremony continued on, and Ligaya could feel her hair falling out as her rage grew. She had to wait till the priest said the words "speak now or forever hold your peace"

"I object," Ligaya stood up right away. Everyone's gaze was drawn to Ligaya. Several twos who are newspaper writers instantly began writing in their papers with their quills, which they carry with them wherever they go. Dolores spun around. Her eyes were filled with fury, but she kept her cool. And she was able to calm down in less than a second. She held her cool and became tense as she was enthralled by the scenes unfolding in front of her. "Oh, my dearest, I had no idea you'd be here"

Ligaya's fury was directed at Alejandro's eyes. Despite this, His gaze softened and became loving and warm. "Ligaya," he whispered softly and gently in a low tone.

"Ligaya, stay away. You've been abandoning him for months, right my dear?" Dolores stepped in front of Alejandro and stretched her arms wide. Keeping Alejandro away from Ligaya.

Ligaya's wrath led to tears, and she burst into tears in front of everyone. Helplessly sobbing on the ground. She sat on the ground screaming, scratching and pulling her hair. She scratched and scratched until all of her hair was gone. Her head stood shiny, reflecting the light from the chandelier. This caused laughter and mockery from the crowd. Everyone laughed as they saw Ligaya helpless and fully bald.

Dolores went over to Ligaya's hair, eager to claim it as her own. She has been looking forward to this moment. Alejandro ran to Ligaya's side and stopped Dolores as she grabbed Ligaya's hair. "Ligaya, I truly apologize," he murmured, looking at her.

"I knew you'd come, so I married Dolores because I knew it was the only way to get you to come out, please-"

"Oh please, Alejandro," Ligaya said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

She let herself cry and completely breakdown in front of Alejandro. Dolores was profoundly bothered and irritated by both of them. She kicked the two, especially Alejandro, who was in the path to Ligaya's hair.

"What do you need it for, huh?" he asked, raising his voice.

"None of your business," she said coldly.

Dolores pulled Ligaya's hair, but Alejandro grabbed the other end and stopped Dolores. They both clutched the hair, pulling it to their sides. They pulled and pulled until Alejandro finally let go. The abrupt stop pushed Dolores to the ground.

Dolores seized the opportunity and snatched the hair, putting it on her head.

Dolores gleamed brightly throughout the room, and a bright yellow light instantly engulfed her. She gleamed much brightly than before. There were sparkles all around her, and a complete new gorgeous golden her, similar to what Ligaya used to have, could be seen from across the room.

Everyone's expressions were shocked. Their faces plainly displayed the letter O. The entire room was filled with astonishment and awe.

Dolores boldly lifted up her mirror, only to see a distorted version of herself. She recognized that the shocked expressions were not ones of awe, but of dismay. Her face had grayed and aged. The wrinkles and large skin tags that Ligaya used to have been now on her face. She became terrified as she realized what had just occurred. Ligaya then took out the old thick garments she wore to cover her face. And the public gradually became aware of her soft and lovely face. Everyone was taken aback when they saw the gorgeous, glossy, light brown face of Ligaya.

Dolores went insane as soon as she noticed the circumstances, she was in. She quickly grabbed a cutter and began cutting her new hair. She had thrown the hair to Ligaya, and it had gradually transformed into a lovely outfit for Ligaya. She began scraping her hair off with a blade as soon as she realized her strategy wasn't working. Blood streamed down her cheeks, but she showed no fear and continued to scrape her scalp. Most people, particularly the working class, rushed to Dolores's aid, preventing her from further injuring herself. While Ligaya clutched Alejandro and rested her bald head on his shoulders.

Ligaya's mother suddenly arrived and held her gently, "I knew I would find you here my dear"

When the next day came, Dolores immediately went back to the fortune teller who ruined her life. She ran unto the cabin as fast as she could but she was greeted with an empty room with only a familiar scarf left on the ground. She picked it up and realized that it was the scarf of the ones fortune teller who told her about her unfortunate fate.

And just like that the fate of the two that was told by the fortune teller was sealed.