TRACKS

wedding plans 3

The mall buzzed with life, glittering lights bouncing off shop windows and the faint scent of fresh flowers wafting from nearby stalls. It had been weeks since the Therapanyukul household had seen real laughter, but today, it spilled freely as the wives set out together for wedding shopping.

Porsche had taken charge, his usual fiery personality leading the pack with a list clutched firmly in hand. Porchay skipped along beside her, brimming with excitement as he pointed at random decorations through the glass. Tankhun, in his extravagant coat and oversized sunglasses, walked with his chin high as if the entire mall existed for this very day.

Walking a few steps behind, Babe rested a protective hand over his six-month bump, while Charlie stayed close, gently steadying him every now and then. Sky, glowing despite his own pregnancy, trailed alongside Phoenix, who had agreed to accompany them as support for the ring shopping.

The group entered a boutique jewelry store, the soft chime of bells announcing their arrival.

Porsche: Okay! We’re here for the most important symbol — the rings. Nothing flashy, just elegant. Something timeless.

Tankhun: Darling, you say ‘nothing flashy’ like we’re not the Therapanyukuls. Our rings should blind people across the room

Porchay :Phi Tankhun, please. We don’t need disco balls on our fingers.

The group burst into laughter, even Sky, who had been quietly nervous, let out a small chuckle. Phoenix, standing just behind him, reached out to squeeze his shoulder in silent reassurance.

At the display counter, Charlie leaned over, carefully examining the trays of rings. Babe stayed at his side, though his gaze wandered occasionally flicking to Charlie with an unreadable heaviness in his eyes.

Charlie :These are beautiful. But none of them matter as much as the one that goes on your finger.

Babe blinked, his heart warming at Charlie’s words, though the shadow of jealousy still lingered deep down. He offered a small smile, brushing it off with a playful tease.

Babe: You’d better choose carefully. I don’t want to be stuck with something ugly for the rest of my life.

Charlie: Impossible. Nothing could look ugly on you.

Phoenix coughed loudly in the background, breaking their little bubble.

Phoenix :Please, save the romance for the altar. We’re here to shop, not make the rest of us single people gag.

Sky: I… I think I like the platinum ones with the simple band. They’re strong. Simple but unbreakable.

Phoenix glanced at him, a proud smile tugging at his lips.

Phoenix: Then that’s what we’ll get. You deserve something unbreakable, Sky.

As the staff boxed up the chosen rings, the group moved to a café inside the mall, ordering cakes and tea. Laughter filled the table as Porsche bossed everyone around about flower colors, Tankhun described his dream of a twenty-layer cake, and Porchay tried to sneak extra pastries.

For the first time in months, the air was light again. The wives leaned into one another’s energy, planning, dreaming, and teasing as though sorrow had never touched their walls.

But even as smiles spread across the table, two silent figures stood out  Babe, who kept his eyes down though he laughed with the others, and Sky, who occasionally rubbed his belly as though drawing comfort from the life within.

For them, the laughter was both balm and burden. Weddings meant beginnings… but also stirred shadows of what they and Rain had lost.

And yet, as Porsche raised his glass in a toast, they all joined, voices overlapping in joy  at least for today.
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The drive back from the mall was filled with chatter and the rustling of shopping bags. The car practically overflowed with boxes  rings neatly packaged, swatches of fabric, decorations, and lists scribbled on slips of paper that Porsche guarded like treasure.