Blue Flower

Chapter 49

-Naomi-

            I sat unmoving in my room while my stylists dabbed those cosmetics on my hair and body. I let them do all the work while I stared at the mirror. The reflection of a girl told me that she was unprepared, bothered and devastated, now that her life was about to be blown up into ashes. She also prayed that a miracle would happen, so she could be with the boy she really loves.

            And in the long run, I realized there was no point at staring. I shouldn’t dwell with the reflection. I should be dealing with the present, though it might get the worst out of me.

            “Please close your eyes.” the make-up artist said. I calmly shut my eyes as she put whatever color of eye shadow on my eyelids. I was allowed to open them again.

            “I’m beautiful.” I whispered to myself. I had pink rosy cheeks and violet eyelids, with light make-up spread over the rest of my face. My heartbeat paced more than the usual. I didn’t want to face either Robert or my brother. Though this wedding was planned in a rush, they made it almost perfect, and nothing could be more perfect if I’m going to ruin this occasion.

            “Yes you are. You’ve always been.” the make-up artist replied.

            I forced a smile at her and stood up to wear my gown. The pure whiteness ran from my breasts to my heels. I put on a white blazer on to cover my shoulders from the open. They laid out the veil on my head and draping over my face. I wasn’t ready. I would never be ready. Chester might be doing something to save me now. Well, he should. He’s my only hope of escaping from this situation.

            They left me alone when I was done wearing the gown. When the door clanked shut, I grabbed my phone and called him. It took me four rings before he answered, and I sacrificed to end it when Noah opened the door.

            “Hey.” I nervously said. I put my hand behind my back, hiding my phone from him. We already agreed not to call him after he announced my engagement, but I proved myself to be wiser than him. I sneaked through those late night conversations with Chester for six times already. “What are you doing here?” Crap, my voice seemed to crack from my throat. I was making it obvious.

            “I just want to check on you. Are you ready?” He stepped closer and took my face in his hands. If I had a choice, I would kick him and tell him everything wasn’t okay, that his getting back on Chester hurt me so much. Instead I gave him a big smile and he left the room.

            I almost ripped the hem of my gown in frustration. He was such a liar, a devil in his own right. That feeling grew stronger because I didn’t know where they were. Time slowly drifted away by the seconds and in every move, I felt like death was knocking at my door. Death with my foreseen life with Robert. Death that I would be tied to a man who caused my true love agony. I fought a tear from falling down, careful not to ruin the augmented beauty the stylists did to me. I dialed Chester’s number again. Another round of rings bounced in my ears, and when the door opened again, I dropped my phone in excitement.

            I launched my arms around him. He really came to save me. I saw the rest of the gang come in, including my sister. He hugged me back in response.

            “We have to get out of here now.” he said.

            I pulled back and looked at him. “But how?”

            Reese interrupted us for a moment. She turned to Andrew and my sister.

            “Andrew, Hera, prepare the car outside.” she ordered and the two went away. She shifted her attention to me after closing the door.

            “Do you want me in that gown?” she asked in a tempting yet friendly way. I was dumbfounded at her sudden offer, but I thought of this as her way for us to escape.

            A smile playfully traced my lips. “Sure.”

            We started stripping both of our clothes with Chester watching us. His expression was blank and empty, like it was the first time he saw girls taking off pieces of their clothing.

            “You saw everything in me. There’s no need to show me that face.” I said to break him from his reverie.

            He blinked twice and turned his back from us. Reese teasingly asked him a question. “Chester, do you find me sexy?”

            It took him a moment to answer. “Slightly.”

            She burst out into laughter. We finished exchanging outfits and I looked at her with sincerity.

            “Thanks for this.”

            She patted my shoulder. “It’s okay. You better go now. Andrew’s waiting. I can manage here.”

            I smiled and took Chester by the hand and dragged him to where my cousin and sister were.

-Reese-

            This was it. I examined myself at the full-length mirror of Naomi’s room. The gown was really beautiful, and my mind wandered off to my own marriage, of when I would be wearing this kind of dress, of who would try to break Andrew and me apart, just like what Noah was doing to my two friends. I didn’t give it much thought and walked out of the room instead.

            Naomi didn’t want anyone to escort her to the altar, so it was easy for me to slip in unnoticed. I just had to duck my head to the ground. 

            The wedding was at the big garden outside this house. It had a complete entourage and a grand setting. The motif was all white, even Noah and the groom. I marched down the aisle, with the guests looking at me with happy faces. They must have been thinking I’m Naomi. An evil grin spread across my face as I walked closer to the altar... closer to Robert’s smiling face.

            I gave my hand to him when I reached my destination. He leaned closer, clearly oblivious about this, and whispered; “Now you’re going to be my wife. I’ve waited so long for this.”

            “Are you sure?” I said and shot him a look.

            He instantly pulled away and his eyes popped open. He couldn’t believe I’m here. I glanced behind his back. Noah wore a furious face, eagerly ready to explode anytime. It was funny how they didn’t even notice my features when I bore no resemblance of the real bride and when I just looked down all the time. Though it stressed my neck, I did it perfectly.

            “Why are you here?!” Noah asked. His voice rose up to its highest pitch.

            “Hi Noah! I just dropped by here. If you’re asking me where the hell your sister is all I can say, uhm, is I don’t know.” I answered vigorously. I knew it would surely make his head ache. All the guests whispered among each other, telling how this wedding was such an epic fail.

            He pushed Robert behind his back and shook my shoulders. “I swear I’ll kill you if you won’t tell me where Naomi is.” he threatened.

            I shoved his hands off of me. “I don’t know. Don’t bother to ask me. She won’t marry Robert anyway.”

            He slapped my face in one single motion. My world spun for a moment. I tried to absorb the pain it brought me. As I touched my cheek, I gained the strength to fight back. I stretched my arm and jabbed his jaw. He fell back on the ground, and everyone around us gasped in astonishment.

            “That’s what you get when you let your heart win.” I said and ran away from him. A couple of men including Robert tried to chase me. I removed my pair of heels and threw it to them for defense.

            I was catching my breath when I reached Andrew’s car. I opened the door with full force. They all looked at me with worry.

            “What happened?”

            “I’ll tell you later. Let’s go.” I let myself inside the car and we sped away in less than a minute.