It Started with a Wedding

Home to you

Jared's side of the story      

He's inside his car.         

“To me, you'll always be the person I feel sorry for....and so it would be good if you can start forgetting me and move on totally..”      

He shook his head. If he wanted to do that then he could have done that already. No. He's here and he won't give up on her. He already let go of her once and he won't do that again. He starts the car's engine.            

He now stands in front of her home. He's about to press the doorbell.          

“There's nobody there.”     He turns and sees a woman.      

“If you're looking for Sandy...she hasn’t arrived yet.”    

He didn't answer.    

“Ah! I know you!” The woman says as she points her finger at him.  

“You are Jared right?”  

“Y-es..”  

“Of course you will be disappointed because she's not here. That woman...why isn't she home yet? Okay...” She comes near the door and started pressing the numbers 1215 on the door lock.      “Come inside...” She invited him in.    

Jared comes inside.    

“You are?”  

“Ahh...I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Kelly. I live next door and I'm Sandy's friend.”  

“Ah.”  

“Just as I thought...Jared is not a brand....”  

“Eh?”   “I saw your name on her wristwatch...then I guessed that it's the name of Sandy's boyfriend.”     He just blinks his eyes.    

“Alright, I need to go home. I'll leave you now. Nice to meet you Jared....”  

“Nice to meet you too Kelly...”        

Kelly left. Jared looks around. The house is simple and clean. He walks around and sees an open door. He comes inside of what seems to be Sandy’s room.

There's a small dresser on the left side and a desk on the right side. The bed with a lavender bed sheet is in the middle of the room. He sees the small bulletin board hanging at the top of the desk. He comes near and gaze at the pictures posted on it. Those are Sandy's pictures with some elders probably from the home for the aged. Some are pictures of her with black people and some are with kids from the preschool.         

At the desk are some books and a pencil holder. There's also some picture frames. One with Sandy and her parents while the other one is Sandy with Julian.       

Jared decided to sit on her bed. He sighs as he looks around. He looks down and sees something beneath the pillow. He takes it out. It's a scrapbook. He opens it and surprise to see what's inside.   It is filled with his pictures from the magazines and news papers.             

“My Jared is very handsome!”  

“Another fantastic project...yay!”  

“I'm so proud of him.”  

“Keep smiling like that.....”        

She wrote some captions on them. Sandy has been following what's happening on him. She's looking  after him all these time.    

“I miss him so much....”      

There are some spots faded over something as if it got wet. Jared realized that those are from tears. She cries because she still loves him and misses him. Emotion is all over his eyes as he flips the pages of the scrapbook.                          

Sandy's side of the story        

She went straight to bed upon arriving at her home. This is another one of those miserable nights  for her. She closed her eyes as tightly as she could but tears still come out of it.                        

It's siesta time. The grandmas and grandpas are watching TV at the recreational area. Sandy decided  to take a walk. She headed to the institution's glass house. It's one of the volunteer's projects. The elders like the plants. The fragrant flowers help them to be calm. It is also her favorite spot here.        

Sandy entered the big glass house. There are lots and lots of flowers inside. She remembers the first time that she met Jared in the green house. The time where both of them sat on the floor and he apologized for yelling at her. That's when the wall between them finally brakes down. Then, she also remembers that night of Valentine's Day in which she prepared some candles and a chocolate cake for him. The two of them were surrounded by beautiful flowers as they enjoy eating the cake together. Sandy smiles to herself with all of those memories.        

She stopped. There he was, standing in front of her. Looking as handsome as ever.        

“Nostalgic isn't it?” he said.      

“You might be irritated but I want to tell you that no matter how much you push me away, I won't budge. I lost you once and I won't let that happen again.”        

He comes near her and took something from his pocket.      

“I always carry this with me. Like me, it waits for its owner.”     He shows her the diamond ring. It’s the same ring she saw on his car.       

“Sandy, we took a lot of detours already. We've been through pain and now that storm is over. Please take my hand and let's walk to a new life together. Let me take care of you as a friend, as a father of your future kids, and as a man who loves you.”      

Tears started to mist her eyes.      

“You should have asked other girls to marry you...”      

“Before you, I used to live my life without knowing what love feels like. I searched for someone whom I could share the rest of my life with. I agreed to an arranged marriage before and it led me to you.”      

“Remember that time when we first danced together? You also said the same thing. You said that I  should have asked other girls to dance with me. I told you that I'll have one dance partner. Same goes for today. I could choose other girls out there but there's only one girl my heart yearns for and I couldn't see her on any other places but here.     

“Sorry.....sorry...” she utters in between her cries.    

“If you're that sorry then you should stop running away from me. Take responsibility.”  

“Jaejoong....”  

“Marry me.....” He says while slipping the ring in her finger.  

“Let's get married...” He repeated while looking her in the eyes. His eyes are filled with love and sincerity.   

“Hmm?”   

She nodded gently.  

“I'll take responsibility........so, yes...”     Tears finally fall from Jared's eyes. He pulled her for an embrace. She hugs him back. How she missed this man.     

“I was so afraid that I won't ever have you in my arms like this again....Thank you....thank you for coming back to me....” He whispers.    

“Thank you for loving me like this. I won't leave your side ever again....” Sandy answers.