July 11, 2022, that day was Stacy's wedding. Heka and his family were invited to the wedding. They go together.
"Heka, are you ready?" his mother shouted out. His mother's voice echoed from downstairs, sharp and tinged with impatience.
"Wait a minute." Heka called back, his voice strained with frustration.
He was frantically searching his room for the wedding gift his mother had given him just yesterday. Somehow, in the chaos of his thoughts and the clutter of his belongings, he had completely forgotten where he had placed it.
He paused for a moment, trying to retrace his steps in his mind. Yes, he remembered clearly that he had put the gift on the table. But when he looked again, the table was empty. The gift had vanished.
His room was a whirlwind of disorder. Clothes were strewn across the floor, books lay open and forgotten on the bed, and papers were scattered like autumn leaves.
Just then, his mother stepped into the room, her eyes widening in shock at the chaotic scene before her. "Heka!!! Look at this room!! Why is this so messy?" Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and concern.
Heka looked up, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm looking for a gift for Stacy. I forgot where I put it." he admitted sheepishly.
"It is that you put it on the front desk, isn't it?" His mother sighed, her expression softening as she stepped closer.
He has a very weak memory. After his mother reminded him, he realized that this morning he had brought a gift for Stacy and put it on the front desk. So it was easier to find and carry it.
Just as they were about to leave the house, a sudden realization struck him. Heka couldn't remember where he had placed the gift. He hurried back to his room, calling out in frustration,
"Ahhh..., Mom, I don't notice it." Heka said, low voice as he admitted his silly mistake
"Clean up your room first! Then we'll go." his mother's voice came firmly but kindly.
"Okay," He answered. He looked around and it was really a mess. He took a deep breath and cleaned it up.
After finishing the cleanup, Heka followed his parents, who were already waiting by the car, dressed and ready for the day. He climbed into the back seat, the soft leather cool beneath him, and settled in.
"Have you cleaned up your room?" His mother glanced back with a gentle smile.
Heka nodded confidently. "It has been done."
"Okay. then let's go." His father said, turning his attention back to the road.
The car rolled smoothly through the quiet streets, the morning sun casting long shadows as they made their way to St. Peter's Church, the venue for Stacy's wedding.
****
When they arrived at the church, something felt off. The yard was unusually quiet, almost eerily so. There were no signs of celebration, no colorful ribbons fluttering in the breeze, no floral arches framing the entrance, no joyful chatter or laughter echoing through the air.
The absence of wedding decorations made the place feel deserted, as if the day had been swallowed by silence.
Some of the guests who came were also surprised because the church was very quiet. "What is this? Why is this church so quiet?" Heka's mother whispered.
"We're not in the wrong location or date, are we?" Heka's father asked aloud, his voice tinged with doubt.
Heka's eyes scanned the stillness around them, and a chilling thought crept into his mind. He remembered the ominous warning Ansel had mentioned, the Bloody Marriage.
According to the superstition, if a tragic death occurred within the family or close circle, the wedding would be canceled, overshadowed by sorrow and misfortune.
"Maybe he will be right about the Bloody Marriage. But who is dead ? I hope it's not Clancy." Heka murmured quietly to himself.
Just then, a figure appeared, slowly approaching the car. It was a priest, his expression calm but somber. He stopped beside the vehicle and greeted them with a gentle. "Shalom."
"Shalom." Heka and his family responded in kind.
His mother, still puzzled by the unusual silence around the church, turned to the priest and asked politely. "Excuse me, isn't there a wedding today in this church? But why does this feel quiet?"
The priest nodded understandingly and began to explain the situation. "You must be invited guests. The wedding was postponed until next month. This morning they called us asking for help to cancel today's wedding. There was a family member who suddenly gave birth today. So they decided to postpone it to next month."
Hearing the priest's explanation, a wave of relief washed over Heka. The dark thoughts that had clouded his mind. The fear of tragedy and the ominous Bloody Marriage superstition, it began to fade. He thought to himself. "It turns out that no one dies. It means what Ansel worries about doesn't happen. No Bloody Marriage. Is he just bragging?"
"Father, thanks for the info," Heka's father said gratefully.
The priest smiled gently. "It's okay, there are also some invited guests who come but we also deceive that the wedding is canceled. I understand that, because the bride and groom have not yet contacted all the invited guests to say that the wedding is postponed."
"They haven't told us yet." Heka's mother nodded.
"I'm sure they'll call you later." The priest reassured them.
"Thank you for your information. Then, we'll leave first." Heka's father said as he prepared to leave.
"Please, be careful on the road." The priest added kindly.
"Okay, see you later."
As they drove away from the quiet church, the tension that had gripped them slowly lifted. The day's strange stillness was no longer a sign of misfortune but a reminder that life, with all its unexpected turns, continued on.
It turned out that the marriage was canceled after all. But what puzzled Heka the most was not the cancellation itself. It was why Clancy hadn't told him.
They had been friends for a long time, ever since middle school, sharing countless memories and experiences. Yet, despite their history and the closeness they once shared, Clancy had kept this important news from him.
They had been neighbors, living just a few houses apart in a quiet neighborhood where childhood adventures and secrets were exchanged freely.
But after graduation, everything changed. Clancy's family moved away, leaving behind the familiar streets and the comfort of their neighborhood.
The physical distance between them grew, but surprisingly, their communication did not falter. They kept in touch through calls, messages, and occasional visits, maintaining a connection.