JAY POV —
A few days later, Manila felt different.
Not louder. Not brighter.
Just… fuller.
The airport arrival hall smelled like coffee and polished floors and something dangerously close to nostalgia.
I spotted them before they spotted me—Reycee waving enthusiastically, Percy standing steady beside her, and Dad—already smiling like he'd been holding it in since the plane touched down.
I didn't walk.
I ran.
My mother's arms wrapped around me first, warm and tight, her perfume familiar enough to unlock something deep in my chest.
"My baby," she whispered. "You're getting married."
I laughed into her shoulder, blinking hard. "I know."
Percy hugged me next—gentle, grounding, proud. Dad followed, hands firm on my shoulders like he was making sure I was real.
"You chose well," he said quietly. "And you chose yourself. That's what matters."
My throat closed.
Keifer stood a little to the side, respectful, calm—but when Dad turned to him and pulled him into a hug anyway, something in my chest finally unclenched completely.
Family. All of it. Here.
Wedding dress shopping was scheduled for the next morning.
Keifer tried to come.
"I can sit outside," he said earnestly. "Or wear a blindfold."
"No," Reycee, Celeste, and I said in perfect unison.
Celeste grinned. "Absolutely not. This is sacred girl business."
Keifer sighed like a man being sentenced. "I hate all of you."
"You love us," I corrected, kissing his cheek. "Now go be dramatic elsewhere."
----
The boutique didn't feel real.
It felt like stepping into a place that existed only for women on the edge of becoming something new.
Tall ceilings curved overhead, ivory walls catching the light like pearls. Soft music floated through the air—strings, slow and romantic—while dresses hung suspended in glass panels like they were artifacts instead of fabric.
Everything smelled faintly of roses and clean linen.
I stood there, suddenly aware of my hands.
Of my heartbeat.
Of the fact that in a few weeks, I would walk toward Keifer in one of these dresses—and that thought alone made my knees weak.
The consultant smiled gently. "Let's begin."
---
Dress One
It was strapless. Structured. Heavy.
The kind of dress that commanded attention.
When I stepped out, Celeste clapped immediately.
"Okayyy—boss bride," she said. "You look like you could buy the venue."
Reycee smiled, but I saw it—her eyes searching my face.
I looked stunning.
But I felt… armored.
Like the dress was wearing me.
I shook my head. "It's beautiful," I said. "But it feels like I'm going to a negotiation."
The consultant nodded knowingly. "Noted."
---
Dress Two
This one shimmered.
Beading caught the light with every movement, throwing reflections onto the walls. The back dipped low, dramatic, cinematic.
Celeste gasped. Reycee inhaled sharply.
"Oh my God," Celeste whispered. "Keifer is going to pass out."
I turned, watching the sparkle ripple in the mirror.
It was breathtaking.
But it felt… loud.
Like it was trying too hard to be unforgettable.
"I want him to see me first," I said quietly.
Reycee reached for my hand. "Then wait."
---
Dress Three
Soft tulle. Long sleeves. Romantic, vintage.
I stepped out slowly.
My mother cried.
Actual tears.
"You look like a story," she whispered.
My chest tightened.
But something inside me stayed still.
It was almost right.
Almost.
But not home.
"I love it," I said. "Just… not for me."
The consultant smiled wider now. "I think I know."
She disappeared.
The room held its breath.
---
The Dress
When she returned, the dress wasn't dramatic on the hanger.
That's what scared me.
Thin straps. Delicate lace—floral, intricate, almost whispered into existence. The silhouette flowed instead of clinging, skimming my body like it already knew me.
"This," she said gently, "is not meant to announce itself."
I stepped into it.
The fabric slid over my skin like a promise.
When I turned toward the mirror—
Everything stopped.
I didn't see a bride.
I saw myself.
The lace framed my collarbone, dipped softly at my chest. The straps rested like they belonged there. The gown fell effortlessly, moving when I breathed.
Then she placed the veil.
It was long.
Longer than I expected.
Trailing behind me like history and future woven together.
Royal.
I stared.
Celeste made a broken sound.
Reycee's hands flew to her mouth, tears spilling freely now.
"Oh, Jay," she cried. "That's it. That's you."
My vision blurred.
"I don't feel like I'm pretending," I whispered. "I feel like I'm… arriving."
The consultant nodded softly. "That's how it's supposed to feel."
I touched the lace, fingers trembling.
Somewhere far away, I imagined Keifer's face when he'd see this.
And my heart absolutely lost it.
"This one," I said firmly. "I'm marrying him in this."
---
The dress was wrapped carefully, like it carried a secret meant only for us.
We left the boutique lighter. Quieter. Giddy in that fragile, surreal way.
We walked through the city next—shoes, jewelry, tiny details. Reycee picked pearl earrings that rested just below my ears.
"Soft," she said. "Like you."
Celeste snorted. "Lies. But pretty lies."
---
And then…
Celeste stopped.
I knew that look.
"No," I said instantly.
She smiled. "Yes."
She dragged me into a smaller boutique—dim lighting, silk-lined shelves, velvet hangers holding lace and satin that definitely wasn't for public viewing.
I froze.
"Oh my God," I hissed. "Absolutely not."
"This," she said solemnly, "is the marriage survival kit."
I stared at the racks, face heating rapidly.
She held up something lacey. Delicate. Dangerous.
And the colour
RED Ahhhh
"Celeste—"
"Keifer is not emotionally prepared for this," she said calmly.
"I'm not either!"
She shoved a hanger into my arms. "Try it."
I did.
I stepped out.
She whistled.
"Oh. Oh no. He's finished."
I buried my face in my hands. "I hate you."
"You love me," she corrected. "And you're buying this."
She nodded approvingly. "Growth."
She paid before I could escape.
---
By the time we stepped outside, the sun was warm, the day unreal in the best way.
My phone buzzed.
Keifer:
Can you come meet me? There's someone I want you to see.
My heart skipped.
I smiled at the screen.
Jay:
On my way.
Reycee kissed my cheek.
Celeste squeezed my hand. "Go. Future wife."
As I walked away—dress chosen, secrets tucked into bags, love stitched into every decision—
—I realized something.
I wasn't scared anymore.
I wasn't waiting to be chosen.
I already was.
And the wedding…
The wedding was coming fast....