She's My Sleeping Pill

The beautiful arc in front of her was decorated with tulips. From the starting point of the red carpet to the very end where Stefan was waiting for her; there were tulips everywhere. It was like a magical world where she was walking in a garden of tulips.

“Give me a sec.” She looked around to find Erwin but he was no longer standing behind her. “I need to call my husband.” She said because walking down the aisle just to get to where he was would put her in a limelight. She didn’t even know what was real and what was not.

Her purse was left in the car because she thought he would be there waiting for her to get this job done and she was adamant about turning back.

She could no longer hold back herself and asked, “Is this real? Am I really having my wedding or is this part of my job?”

“This is your real wedding.” The organizer whispered which brought tears to Cayenne’s eyes. She knew that Stefan wanted to give her the best wedding, the once-in-a-lifetime event that she would forever remember even when they’re old and white-haired. She just didn’t expect it would be like this.

“I just need to walk down this aisle, right?”

.....

“Yes, you need to.”

“Uhh...what if this is a dream?” Cayenne blurted out which earned her faint chuckles from the guests. “I don’t want this dream to end.”

“You are not dreaming Mrs. Dumrique. Right now, your husband is waiting for you at the end of this carpet, in front of the altar where you will say your vows.”

“I didn’t even prepare my vow!” She exclaimed disappointedly. Stefan prepared so much but she will ruin it because she wasn’t able to prepare even a single thing. “What should I do?”

“Everything will be alright. Trust me. No. Trust your husband.”

Cayenne wiped her tears, still standing at the entrance without moving an inch. She felt that if she moves, everything will vanish and she’ll wake up lying on her bed with no bouquet or red aisle.

From the side, Reuben appeared and pulled his daughter into a tight hug. “Yen, you are finally getting married. I am so happy for you. I have always been worried that Stefan would do something that would hurt you. Now, I believe that I was worried for nothing. Stefan isn’t like me. He’s a good man. He’s worthy of being your husband.”

“Dad, this isn’t a dream, right? I don’t really know. I still feel confused.”

“This isn’t a dream. This is a reality that you deserve, sweetheart. Now, walk with me and you’ll see the man who values you like the most precious gem.”

Trusting her father and trusting her husband who has the ability to make her dreams possible, Cayenne wrapped her hands around her father’s arm and slowly walked beside him. Among the guests, she was able to identify her colleagues from Clover Hotel. Faith and Noah were invited as well. Her tears were blurring her vision and when she wiped them off to see the people clearly, her eyes landed on Seiji which shocked her beyond reason. She never thought that Stefan would invite this man whom he treated as his rival.

Moving forward, the scent of fresh tulips reminded her of the day that she had their first out-of-town trip. Christmas was just around the corner when they visited Rosalia’s Garden and enjoyed their moment despite the fight they had the night before that. Memories flooded her mind from the first moment she saw him, to the night that she started her job and got a crisp scolding from him, to the first night they slept together under one roof, and to the times that they had to meet in secret because of their work agreement. She also remembered the first time that she had her heart broken because of him and the time that she signed the divorce papers. She was even kidnapped and almost died at the hands of her grandfather.

Cayenne could not believe it. After all the things that happened to them, she never thought that she would be walking down this aisle to the altar that she likes so much. She remembered one of their conversations in the past. It was when she was hospitalized due to her ulcer. That time, Stefan promised her a lot of things and she joked about them not being in front of an altar. He said he would bring her there, although it never happened.

Yet, that silly promise was happening right now.

“I’m handing my daughter to you. I hope you will take good care of her forever.” Reuben told Stefan as he gave Cayenne’s hand to her husband.

She had seen Stefan in many kinds of attire, formal and not, but right now, he looked exceptional in her eyes. Even when he teased her for being a crybaby, she didn’t blink or look away from him. She was afraid that he would vanish if she takes her eyes off him.

“Now that you are holding me, there is no going back.”

“Hmph! I should say that to you. You are not allowed to retract this wedding.”

“My dear, I prepared so much just for this event to happen. There’s no way I’d change my mind.”

Cayenne finally smiled happily and linked her fingers with Stefan. They walked the remaining distance together and faced the priest who was waiting for them.

When the priest asked the question that she hated the most, her heart lurched in her throat and she could barely breathe. “Is anyone against the union of these two people? Is anyone against this wedding?” It was only after the priest proceeded that she realized she was holding her breath.

“I can’t wait for him to announce you as my wife,” Stefan whispered while listening to the priest’s words.

“I have been your wife for almost three years now and will always be, today and in the future.”

“I have not asked for your vows yet. Don’t be so excited.” The priest commented which caused everyone to laugh out of the blue.