Camille Syanna

I had only pictured myself marrying Zanti since I was ten. He was this dream I kept looking forward to but never really had. My so near, yet so far. Who would've ever thought that none of Nisha and I would have him at the altar to exchange vows with? I knew we hadn't.

But I couldn't be more glad for how things turned out. I didn't have the man of my dreams, but I found the man of my reality. The one who would make me feel that everything, no matter how beautiful, perfect, and delusory, was as real as it gets.

Zayn Andrei is it for me.

"Oh, please, don't cry," Nisha panicked when she noticed tears forming from the corner of my eyes. I just had my makeup redone from crying ten minutes ago. "We need to be at the church in fifteen minutes. There's no time to doll you up again and make you pretty."

"I'm sorry," I told her, sobbing. "I'm just so happy. And emotional! My baby is making me cry!"

I would blame it on my child for as long as I could. I only told my parents and my best friends about my pregnancy. I hadn't gained much weight, and my stomach was still the same.

When ZA proposed to me two weeks ago, we decided to have it immediately. And it wasn't too much work since I'd already planned my wedding since I was little and didn't know what marriage was really like. It was all in the book I put up, which I revised from time to time as I grew older. I knew it would be in great use someday. And that someday is now.

Chiara collaborated with Tom Ford in designing my wedding dress. How did she do all the work on such short notice? I had no idea.

But I loved it! Every intricate detail of it replicated the dress I wore as I closed my eyes when I was five and imagined marrying a prince after watching Cinderella.

A glittery-floral ball gown with see-through neck long sleeves in a flattering combination of ivory, candy pink, and champagne. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever worn.

"Hey! We're leaving in five," Chiara peeked through the door and shot me a glare. "Stop crying!"

Nisha laughed and helped with my veil. "Let's go. She better not come back to call us again, or we're both dead."

I laughed at that too. Of the three of us, Chiara was the most uptight. Everything in her life was organized and planned from top to bottom, or else she wasted her precious time.

When we came out, we caught her kissing her husband goodbye, pushing him out the door with their two-year-old son. I couldn't believe we'd all grown up just like that. Yesterday, we were these pre-teens excited about everything adults do, practicing kisses with one another and sharing secrets. Now, they're both mothers and soon I will be, too.

Nisha and Chi rode the limousine with me. We were halfway to the church when Chiara laughed out of nowhere. We both shot her a skeptical glance.

"How did we get ourselves tied up with another set of best friends? I had no clue," she made a face. "Best friends? Ah, they're ruining the word for us. They called each other comrades."

Nisha and I chuckled.

"As if comrades made it any more masculine," I rolled my eyes. "Not a day goes by where ZA hasn't received a call from Red."

"ZA calls Three every time," Nisha giggled, slightly covering her mouth to maintain her poise. "Mostly before midnight!"

"And Tristan was hardly not in my house," Chiara added. "They can't live without each other. They're that needy!"

"I know! Throw them a Louis Vuitton, and they're practically us!" Ah, I missed these conversations with my girls!

Everything was ready when we reached the church. My heart was pounding with so much happiness because this was it—the start of my forever with ZA.

My first meeting with Andrei flashed through my memory. God, I hated him back then. I still couldn't believe how much I cared for him now while I had nothing better to do than curse him. It wasn't very long ago when I thought the idea of me ending up with him was hilarious. But here I am now, loving the hilarious.

I walked inside the church with Adele's Make You Feel My Love in the background. It was an intimate ceremony shared with the most special people in our lives.

The church was filled with happy faces celebrating us. And my gaze zeroed at ZA standing at the end of the aisle with his two best men beside him. He couldn't pick one, so he had both Red and Tristan.

"He's a good man," Dad whispered beside me a few steps before we reached the finish line, my standing start with ZA. "I always thought that no one could love you as I do, but I was wrong. You are as special to him as your mother is to me."

"I love you, Daddy," I squeezed his arm and thanked him for everything. He had contributed a lot to the person I had become. He loved me and made me his own. I could never repay his kindness.

"Your mother and I are always here if you ever need us," not that he needed to remind me. Dad kissed my hand when we reached ZA. He was tearing up when he gave me away. "Take care of my little girl,"

"I will, Sir." Kinuha na ako ni ZA sa kanya.

"Dad," he corrected ZA. "You are my son now,"

Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier today.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," there wasn't a day he didn't tell me that. ZA guided me to the altar to face our future together. "I love you, Camille."

"I love you, too, Andrei."

The priest requested everyone's attention and silence as he began the ceremony. We had a little practice of how this day would run, but now that this was really happening, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Overjoyed, rather.

Oh, I planned to be at my most beautiful on my wedding day. But I was almost sure that wouldn't be the case. I couldn't help but tear up every time I thought of how my life would have been had he not kidnapped me from that auction.

So different.

"Do you, Camille Syanna Velez, take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?" The question I had wanted to be asked my whole life.

When I looked up at ZA, I could sense anxiousness in his expression. Oh, does he really think there's a possibility I'll jilt him when everything is already falling into its perfect places? He's got me already, for God's sake!

"I do," the audience cheered at my answer. I took the ring and my written vow from Chiara, who smiled lovingly at me. My hands were cold and sweaty when I touched ZA to put the ring on his finger. "This isn't how I dreamed it would be. This is so much more. You are so much more. Andrei, I didn't know how and when it started, but you were in every part of me now. I close my eyes, and I see you. I want it to be your face at every turn I do. You've taught me so much that I didn't know, and I'm sure there's a lot more in store for me. With you, I'm capable of becoming better. I love you so much. And I couldn't wait to start a life with you."

My eyes swam with tears. I was crying again. I cry when I'm sad. I also cry when I'm happy. This pregnancy was making me crazy.

ZA simpered. We were too drawn to each other that what the priest said barely registered to us. All we knew was that he was asked the same thing, and boy was he ready to answer.

Tristan was all smiles when he walked up to him with the ring and a card where his vow was written. He only took the ring and whispered something about not needing the card. Tristan shrugged and went back to his place after winking at me.

I had gotten comfortable with ZA's friends. Even Red had become bearable to me.

"Never had I thought of falling for someone who'd make me want to give the whole world to her. I don't do that because I can't do that. But for you, I'll die trying." A smile tugged at his lips as he looked at me with pure sincerity. It was as if I could feel how real every word was. "I am drowning in the depths of my feelings for you, my love. And I know how to swim, I just didn't want to save myself from the craziest adventures we would share. Cams, darling, I stand here today in front of everyone as God proved to me that after all the wreckage and disaster my life had battled, I deserved to be very happy. I deserved you. I do let you take the half; damn, you can take all of me, and I won't mind. I love you and always will, even if it's the last thing I will do. I do,"

"Oh, my God! That was too beautiful," I cried more. Life rewarded me with this man and made me feel like I was the luckiest child of God. He slowly slipped the gold Cartier into my finger, and it fitted as if it was meant to stay there forever.

ZA should really hold me now because I felt like melting in my stand. My legs were getting weaker by the second.

"And by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." That was music to my ears. I could listen to that phrase all day, and I'd still want to hear that tomorrow. "Groom, you may now kiss the bride."

My husband didn't waste a second to do as he was told. Warmth filled my chest when he reached for my veil to uncover my face. Our eyes matched like magnets. No more letting go of each other. We were both into this deep and mad.

ZA cupped my cheeks and lowered his head to kiss me fiercely in front of our friends and family. Claiming me, making me his, and I was the happiest I had ever been.

The dream I once had about this day was just that, a dream. Reality hit me differently, with too much spice than I expected. And it was better than what I had in mind. The one thing that remained was my desire for when I got married. I wanted to be very married.

And I am now.

The End

ANNOUNCEMENT:

VLADISLAV - ZA's POV, which covers the first and second-generation timeline, is open for pre-order. We have limited slots left. Please message us on Facebook to order: https://web.facebook.com/frapwpstories or https://web.facebook.com/frxppauchino/

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Book details: 6x9, perfect bind, 200 pages, cream paper, matte cover.

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