Hours pass by as we get our hair and makeup done. I like the dress, apart from it being a bit revealing. I'm not comfortable with this cleavage but I don't let anyone notice it. Today is all about Anju. My discomfort is only minor anyway.

"I'm so nervous!" Anju squeaks, looking at herself in the mirror.

"Not as nervous as Kafei!" One of the bridesmaids cackles. "He's probably shitting his pants right now!"

"Cremia, I bet you $10 he's passed out on the floor right now," another bridesmaid says to the first, pouring more sparkling wine into her glass.

"I'll raise you to $20 and say he'll be the first to bawl his eyes out," Cremia returns, already looking a bit tipsy.

"With a bride as beautiful as Anju, there is no doubt he will be the first to shed tears," I join their friendly mockery.

We spent the whole morning taking pictures and getting ready together and I still can't remember the names of half the bridesmaids. It's too late to ask them now.

"I need my maid of honor," Anju requests for my presence in the mirror. I step up and walk over to her. "Gosh, why do you look so good today? You can't look better than me!" Her eyes rake up and down my body as she pouts. "I want your body."

I cover my cleavage with my hand, feeling even more self-conscious about it now. 

"You look way better than me," I assure the bride. I do like my curly hair and manicure though. I'm glad I don't look hungover anymore.

"You're only saying that because I'm the bride and saying anything else would be illegal."

"You look absolutely stunning, I promise."

"What do you think of the dress?" she asks, subtly pointing at her stomach.

"Your dress is still lovely, and your stomach is still flat."

"Okay," she lets out a breath of relief. "I'm so nervous."

"I get that. But just think about how you're about to marry the love of your life!" I smile excitedly.

"I know," she grins and giggles. "I've been waiting for this day ever since he proposed to me with a candy ring in the second grade!"

Their love story is something straight out of a novel! They've been in love since their childhood. I can't imagine having to wait this long to finally get married. No wonder she is nervous. It's a big day! Even I feel nervous, I can't imagine being the one who is getting married in a few minutes!

The wedding planner opens the door and peaks her head inside. "Anju, sweetie, the processional is about to start," she informs us, getting another squeak of excitement out of the bride.

"Have I mentioned how nervous I am?" Anju says, fixing her veil one last time.

"You're nervous?" I act surprised and she laughs. "You know, if you're having second thoughts, now might be your last chance to run off with one of the guests. Any vengeful ex's attendant today? Perhaps some unrequited first love or another love interest who might be a good candidate?"

Anju shakes her head amused. "There has always only been the one." Her smile is growing. "It's always been Kafei."

"Then this is it. You are marrying your soulmate, no turning back," I chirp.

"Let's do this," she laughs and leads the way.

We head down a long hallway that is decorated with framed paintings and tall vases with yellow flowers. I admire the vinyl wallpaper and the elegant patterns in the eden-colored carpet. What a beautiful place for a wedding. It looks like something out of the 1800s. Just imagine a 19th-century novel-like wedding. What a dream!

We head straight for the doors from which the music is coming. The bridesmaids go in first and take their spot by the altar. Fyson by my side, we walk in last.

"Sorry about last night," he whispers as we walk down the aisle.

"What are you sorry for?" I ask confused.

"Hitting on you."

"Oh." I don't really remember that.

"I was wasted. I'm not usually like that."

"It's fine."

"Okay, thanks. Sorry again. I didn't know you're dating Link."

"Really?"

"Yeah I don't really keep up with celebrities and stuff and since I'm not a student at HU, I didn't know about you two."

"It's fine," I repeat in a quick whisper.

Kafei is already standing up there, looking paler than usual but excited nevertheless. Just like his bride. Revali, Teli, and Link are on the opposite side of the bridesmaids. This is the first time I'm seeing all the frat boys in suits. They're still handsome but in a very different way. Link more than anyone. It's so peculiar to see him in such formal clothing. It will take me some getting used to.

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(Okay okay here's the drawing you guys have been asking for haha)

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I can't take my eyes off of him. He seems to be under the same spell. His face turns a deep crimson as he looks at me. I have to break eye contact first because if I spend any more time relishing the sight of him in a suit, my cheeks will turn just as red as his and I might trip and ruin the wedding on top of it.

Fyson and I split and stand on each side of the altar. It's a small wedding but I only recognize a handful of people. At first, I'm surprised to see Mipha sitting in the crowd, but then I realize that she must be Revali's plus one.

The music starts, shifting my focus to the large doors in the back. Anju enters the room and is led down the aisle by her father. Everyone is standing for the bride and I'm unintentionally imagining myself at her place once more.

I glance at Link; his eyes are on Kafei, then they suddenly switch to look at me. My heart leaps, my breath stops. I quickly aim my eyes back at Anju. She's fighting the tears. Kafei is embracing them, wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand. Looks like Cremona just won the bet.

With a bright smile and glossy eyes, Anju arrives at the altar. She gives her father an emotional hug and a kiss on the cheek before she takes Kafei's hand. The bride and groom stand side by side, as two equals; a beautiful metaphor for all their years spent together as friends, lovers, and inseparable team. Their hands symbolize their unbroken bond, and their silent looks the unspoken trust between them.

Now I'm tearing up too. I hope the mascara is waterproof. I press my lips together to suppress a smile. Is that really my biggest worry? Last year I was scared of losing my father, my dream major, my best friend, and the boy I was crushing on. And now I'm thinking about whether or not my tears of joy will smudge my mascara. I love it!

...

Revali's POV

Weddings are so draining. Everyone's acting happy for the couple but in truth, nobody wants to be here. And that's coming from me, possibly the only person whose attendance hasn't been a complete waste of time. All thanks to Mipha. If she'd be my plus one for every wedding, I'd attend 365 weddings a year and pretend to be happy for even the most pathetic couples. Yes, even those where you just know the marriage won't make it past the honeymoon.

"They look so happy," Mipha notes, dreamily staring at Anju and Kafei on the dance floor. Mipha doesn't have to pretend. Her heart only beats for others even when she claims to be selfish.

"Are you happy?" I ask her, causing her to look at me.

"Of course," she returns with a soft smile. "Are you?"

"Of course."

Not once has she looked at Link tonight. Her eyes have either been on the couple or me. She hasn't mentioned him either. It's been weeks since she talked about her feelings for Link. Either she's over him or she's not able to talk to me about it anymore. I can sense denial kicking in, trying to shield me from the painful but quite probable possibility that she can't share her personal problems with me anymore, but I recognize that the idea of her having moved on from Link is nothing but wishful thinking.

Anju and Kafei are done with their dance but my eyes are still on Mipha. She's a beauty through and through without even trying. I like that she doesn't wear makeup. And the dress suits her. But something is missing. Something to go along with her earrings. This couldn't be any more perfect.

"Come with me," I say, getting to my feet.

"What?" She takes a glance at Anju who is preparing to toss the bouquet. "You want to leave right now?"

I simply offer her my hand. She takes it without hesitation and, once she's standing, doesn't let go of my hand. This is either the best or worst time to give her the gift but I'm willing to risk it. I lace our fingers and lead her out of the ballroom, focusing on none other but her. One of two things will happen next. Either we will start dating, or everything up to this point was for nothing.

"Where are we going?" She whispers as we enter the deserted hallway.

"Not far, don't worry," I answer and open the first best door. It's a small room with the same tapestry and carpet as the hallway and a beautiful arched window. Good enough for a moment of privacy.

I close the door behind us, not letting go of her hand, and stand in front of her with a racing heart and dry mouth. Goddamn, why am I suddenly so nervous? If she doesn't like the gift I can play it cool and use the excuse of her outfit looking incomplete. No, that would be awful of me. I'll be honest and tell her the real purpose of the gift.

"I have something for you." I reveal the small gift box from my pocket and hand it to her. She lets go of my hand to untie the bow and open the lid. Her eyes widen and her cheeks flush at the sight of the necklace. This right here, that's my new favorite expression of hers.

"This is for me?" She says under her breath.

"Yes. You can wear it in the water too, it won't rust."

"It must have cost a fortune," she whispers in awe. "It's beautiful..."

"For a beauty like you, only the most beautiful jewelry is appropriate." That was smooth. That was good!

She can't take her eyes off of the necklace, and her cosmic smile confirms how much she truly likes it. Thank God she thinks it's beautiful! It was a pain in the ass choosing the perfect necklace and the jeweler who tried to sell me some gross engagement rings from the holocaust just wouldn't stop breathing on me that day. Bet they were just some junkie's rings from a Vegas wedding anyway.

Despite the violation of my personal space, it was worth going to that pawnshop just to see Mipha's reaction. Maybe all my struggles will pay off now. The wait was definitely worth it. I think if I had given her the gift on Christmas Eve, she wouldn't have cherished it the way she can now that time has allowed for her heart to heal.

"Mipha..." Her eyes are still on the necklace as her fingers explore the texture of the silver moon. "I like spending time with you. Whether we're just hanging out at the beach, hiking, or dining together, time spent with you always cheers me up. You make even the most dreadful things enjoyable. With you, I just somehow feel better."

"I feel the same about you," she quietly returns.

Those words... that smile... I'm neither blind nor deaf, she's telling me something here. I can't wait another five months. I can't wait another five seconds! I have to know how she really feels!

"I want to take you on a date," I say with so much confidence that the only possible answer is a 'yes'.

"What?" She looks up at me with creased brows and a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. That's not a yes? It's not even close to a yes!

"I want to start going out with you," I repeat, a little less confident.

"What have we been doing for the past couple of months?"

"Pardon?"

"The beach, the hikes, and the dinners... Those weren't dates?"

"Did you think they were dates?" I ask hectically.

"I... I did. I thought the wedding invitation was a date as well... I thought 'plus one' was an equivalent to--well-- a date. I apologize if I'm mistaken."

"Well, um--um--it can mean that so--sometimes. But we are friends, nothing more. I've been trying not to overstep those boundaries ever since... ever since winter break. Ever since you told me that you wanted to be just friends." I can feel my pulse in my throat when I swallow and take a deep breath to reset my composure. "Mipha, let me be completely honest here... I like hanging out with you, and while I'm happy that you agreed to those activities thinking they were dates, the only time I officially asked you out on a date was last year, when you were still interested in Link. But that was bad timing. It was too soon for you to date another man, I understood and respected your choices. But I've been thinking lately and... I think you're ready. Actually, I'm not certain about that because you haven't been talking to me about Link as much lately. Perhaps that is exactly why I'm thinking your attitude toward dating has changed. And the fact that you thought we have been dating affirms my speculation."

I wait a second to see if she reveals any contemporary feelings for the pathetic man next door but she is silently waiting for me to continue. I think that's a good sign. At the lodge, she instantly told me that she prefers Link over me, but this time... This time is different. Even if it's frighteningly similar to that night for a million reasons, it's different for a million more. The major difference being her gracious smile in contrast to the frown she wore that night.

"If I'm anywhere close to the truth, then I'm not making a complete fool out of myself by asking you out for the second time. I know what I want, and even if you're still contemplating on the side of vacillation, I think you like me too. At least you make me feel like you do."

She gives me an abashed nod, clinging to the necklace with both hands.

"Do want you--Do you want me to help you with that?" I stumble over my own words like an idiotic toddler. When she gives me a confused look, I gesture at the necklace.

"Oh! Yes, please," she smiles nervously and hands me the necklace before turning around.

Standing behind her, frozen and stunned, my mind is finally catching up... I can't believe I got the answer to my question at long last! I thought for sure she was still in love with Link. This is surreal and unexpected. But I couldn't be any more relieved!

"Revali..." I notice her shoulders stiffen as she mentions my name in the softest and quietest little voice. "I would love to go on an official date with you."

"A date we are both aware of?" I say with a faint smile.

"Yes," she giggles.

Coolly, I release the breath I've been holding ever since we stepped into this room. I notice the small tattoo behind Mipha's ear when I move her hair out of the way. It's a zodiac sign... Cancer, if I'm not mistaken.

I pick up my confidence with a raise of the chin and gently place the necklace around her neck. "May I make a fool out of myself one last time?"

"You could never be a fool in my eyes."

"Don't ruin the streak of honesty we so proudly built over the past year," I joke in a calm voice.

"Prove me wrong if you think I'm lying," she playfully challenges.

While my fingers connect the two silver ends, I speak softly against the back of her head. "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

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Hey hey heyyy! it was so fun to read all your responses to my question in the last chapter! Here's a question I've been dying to ask!

Out of all the characters, who do you ship?