Forced Marriage

"Happy anniversary, Love." Philip kissed me on the lips and handed me a small box. It was a gift.

I was trying so hard to mask the emotion that I was feeling right now. Because if I didn’t control my feelings, I'd be on my knees, breaking down in front of him.

It was our anniversary. I must be happy. The restaurant where we were dining was full of life. But I felt like I had no life at all. It was as if my heart was squeezing in pain for what I would about do to Philip.

I would be breaking his heart on our 3rd anniversary. I really planned to do it today so he would hate me. It would be better if he'd hate me. So the pain would be in one massive fall, mainly because tomorrow Nicholai and I will be married. I had no choice. I had to do this to protect him. And my baby.

Maybe I was the only bride who wouldn’t be happy tomorrow.

I remained stoic while looking at Philip, smiling. This would be the last time that I'd see his smiling face.

"I can't take that, Philip." I pushed the gift that he gave to me closer to him.

I took a deep breath and gently removed the engagement ring he had given me on my finger. I put it down on the table and pushed it closer to him.

"W-What is this? Why did you take it off?" I could see that he was confused. I wanted to smile bitterly, but I couldn’t do it either. Especially the following line that I would tell him.

"Let's break up." I clenched my fist under the table to stop myself from crying and retract what I said.

He laughed at what I said. "You are doing it again. This is just a prank. You almost got me. Just get it back and wear it."

"I'm serious, Phil. I don't want this anymore." I looked at his eyes. Those pairs of eyes made me fall for him hard.

He held my hand and looked at me. I matched his stare. I looked coldly at his pleading gaze.

"What's the problem, Love? Why are you breaking up with me? Did I do something wrong? Tell me—-"

"I don't love you anymore," I told him directly without emotion.

"W-What?" The shock was evident on his face, and then it was gradually replaced by pain.

"I just woke up to the fact that I don't love you anymore. So let's stop this. I don't love you anymore." I removed his hand that was holding my other hand. I got up and started walking. I stopped when Philip suddenly grabbed my hand.

"Love! Wait! Don't be like this. Please ... Let's fix this. I know you still love me. I'll do everything, just don't leave me. I love you so much," he begged. My eyes widened when he kneeled in front of me. People were already looking at us inside the restaurant. I could even hear gasps and murmurs from the people around us.

"What are you doing? Stand up, Philip!" I said in gritted teeth.

"No. Not until you take back everything that you said a while ago."

I squeezed my eyes abruptly as I clenched my fist, trying to stand firm with my decision. I looked at him coldly again. I didn't want to take it back. I wanted to be firmed with my decision.

I forcefully withdrew my hand from his grasp. "I don't love you, and I'm not happy with you anymore. Is it hard to accept that? If you love me, you will let me go. Please, just let me go." I saw a tear fall from his eyes. I bit my lower lip and ran out of the restaurant. I could no longer bear to look at how much I had hurt him.

Fuck! I couldn’t breathe from the pain. I pounded my chest hard, trying to stop my heart from hurting so badly.

I took one last look at Philip, who was still on his knees where I had left him.

Goodbye, Philip.

I hurriedly looked for a taxi. I didn’t bring my car because Philip picked me up at my condo.

My earlier reluctance to cry was gone. I was crying while walking on the pavement. From time to time, I wiped away the tears that fell from my eyes.

I was startled when someone grabbed my hand. I was shocked.

It was Nicholai. He was looking at me with a worried expression. I burst out crying even more.

He hugged me and I cried in his arms.

"I-It hurts. It hurts so much, Nic." I cried.

"Shhh! You will be fine." He cupped my face and looked me in the eyes. "I will help you forget about him. I will make you forget about him."

"I hate you," I cried again. He wiped my tears and gave me a sad smile.

"I know. I know."

***

Next day came. The day that I would tie a knot with Nicholai.

It was my wedding day, but I didn't feel happy at all. Our family didn't ask us a lot of questions of why we were suddenly going to get married. They said they already knew that the two of us would end up together. They were beyond happy for us. Opposite to what I felt.

Nicholai prepared an intimate wedding for us in Amanpulo Island Resort Palawan. I told him to make it as private as possible. And just between our two families only. But I didn't expect that it was still as grand as what I was seeing right now. The motif he followed was my dream wedding with Philip. But unfortunately, Nicholai was the groom. Not Philip anymore.

"Dearly beloved and honored guests. We are gathered together here to join Nicholai and Denima Cris in the union of marriage. This contract is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities,” said the priest in front of us. We didn't exchange vows. I didn't write one. For what?

"Nicholai Acosta, do you take Denima Cris Hanon to be your husband/wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him/her forevermore?"

"I do," Nicholai replied directly.

"And Denima Cris Hanon, do you take Nicholai to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him/her forevermore?" My lips quivered. Love? I smiled bitterly. I wished I could marry the man that I really love so it wouldn’t be this difficult.

"What are you doing? Answer the priest now," Nicholai whispered urgently to me. I looked at the priest who was waiting for my answer. I smiled at him and nodded.

"I do, Father." I heard Nicholai sigh in relief. The ceremony continued until the priest announced.

"By the power of your love and commitment, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!" said the priest after we exchanged rings.

Nicholai turned to face me and took off my veil. He leaned forward and stopped an inch away from my lips.

"You are now mine, Mrs. Acosta," he said and then claimed my lips.