Chapter 14

"You look beautiful!"

"Thanks, Taylor," Melissa said, as she spun around to show off her wedding gown.

"Okay, so I'm going to go help Daley with the guests now."

"All right."

Taylor was looking at Melissa before she turned the doorknob and then walked towards Melissa again.

"Hey, what's wrong? This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life!"

"I know, but I was just... thinking. That's all."

"What's there to think about? You just need to get your pretty, little butt up the altar and then everything will just... flow."

Melissa gave a big smile and then said, "Thanks, Taylor."

"No problem. That's what I'm here for. Now don't let me catch you with cold feet again." Taylor gave Melissa a hug and then left.

Once the door was shut, Melissa's smile faded and she sat down in front of her mirror. She saw her reflection and just stared at it. She never thought that this day would come. Ever.

Suddenly, there came a knock at the door. The person entered without waiting for Melissa's consent to enter. Then she heard a male voice behind her say, "Hey, Mel."

Melissa turned around to face her visitor. Once she recognized him, she smiled and said, "Oh. Hey, Lex. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be accompanying Derek at the altar?"

"Yeah, I'm going there in a sec. I just wanted to check on you first."

"That's nice of you. But everything's fine." Melissa gave him her reassuring smile.

"All right."

Melissa turned towards the mirror again since she thought that Lex had already left. However, she heard his voice say, "You know, he loves you a lot."

She was confused at what Lex was insinuating at and turned around again. "Of course, I know. That's why we're getting married."

"We've been best friends for awhile and I've never seen him look at any girl the way he looks at you. His parents have been married for almost thirty years and they still have a strong relationship. He wants what they have. This marriage is important to him."

"What are you trying to tell me, Lex?"

"I'm not trying to tell you to do anything. I'm just informing you. Melissa, all I'm asking is that you listen to your heart."

And with that, Lex exited and left a confused bride.

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While the wedding was taking place, Jackson was in his apartment and was moping around most of the day.

"I can't believe there's nothing on to watch!" Jackson said, as he was flipping channels. "Out of all days, they decide to not put a single game on to watch."

Because he was frustrated, Jackson turned off the TV and threw the remote on the coffee table. The impact caused the remote to make some papers fall to the floor. Jackson was about to clean the mess when an envelope distracted him.

It was the invitation to the wedding. He opened it and read the card. He ran his fingers over Melissa's name a few times until he realized what he had to do.

Jackson grabbed his coat and ran out the door in such a rush that he didn't even bother to close it.

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"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Melissa Wu and Derek McAndrews in matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore – is not by any – to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly – but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly."

Melissa looked at Derek with a smile and he returned it with an even bigger one.

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"Hey, can you drive any faster?" Jackson asked the taxicab driver.

"Listen, pal. If you have any way of clearing the LA traffic then be my guest. But until then, all we can do is sit here and wait."

"That's the problem. I don't know how much longer I can wait."

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"Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

By now the priest and all in the church were searching around for any objectors. There was nothing but complete silence so the priest continued.

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"Your story..." (sniff) "...is so beautiful!" cried the driver.

"Thanks, Harold." Jackson said, as he gave the driver a pat on the back. "Now you see why I have to make it to the church before it's too late."

"Don't worry, buddy," Harold said, as he wiped away his last tear. "Old Harold will get you to that church in no time. Guaranteed."

Suddenly, the taxicab was on the sidewalk and was going at a good speed. To warn pedestrians, Harold continuously honked the horn.

Normally, Jackson would object to any kind of rule-breaking that could potentially harm the public, but his only focus was on Melissa.

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"By the power vested in me, and as witnessed by friends and family, I now pronounce you husband and-"

"Wait!"

Everyone looked around to search for the intruder, but they soon realized that it was Melissa who had spoken.

As Melissa asked the priest to excuse her and Derek, she could already hear the murmurs of the guests. She then looked at her groom, who had a confused look on him.

"Derek, you have been so good to me even when I thought that I didn't deserve it. You have been supportive and have taken such good care of me. You know that I love you."

During the pause, Melissa's smile faded. She started to get choked up and developed tears in her eyes.

"But my heart is with someone who isn't even here." She couldn't bear it any longer. She had to lower her eyes to the floor because she didn't want to see the hurt in Derek's eyes.

Then Derek spoke, "Is it Jackson? Melissa? Please talk to me. I'm sure we can work this out. You probably just have cold feet or something. Or we can..."

Melissa lifted her head and said, "Derek, I'm so, so sorry."

With her last sentence, Melissa decided against giving him a kiss on the cheek since it would have been inappropriate and gave a quick glance at Lex, who returned it. She then fled away from the altar and ran towards the door in what seemed like forever to reach.

00000

"Harold, you are a life saver!" Jackson said, as they were a block away from the church.

"Anything for a love story like yours, my friend."

Jackson was so excited and nervous about interrupting the wedding ceremony that he almost didn't notice a bride running in the opposite direction until a few seconds later.

"Stop! Stop! Thanks for everything, Harold! Here's a hundred dollars. Keep the change," Jacskon said, as he ran out the door.

"Melissa! Melissa!" a voice called after her. She stopped and looked back. It was Jackson chasing after her. She ran to meet him.

When they met halfway, Jackson was so positive that Melissa was going for a hug but it turned into a punch.

"Why are you such a jerk! Actually, you're worse than that. You're such a... a... an ass!" By now Jackson had recovered from the blow. "And how come you weren't at the wedding! I was expecting you to be there and you weren't! I thought you wanted me to be happy!"

"Listen, I was on my way there. I was going to object to the marriage and tell you how much I love you. I do want you to be happy, but not with him. I want you to be happy with me." That statement gave Jackson another punch.

"You're so incredibly selfish!" It looked like she preparing for another punch. "But, I guess, that was really sweet of you to say." She then embraced him and placed her cheek on his chest.

It was a wonderful feeling for Jackson to be able to touch Melissa again. God, it had been so long, too long. He wrapped his arms around her and absorbed her smell, the scent of Melissa. Jackson didn't care that people on the streets were looking at them awkwardly and calling them crazy. He just wanted to enjoy this moment.

To break the wonderful silence, Melissa said, "What about Monica?"

Jackson's eyes widened and he just hugged Melissa harder and said, "Let's not ruin the moment."

"Jackson!" She broke free of his embrace. "What about Monica?"

"Well, you see. Funny story." He gave an insincere laugh.

"How funny?"

"Well... uh... you know, the night you announced that you were engaged? Ha, that was also the night that I broke up with Monica." Jackson gave a smile to a very angry Melissa. "Funny, huh?"

"You broke up with her that night? After you slept with her?" Melissa gave Jackson a deathly look. "And that day I moved out, you told me to give you the keys so you could give it to Monica. You were such a jerk that day! What is your problem!"

"I was angry that night, okay?" The response didn't satisfy her. "What do you want me to say? That I'm a guy and I have no clue about anything?"

"Yes!"

"I'm a guy and I have no clue about-"

"That's not an excuse!" Melissa was about to go for another punch but Jackson made it in time to hold her hand.

"Melissa Wu, I love you."

She softened a bit at the words and gave a smile. "Finally. I've been in front of you all this time and you finally realized it today."

"What can I say?" Jackson said with a smile.

"Well, are you going to kiss her now or stare her to death?" a new voice in the conversation said.

They turned to the side and noticed an elderly man sitting on bench next to them. They concluded that he had witnessed the whole incident and chuckled.

"Well, what's it gonna be, Jackson?" Melissa said with a playful look.

Without a word, Jackson pulled Melissa into a kiss. It was a kiss full of happiness, passion, longing, and, most of all, love.

Well, sadly this is the end! I hope this satisfied you guys. You probably saw it coming. I want to thank all who reviewed because the reviews motivate me! I also want to personally thank those anonymous reviewers because I have no way of replying back to you guys! Thanks to all for keeping this story alive!