BRIANN P.O.V
I stood beside Sua who was carefully fingering the beadwork on a veil until the boutique door chimed open.
I glanced up and caught it.
Sua's hand froze mid-air.Her eyes widened, then darted to the floor.A faint blush bloomed across her cheeks as someone who was never invited with a radiant smile stepped through the entrance.It was the Mrs Mason Sua had been secretly pining for,the one she gave her heart to in vague while she wanted no-one to know.
I frowned knowingly.
Sua,sensing my attention,straightened up abruptly,her expression shifted with practiced drama. "What are you doing here?" She snapped at Mrs Mason,feigning indignation with a tone that was a touch too sharp to be convincing.
Mrs Mason blinked,clearly taken aback but amused. "I-uh-just wanted to see the dresses" She said,holding up a peace offering of coffee cups.
Sua crossed her arms,lips twitching as if fighting a smile. "You could've texted first" She muttered,but the pink in her ears betrayed her.
I bit my lip to keep from spilling out the yell. I just watched Sua's bravado wobble under the weight of her own flustered heartbeat and thought,So that's what Sua looked like when she's in love.
"Sua!" I shut her up with a whisper,but she just ignored and turned to take her leave when a chuckle escaped from Mrs Mason and I had to let her be as she was about to leave the room.Two men stopped her by the exit,taking her back while she kept struggling to get away.
"Why are you doing this? I don't want your help and stop staying around me" She yelled at Mrs Mason who just smiled to her words, "I'm not some kind of pet you control."
"I only wanted to watch you try out the dresses selected for you,but you're being so stubborn" Mrs Mason pulled her along into the private room,leaving me as an exception and I had to wait behind,sitting back on the couch.
"Why does she have to carry such burden to herself,and there's nothing I can do to help" I said to no one in particular and decided to step away for a moment to give Sua space during her final fitting even if i knew what they would possibly be doing in there.The bridal boutique was quiet, hushed with candle-like lighting and the faint rustle of silk and chiffon.But when i returned, something felt...off.
Sua still hadn't come out of the private fitting room.Neither had Mrs Mason.
I walked slowly down the hallway lined with framed photos of smiling brides.My boot heels clicked against the floor,then fell silent as i reached the door.It was slightly ajar,not open enough to see much,but enough to hear.
What I heard made me utter. "Ain't you done!?"
A sigh.Soft and breathless.Then a voice,low and reverent.
"You're beautiful like this"
It was Mrs Mason,
The one who had the gentle voice that could deceive anyone.
And then,Sua responded. "I don't want you like this" Her voice trembling when Mrs Mason replied. "But I love being like this to you"
There was a sound,faint but unmistakable, the rustle of fabric falling,silk slipping to the floor,the catch of a gasp swallowed by a kiss.My heart stopped,not knowing what to do.Maybe I should stop them or leave Sua with her love life.
I inched closer to the door,eyes wide, breath caught in my throat.Through the narrow gap,i saw them: Sua,half-undressed in a pool of ivory, her skin was glowing under the golden lighting.Mrs Mason knelt before her, hands reverent as if every inch she touched was sacred.
It wasn't rough.It wasn't thoughtless.It was tender,the kind of touch that came from knowing someone deeply,wanting them in a way that defied reason.Mrs Mason's lips moved over Sua's shoulder,slow and aching while Sua clutched at her with desperate need.They didn't speak,but their bodies did,fluent in a language that i had never known that my sister could be so full of romance.
And it was real.
Raw.
Completely,terrifyingly real.
I stepped back as quietly as i could, trying not to watch any more abominable romance,my heart thudding violently in my chest. I staggered into the hallway,my hands shaking,my mind torn between outrage,disbelief and a quiet,reluctant understanding.
Because what I had witnessed wasn't some reckless affair.It was love,stripped bare.Wrong,yes,in every imaginable way.But also painfully,heartbreakingly true.
My sister had fallen for someone she was never meant to.In the most beautiful,devastating way,she had given in.
I pressed my back to the wall,trying to steady myself.The soft murmurs from the room continued.Promises,moans,the sound of stolen moments and I let my tears fall quietly,grieving not just for what was broken,but for how beautiful it had been before we came to Ontario.
After so many hours of staying in the hallway.Mrs Mason finally came out,walking away as if I was never visible.But I stopped her in a quick pull.
"What have you done to Sua!! She can't be with you,she's getting married to your son soon,you shouldn't..."
"I was only trying to help her pick the perfect dress for the wedding" She faked a smile.
"You can fool everyone else,but you can't fool me.I saw everything.You're only trying to take advantage of Sua and I won't let you do that" I croaked threateningly before glaring at her.
"Ugh! What can you do!? Tell the family about our relationship??" She rumbled into laughter and pulled her hand from my tight grip. "No one would ever believe you"
"You're so...."
"What's going on here?" I heard Sua's voice from behind and Mrs Mason faced her with a smile that hid the whole truth.
"I'd leave you two for now" Mrs Mason went out and we were left in silence until I cleared my throat and spoke in a low tone, "I don't think it's a good idea to
be with Mrs Mason,she doesn't look good"
"Ugh! Why do you keep talking about it,I'm an adult and I choose whoever I want to love" She groaned,already getting angry when she left.I let out a sigh,watching her leave with two workers carrying two bags and following her closely.
She wouldn't even understand what might befall her.
ON THE WEDDING DAY
I stood quietly by the edge of the grand dressing room,watching Sua being transformed into a bride.The suite was a masterpiece of elegance,tall mirrors framed in gold,velvet curtains cascading from ceiling to floor and soft classical music floating through the air.Around her,stylists moved with graceful urgency, adjusting lace,pinning curls and fastening tiny buttons along the back of the gown.
Sua stood at the center,elevated on a plush white pedestal,the wedding dress still only half done.The bodice had already been secured,a masterpiece of delicate embroidery and sparkling crystals that caught the light with every movement.The voluminous skirt waited to be arranged, layers of tulle and silk billowing softly as the assistants worked their magic.A pearl-studded veil was laid nearby,soon to be draped over her gleaming chestnut hair, which had been swept into an elegant chignon.
I couldn't take my eyes off her,hoping to also have my wedding in such luxury.She looked breathtaking.Even now,not fully dressed.Her face glowed with anticipation and joy,her eyes danced every time she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
Outside the suite,the opulence of the ceremony was already taking form. Through the window,i could see the grand courtyard bathed in golden afternoon light. Rows of ivory chairs flanked a marble aisle, now being sprinkled with rose petals by attendants in satin uniforms.Giant floral arches towered overhead,bursting with orchids,peonies,and white roses.Guests were beginning to arrive,stepping out of black Bentleys and Rolls-Royces,their couture gowns sweeping the red carpet laid out at the entrance of the historic estate.
I felt a wave of awe and emotion swell in my chest.This wasn't just a wedding,it was a dream sculpted in luxury and light. But not with love because Sua never wanted Massilo,her heart was for someone else.And in the room was Sua,still dressing,still glowing,about to become a bride before the eyes of the world and me most of all.
"Sua!" I called and she told those around to leave the room before letting her tears to flow,as the mascara left some tracks over her cheeks.She cried her eyes out, covering her mouth with her hand and mumbling some incoherent things as if she had no hope anymore.I would like her to be happy,but I still don't want her to be with Mrs Mason,it wasn't just right for Sua,Mrs Mason is so much older and she is too hideous to believe,I shall protect Sua.
"please help me,i just don't know what to do.If i leave,it's as if i lost to you and if i stay and marry Massilo,i won't be able to stay with whom i love" She stuttered,nervously.
"you can still be in a relationship with Mrs Mason even after getting married to Massilo,but i don't think Mrs Mason is good for you,what if you get yourself hurt, the heavens doesn't want any of that for you later in the future"
"you are wrong!"
"I want the best for you" I said,about to give her a hug,but was interrupted by mom's sudden call for my presence and i rushed out immediately.
The wedding hall was nothing short of breathtaking.A masterpiece of luxury and elegance that seemed to belong in a dream rather than reality. The moment you stepped inside, the world changed. Soft golden light poured from grand crystal chandeliers suspended high above, scattering a gentle sparkle across every polished surface. The air smelled of fresh roses and vanilla, a delicate perfume carried on the quiet hum of anticipation.
Ivory drapes flowed like waterfalls down the towering walls, framing the space with regal warmth. Rows of gold-accented chairs lined either side of the wide white aisle, each tied with satin ribbons and crowned with tiny bouquets of baby's breath and blush-pink peonies. The aisle itself shimmered with a mirror-like finish, reflecting the ornate ceiling and the floral arch waiting at the far end.
At the front, the altar stood beneath a canopy of white roses, orchids, and crystal strands that twinkled with every movement of air.Behind it, a tall window let in natural light, casting a soft halo over the space where vows would soon be exchanged.
Tables for the reception flanked the sides, already set with fine china, gold-rimmed glasses, and tall, glimmering candelabras surrounded by lush floral centerpieces. A quartet played softly in the corner, their music wrapping around the guests like silk, calming and rich.
Everything was perfect. Grand yet intimate. Elegant yet warm. A place built not just for beauty,but for memories that would last forever.
I found Mrs Mason hanging around the hall entrance with welcoming guests as I expected. Mr Mason was pulling her closer by the waist just to show off how loving they are together while Mrs Mason kept avoiding his kiss,but later gave in when more guests arrived and their lips met,putting less effort in making any pleasurable emotion and i walked up to them with a frown on my face before giving her the glare that said;
You are worse.
At the sight of my presence,she moved away in slight fear which faded into a fake smile and i uttered urgently, "Mr Mason! I need to talk to you"
Her eyes went wide through the grin over her surprise when Mr Mason replied.
"What do you have to say on a great day?"
They all left except Mrs Mason who stood at a distance and drinking tequila from a goblet.I turned to face him,taking few steps closer when I saw how baffled she had become.
"Is anything wrong?" Mr Mason asked out of concern.
"It's about Mrs Mason" I paused to have a glance of her face which was turning into anger.
"She's gay!"