"It was a mistake loving you but I'll never regret it."
Tears started streaming down her face as she looked at the man of her dreams. The groom is standing in front of the altar wearing a tuxedo. It really looked good on him. She had always dreamed for this moment. Marrying the man she loved the most.
He looked at him straight in the eyes can't help cry even more.
It was 12 years ago, when everything started. Aliya is 15 years old while Jerome is 25. Aliya had a crush on him because Jerome is handsome and very responsible so even though Aliya is very young, he has already crushed it. They had a secret relationship and lasted for 5 years even tho its just a Long distance relationship. She knew their relationship will not be accepted by their family so she let go of him even though they really love each other.
Years passed and she is already 27 and is now teaching high school yet she is still single because she promised to herself that if she can't marry him, then she won't marry anyone else.
One day, their relatives invited Aliya and her family to go their house. Its a small gathering because they haven't seen each other for a long time and they are also preparing for the wedding of her 2nd cousin.
Aliya hesitated at first but her parents forced her because her 2nd cousin is gonna be married and they wanted to meet the family of the woman he was going to marry.
Jerome is also there and they met again. At first it was awkward because its been years but God knows how much happy she felt when she saw him.
That night they had a drink with Jerome, her other cousins and siblings. The bride, on the other hand, rested because the wedding was early tomorrow. Aliya was also there but she did not drink. He just eats there and chats with his cousins who are also invited and especially with the relatives of the bride. She had a low tolerance on alcohol and she didn't want to get drunk.
She and Jerome are facing each other in the chair but they never talk. They looked at each other but he immediately looked away. She feels awkward. Especially when they are together. Hours passed and it was already midnight. Some are right but she only eats chips. Meanwhile, Jerome is still sober.
He moved next to Aliya and his reason was that he would charge his phone because the socket is next to Aliya. She can't move and she felt suffocated because of the butterflies on her stomach. She wasn't drunk but he felt dizzy from Jerome's familiar smell. "How I miss his scent!" She shouts in her mind. She just controlled herself not to cry suddenly and hug him. She distracted herself on her cellphone. She just played on her cellphone but was surprised when Jerome hugged her and suddenly whispered in his ear. "I miss you. Im sorry."
She was especially surprised when suddenly he hugged her softly. Shee wanted to hug him back but she couldn’t because she felt a lump on her throat and she wanna cry. She escaped Jerome's hug then stood up. She smiled bitterly at him and excuse herself and went inside her room. "I miss you too." She whispered before she started crying.
TEARS started streaming down her face as she looked at the man of her dreams. The groom is standing in front of the altar wearing a tuxedo. It really looked good on him.
She had always dreamed for this moment. Marrying the man she loved the most. He looked at him straight in the eyes and she can't help but to cry even more. She saw how the groom's tears dropped as he glanced at her.
Aliya felt as if her heart was squeezing as she looked at the groom crying while looking at his bride full of love.
"Hey crying will remove your make up! You're crying as if you're the bride!" Her cousin, who was just next to her, commented to her.
" It was tears of joy."Aliya stated in the middle of crying." I'm just happy for them. "
'It really hurts when you want someone to tell you how you feel but you can't because no one can understand.' That's all that Aliya kept on her mind throughout the wedding ceremony until the reception.
She cried non -stop. Not because of joy but because of the pain she felt because she dreamed of getting married to Jerome. "Aliya! Give your gift to your cousin already! " Her mother told her. She hesitantly approached the groom. His wife was not there because she was on the restroom.
Aliya stood in front of the groom. "Congratulations on your wedding." She said as she hand him her gift.
She smiled bitterly as well as him. "Please love your wife always."
"Thank you." He stood and Aliya was surprised when Jerome suddenly hugged her. Aliya couldn't stop herself and she started to cry and hugged him tightly.
" No words can describe how much happy I am for you. "She said while crying on his chest. She felt him caress her hair. Aliya tightened her hug aa if she won't let her cousin go. "Please .. even just for the last time, don't ... don't let me go." "I'm sorry." She heard him whisper to which made her cry even more. She slowly let go of his embrace and wiped away her tears. She took a deep breath before looking at him straight in the eyes. "Im sincerely happy for you .. I wish you all the best in life and I hope you and your ... your wife will be happy together."
"I am sincerely happy but the pain is more overwhelming. I thought it was okay. I thought I was okay but the pain is still there. It's like last night you told me that you miss me and then you get married today. I want to protest but you know I can't really do anything about it. Always remember that I really loved you. I know its a mistake loving you, but I never regretted it. I'll always love you, Jerome. I love you, Goodbye."
She said for the last time before leaving him there looking at her with so much pain in his eyes. No one knows how much pain she felt looking at him marry another woman. No one knows how much pain she felt loving him even though she knew she shouldn't. She is just keeping it by herself. She can't show everyone how much she love him because they were 2nd cousins. And now even more she can't do it because she's already married to someone else. It was a mistake loving you, but I never regretted it. I'll always love you.
Congratulations on your wedding, cousin.
