It was on a sunny spring day that Phil and I had our wedding ceremony. I was in the dressing room of the Sevilla Cathedral, a pure white dress on my body. Selma had just finished checking over my appearance.
I’d known ever since I was a child that this day would eventually come. I’d even done my best to try to imagine it, but my reflection in the mirror was so much prettier and happier than anything from my fantasies.
“Selma, thank you for making me look so beautiful.”
“L-Lady Viola, you look so lovely...”
“Hee hee, don’t cry. You’re going to make me cry as well.”
Selma sniffed as if she could no longer hold it in, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks. She’d been by my side since I was a child. The sight of her tears made my eyes grow hot as well. Because Selma put so much effort into dolling me up, I tried my hardest to fight back my tears. It wouldn’t do for me to cry and ruin my makeup.
“I’m so sorry,” Selma cried. “Lady Viola, I love and treasure you. I’m so happy that I’m able to see you in your bridal gown.”
“Thank you. I love you as well.”
My parents and friends were already waiting for me in the cathedral. When my parents came to see me earlier, they cried upon seeing me, and I ended up crying along with them. The maids managed to disguise my puffy eyes and red cheeks with makeup. I didn’t even know how to start thanking them for that.
Even though there was still some time left before the ceremony started, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous that I hadn’t seen Phil yet. He should’ve finished his preparations before I did. That was when I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called.
“Oh, Viola! You look really pretty.”
“Thank you, Rex.”
Rex, Phil, and even Little Vio entered the room. I had never heard of a parrot attending a wedding, and there apparently wasn’t a precedent for it. But for us, Little Vio was irreplaceable so we asked for special permission to allow her presence. Little Vio, perched on Rex’s shoulder, was also dressed up for the occasion with a cute little pink ribbon around her neck. I smiled at the sight of her.
Rex walked toward me and sat down in a nearby chair. He looked impeccable in his suit and, though it was a lot less flamboyant than his usual garb, he stood out so much it was as if he was the one getting married today.
“Thank you for coming today as well, Little Vio,” I said.
“Viola, so cute!”
“Hee hee, thank you. You’re really cute today too, Little Vio.”
I gently stroked her on the head and she happily exclaimed, “Little Vio, cute!” Honestly I’d been slightly nervous but thanks to Little Vio, I felt like I was able to relax a little.
“Wow, it really is a little emotional, seeing you in your bridal gown. No joke, I feel like I’m about to cry,” Rex said. It made me a little embarrassed to hear his honest praise. If the day ever came when Rex got married, I was sure to cry at his ceremony as well.
“You used to be so cute as a kid, Vivi. You were so little but you kept saying that you would eventually be my bride. But now you’re getting married to someone else, huh...”
“Don’t just make up memories that never happened.”
I had never told Rex that I wanted to be his bride—Alan was more than enough. Incidentally, Alan was also waiting for us in the cathedral. While still thinking about Rex and Alan, I turned to look at the other star of the day, who was standing at the entrance of the dressing room.
“Phil?”
He was staring at me, frozen like a statue. In his white and gold tuxedo, Phil looked so handsome that I could stare at him forever. He usually wore black, dark blue, and gray. So a white suit completely changed his entire impression. Though it wasn’t a color he usually wore, he looked so good in white that he took my breath away. That much was evident considering how picturesque Phil looked even though he was simply standing there.
“Phil, are you all right?” I asked again.
His narrow eyes widened as if he was taken off guard and he covered the bottom half of his face with his right hand. “I’m sorry,” he said after a moment. “You were so beautiful that I forgot how to breathe.”
“You’re going to die if you don’t breathe. But thank you, Phil. You look amazing as well.” I smiled at him.
Phil lowered his face, his cheeks bright red. “Oh no. I’m going to cry.”
“It’s much too early for that!” I laughed.
Phil was serious though. It was only when Rex guided him to a chair that he finally sat down.
“Phillip kept saying weird things like how he can’t believe how happy he is and asking me if this is reality or not. He even thought that he must’ve already died. I was so worried for a moment about what would happen. The wedding ceremony was seconds away from losing its groom.”
“Wha...”
Could you still call it a wedding ceremony if there wasn’t a groom? In any case, I was glad that Phil safely got it together and made his way over here.
“You’re so cute. You’re the cutest person in the entire world. You look so lovely that even the goddess of beauty is sure to envy you.”
“Jeez... You’re exaggerating so much.”
“I’m telling the truth. I could spend the rest of my life looking at you.”
Of course I was happy to hear that, but having him stare right at me with a serious expression while complimenting me nonstop was embarrassing even for me. I’d have to apologize to the goddess of beauty on his behalf. That was when I noticed Rex staring at us with an incredibly serene and gentle look in his eye.
“Seriously though, congratulations. I’m really glad to see how happy you two are, considering I’ve spent almost my entire life by your side.”
“Rex...”
I knew now that Rex treasured the both of us in his own way. Though he played things off as a joke, it must’ve greatly pained him to see us at odds. His presence and advice had helped me when I was pretending to have amnesia.
“Thank you, really,” I said.
“No biggie. If you really want to thank me, then continue to regale me with all your funny stories,” Rex said with a sly smile. Then, he stood up, “Okay, I’m gonna get going. I’ll be waiting with the other guests.”
“All right. Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you, Vivi. See you.”
“Viola, I like you!” Little Vio squawked, and I laughed in response.
We saw Rex and Little Vio out, then Phil and I sat down in the chairs again. Now that it was just the two of us, I suddenly felt a little shy. I heard Phil say my name and I looked up at him.
“I’m so happy that we were able to welcome this day together. Thank you.”
“I should be the one thanking you,” I replied with a smile. It was hard to keep a straight face upon seeing the pure joy in Phil’s expression. “I’m sure our past selves would be surprised if they could see us now.”
“I agree. I probably wouldn’t be able to believe it, thinking that I’d gone mad.”
His words made me giggle, but I probably would have the same reaction.
Phil’s gaze drifted over to the clock and he murmured, “It’s about time. Viola, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
We stood up, hand in hand, and walked down the long aisle to the chapel where everyone was waiting. With every step I took, I thought back to all the moments in our past.
“I hate you, Lord Phillip!”
“I hate you too...”
“It’s because we were in love with each other.”
“Wha—?”
“Ever since I can remember, you were the only one for me. If you told me to die, then I would gladly do so this very second. That’s how deep my love is for you.”
“Why do you like me this much?”
“I don’t know the reason. But at this point, I can’t live without you, Viola.”
“I’ve always been in love with you... That is the truth.”
Even though we’d had so many misunderstandings and so many conflicts up to this point, it was thanks to those obstacles that we were able to reach where we were now. Nothing about our past was pointless, and everything must’ve happened for a reason. With that thought in mind, I tightened my hold on Phil’s hand and looked up at him. Our eyes immediately met and he smiled bashfully. My entire heart swelled with affection.
“Phil, I love you.”
“I love you as well, more than anything in the world.”
We smiled at each other, our thoughts drifting to our happily ever after. We then walked through the door, to where all of our beloved friends and family were waiting.