"You may kiss the bride."
She looked at Gideon. She smiled, leaned back, tiptoed, and smacked his lips with hers. Gideon's eyes widened in surprise at what she had done, but Jewel didn't care and instead grabbed both of his cheeks and wouldn't let go until the camera flashed.
"The bride is excited, eh?" chuckled the civil officer. She let go and turned to face the officer, who was laughing.
She would not do it if she had a choice. But the wager remained, and she couldn't afford to lose.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez."
People in the audience applauded. Gideon took her hand in his and they faced the crowd. She saw her father and mother both smiling at her. The Mayor was by their side.
She could count the number of witnesses who came to the civil wedding on one hand. There were also some well-known figures, such as the Vice Mayor, the party's president, Medellin's business magnates, and others she was unfamiliar with. However, there were no media. It was exactly what she expected from the Mayor, and it was in her favor because she didn't want anyone at the University to know she was married.
She wanted to invite her friends, but her mother refused. But that's fine. It didn't matter because she had obtained evidence of the wager she had with them. And that's why she came to the wedding.
When she stood in front of him, the Mayor, he suddenly pulled her in for a hug. "Hello, daughter, and welcome to the family."
"Uhm... I'm happy, too," she said as he let go and stared at her. She wanted to flee his piercing stare, but the Mayor gripped her arm tightly. Her lips twitched in a smile, but she secretly winced.
"Dad," Gideon said quietly to his father.
The Mayor burst out laughing and let her go. "I'm sorry; I was just thinking of my dear Nilda."
She gave a slight nod. "I understand."
He might have remembered his wife because of her outfit. The Mayor had mentioned that his wife had chosen her outfit for the day: a white dress with lace sleeves and a skirt that falls below the knee Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings with blue diamonds. She felt like a jewelry box with precious gems adorning it, and she tried hard not to take them off in front of the guests. All of these jewels made me feel uncomfortable.
But does that imply... Gideon's mother already knew she would marry her son and die before the wedding. Or was it the Mayor who chose them and just assumed his wife did it? She shook her head, clearing her mind of the question.
The Mayor donated a house and lot, and her mother donated twenty acres of land to be named after Gideon. Her heart skipped a beat when her father handed her a car key.
"I know you prefer the horse, but in exchange for Francisko, I bought a car, and I hope you like it, Jewel Laine," he said.
"B-But ..."
"Do you have a problem?"
"I don't know how to drive."
Her father was stunned for a few moments before bursting out laughing. Her mother and the Mayor joined in the laughter. Some people looked at them.
"Don't worry, I'll just give the car to my new son, Gideon."
Gideon came closer. She sighed and stepped back slightly. Her mother approached her as she was about to walk away.
"Jewel."
"Yes?"
Her mother smiled and gently stroked her cheeks. "Be good. You won't understand what we're doing right now, but there will come a time when you will understand why."
"What do you want to say, Mom
"Gideon is a good man, so your father and I chose him to be your husband," the woman sighed. You'll eventually figure out how to deal with men like him. But I know Gideon will still take care of you even though you are not ready to do what a wife is predicted to do. Please don't think we're being cruel to you. We're only concerned with what's best for you, Jewel." Her mother smiled gently at her.
Jewel blinked and shifted her gaze to the side. To be honest, she was worried about what would happen after she signed the marriage certificate. It was not her intention to marry at her age, and her previous experiences with love had not been pleasant. The immense pressure was gnawing at her, and the only thing keeping her sane was the prospect of escaping all of this when university days arrived.
"Come back home next week, and I'll present you to the Captain of the Santacruzan; your father and I discussed having you play Reyna Elena in the event."
"Huh?" she asked, looking at her mother, who was smiling at her. When she thought about the parade, her brow furrowed. "I don't want to, Mom."
"Jewel Laine, you must have the experience of being Queen Elena. The maiden's life is not the same as the married life."
"But I can't go because I'm a married girl and I'm too old for that," she explained, recalling that girls around the age of fifteen were more eligible for the event.
"No, you are Mangubat's most precious daughter; no one will judge you, and you are beautiful. As long as the girl is a virgin, she may enter!"
Her lips twitched in a smile. Virgin? Will people believe in virginity if they find out a girl is married? What else, would Gideon not touch her until next week? Ah. That would be fantastic.
She was upset, but her mother reprimanded her. Her head snapped to the side as she struggled to hear her mother's reprimand through her other ear.
She had no interest in dressing up. She also dislikes jewelry. Perhaps she was drawn to the cowboy hat, boots, and immortal ripped jeans she always wore when touring the entire hacienda because she grew up with horses and sugarcane. And for her, a long-sleeved shirt was more important than the long gowns that make her look awkward because she can't move in them.
'Only once. Be patient, Jewel! You will not hear their reprimands in the coming months, okay? Breathe... breathe and smile,' she thought.
It took them several hours of greeting and conversing with the visitors before her parents let them leave the Municipal Hall. When the fake smiles and laughter wore off, she discovered her lips had become numb from the effort. It was all the fault of her 'political connections' that she had to suffer for so long. They need to make more connections for their future children because both of their families are involved in politics and business. Otherwise, other people would regard her and Gideon's family as unworthy of connection. It was all a tradition passed down through the generations, so even though it was exhausting, she needed to keep up with her husband, who had noticed her fatigue. He excused her from the guests and accompanied her towards the exit.
She was relieved that there was no need for a reception to avoid the media. It was also the reason they needed to talk for hours with the guests because once they left the hall, no one would see them again for the next few months.
"You're tired," Gideon said as he led her to the parking lot.
Her brow furrowed. "Just keep moving," she hissed, looking around, trying to keep her face hidden from the crowd.
He may have noticed her actions because he removed his coat and placed it on her head, completely concealing her expression from the others. "Use it."