"Pwedeng pa-double ng lace overlay dito? Gusto ko mas makapal sa neckline. More dramatic."
Bella Madrid stood in front of the mirror, draped in a silk robe as the atelier staff pinned layers of fabric to her trial gown. Her voice was calm, decisive.
"Copy, Miss Bella," the designer nodded.
Chloe took down notes as she watched from the corner. She had seen brides obsess over details before. But something about Bella today felt... different.
Not excited. Not nervous.
Detached.
"Vince won't like this," Chloe said gently, motioning to the heavy lace. "He told me during the palette meeting he preferred simpler looks—classic silhouettes."
Bella gave a soft laugh without looking away from the mirror. "Let me worry about Vince."
There it is again. That strange, dismissive tone.
Chloe nodded, but unease sat heavy in her chest.
Later, as they reviewed the seating layout, Bella abruptly changed her mind about the head table.
"Let's seat Vince and I in the middle of the guest tables instead," she said.
Chloe blinked. "You don't want the traditional sweetheart table?"
"I want people to see us surrounded by family. Para warm tingnan."
Chloe hesitated. "It's doable, but Vince approved the head table setup already—"
"He'll adjust," Bella cut in. "He always does."
There was no malice in her voice, but Chloe felt the cold steel beneath the surface.
That evening, Chloe sat alone in her apartment, laptop open to the wedding blueprint. Her fingers hovered over the "save changes" button.
Why do I feel like I'm not planning a wedding, but covering up something else?
She had planned dozens of weddings before. She could sense joy, excitement — even chaos. But this? This felt like control.
Vince, for all his quiet kindness, had no real say in anything. He rarely appeared at meetings. And when he did, it was always Bella who spoke for them both.
She's marrying him, but she barely looks at him like she wants to.
Chloe closed her laptop and stood, pacing.
And yet... Vince was the only one who looked at her like he saw more than just a coordinator.
She shook her head. Stop. Stop it.
But the questions remained.
Why was Bella so involved in tiny choices only to reject everything Vince might actually want?36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIcH7ebBjT
Why did Vince seem like a groom merely fulfilling a role?36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdpJjchBLi
And why... why was Chloe starting to feel like she was part of a performance?
Two days later, Chloe arrived early at the garden venue for Bella's location shoot. She was finalizing the floral arch when Maverick Crisostomo showed up — late, charming, and holding two iced coffees.
"One for you," he said, grinning. "You look like you haven't blinked in two hours."
Chloe chuckled, accepting the drink. "You timed that perfectly. I'm this close to snapping at the florist."
"Don't worry. I told Bella I'd come help today para hindi na masyado stressful. She's been extra tense lately, no?"
Chloe hesitated. "Yeah. I noticed."
Maverick leaned closer. "Between you and me... you ever feel like they're rushing this wedding?"
She froze. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, they've only been together for what — less than a year? Tapos biglang engagement, tapos kasal agad. Vince is the kind who takes years to open up to someone."
Chloe stayed silent.
Maverick shrugged. "I love my brother, pero... I don't know. Something's off. He's not even excited. And Bella..." he trailed off. "She's nice, but she's got that... vibe. Like she's always ten steps ahead of us."
Exactly.
Before Chloe could respond, Bella appeared — glowing as always, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Mave, can you help me fix the train? It's wrinkling again."
"On it," Maverick said, winking at Chloe before walking off.
Bella turned to Chloe. "You okay? You look pale."
"I'm fine," Chloe said quickly. "Just thinking through the logistics."
Bella tilted her head. "Thinking too much doesn't suit you. You're best when you're focused on the now."
It was meant as a compliment, but Chloe felt oddly... inspected.
That night, Chloe received a text from Denise.
Denise:36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyCxfXEL2F
Friend. Bakit parang may tone ka na sa updates mo?
Wag mong sabihing may nangyayari na kay Vince?
Chloe stared at the screen for a long time. Then replied:
Chloe:36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBFoucq4sg
Wala. Pero may mali sa kanila. Sa kasal na 'to. I can feel it.
Denise:36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq5lqK4Fku
Then figure it out before it gets worse. Before you're in too deep.
Chloe looked at the copy of the seating chart she printed that morning. The names. The positions. The roles.
Everything neat. Controlled.
But nothing felt real anymore.
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEE4rNDPXx
and then Add to home screen.