"Toria!"
"You didn't think you were going to do this without me, did you?" Toria said as she hugged Reyona tightly.
"How was your flight? You should have called me, so I could pick you up" Reyona said impassionately.
"It was fine. That is not important right now. You know you can still back out of this madness, don't you?" Toria whispered to her.
"Toria" Reyona said, filled with gratitude and love for her sister.
She had no idea Toria would still be able to make it down there despite the short notice.
She had told her that she need not come, but until that moment she did not realise how much it meant to her that she had a family there with her.
Celia and Andrew were there with them as witnesses. After all, there might be some questioning on the part of the government.
What would be the point of their deception if they couldn't do it right?
Yet Reyona was so glad that her sister could be there with her.
She hugged her back as she suddenly felt overwhelmed with inexplicable emotions.
"Rey," Toria said in a worried tone as she felt the change in Reyona's body, but Reyona shook her head as they separated and smiled to reassure her.
"Guess we are doing this," Toria said beneath her breath, then glared at the man behind Reyona as she said, "Did you tell him that I just might murder him in his sleep for suggesting this craziness?"
Celia snorted in laughter before she could control herself. She raised her hand as they all turned to look at her. "Sorry. Sorry, I just…" she closed her mouth with the other hand to stem her laughter.
"I think what my wife wanted to say was that her hormones' are acting up again," Andrew said as she stepped forward, then he stretched his hand towards Toria. "Hi, we meet again."
"Yes, we do, and I can't believe you also…"
"Toria" Reyona called urgently beneath her breath.
"Fine," Toria said, then with a glassy fake smile, she accepted his handshake.
Then she turned to glare at Maxwell. "Are we going to get this madness started anytime soon?"
"This way, ma'am," Maxwell said with a half-smile that Reyona didn't think was wise in the face of her sister's flailing glare.
Toria surprised them all by sidling to Maxwell's side with her arm curved and outstretched towards him.
Without missing a beat, Maxwell took her arm and they led the way.
Reyona heard her sister's harsh whisper "You had better be sure you have this under control, or I swear if she gets hurt again, you will have more than cut-off balls to worry about."
Reyona didn't hear Maxwell's response as she felt Celia's arm around her back.
The latter had finally gotten her mirth under control. She looked at the two going in front of them and said "I like your sister. I wish I had one like her."
"Yeah, I am very lucky," Reyona said with feeling.
"Look at that. That is the first one I have seen this afternoon, you know."
"The first what?" Reyona asked in surprise as she looked at her.
"Your first smile. Don't look so morose. You are doing such a noble thing. Things will work out fine. Remember if anything should go wrong, your sister would rip Maxwell's balls off. That should be a consolation." Celia said with such infectious laughter that Reyona couldn't help but smile.
In no time, the municipal clerk was stamping their marriage certificate.
It was done.
************
Toria and Celia threw her what they call her bachelor-slash-after wedding party.
When she reminded them that they were being silly over a fake arrangement, they told her to humour them.
Toria had stopped scowling and glaring at Maxwell halfway into the arrangement and her genuine smile had helped to bolster Reyona when she started getting nervous.
She knew she had no reason to be nervous, she was certain that this would be over soon, and she would forget it and move on with her life.
She knew all that in her head, yet she couldn't shake the feeling in her heart.
A mixture of unease, apprehension and fear.
Immediately they stepped out of the registry, Celia collected her husband's car key and told the boys to go have their fun.
Then she drove them to a boutique close by.
Reyona did not bring her car anyway.
She had been so careful about being seen by anyone who might recognise her that she decided to leave her car behind.
Toria also took a cab to the registry straight from the airport, so they all drove in Jordan's car.
Celia proceeded to tell the manager of the boutique that Reyona was the celebrant of the day, and she was not allowed to raise a finger.
Before she knew it, champagne was being popped and the overattentive attendants whisked out caviars like they had been expecting them before.
Then Celia and Toria rejected every conservative dress she pointed at and went ahead to pick out the craziest lingerie and outrageous dresses ever for her.
"The fact that it is fake doesn't mean you can't fantasize about having hot sex while you are dressed in this" Toria whispered to her. Then she looked at her thoughtfully. "That reminds me. When was the last time you…"
"Don't you dare," Reyona said in a threatening tone, as she knew where her sister's statement was heading.
Toria laughed and sauntered off to pick up yet another ridiculous wear that looked more like thin straps of rope attached.
Her sister's statement made that bothersome dream come to her mind again.
Her mind was conveniently forgetting how that dream ended, and it seemed hellbent on torturing her with its beginning.
Soon they had her poured into a red strapless jumpsuit that moulded her curve to the tee.
Reyona's protest went unheeded, and she was amazed when a makeup artist was waiting for her as she came out of the dressing room.
The woman artfully made her face up and treated her hair with sweet-smelling oils before she meticulously brushed her hair and arranged it in a way that had it teasing her bare shoulders.
Bloodred stiletto heels were worn for her by the attendants who were taking the instructions given to them a bit too seriously.
Toria and Celia looked at her with scrutiny and looked at each other.
They both squealed excitedly as they gave themselves a high five.
"You are on fire! Rey!"
"I bet Max would bite his tongue if he could see you right now", Celia added.
As if.
They hurriedly entered the dressing room to change into what they had chosen as well.
As much as Reyona didn't want to declare it out loud so as not to add to their over-the-top excitement, she turned towards the mirror to look at herself.
She looked so damn good!
"I told you she loved it!" Celia called out to Toria, who was still in the dress as she came out.
She had caught the smile on Reyona's face as she came out.
Reyona turned to her with a shake of her head as she said "Yes, you guys did a great job. I love it. Uhh, look at you" she said as she admired Celia's short beaded gown.
"Thank you. Drew will rip this off me tonight, but before then, are you ready for the best girl's night of your life?"
Reyona's smile widened as Toria came out, and strutted in her getup for their admiration.
"You bet" she answered Celia.