– sfw; narrations only.
– written in taglish; please excuse my grammar, no beta read.

If there’s one thing Dash and Joie are sure of, this set-up is arranged and only done because of their family’s tradition. Well, even in the year 2024, arranged marriage is still a thing for elite families like the Aransazu and Viejo.

The wedding preparation didn’t take long. It only took a month to prepare everything—the location, list of guests, suits and dresses, design, and even the reception.

It’s just an arranged marriage; Joie and Dash know that. But both of them poured most of their time into preparation.

Despite being hands-on, they were also careful not to offend each other.

There was this one instance where they had to decide where to proclaim their wedding vows.

“May gusto ka ba, Dashy?” Kuryosong tanong ni Joie sa lalaki habang ang isa naman ay abala sa paglilipat ng papel kung saan naroon ang mga disenyo at lokasyon ng kasalan.

“If you’re about to get married, saan mo gusto? Saan mo gusto ikasal?” Dash answered, yet he was still busy flipping the pages.

Natawa nang bahagya si Joie, “I don’t know. I’ve never been in a relationship, so I have no idea where I should get married.”

Napatigil si Dash sa paglilipat sa pahina at tinignan si Joie na naka-upo sa harap niya, “Pero may dream wedding ka ba?”

“Why ask? All of a sudden.” Joie released a light chuckle.

“It’s because I want to ask you kung doon mo ba gusto ikasal, or you want to reserve that specific dream wedding para sa taong mahal mo.”

Of course, that statement left Joie dumbfounded. How could a person set up in an arranged marriage show so much concern and consideration?

Sa loob nang ilang buwan na pag-aasikaso nila sa kasal, unti-unti na ring nalipat ni Dash ang mga gamit niya sa bahay ni Joie. Unti-unti na rin namang natatanggap ni Joie na may makakasama na siya sa pinagawa niyang sariling bahay.

Despite being strangers, it was easy for Joie and Dash to talk and plan their arranged marriage.

It was easy for them to decide, ni hindi nga sila nagkaroon kahit na maliit na pagtatalo.

Dash prefers wearing black tuxedos, so Joie said he could do that. Joie asked if he could wear a white one, and Dash immediately said yes.

They did not even argue when and where they should have the wedding. Dash said Joie should pick the location and design, and then Joie asked Dash to set the date.

They settled for a beach wedding in the Aransazu’s villa on Balesin Island.

And the wedding day has finally come.

It was a big yet intimate wedding. Investors, business men and women, politicians, artists, and high-ranking professionals were the visitors. Well, naroon din naman ang ilan sa mga malalapit na kaibigan ng ikakasal.

Cyrus Munoz is leading the media. Siya ang napili ni Dash para magbalita sa kasal na. He’s his favorite journalist after all.

It’s a pleasure to attend the wedding of the year.

It was perfect; it felt like a fairytale. It felt like everyone’s dream wedding. You can see how much they have spent millions on this marriage.

As both of them walked down the aisle, it was visible that Joie was a bit nervous. And there are tears he’s trying to hold back.

Dash took his hand and gave him a reassuring smile. He’s grateful he did that. Kahit papaano nabawasan ang kaba at kirot na naramdaman ni Joie.

Kirot, hindi dahil ikakasal siya sa hindi niya mahal. Kung hindi dahil pakiramdam niya sinira niya ang buhay ni Dashiel Peter. Pakiramdam niya tinanggalan na niya ng karapatan magmahal ng iba si Dashiel.

Little did he know, Dash felt the same. He felt sad knowing that Joie would be tied to him—a man he barely knew.

They’re both standing between the aisle, and all they can think of is marrying each other, a sin forbidding their other half to love.

The wedding went well. It was glamorous with a class. Everyone was anticipating the part where they would say ‘yes.’

But both of them are waiting for the vows.

“I will treat you with my utmost respect,” Dashiel promised.

“And I’ll treat you with all my best and sincerity,” Joie vowed to do that.

Hindi mahaba ang mga binanggit na salita, pero akala mo maraming bukas na silang pinangako sa isa’t-isa. Ni hindi nga nila binanggit na mahal nila ang isa’t-isa, pero ngayon, sapat na ang kasiguraduhan na tatratuhin nila ang isa’t-isa nang tama.

“I now pronounced you husbands. You may now seal it with a kiss.” Ani ng nagkasal sa kanila.

The camera started flashing, and all eyes were on the newlyweds.

Ngumiti si Dash nang bahagya, at saka tumango si Joie.

They took it as a sign.

Dash held Joie’s cheeks, and the other closed his eyes.

He went closer to his husband, and all they could hear were people shouting and cheering. Now, they can feel each other’s breathing.

Dashiel sealed with a kiss—a kiss on Joie’s forehead.

He whispered, “I may not be someone you expected, but I hope you’d trust me, Jo. Trust me. I won’t hurt you. And I’m sorry. I really am.”

Joie smiled at that gesture, and he responded by caressing his arms, “I know you won’t intentionally hurt me. And I’ll do the same. Thank you, Dashy. And I’m sorry too.”