AZ believes in fate—just not a wedding bouquet smacking her square in the face.
She didn't catch it. It practically attacked her.
Now, everyone around her was roaring, clapping, snapping photos like she'd just won an Olympic medal.
What in the world is going on? she thought, frozen with the flowers clutching between her delicate hands.
"Jesus AZ! You're getting married next!" One of the bridesmaids squealed.
"What? Marriage?! I have never even had a boyfriend since I arrived in this world!" AZ blurted, panic rising in her throat. Okay, sure—some flings, maybe—but those didn't count.
"Maybe, maybe... this year's the one?" Polina Briar Wynnrose, the glowing bride, walked over with a grin and a teasing glint in her eye. "Who knows? You might actually get a boyfriend."
"Don't get me started, bride. That will never happen." AZ groaned, placing both hands on her hips. "This is your wedding. Why am I suddenly the main character?"
Auddriana Zelliv Sweet—also known as AZ—twenty-six, bold, independent, single since birth, and absolutely hopeless when it came to romance. A woman who indulges herself in books, gets drowned with their romantic dialogue, but real life? Real love? Still pending.
Polina clapped her hands like a director calling a cut. "Okay, okay, everyone scatter! I need a moment with my maid of honor." She looped her arm around AZ's and dragged her off to a nearby chair.
"Are you even allowed to walk off and rest at your wedding?" AZ asked. Probably teasing.
"Hah.. My man can handle it." She stopped midway. "You know... "Polina sighed heavily, "I'm lucky to have you. Who would've thought that the girl I sat next to in middle school would end up being my maid of honor?"
AZ squinted, "Are you being sarcastic or sentimental right now?"
Polina gave her a look like she'd just insulted her whole wedding ceremony. "Are you kidding me? Sentiment! Geez."
"Then what's with the dramatic—over-the-top, Hollywood sigh!?" She exclaimed.
"Good gracious AZ! Instead of a wedding ceremony, this might be your funeral ceremony!"
AZ snorted. "You're not wrong. But I get what you mean."
"You mean the funeral thing?"
"WHAT! No!" AZ grunts, "Maybe we got lost in translation—"
Polina gently pinched AZ's cheeks, squishing her lips into a pout.
"Reminder, this is a joyous celebration, AZ. Your voice sucks and It might rain!" she scolded playfully.
"Aren't you being too harsh on your maid of honor?" She mumbled.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop." Polina softened, taking AZ's hand. "But girl... you really need to work on your love life. You're gonna end up like a mysterious old lady who lives alone with a hundred books, an always hungry gold fish, a rabbit who hops everywhere, a loving dog, a noisy parrot and a judgmental cat!"
"What do you think of me, a zoo keeper? Correction by the way—thousands of books and you forgot to add a guinea pig and a hamster."
Polina rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean."
AZ shrugged, "I'm fine, Lina. You know I'm just... waiting."
Exactly!" Polina threw her hands up. "You've been waiting since high school! You shut down every guy who flirts with you."
"Girl, that's really offensive, y'know."
"You need to hear that anyway. But really, I'm being serious." She said, her voice was soft and concerned.
"They need to court me Polina." She said firmly, "That's the only condition if they wanna date me."
Polina blinked. "What is this? A historical drama? Girl, this is the 21st century."
"I respected you when you said you were marrying Frenrich. Respect me back, is what I'm asking from you."
Silence settled for a moment
Polina finally squeezed AZ's hand. "Okay... I'm sorry. I crossed a line." She said, almost like a plea.
AZ smiled. "You're lucky you're adorable. Is this how you convinced Frenrich to marry you?"
Polina laughed. "Who knows? But I'm just worried about you."
"I'll be okay," AZ said gently. "I promise."
Suddenly, their moment was interrupted by a warm voice behind them.
"Sweetie?" Frenrich Zevean Wynnrose—Polina's husband—called. "Cake time."
"Already?" Polina stood quickly.
"Yeah... Oh! I don't think I've introduced you to one of my groomsmen yet." He stepped aside, revealing a tall, dark and handsome man with a calm, confident demeanor. "This is Ian."
AZ's eyes widened.
"He's..handsome.." She blinked and realized what she just said. "Uh... clothes!...the clothes..is handsome—reallyyyy appealing." She stammered, cursing her mouth as the words spilled out.
Ian raised an eyebrow, amused. "Thanks? I'm wearing the same thing as the other guys, though."
Lucia hesitated, cheeks warming. "Well… yours just… stands out," she mumbled awkwardly, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
Polina grinned and grabbed Frenrich's hand. "Well then! We'll leave you two to get acquainted."
And just like that, AZ was alone—with Ian. Still clutching the bouquet she didn't mean to catch.
"Nice dress, by the way. Looks good on you," Ian said calmly.
AZ, despite her brown skin, knew her blush was absolutely obvious. "Oh... r-really?" she stuttered—stuttered! That had never happened before. "Th-thanks."
Goodness, what's happening? She screamed inwardly. This isn't me. Pull it together!
"Hey, don't be nervous," Ian said with a teasing smile. "I'm not going to bite."
Before she could respond, a familiar voice rang through the room.
"AZ! You're missing the cake!" Polina yelled from across the hall, waving like she'd been possessed by frosting.
AZ sighed. "Duty calls."
Ian called AZ and paused. "Hey, uh... see you around?"
"You can count on it."
---
Midnight came. AZ, unable to sleep, headed to the shore. Her hair fell, wild and free. Casually wearing a blue, floral maxi dress and simple Havaianas slippers. The breeze was soft and cool—the perfect night to be alone. She sat in the sand, hugging her knees, watching the water move like it knew her thoughts.
"You looked good, by the way."
A voice behind her made her spin around, heart pounding. Without thinking, she grabbed a slipper and hurled it.
"Argh—!" the voice grunted. "Did I… do something wrong?"
She froze. "Ian?"
He chuckled softly. "Your voice makes my name sound fancy." He pulled out his phone, flicked on the flashlight, and held it near his eye. "Did I scare you?"
AZ groaned. "GAH! You could've said it was you!"
"I didn't want to interrupt your peace."
"Well, you just did." AZ started to step closer.
"Sorry for causing trouble."
"No—I should apologize. I hit you!" she said, clearly worried. "Come on, you need to get that checked."
She reached out to help him up, but he stayed still, eyes fixed on the dark waves ahead.
"Let's… just stay here for a little while longer," he said quietly, his voice almost a plea.
AZ hesitated, feeling the weight of those words. The night was calm, the breeze is soft and the waves are gentle—maybe this pause was exactly what they both needed.
"But your eye—"
"It doesn't matter," he said softly. "I just... want to talk to you longer."
He took her hand and gently guided her down the sandy shore toward the water. They settled onto the cool sand, sitting a little over a meter apart—but somehow, that space felt like nothing between them.
Ian didn't speak right away. He just looked at her, relaxed and amused. That half-smile on his face made her wonder what embarrassing moment he was replaying in his mind.
"So..." he finally said, tilting his head. "You really thought I looked handsome in that suit?"
AZ groaned. "Hush..I panicked."
He laughed. "I've gotten a 'nice tie' and even 'you smell like my cousin'—but never 'nice clothes.' You win."
She buried her face in her hands and grunted, "Can we start over?"
"Gladly. Hi, I'm Alistair Cassian Virelune. Groomsman. Occasional wedding painter."
AZ raised an eyebrow. "Occasional?"
"Only if the couple gives me something worth trading for."
"Hmm. Good to know. I'm Auddriana Zelliv Sweet—people call me AZ. Maid of honor. Professional bouquet catcher. Against my will. Fancy name, by the way."
"Impressive title."
"I try."
"My dad named me because it was the only name he could think of right away. Mom just went along with it because she liked how it sounded," he said casually, as if it was no big deal.
Lucia laughed. "Wow, sounds like a pretty chaotic family."
She hid the little pang of envy behind her smile—it wasn't easy, but she somehow managed, like she always does.
"Chaotic..huh."
They fell quiet. The only sounds were the waves and their steady breathing.
"Sweet," he echoed, then added quietly, "Fits you."
A moment passed. AZ didn't feel like running. He wasn't forcing anything. He was just..there.
Maybe it's really time to work on, she thought.
"So," Ian said, nodding toward the imaginary bouquet in the air. "What does tradition say happens next?"
AZ blinked. "What?"
"You caught the bouquet. Doesn't that mean you're next in line?"
"Oh no. No-no-no." She waved her hands. "I reject this prophecy."
Ian laughed. "Fair enough."
AZ smiled, but it faltered. Her fingers toyed with the edge of her dress, brushing grains of sand away. Then, almost without thinking, she said quietly, "I haven't even dated yet."
Ian turned to her, eyes stunned, "What?"
She bit her lower lip, suddenly self-conscious. "I mean, not seriously. Nothing that ever... lasted. Or even started, really."
He was quiet for a moment, as if weighing how to respond.
"Sorry," she said quickly, forcing a laugh. "Didn't mean to dump a whole life confession on you. Midnight at the beach isn't exactly a therapy hour."
But he didn't smile this time. "No, don't apologize." He looked at her, and the teasing was gone from his voice. "I just... I'm surprised."
AZ blinked. "Why?"
"Because with someone like you—beautiful, and a little too fast with the slipper defense—" he grinned, just enough to break the tension, "—I figured there'd be someone already."
She looked away. "I don't know. Maybe I've just been... waiting."
"For what?"
"For it to feel right," she answered, barely above a whisper.
Ian nodded slowly, as if he understood more than he let on. "That makes sense."
A breeze passed between them, gentle and full of bitterness. The shore whispering quietly beside them.
AZ dared to glance at him again. "You're really smooth when it comes to complimenting people, huh?"
He tilted his head, amused. "You mean like a smooth-talker?"
"Yeah," she said, a small smile forming. "That."
He leaned back into the sand, arms propped behind him. "Not with everybody. Just with people who deserve it."
"You're so... CC," she said.
He looked at her. "Si-si?"
"Cheeky and cheesy."
Ian broke into a laugh. A real one, unguarded and light.
"Where'd you get that?" he asked.
"Made it up just now."
"Dangerous and creative," he said, still laughing. "That's a combo I wasn't prepared for."
They sat in silence after that, but it wasn't awkward. It was the kind of silence that lets your heart catch up to the moment. The moon watched from above, and the sea didn't interrupt.
For the first time in a long time, AZ didn't feel like she was missing anything.
"So… how about you?" AZ asked, turning to Ian. "Are you single?"
Ian stared at her for a moment. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Wha—No! No! Of course not. I'm just… curious," she mumbled, cheeks warming.
He relaxed, resting both arms behind him on the sand and gazing up at the stars. "To answer your question… I've been so busy with work, I technically don't have time to date. But honestly? I'd love to find someone I can share my life with."
AZ blinked, surprised. "Didn't expect that."
He laughed again, though this one carried a touch of mystery. "It's late. I tend to ramble when it's past midnight."
"I guess we're just the same. Two loners. Trying to discover love while living the life."
AZ studied him, her instincts twitching. There was something unspoken there, something just out of reach. "You're not just a wedding groomsman-slash-painter, are you?"
Ian looked at her, something glinting in his eyes. "I could ask the same about you."
Before she could press further, Polina's voice echoed faintly from the distance, calling her name again—though this time softer, less urgent.
"Guess that's your cue," Ian said, rising and brushing the sand from his pants. He held out a hand to help her up.
AZ took it, her fingers wrapping around his. His grip was warm and steady. "Thanks.." She muttered.
"I didn't hear that clearly but, welcome." He grins, half smiles, but somehow genuine.
As she stood, he added, "I meant it, by the way—about seeing you around."
She looked up at him, a little breathless from more than just the sudden movement. "I hope you do."
He smiled. "Oh, you will."
And just like that, he turned and walked off into the night. No number. No other information.
But something about the way he said it... felt like a promise.