Rebirth: Choosing a College Husband novel · Chapter 3 of 12

Chapter 3: Two Weddings

I married Angel Pilco on a Saturday in May, at nine in the morning, in the adobe chapel in Cunchibamba.

There was no band.

There were no fireworks.

There were no more than twenty guests, half of them curious neighbors peeking in to see the skinny student who had taken the eldest Tipán daughter.

I wore a white anaco that had belonged to my grandmother and a blouse my mother had embroidered over the course of three nights.

He wore a black suit borrowed from the schoolteacher, with the sleeves rolled up and shoes so tight he walked as if he were stepping on hot coals.

"My toes hurt," he whispered to me at the altar.

"Hang in there."

"I will."

The priest had us repeat our vows.

When Angel said "I do," his voice cracked.

When I said "I do," nothing in me cracked.

It was a clear, firm, deep "I do" that came from the bottom of my heart.

When we left the chapel, my mother hugged me, crying, and my father wiped his eyes with his hat.

But what I remember most is something else: a handkerchief.

Blanca, leaning against the adobe wall, her limp and braid just as they always were, held out a handkerchief embroidered with a red flower.

"It's for good luck," she said.

"Thank you."

She didn't look me in the eye.

A month later, on the Saturday of Blanca's wedding, the whole community dressed up to celebrate.

The chapel was full of flowers.

Taita Guaman's truck, decorated with ribbons, waited at the entrance.

They'd hired a band from Latacunga, with trumpets and drums.

There were ten roasted lambs, a hundred pitchers of chicha, and a four-tier cake that had come by bus from Ambato.

I stood at the door of my parents' house in a wool dress, my hands cold, watching my sister try on her veil.

The Guaman family had lent it to her.

Her eyes were bright and her cheeks rosy.

She looked beautiful.

I hated it.

I hated seeing her happy face.

"Blanca," I said. "I need to talk to you."

"Not now."

"It's important."

"I'm getting married today, Narcisa."

"That's why."

My mother, who was helping with the veil, looked at us and discreetly stepped away.

Blanca turned toward the cracked mirror.

"Tell me."

"Don't marry him."

Silence.

One second, two.

"What?"

"Holger Guaman. Don't marry him."

Blanca let out a dry laugh.

"Oh, Narcisa."

"I'm begging you."

"Why?"

I closed my eyes.

"Because he's going to hurt you."

"How do you know?"

"I know."

"From a vision? A dream?"

"Because I know him."

"You barely know him."

"Blanca..."

"Now you listen to me," she said, turning around.

Her eyes were full of tears.

But they weren't tears of sadness.

They were tears of anger.

"All my life, I've been the lame sister," she said. "The one who doesn't dance. The one who sits out at parties. The one who watches. You were the pretty one. The one with suitors at the door. The one everyone wanted."

"That's not true."

"It is. And then, out of nowhere, a good man with land, a truck, and a store comes to this house and chooses me. Me."

"Blanca."

"You're not going to take him from me."

"I don't want to take him from you."

"Then be quiet. And don't ruin my day."

She lifted the veil.

She adjusted it with trembling fingers.

"This is the only good thing that's ever happened to me," she said. "Let me have it."

I couldn't say anything.

I stood by the door as she limped out into the courtyard, her veil floating behind her.

The ceremony was long.

Holger looked magnificent in a dark three-piece suit, with a white carnation in his lapel.

When he slipped the ring onto Blanca's finger, he kissed her hand.

He held it a second too long.

I sat in the last pew, Angel beside me, my fists clenched in my lap.

Angel, who knew nothing, placed a hand over mine.

"You're freezing," he whispered.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I'll tell you later."

"Whenever you want."

The party lasted until nightfall.

I stayed in a corner of the courtyard, a glass of chicha in my hand, watching the newlyweds dance a pasillo.

Blanca danced slowly despite her limp, leaning on Holger's arm.

He smiled at her.

A perfect smile.

The same one he'd used on me.

My stomach twisted into a knot.

"Don't be sad," a voice said close to my ear.

I turned around.

Holger was a foot and a half away, a drink in his hand and a slow smile on his face.

He'd left Blanca talking with the aunts.

He moved closer.

He smelled of aftershave and chicha.

"Hello, Narcisa," he said. "What a beautiful wedding, isn't it?"

"Back off."

"You look pale."

"Stay away from me."

He smiled.

He leaned in until his breath brushed my ear.

And whispered, so quietly only I could hear him:

"You came back too."

← Chapter 2 · All chapters · Chapter 4 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend