Take Me Away

Fiona woke up the next morning with no recollections of what had transpired the other night other than drinking herself to stupor before Spencer arrived. She groaned as her head pounded with a piercing headache, a reminder of her previous actions. She joined Spencer, who was already having breakfast. She eyed him warily. He said nothing to her. Though, he was very much eager to get her drunk again. The first week of October had passed, putting an end to their short vacation and with that, numbered the days before they held Spencer and Fiona's wedding. They ate their breakfast in silence. When they'd finished, they set out for the Cheng family residence.

The sparse courtyard of the Cheng family residence was skillfully decorated. Each setting was carefully planned, detailed to perfection to hold the wedding of the century. Everyone was busy and excited. Everything was almost set up. The Cheng family handled everything like they meant business, dealing it with efficacy, ensuring its utmost quality in the process.

"Grandpa!" Fiona and Spencer greeted Wayne as soon as they arrived at the residence. They found him resting on his chair. He looked up as they entered the room.

"Fiona, Spencer!" Wayne greeted them with a warm smile, and gestured for them to come closer as he put on his glass to help him with his presbyopia.

"What are you doing, Grandpa?" Spencer took off his coat as he sauntered over to Wayne and claimed the chair next to him.

Before Wayne could answer their question, Anna descended the stairs. "Your grandpa was busy with finalizing the guest list for the wedding. He insisted to personally attend to it." She didn't bother to stifle her chuckle or her amusement.

"I can't thank you enough, Grandpa. You shouldn't have." Fiona could not help but be touched by Wayne's efforts, which she had appreciated with utmost sincerity. Although she didn't want to marry Spencer, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by Wayne's love for her and his efforts to make everything as perfect as possible.

"You know I want nothing but the best for you, my dear, and I most certainly enjoy doing this for you." Wayne took off his glasses and smiled wistfully. "Now off with you two! You both need to prepare yourselves for the wedding! There's still so much to do and the wedding is in two days! I'll be sure to give you the grandest, the most extravagant wedding you two deserve! Fiona's finally joining the Cheng family, we'd better give her our warmest welcome."

"We are most sincerely happy with your efforts, Grandpa."

Anna turned her attention to Spencer and said, "With regards to your best men, will Terence and Eric be amendable to the roles? Would you add more to the list?"

"Eric and Terence will be enough," Spencer answered. He strode over to the table, carefully picking up a photo album and casually flipping over the pages.

"Would you like to have your classmates as your bridesmaids for the weeding, Fiona?" Anna asked her.

Fiona tensed and shook her head. "I don't think so. I've been made aware that they are quite busy so there won't be a need to invite them."

Looking up from the album, Spencer glanced at Fiona and then to Anna. "Her classmates are young girls who know nothing. You should find suitable candidates from your connections."

"I'll try my best." Anna nodded and pondered for a while before she thoughtfully said, "Shall we invite Fiona's aunt and her family?"

"Don't bother inviting them to the wedding." Wayne scoffed, distaste evident in the tone of his voice. "I had no idea where they obtained such information. They called me, saying that they wanted to come to the wedding. I turned them down."

"Wouldn't people talk? It might affect Fiona's image if none of her family members would show up at the wedding." Anna furrowed her brows at the thought.

Suddenly, Wayne slammed his palm on the table with a bang. His whole body trembled with fury and his voice rose in volume as he shouted, "What good would that do?!" Wayne could not stomach the thought of Jenny and her family attending the wedding. After all the damage she had caused to Fiona's well-being, they were lucky that he didn't settle accounts with them. "Fiona is my responsibility! She's under my care, my family! The bride's family? Ha! Let people talk!"

Anna raised her hands in surrender, not willing to argue with him anymore.

"Alright, alright, Grandpa, you're the boss." Spencer laid a comforting hand on his grandfather's shoulder. "No need to be so angry. The wedding is a joyous occasion, don't let your anger ruin your mood. Do they deserve your anger?"

"Spencer's right. Please don't direct your anger towards Aunt Anna, Grandpa. She didn't mean any harm. I know that the both of you are only looking out for me, please don't be mad at each other." Wayne avoided everyone's gaze as he sighed. Despite his efforts to calm himself down, anger still showed on his face.

"Do forgive me for my inconsiderateness, Father. It was uncalled for, and I didn't intend enrage you." Anna bowed her head in apology, and decided to leave the scene. "I shall take my leave, then. I'd better start preparing lunch." Anna forced a smile and was leaving for the kitchen when Fiona called out,

"Let me assist you, Aunt Anna!" Fiona then rose and joined her at the kitchen. Sensing Anna's discomfort, she picked her words carefully. "You weren't at fault, Aunt Anna. Grandpa must've been too stressed preparing for the wedding," she said, her features apologetic.

Anna smiled at her words and said, "No need to apologize, Fiona. I deserved Father's ire."

Fiona didn't quite understand why would Anna deserve Wayne's anger, but she chose not to press in further. She smiled gratefully and said, "I apologize if I wasn't much of a help in preparing the wedding." Anna returned her smile with her own and said, "I'm more than happy to do this for you and Spencer. I really am ecstatic to see you both together."

When the night fell, Fiona and Spencer were settled in the guest room. They weren't allowed inside the master bedroom yet, it was reserved for their wedding night.

The bed was spacious enough to house the both of them. They stared at the ceiling as they lay side by side. Spencer then decided to break the silence to voice out his thoughts.

"Have you considered inviting Ryan to the wedding?" Spencer started.

Fiona snapped her head at his direction. "Are you out of your mind?" she hissed.

"There's no chance that the both of you will be together anyway. Why not let him see his beloved marry another man?" Spencer said smugly as he turned to gaze at Fiona, letting his breath warm her cheeks. "Are you still in love with him?"

"You've already had your way, no need to rub salt into my wound. Just let it go." Fiona hardened her eyes as she dropped the subject.

"Alright, you don't wish to discuss the past, the future it is then. How about we discuss our future?"

"Why not?" Fiona said calmly. "How about we discuss when you will let me go?"

"In your dreams!" Spencer replied darkly. 'Does she really think I would let her go so easily?' he thought.

Knowing that any further conversations would upset her, Fiona chose to ignore him. She turned her back to him and attempted to sleep.

"Fiona, what's Comic Bear?" Spencer asked.

"What? How did you know Comic Bear?" Fiona's eyes flew open as she hastily turned around to face him.

"You told me. Last night when you were drunk, it slipped from your lips."

"I did?" Fiona wracked her mind as she desperately tried to recall what had transpired the other night. She turned up none. She was too far gone with the alcohol in her system to remember what happened. She bit her lip in frustration and said, "Comic Bear was one of my toys when I was a kid. They don't sell it anymore. Why would I bring it up last night?"

"How old are you now? You still want a toy?" Spencer didn't bother to answer her question as he gave her a scornful look.

"It's none of your business," Fiona scoffed and turned her back against him again. "I plan to visit my parents' tombs tomorrow. Grandpa has insisted that I'll have you accompany me, but you don't have to. I won't tell Grandpa."

"Don't assume that you could make decisions for me." Spencer turned to his side as they both drifted off to a fitful sleep.

When the morning came, Fiona finished her breakfast as she prepared to leave for the cemetery. She was just coming out of the door when she was greeted by the sight of Spencer in his car. "Where are you heading to?" Fiona asked. She couldn't seem to wrap her head around the fact that Spencer waited for her. But for what?

"I'll accompany you to the cemetery. Hop in," Spencer casually answered.

"Are you sure about this?"

Spencer's patience snapped as he said, "You were the one who said that Grandpa insisted! Get in and shut up!"

That definitely pulled Fiona from her daze as she stared at him dumbly. "O-okay." Fiona nodded as she scrambled to the passenger seat, fastening her seat belt. The engine purred to life as they set off to the cemetery.

Spencer knew the cemetery located at the western suburb of M City like the back of his hand. It was after all, his mother's last resting place. They had buried her there ten years ago and since then, he had visited her countless times. He had never visited Fiona's parents though, even if they were resting only a few grave sites away.

Though he never had visited them himself, he always requested Terence to place flowers before the gravestones of Fiona's parents every time he visited.

They walked through the path leading to where Spencer's mother was put to rest, the wind whistling through them as they trekked upwards. They stopped in front of her gravestone; Fiona laid down the flowers she brought as she bowed her head to pay her respects.

Then, Fiona left for her parents' grave sites. She stopped as she gazed on the portraits of her parents. Spencer stood a few steps behind her as he observed Fiona.

"Mom, Dad, how are you?" Fiona said, her voice soft as it was carried by the wind. She squatted down as she brushed off the debris and the dried leaves that cluttered around her parent's tombstones.