A loud ringing on her phone woke up Miranda.

Miranda sat up, eyes still half-closed and fumbled on the side table, searching for her mobile phone. But Gary's letter was the first thing she found. She hasn't moved it from where he had left it 3 nights ago. She silently read the words Gary personally written on the simple note.

"I am very sorry Miranda."

Love,

G. xx

She disregarded it, replacing it with her phone on her hands and read the screen of the phone.

What I call MOTHER calling…

She answered it despite of loathing the call to be so early.

"Ugh. Mum?" Miranda said, while massaging her painful head.

"Miranda, darling. Good. I thought you were still sleeping."

"Well, apparently, not anymore. You woke me up! Mum, it's very early in the morning. What do you need? Is there something wrong with you and Dad, again? Oh, gosh, my head…" Miranda went back to rest on the pillow.

"Kongers! Tilly here. Penny and I were lookinglylous for bouquets and homel-lo for your wed-invitasiones."

"W-what? I can't—"

"Give me that.. What Tilly tried to say was we were choosing flowers and searching designs for your wedding invitations."

"Mum, can we please just talk about this in the afternoon. I'm trying to sleep here. Ooww. My head." Miranda hissed for pain and covered her eyes firmly with her free hand.

"Miranda, dear, this is you wedding I'm trying to plan…" Miranda can hear Penny giving fake sobs over the phone. "I'm doing my best to make this as perfect as possible." Penny continued to sniff loudly while still talking to Miranda. "You don't know how m-much time and.. and.. ef-effort I'm putting and giving for you wedding."

Miranda just rolled her eyes when she heard Penny breaking down in to a very loud cry. Oh God.

"Alright, alright. What'd you want me to do?"

"Good! Now, I want us to meet to talk about the wedding invitations and about the choir."

"Mum, you're over doing this again." Miranda scoffed. "Is that all?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Before I forget, also we're going for fittings today."

"Fittings.?"

"For the bridesmaids' gowns and for your wedding dress."

"WHAT?!" Miranda abruptly sat up. Well that just made her wake up widely- even stronger that Stevie's coffee.

"So see you at the restaurant."

"At the restaurant? Why not meet here in my flat?"

"Your flat stinks… Sometimes." Tilly interrupted and Miranda realized her Mum's phone was on speaker mode, again.

"Like all the time."

"Oh shut up, Mum."

"I also need to talk to Gary for your wedding cake, actually."

"Gary's gonna make the wedding cake. Are you absolutely sure about this Mum? Like, really sure?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

"Really? Seriously? You forgot something here, Mum. Okay, whatever. See you then."

"Bye, darling."

"Bye, Mum." But Miranda didn't hear a dial tone. "Mum?"

"…. How do you turn this portable phone off?"

"Ugh. Why do you always forget this? Okay, bye." Miranda decided to cut the call herself.


"Hi, Stevie." Miranda greeted to her lovely little friend behind the counter as she went downstairs.

"Hi – Oh dear, you look horrible." Stevie stood up and met her in the middle of the joke shop. "You alright?"

"Not really. My head really hurts."

"Oh dear, Miranda, poor you." Stevie rubbed the side of Miranda's elbow. "You haven't slept in day, have you?"

"Yeah. Oh Stevie, I've been very busy with the wedding, I don't even have the time to sleep! Or Mum won't let me. She always rings me in the middle of the night. Grr."

"Miranda…." Stevie took a pair of bean bags and let Miranda and herself sit closely. "Are you okay? You seem confused these past few days."

"What'd you mean by 'confused'?" Miranda responded with a little huskiness in her voice. Her heart started to race again for she already knew what her friend meant but would want to hear it again from her.

"The wedding, of course. Are you absolutely sure marrying now will—"

"Stevie. How many times do we have to do this? I am, Stevie. I am.." Her voice started to break and tremble.

"It just that… I worry about you, Miranda." Stevie held Miranda's hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "You're my very best friend. I've known you for years now and long enough to know what things would make you happy." Miranda took a very deep sigh. "And marrying now isn't one of them." Miranda lost her words, unable to agree or deny what Stevie just said. "Miranda?" Stevie tried to catch her attention but was just awarded with a grip on her hand.

"I gotta leave. Mum's waiting for me at the restaurant." Miranda let Stevie's hand go and stormed out of her joke shop.


Miranda arrived at the restaurant and put her coat on the stand. She looked around searching for her Mother but the first person she saw was not Penny but the gorgeous (she should actually stop calling him gorgeous. She's got a fiancé now for goodness' sake) Gary working in the bar. Her heartbeat went faster as always while she approached him closer.

He was cleaning the counter, checking and re-checking that everything was in order.. and normal for Penny had told him that they'll do their wed-min in his restaurant. It would also mean that Miranda will be there, too. He hasn't seen her for days and wouldn't want add more awkwardness they already have around them.

"Gary." Said Miranda while sitting on the bar stool in front of him.

"Miranda" He put down the wine glass he was cleaning and met with her eyes.

Words failed her to tell what was needed to be told. What a total fool she thought for herself. She tried to talk but nothing came out. Luckily, he saved her as he always does for very many times.

"Look, Miranda, about that past night. I am very, very sorry. I'm sorry that I sort of broke into your flat… erm.. drunk. I was just—"

"No, Gary, it's fine, it's fine." She said without looking away from her and reading the sincerity on his face. "I know you just had a very bad day."

(Very bad indeed. Talk about seeing you getting engaged to Mike and realizing I'm a huge failure for not telling my feelings for you early on.)

"It's just that I.. well, thank you. Thank you for looking after me, Miranda." He almost reached out to give her a hug but realized it's quite inappropriate right now.

"Sure thing. That what's friends do, right? Friends look after for each other."

"Yeah.. Friends." Gary and Miranda just nodded to each other.

It was unusual for the restaurant to be this quiet though Miranda was there already there. Gary remembers that every time Miranda visits, this place was lively as the sun. But now, it was very far from that.

Before they knew, Penny and Tilly were already shrieking and rushing inside the restaurant.

"Miranda, good. I finally called the florist and everything's in place. Are you ready for the fitting? Obviously not in fifteen years. But will work with – " Penny looked Miranda from her head to foot. "—that" and Miranda raised her hands in the air and rolled her eyes. "We'll try to find you something that wouldn't make you look like a what I call 'transvestite'"

"And Gary-lum, is the cake ready? Have you chosen a flavor?"

"Wha—what cake?" Gary placed both his hands to his hips, totally unaware of what Tilly was talking about.

Miranda turned around to see Gary utterly clueless. "They didn't tell you, did they?"

"Tell me what?"

"Penelope, I thought you've talked to him."

"About what?"

"I thought you did."

"Mum, Tilly. Susssh now. Please calm down."

"Now my daughter's wedding is ruined."

"Mum, don't be so overly dramatic about this. Tilly.. ugh, I just can't understand a single word you're saying."

Miranda tried to control both women but just couldn't shut them up.

"Guys!" a very manly and strong voice said and the three women turned to face him. "Ahem. Uhmm. Guys? Calm down, please? What do I need to know?" Gary said with a sweet smile.

"We need you to do the wedding cake—"

"Which is totally fine if you don't want to really, Gary. I know you're busy with the restaurant and the bills and the cooking and the restaurant and that- " Miranda defended but Gary was determined.

"I'll do it."

"What? Gary it's really fine if you don't"

"Goody-gum drop! Thanks, Gary."

"It's okay Miranda. I'll do it! Why not, right?"

"Good. I'm glad that's sorted. Miranda, dear, see you at the dress shop."

"But Mum—"

"You too, Gary."

"Me?"

"Yes. At least they won't forget what a real man looks like and won't think that the bride looks like one. We need to go. Bye, dear."

"Tata!"

Penny walked out of the restaurant with Tilly following her on the back. Miranda and Gary heard the door slammed to its closure and turned to face each other.

"Sorry about that. Gary, are you sure you want to do my wedding cake? I don't want things between us to be awkward. I mean, it's just that. Mike… erm. Us. We- you actually, both of you… I" Miranda stuttered and made Gary laugh. They missed this. They both missed the silliness they can freely show to each other. Yes, Miranda was right. It would be awkward and weird to be doing it for her wedding but he missed her so much that he would do anything to see her.

"I miss you, Miranda." Whoops. That just slipped out from his tongue. He didn't mean to say it. Well, maybe a bit. He admitted that he did miss her, badly, even just a friend.

Miranda's eyes widen at what Gary just said in front of her. Weirdly, he seemed calm when he said that. "I don't want anything to be awkward between us, too. And yes, I am very much willing to be at your service, my highness." Gary stood up straightly, like a royal soldier and gave Miranda a salute.

"Well, thank you so much so to you, dear old glorious brave Sire." Miranda gave a half bow.

"And why wouldn't I do it, right? That's what friends do. Friends do favors for each other right?

"Yeah.. Friends." A long silence began as Miranda finish her cake. Maybe things went back to normal? She asked herself.


"Mum, are you sure there's something here that will fit to me? Can we please, please, remember the last time I tried one of those; it was as if I looked more like the cake than a bride!

Miranda went all giddily and anxious as the group approached the dress shop.

"It'll be fine, Kongers."

"Yeah. Maybe."

"Where's Stevie, anyway?" Penny asked while removing her sunglasses.

"Ste told me new deliveries will come today. I should actually help her, see." Miranda tried to turn and retrace her way back to the joke shop but Penny pulled her by her elbow.

"Nope, you're doing this."

Miranda continued to walk but her legs were getting weaker and weaker. She could use a gallop right now to go with the rhythm her heart is making.

"Queen Kong, where's Mike? I haven't seen your husband-to-be in days."

Miranda gulped deeply when she heard those words, even spoken in a very Tilly-accent. Husband-to-be. She thought. That's quite a heavy word.

"Well, erm. Maybe a bit busy?"

Miranda felt herself sweating heavily and her blood rushing to her ears. To be honest, she hasn't heard anything from Mike, either. Hasn't emailed nor called him actually, to say the least. Things might get more complicated to her than it is right now.

Xxxxxx

"Sorry." Gary arrived at the shop, still catching his breath. "I had problems at the kitchen. Where is she?"

He was greeted with Penny and Tilly comfortably seated on the couch while drinking some white wine.

"Where's Miranda?"

"Dressing room." Both of them answered.

"Darling! Are you alright? Gary's here by the way."

Inside the dressing room, Miranda starts to panic. Because Gary Preston was freaking, there outside! "Gosh, no, wait. Calm yourself, Miranda. You are a full grown woman. You shouldn't be like this. It's just Gary. JUST GARY! But what if I step on the trail in front of him? What if this won't hold and just fall off? Grr. Why does this have to be sleeveless anyway? Ugh! And made me wore off my bra. What's next? Make me put my bouquet on my knee because I'm too tall and others won't notice it if I hold it?" She continued to argue as her assistant tried to tighten and pull the strings on the back of her wedding gown.

"Okay, try to calm down Miranda. Just breath in and"

Before she could exhale, the assistant pulled the strings farther and farther and Miranda could only give a gasp.

"Sorry." Her assistant respectfully apologized.

"No, that's fine, that's fine. It's just that.. Is this really necessary? To push my (mouths) breast really this high?"

But the assistant just gave her a peculiar look. "Forget I said that. Whoah. I'm glad you have another gown in (mouths) "ten-ty" size. The last one I wore made me looked really ridiculous. Even my mum fainted when she saw me wearing one." She said with a single scoff at the end.

"You got married before?"

"No!" she strongly denied "Do I look like I've been married before?"

"No, just that you said you've tried it once."

"Oh, well, Tilly made me do it, assistant. I'm calling you Assistant now. It'll be really weird to now your name by now, so I'll call you Assistant."

"That'll be fine, Miss."

"MISS! Oh, thank you very much so to you, Assistant. Haha." She could feel the lady behind her smile.

After a lot of hard work, Miranda was finally done. She turned around to face her Assistant.

"It fits you like a glove. You look beautiful, Miss."

"Hmm. I doubt. That's very unlikely for me." Miranda looked away from her and ran her fingers to the beautiful beads on the dress.

"But you do. You both look well together, you and your fiancé."

"Yeah?"

"I've seen guys coming here to help their fiancées and I know, from my experience, you two are just perfect. I can see that he's far more excited to see you than your Mum or Tilly, basing from the pace he does outside."

"Outside? Oh no, no, no, no.. Gary and I are just mates. Mike, my fiancé, is at work. Gary's a good friend of mine. Just…my friend."
"Oh, sorry Miss. I thought. Well, he seemed a very good friend to me to come with you here. Come on now. Let's not keep Gary and the rest of them waiting." Miranda was offered a hand and she took it. She wants to see that expression of excitement on Gary's face, even if it was not proper. Even the thought of him being all excited makes her heart skip a beat.

"Ready, Miss?"

"Ready."