The
Autumn Tale
Part 19
By: Tara-Chan
Disclaimers: Slayers do not belong to me at all! Belongs to
original creators. I got the fanfic idea from this famous and well-done Korean
drama called: Gaul Dong Hwa. It belongs to the rightful directors and the producers.
Do not sue me!
Notes: This is an AU, so expect some of the characters to be
OOC. Also please ignore the grammatical and spellings errors. Feedbacks are
welcomed! Enjoy!
~*~*~*~
Two days before the wedding…
"CHEERS!" Mugs of beers and other alcoholic beverages
clashed through the air. "CHEERS FOR ZELGADISS MARRYING AMELIA!"
Zel and Xelloss raised their mugs less heartily. Xelloss not
joining in for knowing the secret, while Zel too busy thinking about how he
loves Lina, not Amelia.
"Come on Zel! Be happy! You're marrying one of the richest
girl in all of Seoul." One of his old friend clapped him hard on his back. "You
are just darn lucky."
"I agree," said another one of his old friend. "By the way
who chose this awesome bar to have a bachelor party at?"
"Xelloss did," said Zelgadiss half-heartedly.
"Could've guessed," the friend nodded and refilled his empty
mug again.
After about another two hours and so, the party soon broke
off. Zelgadiss ended up getting slightly drunk. Xelloss fortunately didn't get
drunk or buzz, so he offered to take Zel home. As they were walking to Zel's
apartment, which wasn't that far away, Zelgadiss decided to confess Xelloss how
he felt about Lina.
"Hey Xelloss? Xel buddy…" Zelgadiss slurred on his word.
"You know what? I don't love Amelia. I love Lina."
Xelloss stiffened at that comment, but didn't say anything
except for, "I see."
"I don't know why. I just do. She is just so…just so
likeable you know?"
"Yeah. I don't blame you…" Xelloss broke off. Damn. I got
to tell him the truth. I have to. "Zel? I have to tell you something. Let's take a seat at the bench over
there." Xelloss pointed at the bench straight ahead. Zel nodded. "Ok. Fine with
me." They both took a seat at the bench and relaxed for a bit while staring up
at the sky.
"You know. I love the stars. What's ironic is that Seoul is
so damn polluted that I only see one or two instead of a whole bunches of them.
I find that hell of annoying," Zel rambled on. "I really like the stars. They
remind me of Lina's eyes when she is energetic. They sparkle like night stars
would do. Maybe I'll do another painting like that, but then again the one I
did about a week or so ago, was the last one I decided to do."
"You did paintings of Lina?" Xelloss asked.
"Yeah. Bunch of them. Sketches also. Probably more then
hundred of them. I don't exactly remember. Don't tell her any of this ok? I
don't want her to know that I love her. She probably will think I'm a playboy
or something,"
"My, my. That is a lot. I won't tell her. I promise."
Xelloss took a breath. "I got to tell you some news."
"What? You gonna marry Lina? Take good care of her."
Xelloss shook his head. "No. It's not that. It's about
Amelia's so-called amnesia."
Zelgadiss blinked with confusion, while his head clearing up
a bit. "What about? That she never did have one or something?"
"…Yes…" with that Xelloss told Zelgadiss everything that
happened in the café weeks ago.
"…When did you find out about this?" Zelgadiss asked when
Xelloss was done telling.
"Weeks ago."
"And you didn't tell me before?" Zel growled.
"I had to find the time to tell you…and I figure the night
of the bachelor party would have been the best time."
Zelgadiss remained silent for quite awhile. He stood up
after thinking and then went to a tree and slammed his fist into it. "DAMN
HER!" His cry of anger echoed through the night. "IT'S TOO LATE TO CANCEL THE
WEDDING NOW!"
Xelloss grabbed his friend before he did anything rash.
"Calm down. No Zel. It's not too late. It's never too late for someone like
her. She doesn't deserve to win. She doesn't deserve to win at all."
"It is too late. I can't disappoint my parents now. I just
can't."
"Zel. You don't deserve her. You don't! You don't deserve
someone like her. Is your parents' happiness worth it compared to yours?"
"I don't know. I don't know anymore. I don't know anything!"
Xelloss sighed. "Well I don't know what else to say, but
follow your heart."
"…That's what Lina told me."
"She gave you the perfect advice. I suggest you take it from
her rather than me." Xelloss forced a smile. "Now come on. We're almost at your
apartment. Let's continue on."
"Thanks Xelloss, but my head is clear now. You go on home. I
can take care of myself. Thanks for walking here, and thanks for telling me."
"No problem. It's all in the pleasure of the Metallium's
family." Xelloss did a mocking bow.
"Yeah. Good night." Zel walked away from Xelloss, whom was
watching from behind.
Lina…she doesn't love me. Anyone can tell that she loves him
back. Why doesn't Zelgadiss see it? He's the artistic one. Should I tell Lina
how Zel really feels about her? But I promised him that I wouldn't tell her…
Xel sighed. Life is so difficult…
~*~*~*~
Wedding Day…
Should I marry Amelia? Should I not? Damn. What should I do?
Damn!
Zelgadiss paced around his dressing room. Another hour till
the wedding and he was a wreck. He was very confused and frustrated. "Damn. I
got to go confront that bitch first…" Zel walked out of the dressing room and
almost crashed into Lina. As soon as he saw her, he stopped short.
"Lina?" Zel looked at her with surprise. "What are you doing
here?"
"I wanted to congratulate you." Lina forced a smile. "Where
are you going in such a hurry?"
"Confront Amelia."
Lina bit her lips. "But...I thought the soon to be couples
aren't supposed to see each other before the wedding…"
"Screw the tradition. I just have to tell her what I know."
"…I see…just don't do anything you will regret."
"With her, I have nothing to regret." Zel glanced at the
girl in front of him. Damn…she is so pretty…and so…angelic…seems like she's
tired too…but that don't matter. He reached up and gently touched her face
with the back of his thumb. "Beside I told you. I don't love Amelia. I love
someone else."
"I see…" Lina hid her disappointment. Who does he love…?
"Well…I'll see you later?" Zel opened his arms up for a hug.
Lina fell into his arm and hugged him. "Don't do anything rash," Lina whispered
in his ears.
"I won't." Zelgadiss then released her and walked past her. Forcing
himself not to look back at the woman he was in love.
~*~*~*~
"Hum, hum, hum…." Amelia hummed happily to herself. Yes.
Today I'll finally get to be Mrs. Graywords. Today is going to be the happiest
day of my life!
Suddenly the curtain to her dressing room opened up. With
out looking Amelia thought it was Filia.
"What do you want Filia? I told you that you are dismissed."
That got Zelgadiss to be more pissed. How dare she treat
my sister like she is some tool? "I don't know where Filia came from, but
this is definitely not her."
Amelia spun around in surprise. "Zel? What are you doing
here? We're not supposed to see each other before the wedding."
"The question is. What are you doing about that fake
amnesia?" Zelgadiss growled softly.
Amelia stepped back in surprise. "What are you talking
about?"
"Don't play innocent with me Amelia. Don't you dare play
innocent."
Amelia frowned a bit. "So that damn doctor didn't keep his
mouth shut…"
Zelgadiss interrupted her. "I don't know what doctor, but I
did not hear about this from him."
"Then it must have been Martina…"
"Quit trying to blame everyone else!" Zelgadiss burst out. "Blame yourself for
a change!"
"So what are you going to do?" Amelia sneered. "Cancel the
wedding? And then disappoint your parents?"
Zelgadiss didn't say anything. Damn. Seems like she knows
all my damn weakness. He stepped closer to her. "Why are you such a bitch?
Why are you making everyone's life miserable? Just to get everything your way?"
"How dare you call me a bitch? That is injustice…" Amelia
was cut off with a slap from Zelgadiss.
"Injustice my ass. If you are the partner of justice, you
wouldn't have done all this!" Zelgadiss forced himself to not scream.
Amelia's hand went up to her cheeks. This is the second time
he slapped me. This is not…right…
Zel stepped back and sighed. "Whatever. I just want you to
know that I don't love you…but I think the wedding must go on. Nothing to do
about it. And I will not tell your father what you have done."
Amelia didn't say anything. She just stared at him like a
lightning jolted her. Zelgadiss sighed again and left the dressing room. Amelia
stared at the curtain in which he disappeared to. He doesn't love me? He
doesn't? How can it be… Amelia slumped in her seat and started to sob.
~*~*~*~
30 minutes later…
Zelgadiss was at the front of the church, waiting for his
bride-to-be come down the aisle. Few minutes later she appeared with Phil. With
her veil on, no one could tell that she a red mark on her cheek and that her
eyes were puffy from crying. Filia was behind her, scowling a bit. Zel sighed.
Looks like this is my life…
Zelgadiss felt someone put its hand on his shoulder. He
looked up suddenly. It was Xelloss. Xel gave him an encouraging smile and
leaned over and whispered to him: "Follow your heart…" After saying that, he
went back to his position. Zel held back a sigh, and stared at the front. He
saw Lina in the back. She gave him a thumb's up and pantomimed that she had to
go.
Why? Why is she leaving? Why?
Zel slightly nodded. Lina nodded back at him and waved good bye. She turned
around and left the room. Zelgadiss stared followed her leaving the room.
Suddenly his mind went back to the wedding. Amelia had reached the front. She
gave her father a kiss on the cheek, after lifting her veil up, and went toward
Zelgadiss, and accepted his hand. They turned around and faced the priest.
"Today we gather to see off Amelia Wil Tesla Sairoon, and
Zelgadiss Graywords…" The priest rambled on and on. The author will not go into
details for she doesn't know the wedding vow stuff.
Zelgadiss zoned him out. After what felt like eternity, he
heard Amelia say: "I do." The priest turned to look at him. "Now do you,
Zelgadiss Graywords, accept Amelia Wil Tesla Sairoon, as your lawful wedded
wife?"
Zelgadiss stared him and didn't say anything. After a few
minutes he heard confused murmurs behind him. The priest, confused too,
repeated the question. Zel turned and stared at Amelia. She had a nervous
expression, and she was biting her lips.
Zelgadiss stared straight ahead again. Follow my
heart…Follow my heart. My heart wants Lina. I want Lina. I…I can't stand this.
I can't do this. Marrying Amelia without love, wouldn't make me any nicer as
she is. I am going to do the wrong thing. "I can't do this!" Zelgadiss shouted
out the last part.
Shocked murmurings were going around the church. Amelia gave
him a pained look. Xelloss looked a bit surprised. Indeed was Filia. His
parents and Phil gave him an astonished looks. Zelgadiss backed away from the
priest. "No. I can't do this." Zelgadiss shooked his head. "I can't." Zelgadiss
turned around and started to walk through the aisle. He heard his father angry
shoutings.
"SON! Don't you dare you walk away like this! You come back
here this instant!" His father had an angry look on his face.
Zel in mid aisle turned around and looked at his father. "Dad. I can't. All my life, I've never disobeyed you before. But this is something I can't do. Please. Try to understand. I…I got to be somewhere else at this moment. I am sorry." Zelgadiss then ran through the aisle and went to the exit. I'm not going to do this. I am not going to do this. I am going to do what I should've done a long time ago.