Mai was supposedly happy on her graduation. But then, she was still hurt from what the others did to her. She celebrated her graduation party in the orphanage, with the kids and the parish priests.

When Amy turned three, she already filed the papers for her adoption, and it was still reviewed in the court.

Three months have passed, and tomorrow will be Masako and Gene's wedding, and the media was getting frenzy about it, especially when the couple cancelled their original date of the wedding, the people were asking about but they were light-lipped.

Mai turned off the TV, and went to do her usual chores in her apartment, she found a teaching job in the university. She's a part time assistant of Igarashi-sensei, a Professor in the same school as hers.

She yawned and glance at the clock, it's already ten in the evening. She stretched her hands, tired from recording her students' score in their last quiz, when she heard someone knocked on her door.

She froze.

Who would visit her this late at night? No one knew where she lived aside from John and few of her faculty friends. She cautiously went to the door and peek outside.

She blanched when the famous and bride-to-be Hara Masako stood outside.

Mai slightly opened the door, just enough to let her know that she's inside.

"Mai..." Masako gasped. "There's... There's something I wanted to tell you... can I come in? Please?" She pleaded.

Mai sighed and totally opened the door for her.

"You want tea?" She offered.

Masako softly shook her head. "I loved to, but I'm in a hurry."

The two ladies sat in silence in the living room.

"Mai... about the wedding tomorrow..." Masako started. "I know you hate us, what we did was unforgivable, we played you, but please... believe me when I say that you are one of my treasured friends... we might started it in the wrong the way, but it doesn't mean, we can't start over again, right?"

Mai didn't answered, keeping her tears at bay when her guest starting crying in front of her.

"Please Mai, be in my wedding. I want you to be there, I don't care if you will ignore the others... just... just be there as my friend." Masako handed her the invitation. "You can bring Amy-chan with you too."

Reluctantly, she received the colorful card.

"I'll think about it, but I won't promise."

Mai sighed for the umpteenth time, reading the invitation. The wedding will be one in the afternoon, and it's already eleven in the morning.

"Mai-san..." John called, taking a seat beside her in the chapel.

"John, I don't know what to do. I'm asking God for a sign."

The Australian priest softly smiled. "Mai-san, I know you missed them. They become your friends, you might not saw it, but you are happier when you are still acquainted with them."

"But they are all fakes." She spat bitterly. "They only did it to make me closer to them."

"I don't think so." John stated. "I only saw them once during that case, but I can see that they are genuinely worried about you when you were hospitalized, and they care for you."

Mai heaved a sigh. Loss on what she would do next.

"You can't find peace and happiness when you won't let go of your hatred." John added.

She softly smiled. "Thank you John." She stood up and bowed, before leaving the chapel.

"Mama! Mama! Hurry!" Amy suddenly dragged her in the gardens where she and the other kids were playing.

"What is it?"

"Look!" The kid pointed in the clear sky. Mai's eyes widened. There are red balloons hovering in the air.

"No way…" She gasped in disbelief. She gripped the invitation on her hand. "Amy, come on let's take a bath."

"Eh? Why?"

Mai smiled at the child. "We're going to attend a wedding."

There's no hesitation now, she already saw the sign that she asked from God. He also wanted her to step forward and overcome her hatred.

"Why are you so jittery, Masako? Come on! Don't tell me you're still having wedding jitters?" Ayako asked when she noticed her clenching her palms, a habit that she do when she's nervous.

"Ah, no..." She tried to smile at Ayako. "But I'm really nervous... After this, my civil status will change." She joked. She's nervous, alright! But it's not because of the wedding. She was nervous if Mai accepted her offer to be here in her wedding.

When the visitors were already seated, the wedding planner entered their room, telling them to prepare.

The wedding march was played, cameras were rolling as the ceremony started. Masako was glowing in her white long-sleeve turtle neck lace wedding gown.

Before the door in the church closed, a late visitor leaped inside holding a child in her arm, showing her invitation to the two guards standing on the doorway.

"I made it!" Mai panted, slipping on the back row.

The man beside her was amused on her slight disheveled appearance. "Are you alright?" He asked.

Mai looked at him, and smiled. "Yes."

"How are you related to the couple?"

Mai thought for a moment. "Friends." She answered simply. She felt Amy tugged her dress, she looked down at her.

"Shoes." She said, with her chubby finger, pointing at her undone shoes.

"Oh..." Mai gasped. She crouched down to help her with her shoes, her hair, and on the ribbon of her dress.

"Your... sister?" The man beside her asked curiously.

"My daughter."

The man widened his eyes for a second before a scary smirk crept over his face.

Mai grasped Amy's hand and moved away from the stranger, she took the vacant seat on the row before them. She smelled trouble around him.

"Masako!"

The newlywed couple gasped and turned around. Masako's eyes tear up when she saw her. "Mai..." She hugged the girl tightly. "Thank you for coming!" She carefully squeezed Amy's cheeks. "And you too!"

"Congrasholashuns!" The child greeted.

Masako chuckled at the mispronounced word. "Thank you!"

"Mai..." Gene gasped, and in the corner of his eyes, he saw Naru stood up from his seat in the reception, Ayako and Madoka covered their mouths in disbelief.

The girl smiled at him. "Best wishes."

Gene immediately hugged her. "Sorry… We're so sorry…"

"Hey! This is your wedding!" Mai playfully smacked his shoulders.

The twin chuckled. "Right."

One of the waiters ushered her to the vacant seat, same table with Naru and the others. Parents of the bride and groom were there too.

Mai mentally groaned. Spell awkward.

W-E-D-D-I-N-G-R-E-C-E-P-T-I-O-N