The amber glow of kerosene lamps painted warm circles on the wooden walls of Uncle Ted's living room, casting elongated shadows that danced across the worn Persian rug. Percy stretched out on the cracked leather couch, its familiar creaks comforting as he sank deeper into thought. The scent of sandalwood incense and old books wrapped around him like a well-worn sweater, the quiet hum of the ceiling fan providing a steady white noise that usually lulled him to sleep. But tonight, sleep proved elusive.
He pulled out his phone, the blue light illuminating the thoughtful crease between his eyebrows as he composed a message to his mother. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before tapping out: "Hey Ma, staying at Uncle Ted's tonight. I'll come get you tomorrow morning for the prenup shoot. Helping Pabling set up too."
The reply came within seconds—his mother's predictable mix of care and practicality: "Okay Percy. Just be there early, alright? - Mom"
Uncle Ted glanced up from his crossword puzzle, the newspaper rustling as he adjusted his reading glasses. "She still tracking you like you're sixteen?" The teasing lilt in his voice carried decades of affectionate ribbing.
Percy grinned, tossing his phone onto the coffee table where it landed with a soft thud. "You know how she is. Thinks I'll vanish into the city lights if she blinks too long." His attempt at levity didn't quite mask the tension in his shoulders.
The older man snorted, folding his newspaper with deliberate care. "Smart woman, your mother." His gaze sharpened as he studied Percy over the rim of his glasses. "You've got that restless look tonight. Like you're gearing up for battle."
Percy's fingers drummed an uneven rhythm against his thigh. Last night's memories surfaced unbidden—Jessica's laugh ringing across the crowded bar, bright and melodic until it wasn't. The way her fingers had tightened around her cocktail glass when Josh made that offhand comment about her salary making married life "easy." The way she'd looked at him afterward, just for a heartbeat, like she was remembering something long buried.
"Yeah," he admitted, raking a hand through his already disheveled hair. "Just thinking." The words felt inadequate, but Uncle Ted didn't press. Some silences were kinder than questions.
The grandfather clock in the corner ticked loudly, marking the passage of time Percy couldn't afford to lose. Tomorrow loomed large—the prenup shoot, the wedding, the inevitable goodbyes. He exhaled slowly, the weight of it all settling in his chest like a stone.
The front door of Jessica's family home slammed with enough force to rattle the framed photographs lining the hallway. Jessica stormed past the kitchen without a glance, her stiletto heels striking the hardwood like gunshots in the otherwise quiet house.
Annette and MJ exchanged glances over their half-finished coffee cups, the steam long since dissipated.
Annette set her spoon down with deliberate care, her voice low. "What's wrong with her?"
MJ shifted uncomfortably, his fingers tracing the rim of his mug. "Josh said some... not great things at the bar." His gaze flicked toward the staircase where Jessica had disappeared.
Annette's spoon clinked sharply against ceramic. "Like what?"
A pause stretched between them, filled only by the hum of the refrigerator. Then, barely audible: "Something about how easy married life will be since Jessica earns more. That she wouldn't have to worry about him 'slacking off' because her paycheck would cover—"
The mug hit the table with a thud. "Damn it." Annette's knuckles whitened around her coffee cup. The unspoken words hung heavy between them—years of their mother's silent sacrifices, the way she'd flinched when their father demanded her paycheck every Friday, the hollow look in her eyes when he came home smelling of alcohol and other women's perfume. "She's still haunted by what Dad put Mom through." Annette pushed back from the table, the chair legs scraping against the tile. "Thank God we both got good jobs so Mom doesn't have to struggle like before."
Upstairs, a drawer slammed shut with enough force to shake the walls.
Annette sighed, rolling her shoulders back. "I'll talk to her. You should go get Josh before he passes out in a ditch somewhere."
MJ nodded, already reaching for his car keys where they hung by the door. The jingle of metal was oddly cheerful in the tense atmosphere. "Yeah... I just hope this doesn't ruin tomorrow. The prenup shoot is supposed to be special." His voice trailed off as he glanced toward the staircase, worry etching lines around his eyes.
Golden dawn light spilled through the thin curtains of Uncle Ted's guest room, painting stripes across Percy's rumpled sheets. He sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, the scent of brewing coffee cutting through his grogginess like a lifeline.
Outside, the town stirred to life in a symphony of familiar sounds—the rhythmic scrape of a broom across concrete as old Mrs. Lim swept her porch, the distant chatter of market vendors arranging their wares, the metallic squeak of the neighbor's gate as their teenage son left for school. Percy dressed methodically, his thoughts circling back to Jessica like a moth to a flame.
Today, I'll see her in white.
The coffee was bitter on his tongue, exactly how he liked it. Uncle Ted leaned against the porch railing, watching him with that knowing gaze that had seen straight through Percy since he was a boy dragging his knees after a little league game.
"You sleep alright?"
Percy swirled the dregs in his cup, watching the dark liquid cling to the sides. "Enough."
The older man grunted, taking a slow sip from his own mug. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with years of unspoken understanding. Then, blunt as always: "That girl's getting married tomorrow."
The words landed like a punch to the gut, though Percy had been bracing for them. "I know."
Uncle Ted studied him over the rim of his glasses, his expression unreadable. Then, unexpectedly gentle: "You gonna be okay?"
Percy's smile didn't reach his eyes as he set his empty cup on the railing. The morning sun warmed his back, a stark contrast to the chill settling in his chest. "I'll have to be."
The scene at Jessica's house when Percy and Mrs. Rachel arrived could've been lifted straight from a comedy sketch—if not for the underlying tension thickening the air like summer humidity.
Mrs. Rachel pinched her nose the moment they stepped inside, her designer heels clicking against the marble foyer. "Good Lord… someone had quite the night."
There, sprawled across the white leather sofa like a shipwreck survivor, was Josh—shirt wrinkled beyond salvation, one arm dangling precariously off the edge, a dried dribble of beer staining his chin. The acrid scent of stale alcohol and sweat clung to him like a second skin.
Percy couldn't help it. He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo, the flash making Josh groan and throw an arm over his face. "Damn, buddy. You really went all out, huh?"
Josh peeled one bloodshot eye open, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the windows. His voice was gravel when he spoke. "Why am I… here?"
"Because MJ carried your drunk ass home," Alexa said from the doorway, wrinkling her nose as she poked Josh's shoulder with her sandaled foot. "You reek. Like, impressively bad."
Percy rummaged through his bag, producing a bottle of water and two hangover pills he always kept on hand for mornings like this. He tossed them to Josh, who fumbled the catch spectacularly. "Take these. Shower. Try to look human before Pabling starts shooting." His tone was light, but his gaze flicked toward the staircase where the sound of hairdryers and female laughter drifted down.
Upstairs, the bridal suite was a flurry of controlled chaos—hairdryers humming, makeup brushes swirling through clouds of powder, the occasional yelp as someone got hairspray in their eyes. Jessica sat perfectly still in the center of it all, a queen holding court as stylists buzzed around her. When she finally emerged in her gown, the room fell silent.
She was radiant. The ivory silk hugged her curves before cascading to the floor in a pool of delicate lace. The bodice was embroidered with tiny pearls that caught the light with every movement, like stars twinkling against a pale sky. But it was her face that stole Percy's breath—the careful artistry of her makeup enhancing her natural beauty without overpowering it, her lips stained a soft pink that reminded him of summer roses.
Jessica caught his stare and arched a perfectly groomed brow. "What?"
Percy recovered with a smirk, shoving his hands in his pockets to hide their sudden tremor. "Nothing. Just wondering if Pabling's camera can handle all that."
Pabling, ever the instigator, grinned behind his lens as he adjusted the settings. "You two got history or what? I'm sensing vibes."
The room stilled. Even the stylists paused, their hands hovering mid-motion. Percy forced a laugh that sounded too loud in the sudden silence. "Come on, man. Look at her." He gestured vaguely at Jessica's designer gown and flawless makeup. "We're opposites."
"Or maybe you just can't handle women," Pabling teased, clearly enjoying himself now. He nudged MJ, who looked like he wanted to disappear into the wallpaper. "Admit it—you're into guys."
Laughter erupted, breaking the tension. But Josh's grip on Jessica's waist tightened visibly as he guided her toward the set, his knuckles going white against the delicate fabric of her dress.
Later, as Pabling arranged the couple against the breathtaking sunrise pouring through the bay windows, Percy lingered near Mrs. Rachel near the refreshment table.
Mrs. Rachel studied her son over the rim of her champagne flute, her voice soft. "You okay?"
Percy watched Jessica tilt her head toward Josh's shoulder on cue, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. The photographer called out directions, but Percy barely heard them over the roaring in his ears. "Yeah," he lied, accepting the glass she offered. "She's happy. That's what matters."
The champagne was bitter on his tongue.
Dinner that evening was a minefield disguised as a celebration.
Josh's laughter was too loud, his hands too possessive on Jessica's shoulders as he regaled the table with stories from their college days. Percy noticed how Jessica stiffened each time Josh touched her, how her fingers curled into her napkin when he bragged about their future "dual-income bliss" to her uncles.
Outside on the patio, Percy, MJ, and Pabling smoked under a blanket of stars, the glow of their cigarettes punctuating the darkness like fireflies.
Pabling exhaled a perfect smoke ring, his voice casual. "So. Still pretending you're over her?"
Percy flicked his cigarette ash harder than necessary, watching the embers scatter across the stone pavers. "Some things aren't mine to hold onto."
Inside, a glass shattered. Jessica's strained laugh floated through the open window, followed by Josh's booming voice demanding another round.
The night was warm, but the silence between the men was colder than the beers sweating in their hands.