The halls glimmered with dozens of twinkling lights that hung from the ceiling as blue chiffons decorated with snowflakes hung above. The wedding theme was winter as it was December. However, Sakura thought it was more Christmassy than wedding-like.
Having been close friends with both Mia Yoshino and Haru Soma for years, Sakura had no doubt that Mia had been the one to select the décor—Haru wouldn't have had much of a say. Despite the theme not being to her taste, Sakura was genuinely thrilled to be the maid of honour. Her joy came from seeing her two friends finally wanting a future with each other, especially Mia, her best friend since high school, who became more like a sister to her than her best friend.
Several guests remained seated in white leather chairs, listening carefully as Mia and Haru said their wedding vows.
"Do you take Haru Soma to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Do promise to love and cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, for so long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Mia said, her voice trembling as tears glistened in her eyes.
As Mia spoke, Sakura's eyes drifted to Haru. For a man about to marry the love of his life, he didn't look nearly as happy as he should have. There was something distant in his expression, like he was physically present but emotionally elsewhere. His faint smile didn't reach his eyes, and he seemed unusually tense. Sakura's heart sank as doubt crept in. She had known him long enough to recognise when something was wrong—especially when he drummed his fingers against his thighs, a habit he often fell into when his mind was elsewhere. The subtle, repetitive motion only deepened her worry.
When the officiant repeated the same question to Haru, he didn't answer. Sakura felt a cold knot of unease in her stomach. Could her suspicions about Haru be true?
"Do you, Haru Soma, take Mia Yoshino to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Do promise to love and cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"
"Haru?" Mia asked, her voice edged with nervousness.
Haru remained silent, prompting his older brother and groomsman, Aoi, to step forward. "Haru, are you okay?" Aoi asked, his tone concerned.
Sakura watched as Haru's gaze flickered toward her before returning to Mia. Mia's breath hitched as she waited for his reply.
Sakura's heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with him. She could see the struggle in his face—the silent war raging inside him. She had to do something, say something, but what could she say?
"I..." Haru's voice cracked. His lips trembled as he looked at Mia. "I can't do this. I'm sorry."
Before anyone could react, Haru turned to the side, his feet moving before he could think. He walked straight toward Sakura, and as everyone watched in stunned silence, he took her face in his hands and kissed her.
The kiss was sudden and desperate, full of everything Haru had never said. Sakura's mind whirled as the warmth of his lips took her by surprise. The room around them seemed to freeze, and she could feel the intensity of the kiss—the raw emotion that poured out of him, leaving her breathless. She could hear the gasps and whispers from the crowd, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from Haru.
He pulled back quickly, his face flushed with the emotions he could no longer contain. "I love you, Sakura," he said in a shaky whisper, his voice filled with pain and urgency. "I always have."
And then, before she could respond or process the words that still echoed in her mind, Haru turned and fled, running out of the room as quickly as he had come.
The room was silent—except for Mia's shocked, horrified gasp and the hushed whispers from the guests. No one knew what to say, or how to react.
"Haru!" Aoi shouted, his voice breaking through the stillness. "What the hell are you doing?"
Sakura stood frozen, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. The kiss, the confession, and his sudden departure—she couldn't believe it.
"I'll go find him," Sakura said quickly, her voice steady despite the chaos. She gave Mia and Aoi a reassuring look before hurrying after Haru.
…
Sakura rushed through the halls, her heels clicking loudly against the floor as she struggled to keep pace. She lifted the hem of her long pastel blue dress, revealing her bare feet beneath, as she pushed herself forward through the crowd. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath, stopping long enough to kick off her shoes. The echo of the guests' murmurs faded as she dashed down the corridor, her heart pounding against her chest.
By the time she reached the venue doors, Haru was nowhere in sight.
Panic surged through her chest, and a wave of confusion settled over her mind. Where did he go?' The overwhelming question pressed on her, but Sakura pushed it aside. She had to find him—she had to understand what just happened. Haru's words, his kiss, everything—none of it made sense.
It was pitch dark, almost pitch black. The rain was coming down in torrents outside. As Sakura stepped out into the storm, the cool drops instantly drenched her, making her feel exposed and raw. Her dress clung to her skin like a second layer, the fabric heavy and clingy from the moisture. She didn't care. Her long brown hair, usually neat and styled, stuck to her face and neck, damp tendrils framing her flushed cheeks. Her bra became visible through the thin, soaked fabric of her dress, but she was too distracted to even notice.
Her thoughts whirled in a chaotic mess, but one thing remained clear: she had to find him. Now. Why did he kiss me? Why did he leave Mia at the altar?
Sakura's feet splashed against the wet pavement as she sprinted toward the street, ignoring the blaring horns of the speeding cars. The storm's intensity blurred everything around her—visibility was almost nothing, but her only focus was Haru. She hadn't seen him, hadn't even caught a glimpse of him since he ran out of the venue.
Without thinking, she dashed into the crosswalk. The no walk sign blinked, but it didn't stop her. She felt a compulsion, as if her body was moving on its own, the need to reach him overpowering all other thoughts. A screech of tires sliced through the air as a car sped toward her. The driver honked furiously, but Sakura didn't react. She didn't even scream.
In that instant, as the headlights neared, everything went quiet in her mind. The roar of the engine, the voices in her head, even the rain—it all disappeared. She closed her eyes, resigning herself to the inevitable. Is this it?She thought. Is this how I'm going to die?