Keifer's POV
Sunday stopped pretending to be calm the moment we reached the mall.
All of us—all of us—poured in like a moving festival. Section E was complete: Ci-n, Felix, Blaster, Kit, Mayo, Eman, Eren, Josh, David, Drew, Denzel, Yuri, Edrix, Rory, Calix—plus Jay, Eces, Keiren, Keigan, Freya, Ella, Percy, Honey, Grace, Rakki, and Mica. I don't know how security didn't panic.
Jay clapped once. "Okay. Keifer and I are done. Today is for everyone else."
Groans followed immediately.
"Matching couples," she added sweetly.
That made it worse.
We split into groups, and colors started flying.
Ci-n & Rakki somehow agreed instantly on deep emerald green—clean, elegant. Felix whistled when they stepped out together.
Calix & Mica went with midnight blue, tailored and sharp. Calix pretended to hate it until he caught his reflection.
Edrix & Freya chose soft lavender and charcoal accents—quiet, balanced. It fit them perfectly.
Percy & Honey were loud about it and landed on champagne gold and cream. Percy approved. Obviously.
Denzel & Grace chose dusty rose and warm grey—simple, graceful. Grace smiled the entire time.
Felix, Blaster, Kit, Mayo, Eman, Eren, Josh, David, Drew, Yuri, Rory rotated between black with subtle color trims matching the wedding palette. Complaints were constant. Compliance followed.
Keiren picked classic black with silver detailing and asked three times if it made him look older. Jay said yes. He believed her.
Then there was Keigan.
Jay handed him a hanger. "Best man."
He looked at the suit—matte black with ivory detailing, sharp lines, perfectly cut—and nodded once. "Okay. This works."
I noticed he didn't ask questions.
And then—
Eces hadn't come out yet.
Jay stood beside me, fingers curling lightly into my sleeve. "Wait for it."
The fitting room curtain slid open.
Eces stepped out.
The mall didn't go quiet—but our group did.
She wore a deep wine-red dress, elegant and understated, fitted perfectly without trying too hard. The fabric moved like it belonged to her. No jewelry except a thin silver chain. Hair simple. Face calm.
Every single jaw dropped.
Felix muttered, "No way."
Blaster blinked. "That's illegal."
Rory forgot how to breathe.
Even Percy stopped checking his reflection.
Keigan froze.
I watched him carefully—no words, just stunned respect. Pride, too.
Jay smiled, eyes shining. "My maid of honor."
Eces looked slightly overwhelmed. "Is it… okay?"
"Okay?" Mayo echoed. "You just ended us."
I didn't say anything.
I just watched.
For the first time since I'd known her, Eces wasn't shrinking into the background. She wasn't hiding. She wasn't guarding herself.
She was simply… there.
And seeing everyone look at her like that—admiration, not judgment—I felt something loosen in my chest.
This wasn't just wedding shopping.
This was Eces being seen.
And no one—no one—was looking away.
If clothes didn't break this group, shoes almost did.
We moved into the footwear section like a migrating storm, bags in hand, energy still buzzing from what had just happened with Eces. Jay clapped again—her signature move today.
"Matching shoes," she announced. "Non-negotiable."
Groans. Again.
"For the couples?" Ci-n asked.
"For everyone," Jay replied sweetly.
Felix looked at me. "You're marrying into this?"
I nodded. "Happily."
Colors were already decided, so shoes followed suit.
Ci-n & Rakki picked polished black shoes with emerald undertones—simple, classy. Rakki approved instantly. Ci-n pretended he didn't care. He cared.
Calix & Mica went for sleek midnight-blue accented shoes. Mica smiled. Calix sighed and paid.
Edrix & Freya chose soft grey heels and charcoal loafers, understated and elegant.
Percy & Honey argued loudly before settling on gold-toned heels and cream loafers. Percy checked his reflection in the display glass. Honey dragged him away.
Denzel & Grace picked nude heels and warm grey formal shoes—quiet, practical, beautiful.
Felix, Blaster, Kit, Mayo, Eman, Eren, Josh, David, Drew, Yuri, Rory all ended up with classic black shoes, complaining the entire time and somehow still loving them.
Keiren insisted on black shoes with silver detailing to match his suit. Jay let him win.
Then came Keigan and Eces.
Keigan chose matte black formal shoes, clean and sharp, no nonsense. He barely hesitated.
Eces stood in front of the heels, scanning quietly.
Jay handed her a pair.
Deep black heels with subtle wine-red detailing—elegant, balanced, not too high.
"I can walk in these," Eces said calmly.
Jay smiled. "I know."
When Eces tried them on and stood up, the reaction was instant.
"Okay," Felix said slowly. "Now you're just showing off."
Rory shook his head. "Best maid of honor ever."
Keigan glanced at her, then looked away quickly—ears red.
I watched Eces adjust her balance, perfectly composed. No wobble. No discomfort.
She fit into it like she'd always belonged there.
Jay stepped beside her and slipped her hand into mine. "We're done."
I nodded, looking at the group—laughing, teasing, carrying boxes and bags.
This wasn't just coordination.
It was unity.
And as we headed toward the exit, I realized something simple and solid:
Whatever Eces had been carrying before—
She wasn't carrying it alone anymore.
I thought clothes were dangerous.
Shoes nearly broke us.
Accessories?
Accessories turned into a full-blown event.
Jay led us into the accessories section like she owned the place. "Last stop," she announced. "After this, no one is allowed to complain."
"That's a lie," Rory muttered.
Jay smiled. "Correct."
We split again—controlled chaos this time.
Ci-n & Rakki settled on silver watches with emerald accents. Rakki adjusted Ci-n's strap herself. Ci-n didn't argue.
Calix & Mica chose minimal silver chains—clean, modern. Calix stared at the mirror longer than necessary.
Edrix & Freya went with delicate pearl-drop earrings for Freya and a simple cuff bracelet for Edrix. Quiet. Perfectly them.
Percy & Honey argued for ten full minutes before landing on gold accessories—Percy with a statement ring, Honey with soft gold bangles. Percy admired himself. Again.
Denzel & Grace picked rose-gold accents—Grace's bracelet thin and elegant, Denzel's tie pin subtle.
Felix, Blaster, Kit, Mayo, Eman, Eren, Josh, David, Drew, Yuri, Rory grabbed black or silver cufflinks and chains, all pretending they didn't care while clearly caring.
Keiren proudly chose a silver chain and matching watch, asking Jay twice if it made him look "wedding-ready." She said yes. He beamed.
Then Jay turned to Keigan and Eces.
"For the best man," she said, handing Keigan a sleek silver watch and cufflinks with ivory detail.
Keigan nodded once. "Approved."
And then—
Eces.
Jay didn't overwhelm her. She handed her just a few pieces.
A thin silver bracelet.
Small stud earrings—nothing flashy.
And a hairpin with a deep wine-red stone, understated but striking.
Eces looked at them for a second. "This is enough."
When she put them on, the effect was immediate.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just… devastatingly elegant.
The bracelet caught the light when she moved. The hairpin held her hair back just enough to show her face—calm, composed, unreadable.
Section E collectively went quiet again.
"Okay," Felix said softly this time. "Now you're just unfair."
Rory nodded. "Yeah. That's illegal twice in one day."
Keigan glanced at her—really looked this time—and then cleared his throat, staring very hard at a wall.
Jay slipped her hand into mine, satisfied. "Done."
I watched Eces in the mirror as she adjusted the bracelet, expression neutral—but there was something new there.
Not pride.
Not confidence.
Belonging.
And standing there, surrounded by noise and laughter and people who had chosen her without question, I knew—
This wedding wasn't just changing our lives.
It was changing hers, too.
+++++++++++
Here is the second chapter.
Next chapter at 6 .