Chapter 1
Classical music filled the air as the people in the reception talked and danced the night away. The usual highlights of the wedding reception have been over hours ago, and the only people who were remaining were mostly family and close friends. Some were having a very late dinner, some were busy talking and drinking while some were occupied in collecting the gifts for the bride and groom, loading the presents into cars to be delivered to the house that Bryan had just bought. It was situated at a place a few minutes away from Dublin, and it overlooked the ocean and Dublin itself.
Helen had already slipped into something more comfortable earlier and she was now seated with Bryan, Shane, Sandra, Patricia, Kian, Alessia, Nicky, Mark and Toni. ‘So, who’s next?’ Bryan asked, holding Helen’s hand. All of them smiled and looked over to Kian and Patricia. ‘I believe it’s us!’ Kian replied as he gave Patricia a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘Hey Alessia, have you and Nicky set the dates for your wedding yet?’ Patricia asked. ‘No, not yet. But Shane and Sandra definitely have!’ ‘Really? So, when is it?’ asked Kian. ‘Well, a few months after you and Patricia get married. So I guess that would be… 5 or 6 months from now!’ Shane said happily. ‘Alessia and I really aren’t in a rush to get married. We’re thinking of doing it next year though.’ Said Nicky. ‘Well, you guys definitely aren’t the only ones who we all know are in no rush to get married either.’ Bryan joked as everyone turned their heads to look at Mark and Toni. They all laughed lightly. ‘So, don’t you guys have any plans of getting married yet?’ Helen asked before sipping on some champagne. ‘Umm… no. No offense but we just think we’re still too young for that. I mean, maybe we just aren’t mature enough yet. We just want to have loads of fun before we settle down.’ Toni said. ‘Speak for yourself.’ Mark thought as he just smiled and forcibly nodded in agreement to what Toni was saying. They haven’t even talked about getting married yet. He did remember telling Toni that he didn’t want to get wedded at an early age. He believed that falling in love with only one person at such a young age was such a waste of time, after all, “You’ll have time for all that crap when you get older anyway.” But that was years ago. Mark told her those things way even before the time when they started going out with each other. Since he met her, everything had changed. He now believed in some of the things that he used to not believe in before. And now he strongly believed that she was the one who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and he can’t wait any longer to feel and know what it’s like. Mark finally wanted to settle down. He wanted nothing more than to settle down with her. But every time Mark tried to bring up the subject, Toni quickly tried to change the topic or make fun of it. ‘Well, it’s your choice really. We can’t force the two of you to get married now can we?’ Sandra said as everyone nodded in agreement. The discussion went on and Mark watched Toni intently. She looked uninterested and her eyes seemed to wander around the room aimlessly. She was obviously not listening to the conversation, or trying hard not to. Mark looked at everyone around him, secretly envying them. Bryan and Helen were talking about their plans for the future. How many kids they would have, what they would name them, which schools they would go to, what things Helen and Bryan would be doing if ever Westlife ends… they were talking about the future. ‘I wonder what the future has in store for me.’ Mark thought to himself. He tried to think of what he would be doing in 10 years time. Nothing. Absolutely nothing came into his mind. He suddenly realized that he had never planned for his future. He lived on a day after day basis. He looked once more at Toni. ‘I wonder if she had already planned for her future… and if she has, would I be in it?’ Mark thought once again as he suddenly held her hand, fearing that he might lose her if he ever let go.