We had exchanged fake goodbyes just a week before.

See you in December—I’ll be back for Christmas!

I’ll miss you! See you online!

What other people didn’t know was that we were all going to see each other in a week. At another wedding, 7,000 miles away.

Unlike the big party (more like grand production) of a wedding we all celebrated last week, this one was going to be small. Intimate. Top secret.

We weren’t really sure why. Maybe it was because the groom managed to become a local celebrity after college and didn’t want the attention. He may be the hot shot professional basketball player with his face on billboards around town, but to us, he was the dorky guy we all knew in high school.

(Oh, the sound of fangirl hearts breaking!)

Maybe the couple was escaping the obligation to throw a huge party. After all, Chinese weddings meant most of your guests were your parents’ friends and colleagues. It was their party, not yours.

Maybe they just wanted a nice destination wedding in a city that meant something to them. I think that was it.

It was a beautiful weekend though—a nice, intimate ceremony and a fun reception with a select few.

Too select, I should say—almost all the guests were people I practically grew up with. The guys were mostly from the all-boys high school just across ours. Old friends, friends of friends, the occasional well-meaning aunt asking why I was still single.

(Oh auntie, believe me, if I knew the answer…)

The answer came later that day, just as I was assigned to help out at the guestbook table before the reception.

It was quite simple—my best friend (aka the bride’s twin sister) and I had planned out for guests to take Polaroid portraits of themselves and fill up little cards with madlibs and write a short message for the couple, before slipping it into a pocket in an album.

Being assigned to the table meant having to meet everyone there. As a classic introvert, small talk isn’t my forte, but when required, I could go on all day. Hey auntie, can I take your picture? Write a short note to the couple, pleeease? Nice dress! Hey, can I take your picture? Then you have to fill this up…

One of my girl friends gave me a nudge and a look and I knew: he was heading this way. I had managed to find a crush from yesterday’s pre-wedding cruise, the groom’s distant family friend. Finally, someone I didn’t go to high school with! A new face in the crowd! The best part was that he had been casually looking over at us all day—now, it seems, he was headed to our table, curious.

“Hi,” he says, approaching. “What’s this?”

I’m cool. I’m cool. How’s my hair? My friend casually pretends to be busy with something else, leaving me to answer his questions.

“Oh, we’re collecting little messages for the couple. I just need to take a picture of you and you fill this up…” I answer, showing him how it works.

“This is really cool!” he smiles.

“Aw, thanks, I designed these…” I pretend to arrange some cards. And oh my that smile, oooh, nice suit, keep your cool…

“… Can I take a picture of it?” he asks. Of course, I answer, feeling all proud of myself. Isn’t it such a great idea, ain’t I the coolest…

“This is such a great idea! click, click.

… for my wedding.”

Womp womp womp.

Add another crushed heart to the fangirl pile.