The day of the wedding arrived like the first line drawn on a fresh page—clean, full of promise, and quietly monumental.
Held at a hillside chapel made almost entirely of glass and steel, the venue was a perfect blend of who they were: Riz, with his love for open, breathing structures that let the sky in; and Cleo, with his appreciation for stability, precision, and quiet strength.
Outside, the sky blushed into soft golds and lilacs as the sun began to dip below the trees. Inside, guests sat among arrangements of white ranunculus, blue delphiniums, and creamy roses, accented with baby's breath and hints of eucalyptus. Hanging lights twinkled above like stars caught in a wireframe sky.
A gentle instrumental version of "Your Universe" floated in the air as the ceremony began.
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Cleo stood at the end of the aisle, dressed in a tailored navy suit with silver accents. His eyes scanned the aisle once, then locked on Riz the moment he entered.
Riz walked slowly, hand in his mother's, wearing a soft dove-gray suit and a blue tie that exactly matched Cleo's boutonnière. When their eyes met, everything else disappeared—just two hearts that had always been moving toward each other, even when they didn't know it.
As they reached the altar and took each other's hands, both trembled just slightly. Not from fear, but from the weight of everything that had come before—the rivalry, the yearning, the kiss behind the library shelves, the falling, the becoming.
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"We are gathered here not just to celebrate a wedding, but a story. A story of two people who met as challengers, became friends through stubbornness, and fell in love through truth. Today, we honor their choice—to build together, dream together, and walk forward as one."
Cleo cleared his throat, eyes glimmering, then began:
"Riz... you were the question I never wanted to answer. You pushed me, frustrated me, made me look at myself in ways no one else ever dared. But somehow, through all the fire, I found home in you. You see the world in lines and curves I would've missed. You remind me to breathe. To feel. To live. I vow to be your calm in the storm, your structure when things feel like they might fall apart. I promise to be patient, even when you leave your coffee mugs everywhere- And to never stop showing you that I'm still falling for you, every day, in all the small ways."
Riz had tears in his eyes as he took a deep breath and began his own.
"Cleo... I've loved you since before I had the words for it. Before the retreat. Before the kiss. You were always a constant in my life—grumpy, brilliant, intimidating... but kind. You gave me space to grow, but also pulled me back when I got lost in my own head. I vow to be your foundation and your freedom. To remind you to rest. To laugh. I promise to be your partner in everything—from building dreams to buying groceries. And I promise that even when we argue over design layouts or remote controls, I will never stop choosing you."
There was silence for a moment after the vows—silent only because every single guest was wiping their eyes.
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They exchanged rings forged from white gold and tungsten, custom-engraved on the inside.
Riz's: *"Steady heart."*
Cleo's: *"Wild soul."*
As the rings slid into place, the officiant smiled.
"By the power given to me, and by the love you've so clearly nurtured, I now pronounce you husbands. You may kiss—again, and again, and again."
Cleo pulled Riz forward, cupping his cheek with both hands. The kiss was soft and slow, like a promise. A seal. A sigh into forever.
The guests erupted in applause, and Bea sobbed, "I KNEW IT," into her napkin.
**As They Walked Down the Aisle, Hand in Hand...**
Riz leaned in and whispered, "You still roll your eyes at me."
Cleo smirked. "And I'll keep doing it. But now you're stuck with me."
Riz smiled so brightly it made Cleo's chest ache—in the best way.
Because this was it.
Not just a wedding.
But a new beginning, built on blueprints of trust and circuits of love.
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