I'm into weddings

My best friend is 5000 miles away. In Manila, where we both grew up. I remember growing up in their house, going through all the things that boys go through. I remember crashing our bikes together, wearing the same blue shirts together and playing the same video games together.

He's marrying his girlfriend in a few weeks. I won't be there.

Our friendship, the way I see it, has always been comfort in presence. We never really spent a lot of time pondering about life, talking about girls (we both like the same girl at one point) or just gossiping. Most of our time together was just being there, hanging out and making sure each other is OK.

His mom was my mom too. His dad's voice still echoes in my mind, I can hear him say "Arden, Jab's here..." in Tagalog.

I am a wedding photographer in Las Vegas. I work in the worlds busiest and most famous chapel. Wedding, is my life now, as far as my weekends and evenings are concerned.

I've attended more than a thousand wedding of strangers... But not really that much of people that I care about. It pains me to realize that I will be missing my best friends.

His wedding is on the 10th of April. It's on a Sunday afternoon.

I had checked out flights and it would require me to fork out $1500 for a ticket.

Work is an issue. In a few months, I may get laid off. The only way to prevent that is to be promoted.
I just got an email from my boss about the details of the April block out month on vacations. starts the 4th of April and ends the 5th of May.

The flights that I had seen gets me on a plane Friday night, gets me in Manila Sunday morning. (the wedding is in the afternoon on the same day). And then, a flight on Monday afternoon gets me back into Las Vegas Monday midnight. In time to come to work groggy on Tuesday. (this would justify a voice mail that my boss will get Monday morning about how I don't feel good and will miss work that day).

I'm into weddings - but unfortunately, it seems that I'm not going to be in this one.