Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Amelia's p.o.v;

The wedding day,

Today is my brother's wedding.

I'm still in shock and can't get my mind off of it. I encouraged my brother away from his anxiety but it feels like I'm getting it.

The wedding itself was stunning, and the guest list was amazing in every way. Last week, despite the fact that I was unable to assist them due to my music performance, my parents pulled off their consistently fantastic job.

I stood in front of my mother after putting on my bridesmaids' dress and enquired, "How do I look, mom?"

She stated, "You two look stunning as ever. Get your brother here right away. The blooms are still on the way."

I gave a nod before leaving the wedding Avenue in search of my brother. I spotted Mike conversing on his phone as I was looking for my brother. He might be aware of my brother's location.

I approached him to inquire about my brother but instead I heard my name shouted from somewhere else. I bet it's Ash. When I tried to leave, Mike turned to face me, and he asked, "What is it?"

"Nothing."

I turned away from him and proceeded to my brother after hearing my brother scream out my name once more.

"Mom called for you." I said to my brother and asked him, "Why did you yell my name like that?"

"What were you doing with him?"

"Huh?"

"I saw you both standing next to each other. What were you two conversing about?"

I let out a sigh and told him, "What does that bother you anyway? Stop being like this and go to mom. She's been looking for you."

"But…"

Before he finished, I said, "Just leave already."

He entered the wedding Avenue after giving a stare at me and Mike who was standing far away from me.

I didn't move and turned to face Mike. Without blinking, he kept his gaze fixed on me. I averted my eyes and entered the wedding Avenue once more.

As I walked inside, I saw the guests entering and taking their seats, little children running around, boys squabbling over the ice cream stand, working on the floral arrangements, and dad speaking to Mr. Campbell.

Along with Anna's friends, Cathy and Andrew were decorating the backdrop. Hannah provided guidance for the flower girls. Caleb, a senior, was assisting mum. I'm not sure when these two started connecting. I grinned internally. Mrs. Campbell greeted visitors to the wedding and engaged them in happy conversation.

"You appear content." I heard a whisper in my ears.

"I am, yes."

Who was behind me, I wonder?

"Mike, come over here," said Ash. I then realised Mike was behind me. Mike walked past me and headed to Ash. I bet Ash called him to warn him again. I smiled to myself thinking how Ash is when it comes to things lie this.

Mike and Ash walked over to me after talking with each other. They didn't utter a word and looked at me.

"What is it?" I asked Ash.

Ash said, "The florist stated there was no one available to deliver the flowers, so go with Mike and bring the flowers here."

"Are you kidding me? Do you know how difficult it is to walk in this outfit already? And, now you're asking me to get the flowers."

Mike, "I told him I could go by myself, but he persisted."

Ash, "There's no one I could ask."

I said to Mike, "Come on, we need the flowers, let's go."

While Mike and I were exiting the wedding Avenue, Ash shouted, "Thank you. I'll pay for you."

At flower shop,

The florist questioned me as he ordered his men to load all the flowers we ordered into Mike's car, "Years have passed since I last saw you. Hello, how are you doing?"

"I'm good. How is business at your store? It appears to be even larger than before."

"Yeah, I started taking orders for the wedding and party's, but by the way, whose wedding is it? Is it yours?"

I chuckled and added, "I'm just a bridesmaid today. It's my brother's. I'm here to collect the flowers for my brother."

"Pass my greetings to your brother."

"Okay, then give some free flowers as your gift to his wedding."

He laughed and asked while pointing at Mike, "Is that the boy you liked?"

"No, he's a friend of my brother."

"Then What happened to the boy you liked? Did he accept your love and flowers you gave him?"

Mike arrived just as I was ready to respond to him. Did he hear us?

Mike made the payment for the flowers to the florist.

"Sorry for the troubles. The boy who is meant to deliver the flowers is ill," the florist apologised to Mike.

"It's alright."

The florist took a bouquet and gave it to Mike while saying, "It's a gift on behalf of me for the wedding."

I said, "I was just kidding."

"Just take them. And, it's not like we're strangers." And smiled at me.

Mike took the flowers from him and left the shop.

When I tried to leave after Mike, the florist said, "Visit often."

As I walked out of the store, I waved at the florist.

We drove the entire way to the wedding in silence, avoiding conversation.

I called out to my mother when we arrived at the wedding avenue, "Mom, the flowers are coming!"

Mike assisted in bringing the flowers inside as a few folks came out with my mother.

Mike looked at me like he was going to say something to me. I said to mom while Mike was looking at me, "Mom, I'll go and check Anna."

When I entered the bridal suite, I was astounded by Anna's beauty in her wedding dress.

"You appear lovely."

"Thank you." she said with a smile.

After spending some time with her, I left her and went to the venue, where I noticed that everyone was prepared for the wedding.

Dad, "Now is not the time for you to arrive. Go to the bride's room and wait til I call for the bridesmaids."

I nodded my head and returned to the bride's room.

After some time, the door was knocked on. Dad said, "Bridesmaids to the altar," as soon as I opened the door.

I informed Anna, "The call is for us. You can wait here till it's your turn." turned to face the pals of Cathy and Anna and said, "Guys! Move along! We have to be at the altar."

Cathy handed me the bouquet of flowers and said, "You forgot it like always."

I smiled at her and thanked her for giving me the bouquet.

When the doors opened, Cathy and I proceeded to the altar together. When I turned to face the front, I found Ash standing at the altar, with Andrew, Mike, and a few of his buddies serving as his best men. Mike was looking at me when I turned to face him. The smile I had for my brother became flat after I saw Mike and avoided looking at my brother as I crossed the altar to the other side.

After we all took our places at the altar, Mike was looking at me and Cathy and Andrew were whispering to each other.

"Mike has been glaring at you ever since you walked into the Avenue." Cathy whispered to me.

"He's staring at me like he's going to eat me."

Cathy started laughing, which caused the officiant to ask us to stop talking.

"He seems strict," I murmured, grinning.

We rolled our eyes when the wedding officiant shushed us once more and continued to gawk at the doorway where the bride would enter the wedding Avenue.

The bride is standing behind the flower girls as they throw flowers on the carpet. Anna Campbell and her father, Mr. Campbell, are seen heading down the aisle together.

"She looks lovely", Cathy muttered.

I returned the whisper, "Yeah," and kept my eyes fixed on the bride.

The wedding officiant announced the couple's engagement after the bride came, they exchanged vows, and the priest announced, "To now by the power vested in me, it is my honour and declare you two are married. You may seal this declaration with the kiss."

In front of everyone, the bride and groom shared a kiss.

"Oh my gosh, how adorable." Cathy said.

"I don't why but it looks a bit weird."

"How?"

"Maybe it would be better if they used tongues."

Cathy and I laughed at what we conversed.

Not only the priest, the whole wedding Avenue stared at us.

Cathy and I apologised to them and remained silent.

"I am so thrilled to present the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Scott," the wedding officiant said.

I gave Cathy a hug and we both leaped into the air.

I greeted Anna by saying, "Welcome to the Scott family," as we walked to give them hugs.

She chuckled.

Everyone applauded and blessed the newlyweds with greetings.

The after-party,

The bride and groom were chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell while taking pictures and partying with their pals. Andrew and Cathy were having a good time.

I gave everyone a glass of wine. The moment I approached Andrew to offer him wine, he took a sip and commented, "I liked the finale. It was a very heroic action for a prince to fight against the monster for the girl. Write more. I'll be waiting to read your works."

"I'm grateful,"

Cathy asked him, "What are you talking about?"

"Your best friend's recent book. The monster and the flower. Did you give it a read?"

Cathy asked me, "Why didn't you inform me when you finished it but you informed Andrew about this?"

Andrew said to Cathy, "Since I helped her with her book, I got some privilege."

Cathy, "That's not fair. Amelia, aren't we best friends?"

"Okay, I'll inform you after this."

I excused myself and went to serve others while they talked.

I gave Senior Caleb a glass, and he said, "How are you doing?"

"Doing fantastic."

"You won't ask me in return, are you?"

I chuckled and said, "I apologise. How are you doing, senior?"

"Andrew asked me to read the story you wrote, 'The Monster and the Flower' so I did. And, I liked it."

"I appreciate your reading."

When i tried to leave, senior Caleb said, "Wait, I have to talk to you,"

"What's that?"

"Why does the monster and the flower remind me of your own story?"

"What?"

"After giving it a read, I found that you must have been the snake dragon referenced in the tale. And, for the princess who was abducted by the monster, do you wish to know that person?"

"Senior, I have to serve others so I'll just…"

Before I finished, he asked, "Is that Andrew, then?" And then grinned at me.

"How did you find out?"

"You were the snake dragon, Andrew was the kidnapped princess, and Cathy was the courageous prince. It was a somewhat engaging tale for me to read."

"How did you find out?"

"Since no one else in the room is aware of it, I realise it comes as quite a shock to you. Do you worry that I'll let him know? Do I need to do it?"

"Why are you like this?"

He tapped on my shoulder and said, "Don't worry. I won't let him know. I'm not a bad guy in your novel, but I want to know who is the main character here?"

"No one."

"Is the ending of the story sad?"

"It's a happy ending." I murmured, shaking my head. "Examine your surroundings. Do you notice somebody who is depressed and upset? Everyone's faces are lit up with a smile. My friend, who I secretly liked for years, got his ex-girlfriend back and in love. With Anna as his bride, my brother, the groom, realised his desire. Mrs. Campbell and my mother's friendship resumed. The fact that Dad no longer has to compete with the neighbours next door because they are now a part of the family makes him very happy. Mr. Campbell was doing the same thing, but he was still trying to beat my dad to the last drink. Hannah hates skinship, so I assumed she would be single forever. However, as you can see, she has a boyfriend who is currently smooching her cheek." And chuckled. I continued, "When everyone in this place is cheerful, who would suggest that this has a tragic ending? "

"How do you feel?"

"Happy. I feel happy, senior."

"Everyone got the happy ending with the people they liked. But you didn't. Are you not sad?"

I replied, "I don't. In fact, I'm kind of glad because if I didn't like him and pursue him around, I wouldn't know that I do well in singing and playing the guitar. He helped me realise that even a rejection would be so lovely to be an awesome experience."

"Are you claiming that you have never loved him?"

"Actually, I wouldn't say that. It's more like I was so close to being in love with him. Even if it was only for a short while, I treasured the moment. He was my first kiss, after all, and everyone has a story to tell when someone asks them when they were first and how it was. When someone asks me about my first kiss, I'll say that it was just a drunk kiss since that person wouldn't kiss me in real life. Whatever, it's been years, all incan do is cherish those moments."

I received a hug from senior Caleb, who also patted me on the back and commented, "You sound like you're going to be lonely forever."

"There are three stages of love in everyone's life, senior," and I broke the hug by saying that. "Firstly, Puppy love, a form of crush experienced during childhood. Secondly, passionate love, a state of longing. Thirdly, Unconditional love, an affection without any limitations, or love without conditions. I had the first two with Andrew, and they have taught me a lot. I won't be alone forever since there is still unwavering love out there for me." And chuckled.

He gave me a pat on the back, wished me luck, and then turned to leave.

When I saw Mike in front of me, I turned to serve the after-party attendee but stopped.

"Want a drink?" I inquired.

"I read your book, 'The Monster and the Flower' "he added as he nodded and took a glass of wine from the tray.

"Oh, I'm grateful. Did you like it?"

"I'm not sure. I might have loved it if the princess had stayed with the snake dragon rather than leaving him behind."

"Why do you believe she should have remained behind when everyone said that going with the prince was good?"

"Because he altered himself for her, the snake dragon. Even the victories he won for her were returned. He murdered himself because he loved her so much."

"Wait, I didn't mention that the snake dragon committed suicide. I merely said that the kingdom of the serpent dragon was once more surrounded by the dark world after the princess left. What prompted you to believe that he committed suicide in the story?"

"The snake dragon, who was strong against everything, would have killed the prince in one blow, but he fought him, which confused me in the first place. Why is he fighting the prince when he has the ability to kill him? Then I understood that the snake dragon was giving up on the princess and wanted the prince to prevail in the battle. The serpent dragon then committed suicide out of love for life when the prince defeated him, just as the prince had predicted. The only way for others to believe that the prince is more strong than the serpent dragon and that nobody will challenge him is if he kills himself. With him, the princess will be secure."

I turned away from Mike after wiping away my tears.

"Excuse me, was I mistaken? Just telling the tale from my point of view. I didn't mean to bring you to tears."

I remarked, "I appreciated your perspective," as I turned to face Mike.

He gave me a nod and a smile.

"I didn't feel uneasy when you touched my hand at the restaurant, I was shy." I added while holding his hand.

Holding my shoulders, he questioned, "Don't say anything if you're not sure about it," while gazing into my eyes.

"I don't." I said while avoiding his eyes.

He held my cheeks together and made me look at him and said, "Look at me while speaking."

"You make me shy." And smiled at him.

Suddenly, Ash separated us and asked Mike, "What were you trying to do to my sister?"

Mike asked him, "You are the groom. You're supposed to be with your bride, not here. Aren't you tired of babysitting your sister?"

I laughed at what Mike said.

Ash said to me, "Come with me."

"Where?"

"Anywhere away from him."

He held my hand and dragged me away from Mike.

While Ash was busy with his friends, I sneaked away from and headed to Mike who was standing beside the table.

"Have you decided what to eat? It looked like you were staring at them for so long."

"I already ate."

"Then why are you staring at them?"

When he tried to leave, I held his hand and asked, "Are you a hard-headed guy?"

"No."

"Do you have feelings for anyone?"

"No."

I grinned and inquired if he was seeing anyone.

"No."

"Are you dating anyone?"

"No. Still not. Why are you asking me?"

I ignored him and kept giving the visitors their beverages.

"What did you ask me for?", he questioned.

"I just wanted to be certain."

"What?"

"You don't have to be aware of it."

He stopped me and asked, "Explain to me what it is,"

"Let's go on a date, Mike. Let's see if we click each other."

That's how my story goes, then.