Chapter 17: Chapter 17

- Wedding bells

James's pov

The white and black tuxedo —the jacket white, and the pants black— Jacob and I picked up for myself in regards to the wedding was what I had on. Mari has told me countless times there was no other option.

It was their big day. Jacobs big day. Who would have thought Mari would be able to tame him? I thought remembering that they'd started as a little fling which will now be leading them to the altar.

I placed the bold tie correctly and fixed my jet black hair to the side, as I liked wearing it.

The designer did a very good job, I had to acknowledge looking at my reflection in the mirror. The pants fitted perfectly well, but the jacket was a little bit too tight and all my muscles were on display. I had no option but to wearing anyways, knowing fully well, Mr. Pablo, the designer did it on purpose after vocalizing that ladies shouldn't be denied from seeing biceps like mine.

Too late for any adjustment, I thought with a sigh and walked out to start the day, which I wanted to start by hugging the most important woman in my life.

"Mum?" I called, knocking on her room door once more.

"Yes! I'm over here!" I heard her from down the corridor where I stood. Where did she call from?

I rubbed my hands over my face. So many rooms, how was I supposed to know where exactly she was calling from?

Mothers for you. To them, you should be omnidirectional. Always!

After searching for her in two other rooms I called out again. "Where?"

"Sia's room!" She sounded closer this time.

I knocked on Sia's door impatiently. "Mum? what are you doing in Sia's room? Aren't you supposed to be helping the bride get dressed?"

"Erica permitted me. According to her, I should see it as an opportunity to dress up sexily for your father." I heard her giggling.

"Mum," I grumbled rolling my eyes.

Going inpatient, I turned to walk away so I could head for Jacob's house but stopped when the door opened.

I was rendered speechless at the sight of the beautiful woman standing in front of me. Did mum invite her over?

The lady chuckled... like mum.

"You should see the look on your face," she said giggling. But she sounded so much like my mum.

"Mum?" I asked unsurely.

"Do I look that changed? Oh come on," she chided rolling her eyes.

"Mum! Holy hell! You're proving that an angel can be even more angelic."

She threw her hands up dramatically, swirling and I tittered. "Silly you. If you're reacting this way, I sure will sweep your father off his feet." There was an unmistaken pink stain on both her cheeks.

"You sure will. You look beautiful, ma," I appraised and she pouted. " Hey, just to be clear, I'm not saying you weren't beautiful before now. I'm only saying you look...should I say peng." I asked and she started laughing hard. "Exquisite," I concluded.

"You have Zara to thank. I wanted to look good, but with your reaction, I'm starting to think she overdid it. So I won't be stealing the show from the bride, I should wash off?"

"No. You have would, " I told her in a rush.

She chuckled. "Gat ya! Not like I was going to."

I pecked her right cheek. "Now before Jacob, " I started, turning her to peck her left cheek, then stood straight. "Becomes paranoid, I better get going." And with that, I said my goodbye to my exquisite looking mum and a busy Zara.

"Calm down, will you?" I said for the umpteenth time to a fidgeting James.

He took in deep breaths. "I'm trying. I'm trying," He repeated breathlessly. "What if she changes her mind at the last minute? What if she isn't ready to settle down and takes off like those runaway brides in movies?" He blabs on and I had to control myself from laughing because I knew Jacob to be a guy that was always so sure of himself, and besides that Mari was crazy about him.

"People get married every day." I shrugged like it was no big deal, even though I knew it was. "It's okay to be a nervous groom, just don't doubt Mari's love for you and don't let your hands twitch so much."

"I'll be sure to tease you on your wedding day, if eventually...." he trailed and then grunted.

"You're supposed to make me feel a little calmer. Not worsen my wrecking nerves."

I snickered. What now? "It's okay, man. I don't know much about love and weddings, but I suggest fixing your mind on her. It might help?" I suggested skeptically and gave him a smile that was supposed to be reassuring but turned out to be a tight-lipped one.

He shut his eyes and in a few seconds, he was smiling like he was dreaming. "It's helping, thanks."

The wedding bells started jingling. I wasn't the one getting married, but I felt nervous with the thought of seeing Dei in a few minutes.

If I'm feeling this way, Jacob must be feeling much worse.

I made it a mental note to give him a thumbs up for managing to keep a cool font.

I looked to the entrance of the church expectantly, as I've been doing in the last 10 minutes. Waiting for her to enter before the bride, as I had seen in the only three weddings I've attended in my 24 years of life. I couldn't wait to see her as a chief bridesmaid. I'm almost certain she was persuaded into it.

My gaze glued to an angel clothed in a baby pink gown, Deila. Her shiny black hair was stretched in a bulb shape that curved on her face. Her caramel skin glowed like the sun and she was wearing little or no makeup. The pink gown had a tiny strap and hugged her upper body then flared from her knees to her toes. She glowed. I easily surmised— she was the most beautiful woman in the room. I took a peek at the veiled bride walking slowly behind her... okay after the bride.

As I fixed my eyes back to her angelic face, I forgot she wasn't the bride and I wasn't the groom. Everybody else vanished from the room, all that was left was a world of I and her only.

It remained that way in my head, so much so that my whole attention was centered on her throughout the ceremony. I didn't hear the exchange of vows. I didn't hear the pronouncement. I was only pulled out of my thoughts when roars of laughter erupted from the crowd followed by very loud clapping ovation and cheering.

I looked to see what the cheering was about, to my right was the ring bearer, a little boy of about six, covering his eyes shyly with both of his hands. I got distracted by the sound of Deila giggling and had to look. I loved the sound. I dragged my eyes away from her to find the cause of her amusement— I looked to see Jacob and Mari ravishing each other's mouths, as they exchanged salivas like there was nobody else in the room.

Oh please, wait for your honeymoon bruh. I chuckled shaking my head in disbelief.

They pulled away, looking at each other longingly and with a smile, I was sure nothing was going to wipe off at that moment. There was a little pang in my chest, just a little, that pang everyone who hoped to find true love got.

Although my mum alongside those that surrounded me, Dawn exempted, thought of me as a womanizer, she never voiced it though, but I saw the look she gave whenever Dawn came over to invite me for clubbing— which I oblige to most of the time. I was that guy you'd look at to conclude was a ladies guy, not that I'd ever try to make people see me differently. I never gave two fucks of what people thought of me, but except for my mum of course. In contradicting to those assumptions, I always wanted to find true love, I found one which I lost.

The new bride and groom made their way outside with the rest of the crowd, I trailed behind. The girls were chirping happily and I shook my head as I heard a few arguing about who was going to catch the bouquet. I smiled secretly as I remembered how Zara prayed a day before that she wanted to be the one to catch the bouquet because it was a myth that whoever caught it would be the next in line to get married.

I crinkled my nose trying to figure out why my 18-year-old sister who just got into college prayed for that. When I heard her last night after dinner I never put meaning to it because my mum had laughed and swatted her. Maybe I was overthinking and she was just making a joke. Yeah, she was making a joke. Definitely.

"Hey man. Enjoying the show?" I jabbed Dawn as he stopped his walk beside me.

"Oh yeah, for sure. But it's about to get more interesting," he said with a huge grin on his face.

What was he up to now? Maybe the ladies and variety of wine that was going to come with the reception.

"Is it?" I arched a brow in question.

"You bet, bro. I can't wait to see hold some garter."

"What garter?" I asked in a terrified confusion, knowing he was up to no good.

"Don't worry. You'll see." He winked and walked away.

Leaving me in a mess of thoughts. What the hell was he up to this time? No doubt whatever was up his sleeve wasn't going to be good. When was Dawn ever up to something good? The dude got off from playing tricks.

All the ladies bolted to gather behind Mari, including some giggling female children of about 5. I chuckled when I saw them jump happily and played around, ignorant of the mean-looking ladies that probably thought this was their only chance of getting married. I wanted to laugh at the ridiculous belief.

I saw Deila from the periphery of my eyes and turned to see her joining the ladies with a bored expression she didn't bother to hide. She looked like she would've liked to be anywhere that wasn't with the ladies that gathered like predators to catch a bouquet.

Mari turned to me with the biggest smile on her face and then she winked. My brows furrowed in confusion.

I caught sight of Dawn from the other end just in time to see him give Mari a thumb up and a soundless 'no' fell from my mouth as I realized she and Dawn were up to something. And the gut feeling that it wasn't going to be any good was so strong. It's not gonna be good.

Trust Dawn to get off on playing tricks, but involving Mari? Mari hardly never had the time for Dawn's shenanigans and if she did now there was no stopping them. Not that I could discern what they were up to from just the smug look they had on.

They both looked like they were about to have mad fun and a part of me tended that it might involve me. Not to be a bore, but I didn't fancy been out in the spot.

I was still trying to figure them out when Mari jumped and threw the bouquet.

In my head, everything played in slow motion. From my eyes following Mari's hand, to the throw, to see the bouquet aiming at Dei's face. Her attempt at preventing it from hitting her face, made her catch it.

Blast!