Chapter 33: Chapter 33

You May now Kiss the Groom?

AKIRA

“Are you sure you can walk down the aisle in this condition? I can happily take your place.”

“Die bitch!” I rasped from the toilet seat.

“Girls! Behave! And Akira, it’s your wedding. Not another word about death today!” Trust mom to be a pillar of sunshine.

Groaning, I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet once again. In the end, there wasn’t much to empty. “Someone please remind me never to get pregnant right before my wedding.”

“Too late.” My sister came to stand beside me, wet towel in hand. “Thank God the makeup is waterproof.”

“I can’t do this Eva,” I whined helplessly. Thank goodness someone had the good sense of placing a chair in front of the toilet so that I don’t ruin my wedding dress.

“Yes you can,” Eva handed me a towel and carefully dabbed another on my forehead, cleaning up the sweat. “Caroline has gone to get your favourite soap. It’ll make you feel better.”

As if on cue, Caroline rushed over at that exact instant, my lavender and lime scented soap in hand. “Here,” she said, handing over my priced possession and bending over with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. “How can you forget such an important thing Aki?”

I didn’t answer her since I was too busy inhaling the sweetest scent every created.

A knock sounded on the door as Eva placed me on my chair in front of the mirror. “Is Akira ready?” My father’s voice sounded from the other side of the door.

“Yes honey!” My mom called out, eyes wide.

Both my bridesmaids looked equally panicked as they began checking me for anything that would need cleaning, other than my face.

“Here,” Eva quickly reapplied my lipstick, it’s colour a light pink to keep my make-up fairly neutral. Caroline did a last minute touch-up to my face, as the make-up artist had already left, before spraying a generous amount of perfume all over me, along with minty breath freshener into my mouth. I thanked the Gods for not making me throw up once again at the taste of the freshener. And then, pulling my veil down my face, Eva helped me stand up as I took a final few drags of my soap.

Mom and dad were teary eyed as they looked me up and down, even though dad wouldn’t admit it and hid his tears in guise of the cliché, “there’s something in my eyes.”

But I was ready to get this wedding over and done with. I know it’s not something you usually hear a bride say, but I wasn’t just a normal bride, I was a pregnant bride who was almost into their second trimester and suffering from god-awful morning sickness and feeling about ready to pass out. If I didn’t get this wedding over and done with within the next hour or two, things were going to get pretty ugly.

Did I mention crazy mood swings?

Yeah, I was switching between Betty Cooper and Cruella De Vil between one second and the next. And I didn’t want people to think I was just another Bridezilla since not many people outside my family knew about my pregnancy and it was a good thing I wasn’t showing yet.

“Mom, Dad!” I called out to them, getting impatient. “Can we get going already?”

“Oh, dear!” Mom gasped as she looked at her watch. “Let’s not keep the guests waiting, shall we?”

After a quick session of hugs, I finally left my room with my family and we came to a halt outside the church gates. My dad and I waited outside as the rest of my family went on ahead. And my nerves couldn’t find a better time to kick in as I started to feel uneasy once the bride’s song started to play and we began walking down the aisle.

It wasn’t long before Ethan’s pretty face came into view and somehow, it made me feel relieved. Ethan too, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing me. My parents had confiscated my cell phone last night, after they had found me messaging and video chatting with my fiancé till 2 AM. I had also gotten an earful from my mom, as if I was still a child. So, Ethan hadn’t heard from me since last night and I could tell from the look on his face and the dark circles under his eyes, that he had been worried about me.

My dad handed me over to Ethan and as soon as my hand touched his, butterflies fluttered in my stomach…which was a terrible thing because my nausea returned with vengeance. I probably had a few more minutes until I had to throw up once again.

The priest started to read out the vows and holy-whatever’s; all the while I tried to keep myself from throwing up by keeping my breathing under control. I was counting seconds by the time Ethan squeezed my hand lightly and we exchanged rings and I do’s. And finally…finally, when the priest said the holy words, “I now pronounce you, man and wife,” I had had enough.

Hauling Ethan down with my arms around his neck, I threw back my veil and kissed him straight on the lips.

“You may now kiss the…eh…groom?”

The entire church erupted into fits of laughter as the priest finished with a cough to cover his mistake. Even Ethan was smiling when we pulled apart.

“Let’s get the hell outta here before I puke all over you.” I murmured to him and his grin widened.

“As you wish, Mrs. Whitmore.”

The End