Chapter 3 – I Think I Want To Marry Your Daughter

“Who cares if you’ve lost your bloody job? Just pay the god damned rent!” The landlady screamed from outside the door of our small room.

Arthur yelled something back at her and slammed the door shut cursing. His blue eyes shifted from the whole room to me before he started gathering our clothes from the makeshift cabinet. Without a word, he packed them all in a duffel bag.

I was five back then. There were many things that I couldn’t understand at the time but I knew something was wrong.

Arthur ran a hand over his blond hair and knelt in front of me. “Leon, get your things. We’re going on a… an adventure,” Dad said managing a smile.

Soon, we were already in the dark streets of London carrying our meagre belongings, walking and walking through the alleyways until my feet hurt. But I didn’t complain. I shouldn’t be a burden.

“Dad? Where are we going?” I asked tugging on his big hand after a couple of hours of walking.

“Do you want me to carry you?” he asked.

Silently, I shook my head. My feet hurt and my stomach was growling but Dad was tired too—from working all day and taking care of me.

He pointed a finger to an old building made of stone. It was a house that looked something in between a church and a dormitory. An angel statue stood on either side of the big wooden double doors.

Arthur’s hand shook against mine when we reached the steps to the entrance. We stood there for a minute. Just when I was beginning to wonder why we were there, Arthur held both my shoulders and fixed a pair of troubled eyes at me.

“Leon, you’re having a vacation. I want you to wait here. When the nuns come, do what they tell you and tell them I’d come back for you okay?” His voice was shaking.

“Where are you going, Dad?” I asked clutching tightly on his sleeves.

Arthur shook his head, a scared look on his weary face. “I don’t know Leon. But once I get enough money, I’d come back for you for sure. That’s a promise.”

“Can’t I come with you?” I asked.

He shook his head and let out a sigh. “I’m afraid not, Leon. It’s no place for a little boy like you where I’m going.”

I started to cry but I wiped my face on the sleeves of my jacket and swallowed hard.

“That’s it,” Dad said as he removed his winter scarf and started to wrap it around my neck. “You’re a brave boy, aren’t you Leon?” Arthur choked on his words, his eyes all red.

When he stood up, he squared his shoulders and knocked loudly on the door.

“Stay here,” he murmured gazing at the floor while he blankly stepped away.

I choked my sobs while I watched him disappear into the street. Dad said to be brave. Boys shouldn’t cry. And he said to stay there, so I did. I shouldn’t be a burden.

The sounds of metal bolts being unlocked gave me a start. There were hushed voices from inside—voices of women. Maybe they were the nuns Dad told me about. I’d be on a vacation though I doubted I’d like it. It was an orphanage and even the five year-old me knew what that meant.

I watched as the door slowly opened before a pair of big arms grabbed me and lifted me off the floor.

“Don’t worry. It’s just me,” said a familiar voice when I let out a muffled cry.

I knew straight away that it was Arthur. With one heave, he hoisted my arms on to his big shoulders and piggy-backed me while we ran away from the orphanage as fast as we could.

“I’m so sorry, Leon,” said Dad in between the strenuous breaths. “Change of plans. No more vacation for you. You and I, we’re going to have to stick together. Deal?”

We spent the night inside the cold four walls of St. Mary’s church after that. Dad laid my head on his lap and told me, “Sleep now, Leon. You’ve been a brave boy.” When he thought I was already asleep, Dad cried silently.

The small slivers of sunlight passing through the gaps between the curtains woke me up. Cold sweat trickled on my forehead. My whole body shook.

I didn’t like remembering those things. Sarah often said that I dwell too much on the past. Why did she have to be always right? It wasn’t like I enjoy those stupid flashbacks. If amnesia was real, maybe a dose of it won’t be a bad idea.

Turning on the faucet, I gripped on the edge of the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Unruly black hair, eyes like blue glass, pale face. Nothing much had changed, except for the sparse stubble on my chin and the couple or more inches additional to my height courtesy of growth spurt. I splashed cold water on my face to open my eyes the right way.

I wanted to calm down but the memories seemed to have all my defenses crumbling. I’d been working since I was eight to avoid those things from happening again. My mother left us because Dad couldn’t give her the comfortable life she wanted. Dad had spent most of his life doing odd jobs just so we could get by. Life was hard.

It still is. And because of that I’d have to work even harder, for my Dad, for Sarah, for me. Cursing under my breath, I murmured, “It won’t happen again, Leon. It won’t happen again.” The fear was somehow irrational but I didn’t want to take any chances.

I was in my middle of throwing a shirt on when Sarah barged in.

“I… w-was just,” she stuttered, instantly dropping her stare to the floor.

With a smile, I pulled down the T-shirt over my head. “Good morning to you too,” I greeted her.

She didn’t meet my eyes and started to fidget with the hem of her sweater. With that, I took her hand, towing her down the stairs, into the kitchen.

“Coffee?” I asked, seating her on a stool in front of the kitchen table.

Sarah just nodded, a light blush coloring her pale cheeks. I turned on the coffee maker, a grin making its way to my face. She was definitely staring at me back in my room but she totally didn’t want me to notice. Heck, why would I spend hours working out if it wasn’t for her?

“I… just want to remind you that… that the wedding’s at five,” she mumbled blinking as I set a cup of coffee in front of her.

“Gotcha,” I sipped from my cup, feeling the warm surge of caffeine in my system. “I’m heading off to work out. You wanna come?”

A smile slowly pulled up the corner of her lips like she just remembered a good joke. “No, thanks. I don’t want your new treadmill to get all bloodied up when I trip and break my nose on the speed regulator.”

Morbid.

I held back a laugh when I realized she wasn’t joking. “It’s okay. I’m sure the treadmill won’t mind.”

She didn’t answer and kept staring at the cup of coffee in front of her. There was a quiet pause before she uneasily lifted her gray eyes to look at me. If they had a hint of blue or green on them, I still couldn’t decide. Every time I gazed into her eyes, an unnerving feeling kept creeping in the pit of my stomach. Like I was expecting for a frightening and at the same time, wonderful thing every time she looked at me.

“I want to tell you something,” we both said in chorus.

Sarah gave me a shy smile. “You first.”

“Okay,” I cleared my throat, taking a deep breath. Seconds ticked. The words I practiced for about a thousand times (yeah, I practiced) got jumbled inside my head. I took a quick sip from my coffee cup and gulped. Hard. It scalded my throat.

“Leon, what do you want to tell me?” she said smiling. I wished she wouldn’t. It was a serious thing, what I had to tell her.

“Sarah,” I began. “I’m telling you this because I made a promise to not keep anything from you. And please, do me a favor and promise me you won’t freak out.”

Her forehead creased. “Leon, just say it. Y-you’re scaring me…”

I breathed out and squared my shoulders. “I’m supposed to have kissing scenes with Hayden Levine in the movie. I didn’t know it had to be like that. It was Moira’s idea to accept the part.” I felt my own forehead crumple involuntarily as I choked the words out. “If I do it, it’d be purely professional. But if you’re not comfortable with it, I’d totally ditch—“ I cut myself and took Sarah’s hand when I saw her reaction.

Sarah let out a sigh and managed a sad smile. “It’s purely professional,” she repeated, finally meeting my eyes.

“Purely professional.” I nodded grimly and waited for her reply. The silence was killing me. “Sarah… Please say something.”

Damn! I knew this was going to happen!

I dragged my chair beside her and gave her hand a squeeze, thinking of the worst case scenario, letting out a deep breath before an involuntary smile plastered on my face.

“W-what’s with the grin?” she asked flinching.

“Yeah… I’m not doing it,” my grin widened for some reason. Maybe it was the blush on Sarah’s cheeks. Maybe it was the thought that somehow, she might’ve been all bitter about the kissing scene with another girl.

“No. It’s okay, really,” she murmured in her most convincing way. But I wasn’t buying it. Whatever was going on inside her head, I wished I knew. “Seriously, Leon. It—it’s just a stupid kissing scene. Do… it.”

Sure. She was saying that. But the look on her face and her stuttering said otherwise. Curbing a smile, I shrugged. I’d already decided. I knew it was no use arguing with her so I dropped the subject.

“So, you want to tell me something?” I asked.

“Uh… that. I… I invited the guys over too…” she stuttered. That was it? I got the feeling that she was hiding something.

I nodded and glugged what remained of my coffee. It burned my mouth. Like hell. But I managed to sport a smile. My insides must’ve been bleeding now. She invited the guys meaning she invited Matt. Even if every strand of me wanted to refuse and throw a grand piano at his Camaro, Matt was still her friend. And whatever makes her happy, I’d gladly put up with.

Sarah was hyperventilating. If she didn’t calm down, I swear she’d faint soon and I’d have to carry her to the aisle on a wheelbarrow.

“You’re going to be fine,” I assured her, pulling her to my side as we stood in front of the chapel. “You should’ve remembered to put some superglue under your feet before you put on your high heels though. Just in case, you know...” I whispered on her ear, letting out a silent laugh.

With an annoyed grunt, Sarah gave me a nudge on the side, looking all red in the face. The people in front of us threw stares at me so I tried to hold the chuckles in.

“Seriously,” I whispered. “You’re the prettiest girl here.”

“Yeah right. Define pretty,” she muttered rolling her eyes.

And the crowned Queen of Sarcasm for this year is none other than… Sarah Littman! Really, sarcasm didn’t really fit her. She was too… what’s the word? Gentle. That is, when she wasn’t hurling hardbound books at your face.

“What if I trip or something?” she mumbled nervously.

“Don’t worry, I’ll catch you.” I sniggered, seeing Freddy and Arthur near the altar signalling me to come over. “I guess the other best man is needed by the groom now. So now I must go fulfil my duties,” I said watching her hold back a smile before I let go of her hand and headed to the right side of the altar where the groom and my dad—the best man—waited.

“Lose the hat, kid. It’s my wedding.” Freddy grinned, shifting on his feet. He tugged on the sleeves of his black tuxedo and turned to Arthur, who was wearing the same thing minus the bowtie. “Do I look okay?” he asked uneasily.

Seriously. Like father, like daughter. I shook my head smiling as I pulled the beanie off my head, keeping the glasses on and tried my best to tame my rebellious dark hair.

Dad just threw me a meaningful look and let out a snigger. “For the twenty-seventh time, Freddy. You’re fine so put a sock in it.”

Jeremiah cooed from his stroller just beside me. He was the other other best man. He was even wearing a tiny tux. I guess because he was too small to be the ring bearer. Plus, he might try to eat the rings. The kid was a biter. Anything within six inches, he’d snatch and put in his mouth. Putting that aside, little Jer would be a heart breaker if—I mean when he grows up. He was the mini-me version of Freddy with eyes just like Sarah’s.

Cute? Right… That is, if he wasn’t chomping your fingers off.

The guests rose from their seats. The pianist started playing Mendelssohn’s wedding march, the melody echoing all around the walls of St. John’s Parish. Two flower girls in turquoise dresses marched along the carpeted walkway, stomping on the white petals they were scattering around so it looked like they were playing hopscotch. Next was the bride’s maid—a lady friend of Emma.

My jaw slowly unhinged itself when it was Sarah’s turn to walk in the aisle. It was like an epiphany—like she was walking in slow motion, a slight hue of pink making its way to her cheeks when she gathered the skirt of her sea-blue gown while her other hand held a bouquet of blue flowers. She was even wearing the sapphire pendant I gave her as a present for her birthday. Her gray eyes gazed at me through her long lashes. Or maybe it was just my imagination.

It got me wondering how it’d be to spend the rest of my life with a girl like her. A grin broke on my face. I glanced at Freddy.

I think I want to…

“Wipe the drool, Leon,” Freddy sniggered beside me.

My hand flew to my mouth. Reflex. I pocketed them. Just in case.

“I know what you’re thinking, but no. I won’t give you my blessing… yet,” he pitched a you-know-what-I-mean look at me.

Sadly, I didn’t.

Every pair of eyes darted admiringly at her. She got no clue how beautiful she was. And the best part? She’s mine. All mine! I felt a strange urge to laugh like mad. Maybe too much Nathan had rubbed off on me. Speaking of the devil, where was he?

When finally, Sarah reached her seat at the side of the altar, Emma did her walk through the aisle in her elaborate wedding gown, smiling like there’d be no worries in the world that could ruin her day.

Yeah. Right.

Like she didn’t mind losing her job and possibly her license. No thanks to Camilla Downing. The guilt plagued me out of my wits. Somehow, I couldn’t help but think that I brought the unlucky streak into Sarah’s normal life. Nonetheless, I made a promise to stay by her side as long as she wanted me to and I intend to keep that.

I nudged Freddy on the side. His grin must’ve been ten feet wide as he let out deep breaths every three seconds.

“Want me to get you a stretcher?” I chided snorting.

“Yes, please,” he mumbled with a weak grin. I thought he was going to be sick.

“Repeat after me,” said the minister.

Freddy and Emma joined hands and started declaring their wedding vows when it was time for the rings.

I chanced a glance at Sarah. Her eyes were misty as she watched her parents with a warm smile on her lips. I wanted her to look at me. It was like she heard my thoughts and met my eyes with a smile. For a second, my heart did a flip. All of a sudden, nothing existed but me and her. I imagined her lips move as though she was the one reciting the vows.

I take you, as my other-half for all eternity in the eyes of God, of the law and of society from this day forward. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. And give myself to you wholly; my mind, soul and heart. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish. Until death do us part.

I was brought back to reality by the loud applause and the rustling sound of people getting up from their seats. Shaking the daze off my head, I tried to concentrate. What was I thinking?

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” announced the minister. “You may now kiss the bride,” he told Freddy.

Freddy did so without so much as a warning, catching Emma by surprise. With the start, she almost fell off the steps of the altar before Freddy caught her around the waist and tugged her in.

The applause got louder. Dad whistled. Even little Jer trilled something that sounded like “Moo!” Maybe he was summoning super cows from outer space, who knew?

On the other side of the altar, Sarah was laughing, tears falling from her eyes. I looked at her and realized right then and there what I wanted. It was decided. I’d marry her someday.

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Uh.. Hello? Oh, yes you there. Busy? well yeah may be later haha... But if you could still read this I'd be thankful forever. Vote and comment and fan and tell me if I have any mistakes or something that makes you confused. My mind is all over the place so... Lol... See you in three days :)

Nothing in mind

~shim