Episode 41-> Day of Unity

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Dressed in his best and looking sharp, Leonardo Hugh was tall, dark and aborable. But despite whatever he was feeling, there was a part of him that was taking mental notes of what a 'wedding' entailed. It is his first time going to a family wedding or any wedding otherwise. He was excited as well as nervous in the formal atmosphere.

To see his beautiful auntie Tamika get married was obviously the main purpose of him being here today.

Whatever his reason may be for his presence here today, Leon will wholeheartedly take advantage and learn what a wedding entailed. See, this wild child was already thinking about his very own {future} marriage! Afterall he found THE ONE a long time ago. The "bride" in his thoughts was not even his girlfriend yet though. The hardest part of his plan was getting her to date him first... 🥲 From the moment the two met as children they were inseperable mainly because of Leon's persistence, since she was the mild mannered one of sorts back then.

A vivid image of Anais pops into his mind. Her in a wedding dress, made a perfect fit. And her hair will not be straightened nor dyed -- no, it will be back to how like it used to be, her natural black curls. Her gentle brown eyes would look into his ocean blues. And he would hold her close and feel comforted by the warmth of her brown skin. And at last, they will exchange 'I Do's.

What a hopeless romantic of a boy. This atmosphere only fueling his imagination. Leon's blue eyes sparkled in anticipation. His cheeks pink as a peach.

Piercing through Leon's daydreaming was a loud wail of a woman that made him think for a moment, was this a wedding or a funeral? Puzzled by the unexpected havoc, considering neither the bride nor groom has graced the crowd with their presence as of yet, it was no surprise everybody in the venue turned their heads toward the source...

Crying tears of joy for her baby girl Tamika was Leon's grandmother, Victoria Hugh. And for sure she did not let her emotions nor the attention of the whole room stop her sassy remarks, "It is about damn time they got here, sniffle sniffle, to the altar! Having them shacking up for three years-- or longer God only knows really -- nearly sent me to meet the lord early!"

"What did she saaay?" The crowd asked, calmly.

Grandmother Victoria is cheeky when she becomes emotional, her candid personality was what most who knew her found most endearing. (All the family's sass comes from her endless well of it... Grandpa Gio is a saint. 😂 How an absolute firecracker of a woman managed to pull such a mellow lad is beyond all logic.)

Face flushed, not believing his own ears, Leon's grandfather, Giovanni Hugh, did the best he could to quiet down his runbuncious wife, "Oh shush, Vii! Shhh..! We don't say that--" His grandfather had it rough, consouling his wife while also waiting on his cue to walk his only daughter down the isle.

With a face described as cute more than handsome, Leon plays the stoic gentleman, not letting his amusement show in his expression, trying his best not to laugh his butt off. (Kekeke! Too funny... Grammy is out here making the most noise. You would think this is a funeral! Haha, Papa Gio has his work cut out for him today for sure!)

It was just the excitement the family needed distracting them from the elephant in the room...

(Natalya not showing up is family politics...) Was it a silent protest? Who knows... Although no one could assume his lazy sister was actually trying to be political at all. Naomi also didn't show up so it wasnt only Natalya absent. But Leon was pretty sure his eldest cousin was doing the actual protesting... she was a bit of a undercover firecracker, hellraiser.

On the other side of things, he didn't want to convulute his family members' probably pure intentions but he did have reservations about this wedding invite... considering their history...

It was no hidden family secret, it was a messy scandal. (Oh eeeeeeverybody knows what happened between Natalya and Marissa. But I guess deep down we all hoped the two would use this event to reconcil... to see those two smile together again seems impossible all things considered... I'm pretty sure Natalya is holding a grudge against Marissa...) Resentment only festers when the party in the wrong never apologized. It was pretty ducked up honestly. But... If you asked Leon's hot take on it all? Instead of animosity toward Marissa, he held ire toward JC Campbell, God rest the idiot's soul. The little gremlin up and kicked the bucket after causing Leon's baby sister so much heart ache, he didn't even apologized for it either! That was even more ducked up. Imagine your first love breaks your heart and then before you even had time enough to process it, they die... that's a little heavy for a barely twelve year old Natalya.

(The image of Natalya and Marissa walking together, throwing flower petals... what a long lost dream huh...) He rest his chin against his balled fist, sigh with a heavy heart. The reality was a bit different to what they had planned as children.

(Natalya didn't come. We tried and tried to change her mind... I guess things are moving forward... Too bad heartbreak cant be uninstalled... it changed her, twisted her personality honestly... and that temper she grew afterwards-- whew chile!) Thinking about that entire ordeal made Leon sigh. Leon got a crazy idea for a prayer, considering they were in a chapel and all. So he sent one up, even going so far as to screw his eyes shut for effect! (Lord, I pray you deliver Natalya from this... she's still young so there is hope in a few years, a new love interest, something can change...) Seriously... at this rate he may have give up the dream of neices and nephews! (She has the potential to be a crazy, unmarried, cat lady already... only missing a cat to trigger the downward spiral. 😮‍💨 Fix it, Jesus!) His face solemn, he promised himself to stay vigilant, he will intervene once a kitty arrives on the scene! (She will not, shall not!! become a crazy catlady on my watch!) Leonardo was filled with determination. (❤️‍🔥□❤️‍🔥)

It's not like he didn't understand being hung up on your first love... like hello, literally Leon's life story. He was literally eyeballing this venue whilst daydreaming about marrying a woman who he is not even dating. We are all hopeless romantics sometimes... Anais is his one and only love! (If An did me like that boy did Natalya I wouldn't recover. 🥺💔)

Saving him from his sad thoughts, was the sound of the bride's theme song.

The bridal party enters first.

Son of the bride, Xavier Hugh was the best man. His neatly styled dreadlocs were black and long. He even wore eyeliner which made his icy pale blue eyes soul-piercing. Leon noticed his cousin was walking down the aisle with his lovely girlfriend, Crystal Burrows. Zavi, the lucky guy! Must be nice.

Daughter of the groom, Marissa Lavarity was the Maid of honor. Leon watched as her naturally blonde, dolled up in a trendy yet mature style. Her eyes lined with subtle makeup that made her brown eyes pop.

Leon remembered how years ago, her and his sister Natalya promised to be flowergirls together. This wedding was a longtime coming, he thought as Marissa walked down the aisle as the maid of honor already too old to be sprinkling flower petals. He sighed feeling that it truly was a tragedy. Those two girls would be real, legal family on this day but the girls' friendship fell apart nearly three years ago. Instead the flower girls were the brides students, smiling gleefully as they toss their petals paving the way for the bride. Leon found it cute. But a bit of sadness stayed in his eyes.

Just then the bride entered the cathedral. Grandpa Gio walked her down the aisle.

Leon's mother, Christina Hugh, started sobbing, she was a tearful cheerleader, "So beautiful, Tammy~!"

His mum and Auntie Tamika were close like real sisters, and had much love between them despite being apart amd their daughters badblood.

"Aw, come on, mum..." Leon face sunk into his palm, ears red, displaying his embarrassment. (It was less mortifying when grandma did it...😥 Mum youre causing a scene... I don't understand how dad isn't embarrassed at all?)

His auntie Tamika, the bride, was absolutely breathtaking with those classic Hugh looks. The happiness and joy in her eyes left her radiant, glowing.

Mr. Thomas looked bewitched by his lover. The softness in his gaze, reverence in his eyes, it was obvious he cherished aunt Tamika very much.

An interesting pair, both teachers, both widow and widower, both are already parents, true birds of a feather, truly complimented each other.

Leon was no longer focused on embarrassing family outburst, instead he watched in awe, his blue eyes fixed upon the pair at the altar, stood before God and man and reciting their vows and promising, sharing smiles and holding back tears of emotions.

Leon's eyes began to prickle, hot, salty tears. Love was a beautiful thing.

(Bro, you cannot seriously be crying...?)
The voice in his head seemed to demand he feel embarrassment but the image he saw in his heart, Anais in a wedding gown, made his tears fall. He would also like to cherish someone and promise to be with them forever and always! (I'm a sucker for a good ending!)

"Congratulations!"

Leon's father, Alizander raised his brow at his sobbing son. Who even shouts that before the couple says their I dos?
Alizander, caught dry eyed between the two, smiles at his wife and child crying cutely like there is no tomorrow.

Marriage was a beautiful union.

And on this day, their family of four finally became official before God.

The wedding was beautiful and filled Leon with a bittersweetness.

So life brings forth changes...

🏖To be continued...