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"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water."
Eleanor Roosevelt
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Jules

Dandandanaaaa
Dandandanaaaa...

"Why do they have to always play this particular tune at weddings? It sounds so depressing," Metisha grumbles beside me.

"Tisha, could you show some respect? The bride's making her way down the aisle," Margot chastises with a warning glare on her beautiful face.

Metisha responds with an exaggerated eye roll.

I slightly turn on my seat to properly look at the bride who is slowly and gracefully making her way down the aisle.

Even with all her rudeness, I must commend Metisha, she did a good.. no, an excellent job on the wedding dress which fits the bride perfectly without no flaws. And the bride looks even more flawless. Diana, as Metisha called her, looks so astonishing as she walks down the aisle, arm entwined with that of an elderly man who is probably her father.

Not being cliché or anything but her smile alone can light up the whole church. The love in her eyes is clear to see as she stares fixedly at the man she's going to spend the rest of her life with.

I look towards the groom and spot the same mesmerised look on his face as he grins from ear to ear.

Honestly, I don't know where this line of thought came from but, as I look at the beautiful emotions swimming on the groom's face as he watches his bride make her way towards him, I can't help but wonder if, just if, one day, someone would look at me that way: like I am their beginning and their ending, like, without me, there is no happiness in this world, like I am everything to them and more.

All the while, even as they take the vows, they only stare at each other, into each others' eyes. It is beautiful, really. I just hope and pray in my heart that the light of their love never burns out.

"...I pronounce you husband and wife," The priest finally says.

Everyone claps in happiness for the latest couple in town.

"Now, you may kiss the bride." The eager husband leans towards the wife to kiss her but is stopped by the priest. "In a holy way, please." Everyone, including the new husband and wife laughs.

Poor Priest. He has probably had to, on several occasions, witness new couples French kissing right in front of him.

"Holy kiss?" Metisha chuckles. "Never heard of that before. Have you, Freddy?" Metisha asks and Freddy barks out a laughter so loud he got admonishing looks.

Yes. Freddy and Metisha are still.. well, 'doing the bedroom dance', Metisha's words, not mine. I just hope Freddy doesn't fall in love with her cause truth be told, Metisha is ruthless when it comes to breaking hearts.

"You wanna sit here all your life?" Metisha asks, standing up. And that's when I see that people have started leaving.

"Shouldn't we congratulate the bride and groom first?" I ask as I pick up my burgundy clutch from my lap and stand up.

"See the crowd surrounding them?" Metisha points at the cluster that had formed around the couple. "They all want to do the same thing."

"I suggest we do that at the reception then," Margot chips in.

I nod. "To the reception!" I say in my best commander voice which gets them laughing, Freddy the loudest, obviously.

***
Last row...
Filled up

Second to the last row...
Filled up

Next row...
Fill... Ah! There!

"There are still seats available here." I tell Margot, Metisha and Freddy.

"Where?" Margot and Metisha both ask, walking towards me hastily despite the challenge their tight pencil dresses pose for them.

"Here." I point at the couple of seats beside a guy in tux.

"There are only three seats left. Where will Freddy sit?" Metisha whines.

"That's no business of mine. Teddy-Freddy can sit on your lap for all I care."

"It's Freddy." Freddy corrects me but I pretend not to hear him.

"Shall we get our asses seated, ladies?"

"Freddy, go look for somewhere else to seat, alright?" Metisha says, giving Freddy's enormous bicep a pat before heading to her seat. I expect Margot to do the same (go sit down, not pat Freddy's enormous biceps) However, a look at her face tells me all is not well: she looks like she's just seen a ghost.

"You okay?" I ask, touching her arm.

"Vikram."

"I'm sorry what?" I ask, confused.

"Remember the guy I told you saved me from the kidnapper?"

"Oh yeah, the Indian guy you had a fight with because he said something you didn't like?"

She nods energetically. "Yes, yes. Look, he's the guy in tux."

I take a proper look at the guy presently a seat away from Metisha and I am treated to the sight of brown wavy hair, long, dark lashes, thin aquiline nose and lips that look wickedly lush. He is obviously oblivious to the two ladies observing him like a specimen as he busies himself with his cellphone.

"Wow, He's such a looker!" Margot only grunts at my statement.

"What is he doing here, anyway?"

"Is that even a question?"

"What are you..."

"Look, let's just get seated. The program will start soon. We can talk about this after the wedding." I make to move but get pulled back.

"How am I going to prevent him from seeing me?" Margot asks in a slightly panicked tone.

"What's wrong with him seeing you?" I ask her, my patience running thin. These eight-inched heels are not the type I can stand on for an extended period of time without risking breaking my legs.

"Wait! Did you sleep with him that day?" I ask, referring to the night she went missing. "Is that why you are trying to avoid him?"

"Ew, of course not! I'm not Metisha!" She scowls.

I really cannot do this any more. "Rather than all this bantering, let's just go sit down. You see he's still preoccupied with his phone. Hopefully, he won't bother looking up when you pass by him."

"I hope so," she says and follows me as whispers of Margot Johns fills the air.

Sometimes, I forget how popular my best friend is. Times like this remind me. This makes me wonder how she won't get noticed by Vikram when, after the wedding, people start coming to her for autographs or to take pictures with her.

I know I am supposed to sit down beside the Vikram guy so Margot wouldn't have to sit beside him, but being the curious being that I am, I want to know what it is about this guy that's got my I've-got-zero-fucks-to-give friend anything but calm. Something inside me tells me this is definitely not about the fight she claimed they had.

If that's not the case...

Then could it be what I am thinking?

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Are y'all thinking what Jules is thinking?
Hehehe

Ya know y'all are my special cupcakes, right?

Make that star below shine before you go

Stay safe for me till the next update

Thanks cupcakes