Can You Mend My Broken Heart?

518 Backyard Tales - 4

"Hold on a second," yelled that voice again, and they all turned back as they were familiar with that voice. The voice of the little one who was the flower bearer for today.

"Umm... give me some space now," muttered Kate as she moved past Katherine, David, and finally crossed Mike and Akira to stand in front of the bride to be. Wearing a faint lilac lace dress and holding on to a small wicker basket filled with plumeria to the brim, Kate looked like a little bride herself.

"You look so pretty Kate!" cheered Akira from behind and the little one turned back and said,

"I know right!"

She giggled and her pure laugh was nothing but sheer joy for everyone around her.

"You have again started with your recklessness sweetheart," came another voice from behind and Katherine turned back for it was the voice of her man.

Coming close to her, he gave a peck on her cheeks and locked his hands with her. The entourage was now ready for the march.

[A thousand years - by Christina Perri started in the background as Akira took the first step]

Hearing the first note of the song, Raymond turned towards the backyard entrance, and his eye locked onto hers even from distance. Her girl was slowly walking towards him, looking all pretty in white.

All the people who had previously settled into their respective seats also stood up and turned back, for the bride was arriving. Holding her breath, Akira tried to calm herself with every single step that she took ahead. Her heart was pounding incessantly, and she could hear even amidst all the music and all the cheering.

Taking a deep breath, she gulped her own spit.

She couldn't understand what was making her so nervous. A moment before she was dying to come out of the room just to have a closer look at Raymond and now that she was walking towards him, towards the stage, suddenly everything was starting to become too overwhelming.

Glimpses of the past started reeling in front of her eyes.

The GCG, the trip to London, that lakeside dinner, everything came back flooding. She couldn't believe that it was all real. Closing her eyes shut, she halted her pace for a moment and then opened her eyes again. But nothing changed.

Kate was still strewing her path with those plumerias and the music was the same. Even the man who was looking at her from a distance was the same.

Turning back at Katherine, she said,

"Pinch me! Tell me this is real!"

The tears in her eyes couldn't stop this time. They deceived her for they had a mind of their own. They rolled down her cheek before soaking the ground underneath.

"This one!" exclaimed Katherine and wiped her tears.

They were just a hundred meters away from the stage now. So Katherine took out the veil from her bag which was attached to the tiara band.

"You guys!" yelled Kate, as she realized that they all had halted, and she had been walking all alone.

The voice of the little one warmed them up, and they started to walk again.

As they crossed the arched pathway and entered the path lined with the white carpet, which ended just in front of the stage, Raymond took a deep breath, for the view was breathtaking.

The wait, which had appeared like an eternity was worth it!

Wearing a strapless wedding gown with embroidery on her bodice, she looked nothing less than an angel. As the afternoon sun spread a hint of the last of its gold, her gown which was laced with the work of exquisite pearls and rhinestones, glittered with magnificence.

Holding a bouquet of baby's breath in his hands, Kirk gave a nod to Akira before handing her the bouquet as she entered the main entrance of the wedding venue.

The pastor, the clergyman, a couple of other people also stood on the stage, but her eyes were fixated on the man who was standing one step below the stage, with his heart pounding in anticipation.

The moment she reached close to the stage, the music slowly faded out.

Standing just a foot away from him, separated by that thin layer of veil she mouthed - "Sorry I was late." Then she looked at him, expecting him to say something in response, but that man stood there in awe. Without blinking an eye, he kept looking at her for a while and then finally said out loud, "I love you."

Akira blushed all red and the guests in the front row also burst into a laugh after hearing his blatant confession.

"Ahem... Ahem...." the clergyman cleared his throat and adjusted the mic.

"Come here," said Katherine and escorted Akira to the left side of the stage. Raymond stood there looking at her as she walked ahead, like a completely mesmerized person in love. He just wanted to run to her right now, rip that veil apart and kiss her on her lips, for she was looking breathtaking today.

But following the elbow nudge by David, Raymond followed suit and walked towards the right side of the stage.

"Dear family members, friends, and cherished guests. I would like to thank you all on behalf of these two beautiful people, who will be united for eternity today in the presence of God. Now I would like to invite the pastor...."

The voice of the clergyman echoed all around, but they couldn't hear a single word. Their mind was busy, trying to figure out a way to get done with the entire process faster. Their restlessness was evident in their eyes.

Their eyes spoke nothing but longing and love for each other.

They were just holding their breaths to say the words "I do" and kiss each other.