I’d promised her that never, ever in my life could I ever see myself hurting Jaslene, but Ria insisted I vow it. Beside her isTito Enzel. Jaslene is nowhere to be found. I lean in toward Ria, but before I’m about to whisper, she says, “She’s just in the bathroom. Couldn’t hold in her pee, drank too much coffee this morning.”
I bite my lip, holding in a laugh. Classic Jaslene.
The congregation stands up suddenly, as the Priest takes his place at the centre of groomsmen. The piano begins its melody, and I observe as the first of the wedding party makes their way down the aisle. We’re up to the bridesmaids, when Jaslene still isn’t back. I’m almost scared she’ll miss Tita Bea’s walk.
“Oh my gosh, have I missed it? Oh my god.”
Already, her voice is enough to set fireworks through my body. I turn around, and there she is.
My breath of fresh air. Just her smile alone sets of blazing fires in my chest, spreading throughout my whole body until everything in me is just warm. She’s wearing a gorgeous red dress that she’d refused to show me, and wanted for me to see in person, and I thank past me dearly for complying.
God, she frustrates me when I look at her. It’s been a year, but everytime I see her, the nerves get the best of me. She finally spots me, and her lips part. I smirk.
“Hey,” I whisper.
“Hi,” she whispers back.
Canon in D begins to play, and everyone turns their neck. It’s time for Tita Bea. Phones are up, trying to capture the moment. As they do, I turn back to Jaslene. She’s craning her neck, trying to spot her Tita. Until she catches my eye, and a hint of red spills onto her cheeks.
“Pay attention, loser,” she hisses. I don’t think she realises just how radiant she is. Even when she’s glaring at me.
I turn back, and observe as Tita Bea makes her way down the aisle. I have a sudden vision, a splitting image of Jaslene walkingdown the aisle, with me at the end, and tears spring to my eyes before I can comprehend them.
She loves romance, but doesn’t know she’s the incarnation of romance itself. The epitome of the butterflies in one’s stomach when falling in love.
She’s all the goodness that comes with love wrapped in one.
I can’t wait till it’s her turn down the aisle, and I’m at the end of it.
I’m watching Jaslene on the dance floor. She’s currently there with her Mum, Ria and her Dad, all of them pumping out 90s dance moves as FloRida’s Low plays. I laugh as Jaslene attempts a low twerk, resulting in her heeling over and groaning in pain. My parents are at the buffet table grabbing more food. I wait until the song reaches its last few verses, before slipping away toward the DJ. I lean in, tapping him on the shoulder, and whisper the song I want him to play. He nods, a smile on his lips.
As Low reaches its end, I observe as everyone on the dance floor bursts into cheers at their attempted dancing. Then, the opening melody of my requested song plays through. To many, it might be a song unknown to them. But Jaslene meets my eyes across the floor almost instantly, her face lighting up. Dear God. Radiant.
In just a few strides, I cross the dance floor, and in mere seconds I pull her to me, snaking my arms around her waist. Our bodies fit together perfectly. A few people peel away from the dance floor, not wanting to slow dance. I see my parents join the floor, though, with Jaslene’s parents beside them. She looks at me, knowingly.
“Is this your doing?” she asks, grinning.
“Why of course,” I profess, proudly, “I could never forget the song you played when you first held my hand on our first fake date ever.”
She rolls her eyes. “Our first fake date, what a milestone.”
I lean forward, pressing my lips against her ear, “I wouldn’t miss any milestone, even the fake ones.”
She shivers, and I place a kiss on her cheek, relishing in how I make her feel. How she makes me feel. We sway to and fro asATEEZ’s All About Youblasts through the reception. I sing the chorus to her, and I capture with my brain the way she’s smiling at me.
“Do you remember this,” I ask, teasingly, “The moment you fell for me?”
She glares at me with those blazing, dark brown eyes of hers and I want nothing more than for her to glare at me like that for the rest of my life.
“Pfft, your hand was so sweaty then and you played horror music. How could I have fallen for you that time? When I think about it now, I could break up with you.”
I seal her words with a kiss, and she glances at me stunned. I’ll never be able to get enough of that look.
“You know, I think this may have been the moment,” I confess.
She tilts her head, “What moment?”
“That I started to like you.”
