Of Carnival and Wedding
“Ah ah! I want that!” She pointed to the sparkling necklace nestled into a pillow resting in a box sitting on the highest shelf.
“O.K.!” He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the box. He gripped the ring, swinging his wrist back and forth to get a good momentum before tossing the ring towards the necklace.
She fisted her hand in anticipation, her eyes trailing after the flying ring. It went up, spinning, heading to the top shelf. It looked as if the ring was tossed a bit too far left, but miracles do happen, when the ring bounced off against the teddy bear’s robust tummy and landed next to it, trapping a certain golden box.
“Omigosh! Yay!!” She squealed, her arms instantly around him. She placed a kiss on his cheek, hugged him tighter, and gratefully accepted the gift.
“You like it?” He asked, happy that she was happy.
“Yes! Do you know what this is?” She lifted the necklace out of its nest, the charm dangling enchantingly in front of his face.
He lifted the charm to his face, a star with a heart snuggled right in the middle.
“What’s so special about it?” He doesn’t understand why she was so happy to get such a necklace. He was sure he could give her something much more...tasteful.
“It’s a wish necklace. You make a wish and put it on, when your wish comes true, it will fall off,” she smiled brightly. It wasn’t that she was childish to believe in superstitions, she just simply believed.
“Sure, sure, if you say so,” he scoffed, amused at how cute she was. A necklace granting wishes, like that was believable.
“Whatever you say. Here, help put it on me after I make my wish,” she handed him the necklace. She closed her eyes and wished. The wish would be a secret. After wishing, she motioned him to put it on her. She watched as he draped the necklace over her head, swung it in front of her eyes, his fingers daintily wrapped the necklace around her neck, adjusting the length until the star rested in the middle of her collar bones. The clasp was opened then closed.
“There, all done,” he spun her around to evaluate the look. It fitted her. It looked nice. He smiled.
She took his hand, leading him to the next stall, where he would win more prizes for her. He eyed her a couple of times, hoping she would get the message that he wanted to know her wish, but she never took the hint. Maybe she did. She tugged at his hand to make him walk faster. One look at his pouting lips told her what he wanted, but she chose to neglect it. You know what they say, if you tell the wish, then it wouldn’t come true. And she knew she wanted this one to come true.
***
Murmurs of conversations creep through the little crack under the double doors, traveling to the ears of a certain man. He shakes his limbs to get relaxed. The bundles of anxiety and nervousness and excitement tighten in his stomach as he takes another glance at the clock hung to the right of him. Ten more minutes and his life will change forever. He exhales sharply, hoping to rid of the tingly feelings in his fingers and toes. He straightens his tie, brushes off nonexistent lint on his tux, and carefully fixes his hair. He jumps up and down a little and take a glimpse of the clock again. One minute has passed. He wants to groan out of frustration at how slow time is passing. Another man steps into the lobby; he wears a tux as well, and his face clean, hair styled.
“Hey, good luck man,” he pats the waiting man on the shoulders, earning a nod, and walks through the double doors.
He waits, listens to the conversations drifting through, not eavesdropping. The knot in his stomach grows at each tick tock bouncing off the empty lobby. Finally, ten minutes have passed and with a deep breath, he enters through the double doors, immediately enveloped by the crowd’s voices. Claps reach his ear, but it still isn't louder than the heartbeat drumming in his ears. He reaches the end of the walk and turns around. He politely greets the people around him, his best man, bride maids, and the priest. He glances around the crowd; he sees old friends and classmates, co-workers, and, surprisingly, his boss, wait, no, that’s not surprising, it is the face of his ex-girlfriend he finds unexpected. She seems to notice his staring and warily grins, giving him a thumbs up. He feels happy that she is here to give him her blessings. What is the past is the past, it is the future he is looking forward to. He looks at his parents and future parents in-laws sitting in the front row, the mothers already having a hard time keeping their eyes dry. He smiles at them lovingly, knowing he is very lucky to have such a supporting family.
The organ begins to play, a familiar melody wafts through the air, a beautiful sound that shakes his heart to its core. He feels his throat go dry and the sweat glands in his hands all of a sudden go into overdrive. He stares intensely at the doors, waiting for the moment for it to burst open.
She places her bouquet at her chest, rearranging the flowers out of nervousness. Three little girls dressed in white puffy dresses and a big white ribbon clipped in their hair line in front of her, each with a basket of petals in their hands. A little boy stands after them, a pillow in his hands with a silk ribbon tied around it and looped through two rings to ensure they are safely pinned against the pillow. She focuses on breathing, an extremely difficult task at the moment. She hears the organ play, this is her cue. Two men throw open the doors, the melody hitting her strong and hard. This is it.
The three girls enter first, scattering red rose petals left and right, covering the wooden floor with their velvet beauty. She takes a deep breath and follows. She concentrates on putting her left foot in front of her right foot and vise versa, hoping not to trip and ignoring the gasps and
“oh my god, she’s beautiful”s attacking her from all sides. She lifts her eyes and looks straight ahead. Her heart races-- if not encaged by her rib bones, it might just fly out of her. She sees him. He looks dazzling. He glows. He smiles. He eyes shine. He is perfect. He is hers.
He swallows down a gasp when the doors open. He doesn’t see the cute little girls, he doesn’t notice the crowd’s reaction, he doesn’t even see the endearing boy waddling behind with the rings. He only sees her. The dress is breathtaking, her hair is gorgeous, the makeup is enchanting, but only she is beautiful. Her shyness greets him as the natural pink blush taints her cheeks. She is beautiful. Her eyes are alluring. Her embarrassed smile is adorable. She is stunningly and heartbreakingly beautiful. She is his.
She reaches the alter, her gaze locked with his. The priest begins, but neither listens, too enchanted by each other. She smiles, her eyes crinkling with joy, tears of joy glisten in her eyes.
His hands tighten around hers, giving a light squeeze to tell her of his happiness.
“Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold?”
“I do,” his voice is strong and confident.
“ And do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold?”
“I do,” her voice sweet and soft.
“I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The priest finishes and takes a step back.
He stares deeply in her eyes, drinking in the sight of her, taking in every detail, memorizing this day. She counts the seconds as he leans in, taking in his scent, her arms unconsciously wrapping around his neck. He kisses her. A kiss has never tasted so sweet, so tender. They pull apart. He cups her face and rests his forehead against hers, never breaking eye contact.
“I love you,” they whisper together.
They hear the melody of their hearts, but they do not hear the tinkle as the necklace hits the floor.
“O.K.!” He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the box. He gripped the ring, swinging his wrist back and forth to get a good momentum before tossing the ring towards the necklace.
She fisted her hand in anticipation, her eyes trailing after the flying ring. It went up, spinning, heading to the top shelf. It looked as if the ring was tossed a bit too far left, but miracles do happen, when the ring bounced off against the teddy bear’s robust tummy and landed next to it, trapping a certain golden box.
“Omigosh! Yay!!” She squealed, her arms instantly around him. She placed a kiss on his cheek, hugged him tighter, and gratefully accepted the gift.
“You like it?” He asked, happy that she was happy.
“Yes! Do you know what this is?” She lifted the necklace out of its nest, the charm dangling enchantingly in front of his face.
He lifted the charm to his face, a star with a heart snuggled right in the middle.
“What’s so special about it?” He doesn’t understand why she was so happy to get such a necklace. He was sure he could give her something much more...tasteful.
“It’s a wish necklace. You make a wish and put it on, when your wish comes true, it will fall off,” she smiled brightly. It wasn’t that she was childish to believe in superstitions, she just simply believed.
“Sure, sure, if you say so,” he scoffed, amused at how cute she was. A necklace granting wishes, like that was believable.
“Whatever you say. Here, help put it on me after I make my wish,” she handed him the necklace. She closed her eyes and wished. The wish would be a secret. After wishing, she motioned him to put it on her. She watched as he draped the necklace over her head, swung it in front of her eyes, his fingers daintily wrapped the necklace around her neck, adjusting the length until the star rested in the middle of her collar bones. The clasp was opened then closed.
“There, all done,” he spun her around to evaluate the look. It fitted her. It looked nice. He smiled.
She took his hand, leading him to the next stall, where he would win more prizes for her. He eyed her a couple of times, hoping she would get the message that he wanted to know her wish, but she never took the hint. Maybe she did. She tugged at his hand to make him walk faster. One look at his pouting lips told her what he wanted, but she chose to neglect it. You know what they say, if you tell the wish, then it wouldn’t come true. And she knew she wanted this one to come true.
***
Murmurs of conversations creep through the little crack under the double doors, traveling to the ears of a certain man. He shakes his limbs to get relaxed. The bundles of anxiety and nervousness and excitement tighten in his stomach as he takes another glance at the clock hung to the right of him. Ten more minutes and his life will change forever. He exhales sharply, hoping to rid of the tingly feelings in his fingers and toes. He straightens his tie, brushes off nonexistent lint on his tux, and carefully fixes his hair. He jumps up and down a little and take a glimpse of the clock again. One minute has passed. He wants to groan out of frustration at how slow time is passing. Another man steps into the lobby; he wears a tux as well, and his face clean, hair styled.
“Hey, good luck man,” he pats the waiting man on the shoulders, earning a nod, and walks through the double doors.
He waits, listens to the conversations drifting through, not eavesdropping. The knot in his stomach grows at each tick tock bouncing off the empty lobby. Finally, ten minutes have passed and with a deep breath, he enters through the double doors, immediately enveloped by the crowd’s voices. Claps reach his ear, but it still isn't louder than the heartbeat drumming in his ears. He reaches the end of the walk and turns around. He politely greets the people around him, his best man, bride maids, and the priest. He glances around the crowd; he sees old friends and classmates, co-workers, and, surprisingly, his boss, wait, no, that’s not surprising, it is the face of his ex-girlfriend he finds unexpected. She seems to notice his staring and warily grins, giving him a thumbs up. He feels happy that she is here to give him her blessings. What is the past is the past, it is the future he is looking forward to. He looks at his parents and future parents in-laws sitting in the front row, the mothers already having a hard time keeping their eyes dry. He smiles at them lovingly, knowing he is very lucky to have such a supporting family.
The organ begins to play, a familiar melody wafts through the air, a beautiful sound that shakes his heart to its core. He feels his throat go dry and the sweat glands in his hands all of a sudden go into overdrive. He stares intensely at the doors, waiting for the moment for it to burst open.
She places her bouquet at her chest, rearranging the flowers out of nervousness. Three little girls dressed in white puffy dresses and a big white ribbon clipped in their hair line in front of her, each with a basket of petals in their hands. A little boy stands after them, a pillow in his hands with a silk ribbon tied around it and looped through two rings to ensure they are safely pinned against the pillow. She focuses on breathing, an extremely difficult task at the moment. She hears the organ play, this is her cue. Two men throw open the doors, the melody hitting her strong and hard. This is it.
The three girls enter first, scattering red rose petals left and right, covering the wooden floor with their velvet beauty. She takes a deep breath and follows. She concentrates on putting her left foot in front of her right foot and vise versa, hoping not to trip and ignoring the gasps and
“oh my god, she’s beautiful”s attacking her from all sides. She lifts her eyes and looks straight ahead. Her heart races-- if not encaged by her rib bones, it might just fly out of her. She sees him. He looks dazzling. He glows. He smiles. He eyes shine. He is perfect. He is hers.
He swallows down a gasp when the doors open. He doesn’t see the cute little girls, he doesn’t notice the crowd’s reaction, he doesn’t even see the endearing boy waddling behind with the rings. He only sees her. The dress is breathtaking, her hair is gorgeous, the makeup is enchanting, but only she is beautiful. Her shyness greets him as the natural pink blush taints her cheeks. She is beautiful. Her eyes are alluring. Her embarrassed smile is adorable. She is stunningly and heartbreakingly beautiful. She is his.
She reaches the alter, her gaze locked with his. The priest begins, but neither listens, too enchanted by each other. She smiles, her eyes crinkling with joy, tears of joy glisten in her eyes.
His hands tighten around hers, giving a light squeeze to tell her of his happiness.
“Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold?”
“I do,” his voice is strong and confident.
“ And do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold?”
“I do,” her voice sweet and soft.
“I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The priest finishes and takes a step back.
He stares deeply in her eyes, drinking in the sight of her, taking in every detail, memorizing this day. She counts the seconds as he leans in, taking in his scent, her arms unconsciously wrapping around his neck. He kisses her. A kiss has never tasted so sweet, so tender. They pull apart. He cups her face and rests his forehead against hers, never breaking eye contact.
“I love you,” they whisper together.
They hear the melody of their hearts, but they do not hear the tinkle as the necklace hits the floor.