"I Do!"
The tears of happiness. The tears of finally being able to be with the man that her heart desired. So without any further ado, she said,
"Yes, I do!"
Everyone clapped around, for now, it was official. Raymond's heart knew no bounds. He knew what she was going to say, but to hear her say those words, to hear her affirm her faith in their love brought profound solace to his heart.
Everyone rejoiced from the bottom of their hearts except for that one man, who stood there, being the official testimony of their unison. He also knew what she was going to say, but he didn't know how crumbled he would feel upon hearing it.
Taking a deep breath, he coughed a bit to adjust his voice which was giving away the state of his heart. Then he looked at Katherine, asking her to bring the ring for Akira.
Katherine took the little blue velvet box with her on the stage and handed it to Akira, who opened it with a wide grin on her face and took out the band of love.
She slipped it on his right-hand ring finger and whispered,
"There, you are enslaved until eternity."
"I don't mind!" said Raymond as he held her hand. Then they both looked at Dr. Nelson with eyes filled with gratitude, waiting for him to say those golden lines.
He looked at them with love-filled in his eyes even though his heart was aching. If there was any other person who knew that he was in pain was David. Even thousands of deep breaths were not helping him out, but then he heard her say.
"Just do it Jaby. Do it for my sake!"
Dr. Nelson closed his eyes and the face of Alita flashed back in his mind. He suddenly turned back for the voice was so loud and clear, but saw nothing and no one.
"Jaby! What happened? Are you ok?" asked Akira as she saw him in a state of panic.
"Erm... nothing..." he said and closed his eyes again and took a shallow breath and continued, "And now I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Raymond's heart rejoiced for this was the moment that he had been waiting, since long. He had dreamt about it over and over again and finally today it was happening.
He looked at his beautiful bride and he could see through the veil that tears had trickled from her eyes. He took a step and went close to her and took her face in his palms. Her face was just inches away from her and the only thing in between their lips was a column of air and that veil.
The corners of his eyes had crinkled with happiness and tilting her head up a bit he lightly touched the red lips of hers with his own.
With the way her lips moved, he knew that she was smiling and his hands slowly moved down. His one hand rested on the side of her waist and with the other which he had placed on her back, he slowly pulled her close and gently parted his lips and so did she.
"Oh! Yeahhhh...."
Cheered Katherine from behind for finally the moment had come and it was beautiful. Even David who had always avoided his gaze whenever the two were together, looked at them with happiness filling his eyes up to the brim.
She blushed with happiness and he hugged her tight.
Confettis and flowers rained all over them.
Akira beamed and looked at Mike whose face was beaming with happiness. Raymond held her hand in his and they showed their rings to everyone.
Everyone was joyous, every single one except for the man who was standing behind them, at the center of the stage.
He was happy for her, he was happy for him, but somehow he couldn't be happy for himself. Plastering a fake smile on his face he stood there along with them, trying to act his best.
Then the saw two familiar figures almost panting and running towards the stage.
Both Teddy and Kirk had gone to give their statements and when Mike texted them that the wedding was still on, they tried to come back as soon as possible.
"Oh no! I missed it!"
Exclaimed Teddy and then bent down with his palm resting on his knees to catch hold of his breath.
"She just said - I do and then they kissed. That's all. You didn't miss much," uttered Kate as she wasn't able to understand why such grown-up people had to throw tantrums.
"But that's the best part of the wedding!" replied Teddy, still panting and trying hard to get his breathing back to normal for he had literally sprinted from the parking lot to the backyard.
Akira giggled as she heard Teddy and turned to look at Raymond who was looking at her intently unable to believe that he was now married to the seat no.5 girl. He then turned to look at Teddy and said,
"Then I am gonna give you a recap because I don't mind kissing her again and again. I am sorry Mike," said Raymond and pulled Akira close. But this time before locking his lips, he paused to look at her for a second and then lifted her veil.
"Whooaaahhhh..."
Screamed the crowd and Katherine ran to cover Kate's eyes. Shawn also laughed and joined next to Katherine holding her hand in his own, interlocking his fingers.
Their lips were locked and unlocked and then locked again. Their eyes remained close as if they didn't want to come back to reality. They were sailing in the waters of their own world. Their hands hovered around each other's body and soon the tongue came into the picture.
"Oh, Boy!" muttered Mike and turned his eyes.
Now it was too much for anyone to take.