Ethan POV
My butt rested on the chair, eyes fixed on the door, watching as every guest trooped in.
Every lady in her mid-twentieths accompanied by a man looked like Dawn in my eyes.
Oh, God! Getting married was enough to get me hyperventilating. Now, Dawn will see me walking down the aisle with the little slug.
Then, I’d be called to kiss her.
I bit my nail nervously. The thought of that repelled me as it’d repelled Dawn too.
Alright! What’s Nicole playing at? What’s his deal?
“You look pale,”
I heard a familiar voice call behind me.
Drawing a shaky breath, I ran a hand through my hair and faced Andre.
“Are you alright?”
“Oh yeah! I am!” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm off my voice as I threw Andre a dirty glare.
Good for him for asking me such a question.
Andre chuckled.
“Here,”
My eyes darted to the glass of juice offered to me and I threw him another dirty glare.
“This is not funny.”
“It will help in calming your nerves,” he insisted. “strawberry…”
I sighed, took it from him, and gulped it down in one go.
I’m in for anything that’ll help calm my nerves.
Thank him for being considerate.
“I’ll be in the room,” Andre said.
“Hmm…” I replied with a nod.
Lifting my eyes off Andre, I settled it back on the entrance, waiting for when Dawn will walk in with that asshole of my brother.
I heard a loud sigh behind me, sending me almost out of my chair.
Alright! I thought Andre wanted to head to the room earlier.
“What?” I glowered. “You’re not going anymore?”
With my eyes still on the door, constantly picking on my finger.
“You see,” Andre mumbled. “Staying here will do you no good.”
“I know.”
“Why not just wait in the…”
The rest of Andre’s words were blasted off the solid shield that wound against me.
For a split second, everything stopped moving. Every living being in the hall disappeared as my gaze settled on the lady that just walked in.
My heart gave a loud jolt, legs buckling beneath me… Almost at the edge of jumping down the 20 staircases and engulfed herself in a hug.
How much I miss her.
Fortunately, her presence brought this warmth I couldn’t understand. Somehow, her appearance brought a little glow to my soul.
I couldn’t tell if it was because of her long silvery-white dress, but the hall seems to glow with more life.
I gritted my teeth, a hand fisted coldly, for Nicole just appeared beside the kitten and snaked his hand around his neck.
I couldn’t tell which of us is angrier, or maybe, the expression on Dawn’s face is not anger but sadness.
I sighed. Only if I could. I thought. Only if I could just shout it out to everyone that that’s the lady I love.
The one I want to get married to, and she’s fucking pregnant with me.
Only if.
Just only if
“C’mon,”
I felt a hard tug on my shoulder, reminding me that Andre is still right behind me.
I groaned, not lifting my gaze away from Dawn.
Oh right! I don’t wanna lose her, nor my baby.
“Let’s get out of here.”
But I don’t want to.
Shrugging Andre’s hand off my shoulder, I sat straight.
Somehow, I wanted Dawn to catch a little glimpse of me, but again, I know I’m risking something.
She’s already sad as it is that I’m getting married.
I could not do anything, I just followed my Grandpa’s lead blindly, waiting for him to do everything for me.
I look like a loser. No! I’m a coward.
My stomach suddenly gave a loud rumble, but I ignored it. Sure! I’ll go to the restroom and settle it later.
“You don’t want her to see you,”
I hissed. He never understands. And of course, he could never understand.
I opened my mouth to reply to him, but my stomach gave another loud rumbling sound, making a loud groan escape my lips.
I grabbed my stomach, eyes slit, trying to make out whatever it was that was disturbing my bowel.
“What?” Andre leaned forward. “Are you alright?”
For my stomach must give another sound, and I know, waiting for another second, I might mess up my pants.
“Yeah. Need to use the restroom.”
Taking a last glance at my kitten who now has a forced smile on her pale sad lip in response to a lame joke Nicole has just made, I ran to the nearest restroom to loosen my bowel.
****
“C’mon, Ethan. You’re not planning to spend forever there, are you?” Andre banged on the door so hard I could have shot him a couple of cusses only if I could use my mouth.
My stomach has been acting funny for some minutes now that I found it hard to leave the toilet seat talking of walking out of the restroom.
I don’t know! I did not take something bad this morning, did I?
“The wedding is about to start!”
And this is me still clutching my running stomach, trying to break through the fog of memories and find the food that’s causing this.
No way! I thought!
Never! I can never go out to the hall looking like a hundred-year ghost in a Dubai black tuxedo.
“Is he still in?” I heard Grandpa’s thick voice, but surprisingly, it was not cold, not thick with venom.
“Yes, he’s still in there,” Andre replied.
“Oh, God! What are we going to do?” Mr. Anthony groaned, his voice cold and harsh. “It’s only two minutes to go.”
Fine! I made up my mind.
Perhaps, he’d like it if I run out of the aisle with the excuse of going to the toilet.
Of course, it’d sound funny. And if I’m lucky enough, it’ll make the front page in tomorrow’s paper.
After cleaning myself with the toiletries, I walked to the basin to wash my hand, ignoring my running stomach as hard as I could.
Oh, fuck! I don’t know how long I could hold it in, but if they want to make the headline tomorrow, I might as well help them.
With all the courage I could muster, resisting the temptation of rushing back inside and sitting back on the toilet seat, I wrenched open the door.
“OMG!” Andre gasped, hand flying over to my neck. “What happened to you? You look pale.”
Yeah! Thank him for throwing that in my face.
I drew in a deep breath, holding the door for support. My stomach still rumbling so much that I thought the Titan war was being held there
“What’s wrong?” Grandpa inquired, his midnight orbs filled with worries and concern. “You do not look well.”
Not a bit
“My… stomach….”
Andre and grandpa exchanged a kind of look I couldn’t understand
“C’mon,” Andre steered me away, “we have to get you to the hospital.”
“But… But… The wedding.. how … ”
I was saying, my eyes getting heavy and the last strength surged out of me
“Don’t worry,” I heard Grandpa’s faint voice. “I’m going to handle it.”
I turned around to take a last look at my grandpa
I don’t know if it was because of my condition, or if my eyes were playing a dirty trick on me, but before I could close my eyes, I saw Grandpa winked at me and his lips unfurled in a wide toothy grin.