"Do you Zarah King take Christian Rodriguez to be your lawfully wedded husband to love and to hold, to have and to cherish in, sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer,from this day onward till death do you path according to holy matrimony?" the pastor read out and all Zarah could do was stare blankly. Though the words of the officiant were ringing in her ears but suddenly the language he had spoken felt foreign to her and her head went blank unable to comprehend what had been said. never has she in her life felt this way before, for once she had lost her confidence and for once she didn't have anything to say,forgetting the pastor's order to answer "I do" to the vows. at that moment her throat went dry like that of one who had run an hundred metre race in the Sahara dessert without water,she felt dehydrated and her body go hot and weak at the same time and at that moment her bladder decided to fill up. slowly and precisely she raised her head and craned it to stare at her soon to be husband, handsome, blue eye with golden locks,tall and cute what more could a woman want in a man for whatever a man desires he was all that,but at that moment she couldn't help but wonder why it felt very wrong, to marry this man who if let loose a country whole female population could feed out of his hand. his eyes met hers and he stared down at her with equal intensity, hers with an evidence of turmoil while his debut nothing but calmness. the pastor cough lightly to remind Zarah of her stand and in slow motion she transfered her gaze towards him. on his face was a display of impatience as his white brows furrow together, with his gaze he urged her to speak up but instead her eyes left his and turned towards the congregation seated on the pews, they who had been whispering seconds ago suddenly became quiet as her eyes scanned the area.
She couldn't understand why she felt so restless at the moment and her heart wasn't helping matters either as it pound with explicit speed against her ribcage,making her unsure of her decision to walk down the alter.
she scanned the congregation and then her eyes landed on a set of blue eyes on the first pew to the right and for a while the held her brown once then as if disappointed they dropped to the ground like in rejection. she swallowed hot spittle and look to her left and there seated upon the first pew was seated the force behind this marriage, brown eyes like hers,but due the owners present emotional state look dark as a smirk begin to appear on her face.
"too confident I knew it" she could hear the owner say even though there was no sound. a smile appeared on her full lips causing them to become thinner and Zarah to depute evil in the act. if not for anything then for this reason she will marry.
for minutes they had and eye fight with the lady. the crowd began to murmur and Zarah couldn't help but steal a glance at their faces not missing the displeasure. what if she says "no" then she did become the most discuss topic for the next month and earn the front page of many magazines but most of all she did miss the opportunity to marry this handsome who was calmly waiting for her response and all the effort and hard work will go to waste,most of all she gasped at the thought "money will be wasted" and then with that she turned around and just as the priest was about to begin reading the vow again she muttered
"I do"
to the hearing if her husband and the priest only.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife" the priest announced in a more louder tone than needed but grateful that she had finally spoken.
sighs could be heard from the guest at the preist pronouncement and heads that were bow moment ago could be seen snapping up to witness the exchange of the rings and then came the presentation of the Bibles,then Thanksgiving after which the couples made their way out of the church auditorium hand in hand under the canopy made by the smartly dressed uniform men with their swords.
******
few feets from the church entrance another group of soldiers with swords made their way towards them and surrounded the couple making a wall around them and Zarah couldn't help but wonder if it was the same set of soldiers from before, but since she hadn't seen their faces because she had been busy trying to stabilize her pounding heart she couldn't spot the similarities.
"the password through this wall is to kiss your wife" a male baritone announced and Zarah's heart skip a beat, just few minutes ago the priest had save her the embarrassment of having to kiss her husband but now she had no choice. Christian on the other hand remained calm as usual his facial expression depicting nothing. he stared down at his wife observing how she had bent her head low in embarrassment as a little red highlighted her cheeks which he couldn't remember if it had appeared just now at the mention of kiss of had been placed there by the make-up artist.
Zarah's heart beats became faster and her cheeks hotter as she felt her husband head moving towards her.
in a moment she lifted her hands and flattened her palms over his rocked chest in defense while shaking her head and gently he bent his head to her level with his breath fanning her neck whisper.
"you want to leave cooperate" and at the. sound of his sweet midnight voice she felt her legs go jelly and her heart giveaway. she took hold the fabric of his clothens for support and steady his face moved from her neck to her face and for a while he observed her small rosy pink lips and his equally pink ones touch her and though he had meant for the kiss to be just a brush of the lips but immediately his lips landed at the soft once of his woman he wanted more and he didn't know when his hands which had been on his side the whole time went under the hair on either side of her neck and he held firmly to her neck and pressed his lips hard against hers yet still not satisfied he covered her lips with his until there were whistle from his colleagues and his wife wriggled in front him thereby bringing him to his senses full of bashfulness he walk with his young wife's hand clasp in his to the car when the wall was broken and she in the same degree of embarrassment kept her head down boarded the car and enjoyed the quiet ride well except for the thudding of their hearts.
*****
immediately they alighted at the reception, Zarah excused herself and walked to the ladies with her chief maid in tow.
she went into one of the bathrooms and lock herself into it.
with a sigh she pressed her back against it's door and relax her whole to it. in a matter of seconds random thoughts she couldn't keep out ran through her mind. psychologically she still couldn't believe that she was somebody's wife and have migrated from Miss to Mrs. If she had been told that this day she did become somebody's wife then she would have deny it abruptly even swearing if she had to,she wasn't that the kind a girl who has fantasy and build castles in the air about her future most especially her married life. she could still remember vividly when her mom had been alive and her elder sister who was now married and now live far away in Africa and their family of five had still been together not separated by death,marriage or distance. She will always say to her sister and mother, that she's the kind of girl not created for marriage, her purpose wasn't to be tied to a man who will separate her from family or make children, her purpose was to live and to be happy with her family, but those dreams were shattered the moment her father died and her mom followed few years after. A sad smile appeared on her lips when she remembered her mother's sick form laying on her authopedic bed gritting her teeth in mom.
Her mother had said she did be the happiest the day she sees her finally settling down,she had also admitted that her daughter spoke rubbish about marriage because she hadn't met the right man yet,she always believed that so will happen when she comes of she and falls in love. But here she was cladded in a beautiful uncomfortable wedding dress but her mom was absent.
she sigh again, gathered her dress in her hands and lifted it then sat on the toilet bowl to ease herself. when she was through with her business,she washed her hand and begin walking to the door but at the thought of something stopped on her tracks and took few steps in the mirror.
Now face to face with the mirror she observed her small pinks lips and ran a finger over them a shiver of cold ran through her and she shuddered remembering the kiss she had shared with Christian her first and only kiss.
she sigh and nudge her reflection on the mirror.
"now he has deflower them" she said pointing to her lips.
"I wouldn't have allowed it if i...I,...I... hadn't felt so" she stammered not wanting to say the the word that had avail itself to her mind,instead she searched for something less degrading but nothing came to mind.
"weak" she admitted as she slipped to the ground.
"I can't believe I attended this wedding" a voice said followed by a clatter of two different heels.
"sorry babe, but you had to fit your aunt and cousin" another said as their the clattering of their shoes became close and louder.
"that's the point, I had to be hear for that bitch, how much I despise her and it's so unfortunate that my innocent cousin had to be the one to end up with her" the first voice said and Zarah couldn't help but grit her teeth as the image of the owner of the voice came into the view of her memory.
Emelda,she could picture her walking straight and tall with her nose in the air and brushing her blond locks with her hand as she spoke.
"she has a bad taste can you see how this wine colour dress look on me, everything is loose and way below a modern fashion sense, for Christ sake the dress makes us look like women from before, the Virgin Mary" Emelda's companion said and Zarah couldn't help but listen to the voice that almost sounded masculine.
"with that kind of voice she still cares about being modern and classic" Zarah thought with a huff.
"actually my aunt choose the dresses including the bride's and ignoring my rejection still force into playing the role of a maid to that thing" Emelda spat in disgust.
"sorry dare,it a thing of one day and we are halfway through it, in matter of hours we did be done and dusted with it and we can finally get rid of this eighties ball dresses" her friend said patting Emelda on the arm in an attempt to to specify. They walk and halted in front of the bathroom Zarah was in and she couldn't help but wonder if they had known of her presence there and were doing this on purpose.
"you don't get it Bianca, she's now fully part of our family how am I to deal with that?" Emelda demanded feeling frustrated.
"I understand girl,but it's Chris I feel more sorry,he did have to live with a bitch for the rest of his life" at this words Zarah felt like bringing the door down and confronting the ladies but she had a second thought,what woman will create a scene like that on her wedding day if not a fool.
"I got your back girl,you are an equal to her to her bitchy ways I support you hundred percent" Bianca said and the two friends giggled and went away.
Zarah couldn't help but shake her head,from the moment she had set her eyes on Emelda she had known the girl was bad news, someone who put on a fake facade to hide her real form and today was just a confirmation.
"Zarah open the door it's me" Zarah heard her friend say followed by a knock on the door.
"I know no one with the name me so go away" she said playing ignorant.
"it's Anna" the person on the other side responded with a sigh,and with that Zarah got up and unbolted the door.
"did you hear what those girls were saying?" Anna her red haired friend asked placing a bag on the sink.
"so?" Zarah said with a lifted eyebrow.
"i.... I....I....,I thought you did have a respond to that?" she stammered unsure of herself.
"will I? don't you think it be stupid?"
"of course it will,those girls are trouble" Anna said in response.
"and so am I, but today isn't just the right day" Zarah admitted as she leaned herself against the sink.
"I need to retouch your make-up" Anna said opening her bag.
"hell no, do you how much heat I have to deal with beneath this dress and this make up on my face, drops of sweat are already running down my legs and my body bad bare enough pain for the reason of this marriage" Zarah said in protest.
"but it's your day you have to look good" Anna counter.
"Anna if you hadn't noticed am perfect the way I am,you don't even know what I had to endure yesterday, those people had to torture my body by making me undergo to a tedious process called waxing and make my head stay under the dryer for hours and I thought at that moment I was being exorcized" Zarah complained flaring her hand in air during the process.
"the pain you pay for being a girl" Anna said.
"who said I want to be a girl,I wouldn't be in my next life".
" only if there is anything like that and if there is it will only be if you are given the choice" Anna defended.
"stayed too long, we should be going back" Zarah said making for the door.
"not so fast, going lady,your hair isn't perfect and your lip stick looks...,not there" Anna protested pulling Zarah back.
"nothing is perfect" Zarah said as Anna did hundred and one things on her face.
"your husband is" Anna said and Zarah glared at her,she did been saying a lot of things about Chris since the day she met him which was on the cake testing day.
"am curious what happened in the wall those soldier made?" Anna asked out of curiosity.
"you don't have to know" Zarah answered rudely.
"suite yourself" Anna said with a hint of anger ad she began packing up her bags and Zarah couldn't help but be grateful that she has ended her painting.
They both made their out of the bathroom quietly and though Zarah felt a little guilty but of course she didn't apologize she walked ahead of Anna wondering why Anna was still her friends withstanding her rudeness.
But of course she will come around that's Anna for you.
Through out the reception Zarah felt numb and thanks to her husband she couldn't outrightly look at the soldiers because of that kiss which she regrets giving in to. some even smiled at her knowingly whenever their eyes met. Through out the process of feeding each other the cake, to the dancing which Zarah was grateful she didn't have to since her husband was in ceremonial dress and couldn't according to the rules,to taking of photos with family friends and colleagues Zarah couldn't find genuine happiness in that for her mind was far off from the activities.
She was jolted back to life, when a red hair in guy in white came towards her and her husband and extended his hand towards him.
"hi bro" he said as he and Chris bump their fist.
"congratulations bro" he added staring towards Zarah who immediately transfered her gaze to the dancing crowd pretending she hadn't been observing the duo then her eyes moved away and landed on the food counter and she couldn't help but salivate at numerous delicious dishes laying there.
"she's a beauty" the red haired guy said but Zarah kept her head straight not budging but her ears still with them to listen to what ever it is they were going to say. she could sense her husband lips straining into a beautiful smile as usual.
"how is work at the academy" Christian asked trying to initiate a conversation.
"good, the old supretendant is due for a transfer and hopefully a promotion" the guy responded.
"I hope he gets it" was all Chris could say.
'we hope so to, we need fresh blood,that old cargo strain us real hard" he responded.
"so even men gossip at their bosses back" Zarah Though with her gaze still far away.
Zarah felt the guy move and then he was by her side and she had to turn her head towards him.
"hi am Andre your husband friend,who is supposed to be the best man at your marriage but was engage and had to be replaced, am sorry for coming late" Andre said forwarding his hand towards Zarah.
"as if I care" she said within her but to his seeing gave him a full stretched lips for a smile while shaking his hand.
"nice seeing you Mr Andre and thanks for coming" Zarah said.
"my pleasure,to atone for my sins I didn't like to have a dance with you" he said pulling out his hand towards her.
she stared at him blankly.
"will I earn a trophy if I danced with you" she wanted to say but held back her tongue and instead smiled another fake smile and decline by shaking her head.
"I insist" he prop but Zarah still refused. knowing his friend was a stubborn mule who will still push his way anyway Chris couldn't help but smile as he sat back and watch them.
"am not a good dancer" she lied.
"your husband told me otherwise" Andre said as they both turned their heads towards Chris and he narrowed his gaze at Andre while Andre shot back at him daring him to counter his words.
Zarah stare at the two not understanding their exchange.
Reluctantly she place her hand into Andre's and he tow her towards the dance floor while her mind battle with the thought of how Chris knew she could dance.
"maybe his mom told him" she said within her with a shrug.
Few minutes into their dance,the music ended causing Andre to groan in frustration and Zarah couldn't be any happier as she returned to her seat.
"do these people have any idea what it cost to get you to your feet?" Andre said to Zarah when she had settled down on her seat and she responded with a shrug.
After the toast and the gifts had been received the couple made a short vote of thanks in which Zarah said close to nothing and then the reception ended with prayers and everyone returned to their various houses.