[Mandy's Diary Today]
"Oh, Mandy, my dear, my love, my little angel… look at you now. You're an adult and Mom has to let you go to live with someone else." Mom in her hyperbolic tone touched my cheeks and sobbed as soon as the ceremony that had been held a few minutes ago was over.
My eyes rolled up. "Mom, please… Don't cry." I touched Mom's palms that were still on my cheeks, then gave me a small smile.
"Shut up, Mandy. It's a cry of happiness," Mom retorted sarcastically while I sighed softly.
I shook my head, watching my mom rambling on and on about my growth from little Mandy to grown Mandy. It wasn't Amanda Gilbert anymore, it was Amanda Bedington. No wonder she was crying hysterically because she was happy, if I looked back on my struggle to get Justin, I felt like I wanted to cry because of happiness. Coould you imagine that? The man you've liked since elementary school and didn't know you were breathing before, now chose you to be his partner. I'll never get tired of slapping myself on the cheek just to make sure this isn't some crazy dream of mine.
"Hello, Mrs. Gilbert," not long after, Candice appeared with her tiny voice rushing towards us. Her gaze stopped at me. "Hello, Mrs. Bedington."
"Shut up, Candice." My eyes widen in horror warning. Instead of responding apologetically, Candice just giggled softly.
"This is cheating. You're ahead of me, Mandy." Candice's lips pursed in annoyance. She folded her arms across her chest.
"It's not my fault that you still haven't found a boyfriend." I smiled too much, which made Candice scowl even more and Mom laughed softly.
"Oh, God. I met someone yesterday." Candice brushed her long eyelashes as she blinked a few times.
"Who?" I asked skeptically.
"Yesterday, I visited Connor Café, and a man came up to me. We chatted with each other and exchanged phone numbers. His name is Niklaus Morgan."
Niklaus. Just the name sounds ridiculous. I'm sure whomever Niklaus was, he's not much different from Candice. Maybe a nerd? Or a widower? I didn't know, yet I'm one hundred percent sure the man that Candice is referring to is not much different from her.
"Well, I can only pray that you and Niklaus or whatever it is, gonna be a couple." I cupped my palms in front of me while nodding my head like a priest. Candice giggled again, agreeing with what I'd prayed for her.
"Amen, Mandy. Amen." She laughed again with Mom.
There was a snort that drowned out our laughter, followed by Justin in his tuxedo and black suit.
"Sorry to interrupt, may I steal my bride?" he asked in the manner of a nobleman, holding out his hand in front of him.
The corners of my lips pulled into a wide smile at his attitude. Mom pursed her lips in a symmetrical line, then wrapped her arms around Candice to take her away from her, leaving us both to get some privacy.
I took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. I took his outstretched hand, then he took me by the hand and led him into the middle of the garden with various pairs of eyes glaring at us. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer until we were only inches apart. We moved to do a romantic dance, to the rhythm of the music playing softly and slowly.
"Why did you choose me?" I asked slowly without taking my eyes off her honey-colored eyes that were glued intensely to me.
"I should be the one asking you," he replied slowly. "What spell did you use?"
The spontaneous question made me chuckle. "Uhm… well... I admit. I used a love potion like the one in Harry Potter."
"You were cheating." He changed the look on his face, giving interpretations as if he meant what he said. I shook my head holding back laughter. "You've asked a lot of questions like that, Mandy." His fingers moved around my cheeks, making them heat up like they had been touched by hot coals.
"And I will never be tired of asking you."
"As well as hear ingthe answer?"
"I'll make sure that answer hasn't changed until now." I buried my teeth into my lower lip in between my wide smile.
"Okay." Justin nodded responsively. "You're extremely stupid, weird, funny, annoying, and a trouble maker. But those things made me love you. More and more."
Aww… it felt like my heart melted and fell on the grassy ground when I heard the answer. Time and time again he said words like that with a sexy tone, and time and time again I never get tired of hearing it. It made me even more convinced that I wasn't just dreaming.
"Aww..." I wrinkled my nose, then cupped his warm palm next to my cheek. "I love you so much, Cupcake."
"Love you too, Muffin."
He ran his fingers against my cheek again. Then land a kiss on my lips for a few seconds. We exchanged intense gazes, exchanged smiles, and continued our slow movements to the dance music that was blasting in this place. I wrapped my arms around Justin's back, hugging him while my legs still matched his movement with his hands tightened around my waist. My eyes immediately turned to a table filled with the Bedington family. Peyton's piercing eyes seemed to smack me in the cheek.
Oh no. The mother-in-law. Even though her serial killer look was often given to me, I'm not sure she hates me. She helped me choose the design of my wedding dress, also presented me with a tiara for me to wear today. And like I told you just now, Peyton smiled at me.
Thank God, she's not as terrible as You-Know-Who. I'm sure until now Grandma Mag doesn't want to recognize me as her granddaughter-in-law. I told you, didn't I? She viewed my being as a person in a lower social status. Though when I thought about it, she's lower than me. She's below my shoulders, well, she's automatically lower (shorter) than me, right?
Just say yes.