On the top floor of the restaurant, the slight commotion on the ground level had caught the eye of the occupant of the upper level. He looked slightly aged at first glance even as much as his hair was not completely white, there were visible strands of grey in them. One could also see the slight creases at the corner of his mouth and eyes. He wore a simple tux and was the only person seated there.
He shook his head as he observed what was happening there. He thought,
"The worst thing in the world is not caused by evilness or brutality but it's caused by weaknesses. Humans are driven by self-interest". He had seen through everything and commended the young man on his bravery. This was not the first time he had seen the two together. Just a week before he had seen them at the same place even though it was under different circumstances.
In fact, the old man was right, everyone in the room was operating on some sort of personal interest.
Amanda leaned against Kelvin slightly as her knees felt suddenly weak at the rush of emotions she felt. He held her securely, but all these did not go unnoticed. While she leaned against him, she thought, "We have just declared ourselves married in front of a large audience and even the press. How do we undo this?" No answer came to her at that moment though.
She was also very oblivious to the emotions on the faces of the others in the room… her dad, angry, her mom, mixed feelings but still a tinge of happiness, Eddy, and Ella, well?
Eddy knew her like the back of his hand and saw through the supposed lie, but he couldn't do anything with Ella right beside him. He just clenched his fists under the table and made sure that his face remained neutral.
Ella was also fuming inside. One would think that she would have been feeling this way because of her sister's initial predicament but she was thinking, "Why does she have to steal the spotlight at my engagement. Why does Amanda always do this?" While these thoughts passed through Ella's mind, she sketchily glanced at the man in whose arms Amanda was right then… and she swallowed … well, she gulped at nothing! And her throat felt dry.
She shook her head and kept telling herself, "He's just a poor waiter!"
"He's just a poor waiter!"
"He's just a poor waiter!"
... but the girl could not get her eyes off him. The white shirt he wore was stretched thin across his muscles and the few buttons at the top were undone. He had folded the sleeve halfway and the strong-muscled-looking arms that held Amanda were enough for Ella's thoughts to go haywire. She decided to excuse herself as she suddenly felt hot.
"I'm going to touch up my makeup dear," she told Eddy and he absentmindedly nodded as he was also engrossed in watching the new couple in front of everyone.
Ella walked quickly out of the room and entered the ladies' room. She stood by the sink and splashed cold water on her face to try to get her composure back. As she calmed down a little, she heard sniffles as if someone was trying to muffle her crying.
Ella had never been one to care for anyone, so she did not bother checking on the person and redid her makeup. However, as she turned to exit, she heard something that made her pause and frown.
"No, no, no, he can't be married!"
"It was just last week that he saw her. He didn't know her then."
"How can a 'nobody' take my crush from me? I knew him first!"
"I know him best!"
"Why would he not tell us that he is married even when I confessed just yesterday!"
"How come I have never seen him wear a ring?!"
"He- He, no! They are lying!"
A young girl whispered from behind one stall, and she kept talking but Ella stopped listening and rushed out. Only one thing echoed in her mind, 'ring!'.
"I must check if they have one on! Amanda cannot deceive daddy on this!" she said in a menacing tone as she walked back towards the room with determination evident in her steps.
After she had left, a girl came out of the ladies' room with red-rimmed eyes. It was none other than the cashier from the previous week. She looked betrayed and angry, but no one was there to see or look anyway.
Ella heard her father's voice as she re-entered.
"This?"
"How?"
"When?!"
"How dare you!"
Kelvin moved Amanda so that she was behind him this time as he glared at his 'father-in-law'. He could see that the man was agitated because the grandfather groom was making his way angrily out of the place with the support of his walking stick and Mitch watched helplessly.
"My daughter got my blessing and that is enough. She stayed with me after the divorce, so I do not see why she had to ask you for permission for marriage when she supports herself a hundred per cent of the time." Yvonne interjected.
Kelvin held Amanda's hand and led her back to her seat as all eyes watched them. He felt that her hands were clammy, and she was shaking lightly probably due to nervousness. He sat her down and squatted by her.
"Are you alright?" he whispered in asking and she nodded.
"Let's talk after this", he added in the same tone and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and under everyone's surprised gaze, he went back to pick up his tray and he was back to work!
He sent a small nod towards Tasha as if to say, "thank you" and she mouthed in return, "my pleasure". In fact, among everyone in the room, Tasha was the only person with a wide smile on her face as if she had just won a lottery and she proudly showed her smile to all even as the press still snapped their camera at them wildly.
Tasha leaned and whispered to Amanda, "You better give me the details later girl! That kiss could make a monk blush! Damn it made me blush, and I am all the way, at the end of the room."
"Don't think of hiding anything from me!" she teased and Amanda tried to hide her face from her ... for obvious reasons.
Ella watched all this stunned. She had even forgotten that she had wanted to check for the rings earlier especially when she saw the gaze that Eddy had. He had not even realised that she had returned to the table and his eyes were glued to Amanda.
Wallace also had a small smile on his face which he quickly wiped off when he saw Mitch return to their table. He was secretly happy with the developments that had occurred but he for sure did not want his friend to know this.
Kelvin entered an 'employee only' room in the back after he exited from all the eyes that were trained on him.
"Who are you?" he asked when he saw a strange middle-aged man in that room. As the man came closer, he saw that he was older than he looked from afar.
"You are not supposed to be here sir. Can I assist you with something?" he asked again.
The man gave him a slight bow and handed a piece of paper to him and then, he was gone without introducing himself or answering the questions posed to him earlier.