The reception came to pass. It was so much fun for everyone, again, some more than others. Aldo, for example, wasn't exactly having the time of his life for the most part.
He sat and stared intently at the side passage door, as if he wanted to leave. But in all honesty, he had been expecting his special someone to walk through the door and sit by his side. That was one of the reasons why he chose to attend the reception party. He cared about Julia but, to be fair, the marriage had been concluded the day before, when she got the marriage certificate. Walking her down the aisle was to show support and that's a pretty important tradition. He didn't have to be here and he wouldn't be, if not for Sarah.
He seemed to lose his mind when it came to this woman. He may have gotten used to seeing her at breakfast and dinner, riding to and from home with her—whatever the case, he felt very reluctant to leave without her.
After an entire hour of nothing but noisy conversation, gossip and cocktails, the bride and groom were ushered in by the bride's maids and groom's men. They repeated their vows, had the first dance and took their seats next to each other. The best man came forward to give the welcome speech, and boy, was it lengthy. After that, the guests were invited to recline for dinner, and they had a few toasts to the bride and groom and their marriage before dinner officially started.
As dinner went on, Sarah rose and said she had a gift for the bride and groom. In came a projector, and on the white frame, the video dairies were played. Members of Justino and Julia's family said short speeches congratulating them on their wedding. She had also arranged for friends who couldn't attend the wedding in person to make a short congratulatory video, which was then cut and fit into one tear jerking projection.
The whole time Sarah was so busy she couldn't even sit. As Aldo watched her run around, he had to resist the urge to hurl profanities at everyone in attendance for overworking his woman. Well, she wasn't his yet, so he had to calm down. Who would dare to task her if she were his? It was his own fault for being so slow; at least that was how he felt.
Dinner was soon over, the couple cut the cake, their parents said their speeches and so did Sarah. As she walked up the podium to speak, Aldo's eyes followed her body and rested on it the entire time. He hadn't taken time to appreciate how good she looked today. Her dress was a bit different from the other bride's maids. She wore a sage green Eleri silk crepe off the shoulder dress, a long body-hugging dress with puffy sleeves. The design was pretty simple but it came with a rather scandalous slit on the left leg. Her heels tapped melodiously as she ascended the podium.
He didn't take his eyes off her, not even for a single second. Her speech must have been great because everyone laughed and there was a great round of applause afterwards, but he didn't get a single word. He was so focused on her every curve, every feature of her beautiful little face.
She may have felt his eyes on her as she walked off stage. She glanced in his direction and gave him a smile that took his breath away. Before the butterflies she had given him could settle, some annoying girl walked up to him and took a seat next to him.
Of course, Aldo ignored her. But it didn't end there, this woman actually started flirting with him. It seemed that her boldness was contagious because, before long, her entire hive was at his table; talking his head off. No matter how much he ignored them, they would not stop. In fact, they seemed to be having the time of their lives.
Julia noticed the traffic at his table and immediately knew why these ladies were willing to risk their heads like this. Earlier today, when Aldo got the bouquet, he made it evident that he intends to settle down. That would be great news for his girlfriend, but terrible news for anyone who had entertained fantasies about becoming Mrs. Accardi.
However, a rare opportunity had presented itself, considering that Aldo was currently single. And they would know if there was someone but there just wasn't. So it had become a marathon, vying for his attention, that is. This lot thought they had struck gold, unfortunately for them, there was someone else. Julia laughed in her heart when she thought about the drama that would unravel over the next few months, maybe years.
By now it was 9 in the evening, dinner was over and the couple were engaged in conversations with their guests, some people were dancing and few others were seated sipping a drink. Sarah had been busy directing the storage of the wedding gifts.
She was finally done for the night and so she walked in to the chaotic crowd trying to find anyone she knew, so she could relax. She spotted Aldo siting in a pool of young women. For a moment she like blood had rushed to her brain. Before she could realize what she was doing, her legs had carried her to his table.
"Why, this seems like a lively corner. What are we discussing?" she said with a fake smile as she invited herself into the conversation.
"Mr. Accardi's wedding." The first girl to sit replied, whilst looking at Aldo with a seductive smile. His eyes, however, were on the woman who had just joined the chat. The girl noticed this and started to feel a subtle hostility towards Sarah.
"Ah, Mr. Accardi is getting married?" she asked, maintaining the fake smile and sweet voice, while burning inside.
"I mean, he did spend money on the bride's bouquet, considering the significance of the flower toss, isn't that as good as a wedding announcement?" another girl responded.
"Oh, well, today is Julia and Justino's wedding. It is not over yet and you girls are talking about another one? That's not right is it?" Sarah said, taking the high route. "Come one now girls, please grace the dance floor with your presence. When Mr. Accardi is ready, he'll send you an invitation to his wedding."
Her words definitely had a double meaning. On the one hand, she acted like she was oblivious to their reason for pestering him. On the other hand, she hinted, rather subtly, that they could only be guests at his wedding.
Aldo, too, could hear all the undertones in her words but chose to silently enjoy his jealous little lady. Seeing that they had been reprimanded, the girls left one after the other. The first girl had an especially salty look on her face, which Sarah chose to ignore.
"Thanks, I couldn't get rid of them without causing a scene." Aldo said to Sarah once they were all gone.
"Oh, of course, no scenes. We wouldn't want that. You are welcome, Mr. Accardi. Please be sure to invite me to your wedding when it happens." She responded with a not-so good expression and a clearly jealous tone.
"Let's dance, Sarah." Aldo said, looking up to her. He was still seated while she was standing.
"No thanks Mr. Accardi."
"Would you rather sit then?" he asked, finding her stubbornness amusing.
She slumped down with a huff, feeling a bit pathetic for acting out at the moment.
"You did well, Sarah, with the wedding, I mean. Too bad, you were too busy to enjoy it."
"I was, but you seemed to be having a great time."
"I did?"
"Yes you did." She clapped back almost immediately. This was getting interesting for Aldo.
"Well, you must have seen things from the wrong angle, because I only came here for you."
"Right, fanboy. Why didn't you invite her?" she asked, crossing her arms before her chest. She hadn't thought much of it before but now it felt like an extremely jealous side chick. Well, the train was already in motion. Might, as well, get all the answers now.
"Who?" he asked, like he didn't know.
"The person you got the lucky flowers in order to marry."
"Oh, her." he smirked "She's here, she has been busy all night. Too busy to even look at me." He answered, calmly pouring her a glass of water. "She made me wait for her all night, and the moment she sits down, she is mad. Tell me, what does she want?"
She certainly didn't expect that as a response. Sarah suddenly felt extremely bashful. She realized that he was making a move, but she didn't know how to be cool now that she had already acted out.
To save her own face she had no choice but to continue down that path. She picked up the glass of water and said "how am I supposed to know?" pouting her lips before slightly opening them to gulp down on the water.
He gently placed his palm on the fist that her hand had balled up into, holding her gaze sternly, like he could through to her soul. "I waited for you all night, mia cara (my dear). I wanted nothing but to walk out when they swarmed me, but I could not get myself to leave without you."
"Oh" she replied sheepishly, at this point she was so embarrassed that she could bare to make eye contact with him. He suddenly became so forward, forcing her to play the shy, pouty, little girl.
"It's OK, I know you're just tired, love. I'll take you home so we can talk."
"I can't say no now, can I?"
"That wasn't exactly a question, Mia Cara."
"Of course not. Fine, let's leave now. I'll go first. You walk up to Julia and tell her you are going, then come find me. I'll be by your car."
"Why can't we go together?" he asked, holding on to her hand as she rose from her seat.
"Because if we do, they will assume I came over to send them away so I could snatch you." She responded, looking down at this grown man who was acting like a spoilt child all of a sudden.
"Isn't that what you did?" he asked again, with a rather playful tone. Her only response to that was 'the look'.