Ma and Lia arrive first thing in the morning to kidnap Me-Me and take her to Ma’s stylist to get her ready for today. According to ma, it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, so I guess it’s lucky that I’m still asleep when Me-Me gets up to leave.
I’m alone for a few hours, unsure of what I’m supposed to be doing with my time before getting married. I use it to take care of a few things on the farm. I probably should have chosen a safer task. It would be the worst luck to die before my wedding.
I grab a little something to eat, but I go through the motions of chewing and swallowing. There are so many things inside my head that I can’t concentrate on eating. I’m having a hard time pinpointing my emotions. I’m not exactly nervous about today, but I want everything to go right. Then again, I honestly don’t know all that goes into a wedding. I’ve never attended one before, so I don’t even know what could go wrong, besides the bride not showing up. I don’t see that happening, though.
Uncle Merit calls me up to let me know he’s on his way. Moments later, he’s knocking at my door and walking in.
Merit: How are you feeling, nephew?
Kai: I’m not sure how I should be feeling.
Merit: Um, I don’t know – nervous, excited, maybe happy. It’s your wedding day – the party of a lifetime! All of your friends and family will be there.
Kai: Of course I’m happy. But other than that, I’m basically – numb.
And right now, that’s pretty accurate. I don’t really care about the actual wedding ceremony. I just want to say “I do” and begin my life with Me-Me. All of this other stuff doesn’t matter. Also, thinking about our family being there makes me sad about the family that won’t be there – like Pop-pop and Gran. Before I get a chance to allow those thoughts to pull me down – Uncle M’s cheerful voice interrupts.
Merit: It’ll all hit you once we get there! Let’s get dressed and head out so we won’t be late.
And it does hit me as soon as I enter the venue and see Merlin standing there. It’s our wedding day, and all eyes will be on us, with the expectation that we’ll know how to make this thing work for the rest of our lives.
Merlin: I give my daughter away to you today.
Kai: And I’ll take good care of her. We’ll take care of each other.
Merlin: I know you will. I’m not losing a daughter today – I’m gaining a son.
Kai: *emotional* Thank you.
Merlin has a way of bringing out the emotion in me every time.
Jalisa walks in, but she doesn’t stop and talk. She’s on a mission. She goes straight upstairs to help Me-Me get dressed and ready. From what I understand, there’s a honeymoon suite up there, and it’ll be where Me-Me and I spend our wedding night.
I’m looking forward to that part.
Ma walks in next, followed by Jay’s new friend. The one he met in Mt. Komo. I believe her name is Justina. I glance over and see that our officiant, Pastor Eleanor, has arrived. She seems to know our photographer already. Finally, my old friend Liliana also enters. I briefly hesitated when I invited her because of what she did at my college house party. But, as far as I’m concerned, we later straightened things out. Besides, I’m not quite ready to throw away a lifelong friendship yet.
It’s almost time for the ceremony to begin. I walk down the aisle on shaky legs. All eyes are on me, which is something that I’ve never been entirely comfortable with. I need something to focus on other than all the pairs of eyes staring back at me as I turn and face the guests. I am so ready for this to be over. I want to see my bride. Seeing her will make all of this worth it.
Lia walks down the aisle next. She looks as uncomfortable as I do. But at least she gets to sit down afterward.
Finally, Uncle M starts down the aisle. I’m so glad to have him here. He reminds me of Pop-pop so much, which I need right now – some slightly old-school reassurance.
Merit: Breathe, nephew. Everything is going to be fine.
I didn’t realize that I was holding my breath until I begin to exhale, relieving my lungs of intense pressure.
My friend Mo steps up to the guitar next to the wedding arch and begins to sing a selection that I’m guessing Ma and Me-Me picked out. As I listen to the words, I realize that it fits what I’m feeling right now.
Maurice: ♫ Oh, I lived a whole life,
Thinking I knew how my,
Heart could handle love,
A love I thought I knew.
Everything before us,
Was stretching out my heart,
Just so it could be big enough to beat for two.
Never understood why,
People always say ‘Love chooses you,’
Now I do.
Now I do.
Didn’t ever think that,
I could ever say ‘I promise you,’
And now I do,
Now I do.
Now I do.♪ (source)
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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