I stood there still gazing at the scene with my mouth agape. I was so shocked that I didn’t move an inch for nearly 5 minutes. Were my eyes deceiving me? I asked myself. Was that really my best friend and my fiancé together on the altar? Questions upon questions kept running through my mind. I thought it was just a silly dream. Then again, I noticed it was real. I knew grace was getting married but it never occurred to me it was going to be to my fiancé, Richard. Grace has always been talking about her husband-to-be though I never got the chance to meet him. She told me his name was Richard and I teased her about us getting married to name-sakes. I even brought up the idea of us getting married the same day but she didn’t accept the idea explaining that she will be getting married two months before me. That’s enough reason though because my wedding was fixed on the 22nd of November and she said hers was on the 5th of September. Making her change her plans because of me was the last thing I wanted. I just had to give her all the support I can and even learn some things about marriage before my turn. I actually thought the wedding was a rush because it wasn’t up to 4 months since I knew they had been dating. When she told me they were getting married, I asked her if she was pregnant and her reply was negative. I knew pregnancy was one of the reasons why marriages are rushed. The traditional wedding was done in her hometown at Anambra. I failed to attend due to some extremely important issue I had to take care of. When I told Grace I couldn’t follow her to the village to attend her traditional wedding, I was shocked with her response. ‘It’s ok. I understand’ was her reply. I was surprised. That wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought she was going to be very angry and not even speak to me again. The way she took my news well greatly amazed me. I made up my mind never to forgive myself if I do not attend the white wedding. When she got back from the village, I asked for the wedding pictures but she told me she forgot it at the village with her mother. She apologized but I told her not to. I should be the one apologizing for attending my best friend’s wedding.
Being her best friend for over 10 years, I was expecting to be her chief bridesmaid but she told me her mum insisted her younger sister took that part. She pleaded with me to understand. Being the kind of person I was, getting over it was easy. Sincerely speaking I never took Grace and her relationship with her “Richard” seriously. I thought everything was a joke from the start until the invitation card was handed to me by Grace herself. When I opened it, it looked weird. Normally in weddings invitation cards, the full names of the bride and groom are printed and some times, their origin but all I saw was a printed inscription in Monotype Corsiva that states “GRACE Weds RICHARD” followed by other information about the wedding like date, time and venue. No picture of the couple even. When I asked why it was just plain, the reply I got was “Richard and I have our reasons”. I just took it that it was part of the whole rushing of the wedding.
When finally the D-day came, I went to Grace’s house by 8am to help out with some few things before she leaves for the church by 10am. When I got there, I met her mother. Immediately she saw me, she became uncomfortable. I really wasn’t bothered by that. I went on my knees to greet her; ‘Good morning’ I greeted. ‘Good morning my daughter, how are you?’ was her reply. After all the pleasantries with everyone in the room, I left to help out with the cooking. I was told Grace was having her bath.
After about 30 minutes, I went into the house to see ‘the bride’. Grace was already having her make-up done when I got in. she was looking so beautiful. Of course, all brides should look extra pretty on their wedding day. Cecilia the make-up artist was a professional. She really concentrated on her job to make Grace look like a Queen. Indeed, she looked like one. Everyone in the room watched with great interest. Most smiling and staring while others kept exclaiming ‘you look beautiful’. I waited patiently for her to be done before going to talk to her. ‘Wow!’ I almost screamed out of joy when she was finished. ‘You go wound people o’ I said teasingly. ‘Commot jare. You too dey whine person’ she replied laughing. ‘Babes seriously, you look stunning. I hope Richard doesn’t faint on the altar o’ I teased again. To my surprise, Grace didn’t seem nervous. I knew all brides feel nervous on their wedding day but Grace acted like a woman who had gone through marriages millions of time. She was bold and her mouth was sharper than a new razor blade. She and I chatted until it was 9:15am. That was the time for her to get fully ready. There wasn’t much to be done though. All she had to do was get dressed and leave for church. Everyone including me gasped when she was fully dressed. She looked like an angel. He wedding gown was to die for. She looked absolutely breath taking in that gown coupled with the wonderful work of the make-up artist on her face. I didn’t know when tears of joy started dropping on my cheeks. ‘You look beautiful’ I said to her. She gave me a smile. There and then, it reoccurred to me that my best friend was getting married. I was so much happy for her. It seemed like I triggered her tear gland and she too started crying. ‘Hey, don’t cry now o. you will ruin your pretty face’ I told her. She smiled again. I collected the powder puff from the make-up artist to wipe the tears from her face. I did it gently and with care so I won’t damage the perfect work of Cecilia. After our little heart touching moment, her mother who has been outside all these while, inspecting the cooking activities came in to announce that it was time for them to leave for church. When Grace looked at me, she became hesitant to go. ‘Go; do you want to keep your groom waiting?’ I asked. ‘No but what about you? Are you not coming with me?’ she asked. ‘Na wa for you o. Do you expect me to follow you like this? I am not dressed na. Don’t worry. I will meet you in church. Let me quickly rush home and get ready’ I explained. ‘Ok. Oya see me off to the car’ she insisted.
I escorted her to the well decorated Range Rover. It was covered in pink and white balloons. It looked so cute. She, her mother, her younger sister who was the chief bridesmaid and the little bride, a girl of about 6 years entered the car. I waved her good bye as the car drove off to the church. Followed suit was another well decorated car but it was a Toyota Avalon which occupants were the bridesmaid and flower girls. I made a silent prayer as they left; wishing her good luck.
I was about getting into my car to drive home and get ready for the wedding ceremony when a fat mature woman approached me. I recognise her as one of Grace’s neighbours, Mrs Rose. She once had a mental illness when she lost her only son which kept her in a mental home for a year. She recently got heal and came home some weeks ago. ‘So you really do not mind all these that are happening’ she asked. ‘What do you mean?’ I questioned confused. ‘She stole your fiancé and is about marrying him. Yet, you do not give a hoot’ she said. I ignored her thinking her it was her mental illness acting up again. I took what she said as total rubbish. I got into my car to leave and when she noticed this, she quickly went to call one of the cooks who followed to where my car was parked. I was about driving off when she motioned me to stop. I sighed and stopped; I rolled down the window as they got closer to me. ‘Iya Bola, do you know that she did not believe me when I told her it was her fiancé Grace was getting married to’ Mrs Rose said. ‘Ah! Didn’t you know this before?’ Iya Bola asked me. ‘I really do not know what you women are talking about. If you do not mind, I have to go now’ I told them. ‘Wait. I am coming’ Iya Bola said as she quickly went into Grace’s house. Few minutes later, she came out with a book in her right hand. When she got closer, I noticed it was the wedding’s programme. ‘Here, look at the picture on the cover’ she said when she finally got to my spot, handing the book to me. I almost literally died when I saw my Richard on the cover with Grace. It was like I suddenly had an asthma attack because I couldn’t breathe. I became petrified and stared at the book for a long time. Different thoughts ran through my mind. ‘I don’t believe this’ I said to Iya Bola and Mrs Rose who have been watching my reaction. ‘But the proof is there. What more do you need to be convinced? Or is this not your Richard?’ Mrs Rose asked. I ignored her questions, thanked them and drove off with the book.
The drive home seemed forever. I was so confuse. I received a lot of insults from cab drivers because I drove recklessly. I drove like one who was still learning how to handle the wheels. I was so down casted; In fact, I wasn’t myself at all. I tried to convince myself in many ways to believe it wasn’t my Richard getting married to my best friend. I even tried to convince myself that it was his twin brother; but even if he was a twin, why didn’t he tell me and why will his twin bear the same name with him. I kept wondering and wondering until I decided to go to the church and see things for myself. With God’s assistance, I managed to get home safely because all through the ride home, my mind was somewhere else. I jumped down from the car, got into my house, freshened up and left for the church. It was a 20 minute drive from my house. The wedding ceremonial service had already started. There was no soul outside the church. Everyone was sited inside paying attention to the ceremony and I got in, just in time to meet the greatest surprise of my life.
I still stood at the entrance of the church staring at the altar where my Richard stood facing Grace with a big smile on his face. At that moment, I felt weak, betrayed, hurt and dead. I tried to fight the tears that were forming in my eyes from dropping but they leaked when I blinked. At that instant, I felt like walking up to the altar and stabbing both of them to death. I felt like the pillar of which my life depended on had collapsed. ‘By the power bestowed upon me by the Almighty God, I now proclaim you husband and wife; you may kiss the bride’ the pastor said, waking me from my thoughts of revenge. Seeing their lips touch almost made me scream out of emotional anguish. At this moment, the congregation were already on their feet and clapping and making joyful noises. Then, the ‘newly wedded’ couple turned to look at the crowd. That was when they saw me. Without even waiting to read the expression on their faces, I stormed off. On my way home, all I kept thinking of was revenge but first, I needed to get the whole story straight. Why did my best friend marry my fiancé after being fully aware he is mine? How could Richard, whom I trusted with all my heart, do such a thing? When did this whole arrangement between them start?

yaaaye mind captivating,following bumper to thunder...


Front seat things

is this an autobiography or what @op?

I really like it?

gosifechris: is this an autobiography or what @op?

I really like it?

lol... nah... just a story... big time fiction!!!

Nice one Marthakings, keep em coming.

#following

chocopearl: Nice one Marthakings, keep em coming.

#following

yeeeip! thank u :-)

Marthakings: lol... nah... just a story... big time fiction!!!

you are da bomb,keep it coming girl*hehe

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chocopearl: Nice one Marthakings, keep em coming.

#following

same here #following the thread lyk follow follow

come *wey her nau?

Hope the heartbreak is not affecting her oo,am not married YET

Yea. Front Roll things....

Is this the summary of the story? OR this is what it's all about OR is it the ending? OR is it the starting?

make i know naa. I don't wanna be a novice..

Nice

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