#jacqln-li

When I turned nine, I came to understand what kind of fear this was. This wasn’t the panic of being left alone in the woods. And it wasn’t the kind of dismay that dawned upon you for forgetting the books to Mr. Iago’s class. No, this was a new kind of anxiety. It was the uneasiness of being inadequate, the concern that I may not be in your thoughts. I had to be better. I had to prove myself to you. So I worked tirelessly, with the hope that one day, I could be worthy of you.

We were well into high school before I contemplated where this irrational fear came from. It took over my thoughts, it made me feel so many things. Longing, jealousy, frustration; but also serenity, warmth and elation. Still, I did not recognize the most important one of them all. Not until a fateful day in early spring, eight years ago to the day. Do you remember? I had just failed an exam and I sat by myself in the bleachers. There was a game going on, the first one of the season, but I didn’t have the heart to smile, let alone cheer. And then you came to sit beside me. Corrin was on the field, and you were so excited, you kept screaming, and shook me every time he scored, or made a good pass. Least to say, a lot of shaking happened. But you know, that’s just what I needed. Your energy was a remedy to my dismay. I looked up at you, and right then, I realized the biggest realization of my life.

I was in love with you.

I was in love with you from the very start.

And now, I can happily be in love with you for the rest of my days.

Thank you, Camilla, for being the love of my life.”

A roaring round of applause began in the reception room. He smiled as he looked down to his his left, and saw his blushing bride flushing to the tip of her ears. So cute, he thought, his heart swelling with unfiltered bliss. He sat down, laughing when his cheek was assaulted with fluttering kisses. “I take it you liked my speech?”

“Oh Silas, you’re a prince, you know that?” Camilla beamed. “Who taught you how to say such wonderful things?”

“I’d like think it came from the heart,” Silas replied, “but I did get a bit of help to put my thoughts into words.” He glanced over his shoulder, and smiled towards Corrin, who winked back at him with a small smirk. It had been a huge dilemma, figuring out where to seat his best friend during the supper. However, since Camilla was the one to break the news about their engagement, Silas won the “preferred seating arrangement” debate.

Marriage was full of compromises.

The rest of the meal went on without a hitch. A few people rose to give speeches of their own, blessing the newlyweds. Elise squealed in excitement countless times. Xander shushed each outburst with a smile.

After most of the guests had finished their plates, Camilla gathered all the women attending, and brought them to an adjacent decorated room for the infamous bouquet toss. The men stood on the sides and Silas watched as the eager crowd formed around his bride. Camilla was now standing on a chair, waving the bouquet of stephanotis above her friends and family. “Are you ready, ladies?” They cheered, making the purple-haired woman smile devilishly. “Alright!~I’ll try not to throw it across the room. But I wouldn’t stand too close, just in case!”

All the participants took a generous step back.

The woman of the hour let out a hearty laugh. She turned her back to the guests, and prepared for the toss. “On the count of three! One–two”–Camilla leaned forward–“and three!”

The silver-haired man watched with amused incredulity as his sweetheart didn’t toss the bundle of flowers, but rather launched it across the room. It flew well above the women of the party. Even those who jumped could not hope to graze the prize, and they all exclaimed variations of stunned stupor at the feat. Silas wasn’t that surprised. Camilla took her physical fitness very seriously. Throwing a bouquet of dainty flowers was air compared to the fifty-pound dumbbells she used in their home gym.

The bouquet hit the far wall of the room, bounced off, and landed with a thud on the head of an unexpecting guest. A small “ow” could be heard throughout the now silent room, before the elegantly wrapped flowers fell into fumbling hands.

Silas felt a smile grow on his lips. His heartbeat accelerated.

“It seems Corrin has caught the bouquet,” Leo, standing a few feet from him, said loud enough for everyone to hear. “So much for not wanting to participate, huh?”

Corrin stared blankly at the bouquet. Everyone began to cheer, and the groom ran to his friend, the happiest voice in the ocean of congratulatory applause. “I can’t believe it! Of all people to catch the damn thing, it just had to be you!”

His best friend let out a nervous chuckle. But before any more words could be exchanged, an arm snaked its way around the winner’s waist, and a soft kiss was pressed into fluffy white hair. “If you were planning to propose, darling, you should have just told me,” Niles, as always, shamelessly flirted with his significant other.

Corrin blushed profusely, swatting at the man with the prize. “Who says I’ll be marrying you?”

“Do you have any secret lovers I don’t know of?” the sly man feigned shock for a fleeting second, before giving in to a trademark smirk. “How scandalous.”

“I do not!”

“Well then, unless you plan to marry your dog, I guess you’re stuck with me.” Niles peppered pecks on Corrin’s cheek, who giggled in response.

Silas smiled fondly at them. Truth be told, he wasn’t a huge fan of Niles. The man was the picture definition of sketchy; aloof, detached, with habits that bordered on the cruel side; and he had the weirdest job the silver-haired man had ever heard of. Crime scene cleaner? That had to be fake, right?

Albeit, when he saw how happy he made Corrin…he figured what he saw wasn’t all there was to the man. If Niles was “the one” for Corrin, then he wished them all of the best.

His wife, on the other hand, was much less enthralled.

He saw her stand to the side, a perplexed air about her. Silas couldn’t have that–not on their wedding day–so he walked over to her. He took her hands into his, placing a kiss on her forehead “what’s wrong, my love?”

“What does Corrin see in that man?” She quipped, her lips forming into an charming pout. “I didn’t even want him here, you know. But Corrin said he wouldn’t attend our wedding if Niles wasn’t invited. Can you believe that? I was so hurt that my darling Corrin would say such a thing…”

Silas laughed softly. “It’s simply because Corrin loves him, sweetheart. I’m sure once we get to know him, Niles isn’t all that bad.”

“He’s not good enough for Corrin.”

“You’d think that no matter who Corrin dated.”

Camilla huffed. “You’re supposed to agree with me. You’re my husband.”

“You wouldn’t have married me if I was just your yes-man,” Silas rebutted. “You had plenty of guys before me who did just that, and you aren’t wearing their ring on your finger.”

“I guess you got me there,” the woman sighed. It was a content exhale, as she met gazes with her husband and smiled. “I do love myself a strong man. One who isn’t afraid to stand by his opinions. We might not always agree…but I think that’s beautiful, in its own way.”

Silas grinned. “Now that, I can agree with.”