Hello minna-san!
Just two more chapters for this story before this fic is done.
Text in italics is a flashback
xoxo Lexi1989
Previously:
"Young lady in the red dress standing in the back, do you object to this wedding?" The whispers and murmurs from the crowd die down and all eyes are on me. I take a deep breath, and clench my shaking hands together to calm myself down.
Before I can answer, another voice breaks the silence.
"I object to this wedding."
CHAPTER 8: BEFORE I LET YOU GO
'It's over.' The thought pops into my head as I shut the door to my room.
A huge wave of melancholy overcomes me and I cannot stop the flood of tears from falling. I've held them in for so long and it was high time for their release. I slump on the bed, with dress and heels on and just cry into my pillow. I wept, wailed, howled, and cried my eyes out. I punched the pillow over and over again, cursing myself for what I've done.
"Stupid!"
"Idiot!"
It takes me awhile to calm down. By then, darkness has descended upon the rest of the world. Nobody has come to see if I was alright. For sure, they were all distraught about the unfolding of events. Everybody was angry at first. Everybody had the same questions I asked myself. They were all feeling what I was feeling. Baffled, shocked, and confused.
"Why did you do it?"
Why did I do it? I shook my head at thought. I knew the answer. My heart knew the answer, my mind just refused to comprehend it. I padded over to my mirror, look at my unsightly reflection and cringe. The whole ordeal has drained me. My hair is messy and clumped together, my mascara has trailed down my cheeks and my eyes are puffy and swollen from all the crying.
'No wonder he didn't choose you. You're a freaking mess.' I thought to myself. I stripped off my soiled dress and kicked off the heels that were killing my feet. I scrolled through the Spotify playlist on my phone and found the perfect series of songs that described just how I felt right now. I placed the phone on the dock, put it on high volume and headed to the bathroom. I needed a shower.
My body stank of heartbreak, rejection, and depression and I needed to wash it all off. I turned on the shower and I stood there under the spray, just thinking back on my life.
~I can still remember yesterday, we were so in love in a special way.~
~And knowing that your love made me feel oh so right~
I thought of us. You and I. Back when we were still together. I thought of every happy moment we had. I thought of how you would always have that special smile for me. How your eyes twinkled whenever you looked at me. Now, I can never have it because you chose to be with her.
~But now I feel lost, don't know what to do~
~Each and everyday I think of you~
~Holding back the tears, I'm trying with all my might~
Just thinking about crying makes my tear ducts involuntarily activate. Soon, the spray from the shower mixes with my salty tears and I find myself crouching naked in the shower crying once again.
"I object to this wedding."
The words were out of my mouth before I could realize it. And it only took a split second for everyone's eyes to turn to me. Different faces, different expressions of shock, upset, and distress decorated their faces before pandemonium broke loose.
"Nobara Ibaragi, what is the meaning of this?" My mother was the first to speak up and my bravado begins to slip.
"I mean I object to this wedding, okaasan. I refuse to be married off to someone who doesn't love me."
"That is preposterous! Natsume loves you." My father gives him a pointed look and he looks at me with both relief and worry on his handsome features.
I look at her. Standing near the back of the church in a red dress, and I look at how he looks at her. I cannot deny that I am jealous, I am very jealous because he used to look at me that way. There is no mistaking the longing and love that is evident in his eyes. I wish I could be selfish and keep him by my side but that would be foolish of me. I can feel the tears threatening to fall but I fight the urge to cry.
I stand tall and proud before the confused crowd. And I turn to the man I love. I trace my gloved fingers across his cheek, and try to memorize every plane and curve of his handsome face. I pull him close to me in a tight embrace. And I whisper into his ear the words he desperately needed to hear.
"Go, and be happy. You're free."
He pulls back and looks at me in astonishment. I give him a nod of encouragement and he starts to walk towards her despite the outcry of my parents and the guests from my family.
~Because you've gone and left me standing all alone~
~And I know I've got to face tomorrow on my own.~
She stops him by a look and they seem to have a telepathic conversation. He turns back and grabs me by the hand, dragging me to the small podium at the side of the altar.
"My dear guests, we thank you for coming to attend our wedding today. But as you can see, It is with uttermost regret that we inform you that we won't be getting married today." He began to say.
"I choose not to get married for the convenience of our family's businesses. I made my decision for the sake of happiness. Businesses can be handled by a contract, an agreement. Marriage should not be based off of just that. It should be based on love. And I see that Natsume loves Mikan. I cannot forgive myself if I stood in between that love." I said in a surprisingly untrembling voice.
"This is outrageous and unacceptable!" My father bellowed in anger and I looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Okaasan, Otousan, Please don't blame Mikan or Natsume. Don't blame them for loving. No one should be made to feel sorry or to regret loving another. I am much at fault for this for leaving him before."
I turned to him and thanked him for still being at my side. For not leaving me just yet. But I know, tomorrow would be a different story.
"Okaasan, you can disown me if you wish. I apologize for the dishonor this brings our family." He gave a low bow to his mother and stepped off the podium, ready to take the next step in his journey with Mikan, regardless the consequences.
I reached out at the last second and caught his hand. I pull him towards me in a tight embrace. I knew it would be the last.
~Before I let you go, I want to say I love you.~
~I hope that you're listening coz it's true baby~
~You'll be forever in my heart and I know that no one else can do~
~So before I let you go, I want to say~
"I love you." I whispered.
"Thank you and I'm sorry Nobara." He said. She stood behind him and I broke off our hug and walked towards her.
"Please take care of Natsume-kun, Mikan-chan. I entrust him to you." I bowed to her and she embraced me. I can see the questions in her eyes but I dismiss them with a wave.
~Coz letting love go is never easy.~
~But I love you so, that's why I set you free.~
~I know someday, somehow I'll find a way~
~to leave it all behind me~
~Guess it wasn't meant to be, my baby~
"Go now. Be happy." I watched as they ran towards the doors of the church followed by the small band of friends that were on their side.
I stepped out of the shower, changed to my house clothes and picked up my supposed wedding dress sitting in a heap on the floor. Running out of my room and downstairs, I rummaged through the utility closet, looking for a garbage bag. I stuffed the dress into the black bag I found and struggled as I placed it in the garbage bin outside.
I washed my hands at the sink and then continued to the refrigerator where I grabbed a few pints of my favorite ice cream and headed back to my room. I settled for a night of binge watching reruns of old sitcoms and sad movies. I was entitled to it and I knew nobody would bother me for doing so.
No words are ever enough to express how painful it was to see the sight of my first love, hand in hand with his one true love, walking away from me. But I knew I did the right thing. And somehow, I knew deep in my heart, I would be ok. Maybe not now, but someday.
END OF CHAPTER 8
So, confirm with me if I am right and correct me if I'm wrong.
But I bet you were thinking whether it was Mikan or Nobara during the first part of the chapter? Haha
What happens now?
Stay tuned for the last two chapters for Karaoke Nights!
P.S. 'Before I Let You Go' is a song by Philippine band 'Freestyle'. I do not claim ownership for the song nor the lyrics. Please check it out if you want some background music for this chappie :)
ANNOUNCEMENTS!
I made a new friend recently through this site, WhiteAngel83, she's new to the GA fandom, and I encourage you all, my dear readers, reviewers, and followers to check out her awesome story "White Roses". Show her some love like you do with my stories by leaving her a review or two, ne? ;)
And I will be offline after this update for a few days as I am going on a trip to Camotes island! Summer starts early! XD
I will update and get back to the story cycle once I'm back ;)
Kurosaki Miyu – Thank you so much! Enjoy this chappie!
Katherine Kalissa Amara – Doing good here. Excited. Summer's all planned out with trips to different beaches :D
Moonlight Flower Light – Well, this isn't exactly a Mikan moment but I felt this was the way to go for this story.. The next chapter will be a NatsuMikan moment though :D
Seiren Rindo – Hey there kouhai! Good job on the guess! It was Nobara who objected. Looks like you're catching up to how my twisted mind works hahaha and I'm glad that you enjoyed the story so far. I hope you like this chappie as well :)
jejeje xD – thank you so much for always following :) and this chapter answers everything you said in the review. What happens next to Mikan and Natsume though? Stay tuned!
iiAriya – I guess there is a Swifty in all of us :D Speak Now is my favorite song from that album. Though I love the songs from her new one even more. Haha. And yeah, maraming maraming salamat sa puri mo dear. Hailabyu too! ;)
bukspiks – oh, was that you in the corner in a short beautiful dress? You're objecting too? Haha.. then there's a lot of us now ;) don't worry, meany Natsume will get some punishment in the next chappie hahaha
Story cycle update:
The Guy Next Door – Delicious Taboo – The Scam – Secrets – Karaoke Nights
Let me know what you think!
Read, Follow, Favorite and Leave a Review!
Ja Ne!
xoxo Lexi1989
