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Right now I wish I were getting dressed in the groomsmen dressing room. And no it not because I might catch a glimpse of Tai, I'm getting married remember?
Mimi is driving us crazy! She extremely emotional and panicky; we are trying to explain to her that the stain she claims is on her perfect white dress is a figment of her imagination. She's throwing tantrums because the ceremony will be starting five minutes later than expected and her guest are still not completely seated with only twenty minutes until go-time.
Well it's her own fault. She invited too many people, so now the country club employees are trying to rearrange the seating to fit everyone. The majority of the people in the banquet room for Mimi's wedding are associates of our parents through the country club that are probably secretly criticizing Mimi for not marrying into money!
I look around the room; all of the girls, including Mrs. Tachikawa, are stressed out to the point of tears. This is out of hand.
"Okay, Everyone out!" I announce ushering for Mimi's mother, Yolie, and the two other bridesmaids out of the room. They comply happily.
"Sora what are you doing?" Mimi screeches at me. "We don't have time for this!"
"Yes, we do Mimi," I tell her slowly trying to keep my cool. "You are being a royal bitch right now! You've got everyone on the verge of tears!"
She folds her arms with a 'hmph'.
"Meems, everything will turn out perfectly" I tell her softly. I usher her to sit in one of the two armchairs that are facing each other. "You've got a great bridal team, great parents, and an even greater husband. Stop stressing out."
She sighs and dabs the corner of her eyes with a tissue she grabs from the table next to us. "Sora…" she whispers.
"I know you're not having second thoughts. You love Matt too much not to want this." I say with a smile.
"That's the problem. I want this so bad, but I'm scared it won't work out!" She admits.
"Shut up Mimi. You're being overly dramatic as usual. "I say smirking at her. "You're messing us you make-up that I worked so hard on, and your eyes are going to be all puffy and red."
This gets her attention. "Oh no!" she screams instantly seizing all tears. "That can't happen, fix it now!" she demands.
I laugh and do as told.
I'm shocked to see my new mother-in-law and Mimi's bridesmaids standing outside in the courtyard as my groomsmen and I are on our way into the banquet room where our wedding is being held.
"What's going on?" I ask amused by their flustered expressions.
"Mimi is going berserk! She has totally lost her mind Matt!" Yolie groans.
I just chuckle and look back to Tai, T.K. and my band mates. "That's sounds like Mimi," they laugh.
I walk over to Mrs. Tachikawa and put my arm around her comfortingly, "Cheer up Mom. You know how Mimi can be," she smiles at my reference to her as 'Mom'. I usually call Mimi's parents by their first names.
Once we hear Sora calling for the girls to return to their dressing room my groomsmen and I head straight to the banquet hall and talk with the wedding coordinator about last minute instructions.
I laugh to myself when I see my brother smile at Tai's younger sister Kari who is also talking to our wedding planners about angle where she can take picture.
I was happy Mimi agreed to my suggestion to hire Kari as our wedding photographer. I had over head a conversation she was having with T.K. when she came over our apartment one day, about her final year in college. She only needed two more events for her portfolio so that she could graduate. So I talked with Mimi about it and showed her Kari's work.
"Mr. Ishida there you are," Suzume, out main planner, says to me as we enter the hallway. "We're supposed to start in five minutes. Oh my goodness! Where is your mother?" she looks around frantically. Mimi has completely broken this poor girl into pieces.
"Relax, she's over there," I point to where my mother has been standing since we've entered the hall. I'm surprised to see her talking to my father. I motion for them to come over.
"Okay, good," Suzume mumbles to herself. "And each of our groomsmen are present." She inspects each of our matching tailor suits, made up of white dress pants and shoes, and a white blazer over, you guessed it, a light pink vest.
Mimi made it mandatory that everyone invited or involved in our wedding wear pink. She bought my mother a beautiful pink gown and my father is wearing a similar ensemble as mine. Kari looks very pretty in her short soft pink cocktail dress.
My mother and father express how proud they are of me, as we lie up and then my father goes into the banquet room to take his seat up front.
"Okay, Ms. Kamiya you can go get in position now," Suzume tell Kari, who walks through the large wooden doors.
I take a deep breath and link my arm with my mother's. She's beaming up at me and I can't help but smile back. I love my mother, but there is unfortunately an emotional disconnection between us.
"Okay, you can enter now." Suzume whispers as we hear the voices quiet on the other side of the door.
I'm amazed at how many people are here to attend our wedding. I only know about 25% of the people in this room, and they probably consider me inferior to them due to the social statuses.
But I don't give a crap. In less than thirty minutes I'll be married to the most beautiful woman in the world.
"What's so funny?" I whisper to Tai who is standing next to me. Matt and Nancy have just entered the banquet room and not we're just waiting on Suzume to give us he signal to go in next. Since we're The Maid of Honor and The Best Man, we're escorting each other.
Behind us is T.K. and Yolie, followed by both of Matt's band mates escorting two of Mimi's cousins.
"You," Tai replies grinning. His tall, lean frame wears his tuxedo perfectly. "You're more stressed out than the groom."
"Yeah dealing with Bridezilla has been a major pain in the ass," I reply.
"Well you look beautiful if you don't mind me saying." His smile is charming and I try my hardest not to smile.
"Thank you. You look quite spiffy yourself," I say to him with a hip bump.
"Okay Tai and Sora you're up." Suzume whispers.
My heart skips has Tai links our arms and we walk down the aisle. His closeness is something I could really get used to.
Time seems to stand still as I stand outside of the door, seconds away from gazing upon the face of my love. I haven't seen Matt since the night of out rehearsal dinner. That was only two days ago but it seems like eternity
I smile at my father who fighting back tears. "I'll be fine daddy. Matt loves me and he'll take care of me." I assure him quietly.
"I know he will Princess," he said smiling back at me.
"Stop crying, I don't want you to have puffy eyes in the pictures!" I demand playfully, kissing his cheek.
'Okay Mimi, it's time." Suzume said to me quietly, even she is crying!
I hear the music begin to play and kpthe doors slowly open. Matt's face is the first face I focus on. He's smiling from ear to ear, and I know right then that everything will indeed be alright.
Mimi and Matt's wedding ceremony went beautiful. All of our closest friends in family were very emotional through the whole thing. I stood behind Mimi lightly dabbing my eyes, while Nancy and Mrs. Tachikawa leaned against each other in the front row. Even my parents seem moved by the union of the couple whom they had watched grow up.
Now we're across the hall in the country club's ballroom for the reception. Thought Mimi invited an overload of people to the wedding ceremony, the reception is way more private. Only our closest friends and family are invited making the number of attendance about fifty people. To my surprise Cale has managed to attend both.
I sigh and I rest my head on his shoulder as we dance. Around us, most of the party goers are on the dance floor dancing and chatting.
"Tired?" he chuckles.
I nod my head in the crook of his neck, "Very. I'm glad it's all over."
"Well it was a success. You did more work than the wedding planners," he tells me, "I smell a new business venture,"
I laugh at what I presume is a joke, I already have two businesses and a wedding of my own to plan; I can't take on a third business as a wedding planner!
"I'm serious Sora," he continues, "Say the word and I'll make it happen,"
I laugh harder, "I'm far too busy for anymore occupations Cale."
He shrugs, "Fine; have it your way,"
As we sway from side to side to the slow song, I am again in pure bliss in the arms of the man I love so much. He reminds me every day of how perfect life will be once we're married. We've been on edge lately, but that comes with the overwhelming stress we're both under due to our hectic professional and personal lives. Once we're married things will go back to normal.
I feel him kiss me on my temple before whispering, "I love you so much Sora."
I smile and look up to him, still wrapped in his tight embrace. I kiss him full on the lips and repeat his proclamation of love.
When the song ends Cale sympathetically tells me that he must leave; he's catching a red eye to Mumbai in a few hours.
"At least stay and make a toast," I ask him.
"I intended to anyways," he says walking over to the DJ booth and grabbing the microphone.
"I want to congratulate Matt and Mimi on a wonderful union and wish them the best of luck in their future." He says genuinely, his next announcement catches me by surprise. "And Me and Sora's gift to you is your all expenses paid honeymoon to Tahiti,"
My name is on the envelope that Cale hands Matt with the honeymoons packet in it, but I had no hand in planning it. I thought the Tachikawa's were sending them on their surprise honeymoon that Mimi was so excited about.
"Wow Cale, I'm speechless." Mimi says hugging my fiancé tightly.
"Don't mention it. It's the least I can do. "He hugs her back before give Matt a handshake."
I have to admit I'm kind of bummed that Cale had to leave early. Its only eleven o'clock and I'm sure the reception will last all night.
I smile when I spot Tai dancing with Kari to The Killers song 'When you were young'. The two seem extremely close.
I see T.K. dancing with Nancy for a little while before Matt, to my surprise, intrudes and switches him placing, having T.K. now dancing with the beautiful bride. Matt and Nancy have a rocky relationship, so I'm happy to see them in this intimate moment.
"Care to dance?" I hear my father's familiar voice from behind me. "You look a little lonely."
I smile weakly at him and accept his hand gladly.
I know it sounds creepy but I couldn't keep my eyes off of Sora as she danced with her fiancé. She seemed so happy and at peace; it made me sick.
"Somebody has a crush," Kari giggles after she catches me watching Sora again, this time dancing with her father.
"Shut up Kari," I grumble.
"You should go ask her to dance," she suggests with a smile. My sister's smile is infectious; she can brighten up any room with just a smile and a giggle. Maybe that's why she's got two guys vying hard for her attention.
"Nope; I'm perfectly fine dancing with you." I say smiling back.
"Well I'm going to go dance with T.K.; so it's either dance with Sora, or be lonely at the table," she states before walking over to cut in with Mimi and T.K. I chuckle as Mimi steps aside for the younger couple and goes over to dance with her dad.
Sora grins when she sees me approaching her and her father. Before I can speak she does.
"Hey Tai," she stops dancing to greet me. "Dad this is Tai. The guy I was telling you about,"
"The firefighter?" her father asks more towards me. I nod my head before he goes on with barrage of 'thank-you' and 'we owe you so much'. Before he can say the 'H' word I stop him.
"It's nothing Mr. Takenouchi." I reply shaking his hand. "Do you mind if I cut in?"
He raises an eyebrow as if confused, but complies; kissing Sora on the cheek and wondering off to
find his wife.
I take Sora's had to dance just as the DJ changes the song to "I would do anything for you" by Foster the People. I feel so awkward right now.
"You gave a really nice speech," Sora says.
"Thank you. Yours was even better." I tell her honestly. Hearing Sora almost on the verge of tears due to her happiness for her best friends was touching.
"I'm so happy for them," she says quietly looking at the couple who have reunited in dance; the song is perfect for lovers.
"Me too." I say still looking at her. "That was nice of you and your fiancé to send them on their honeymoon,"
She laughs quietly, showing of perfect white teeth. "Between you and me, I had no idea Cale was going to do that."
"Really?" I am shocked.
"Really," she repeats. "I guess it was his way of making up for is absence for the next couple of months."
I nod understandingly. "He's gone already?" She also nods, "You miss him already?" I ask sympathetically; she finally turns her head to face me again and her eyes look very sad.
"I do, but I used to it," she says. I'm trying to be a 'friend' to her, but her flawless beauty mixed with the lyrics of the love song are making that very hard. I'm mostly attracted to her height and figure. Sora is tall and thin. Her height is mostly made up of her long, tones legs.
"Well remember I'm available if you need someone. My work life is hectic sometimes but I'm always willing to hang out." I hope I don't sound desperate, but I really want to spend some personal time with her.
"I will definitely take you up on that Tai," she says smiling up at me. "I've got to get back into extreme work mode as well. I've slacked off this past week because of the wedding."
"Yeah I've been off of work this whole week too, I'll be pulling twenty-four hours for a while!" I muse.
She smirks at me, "Then how are you going to have time for me?" she asks folding her arms.
I'm shocked by her forwardness but I don't miss a beat. "Trust me I'll always have plenty of time for you. Just dial."
Her expression changes immediately and she blushes wildly causing me to laugh.
The ball, as it should be, is in her court.
Read Review! I didn't get to proof read this before updating so I will revise it if I find many errors.