Liliana-
"Tomorrow's the big day, how are you feeling?" My mom asked, as she brushed my hair, before platting it for the night. We were currently at Frantz's suite. His mother pretty much kicked him out earlier today, and turned his suite into the bride's headquarters, and I wasn't against it.
I looked at my mom through the mirror, and smiled with a nervous sigh, "I feel everything and nothing all at once." I explained, and my mom nodded her head as she said, "yeah sounds about right." She squeezed my shoulder, and I laughed along with her, then without saying anything else, she kissed my forehead, and bid me goodnight. Mariella and Chamille had already turned in for the night, and I was the only one awake. For some reason I was not sleepy.
I was rather calm in comparison to a few days ago. After my talk with Chamille, I headed home feeling less anxious, and to my surprise, Frantz had been waiting for me. I hadn't expected him to return until the weekend, but he flew in early just to see me before the wedding. He took me out to dinner on the beach that night, we spoke of everything and nothing. We joked, we laughed, and we just lived.
I saw him earlier this morning, but Mariella was so skeptical about him seeing me so close to the wedding, that we didn't even have a chance to say hello. And now here I sat, thinking of nothing else but him.
Frantz-
I paced around the living room, a floor below from my suite, where Lili was most likely trying to rest up for the big day. Yet in my mind, sleep was the farthest thing. I just couldn't seem to memorize my vows. I paced up and down, and in my peripheral vision could see both my father's and Mr. Chavez's eyes watching me. I was nervous, anxious, and my brain wasn't working at this point.
"Weren't you the one who wrote the vows?" My father quizzed, "of course I was." I replied, running my hand through my hair.
"So why are you freaking out? You wrote it, just read over the vows a couple of time, breathe, and let your mind relax. You're making a fuss out of nothing." My father explained, and I turned to him as I replied, "gee thanks dad, that makes me feel a thousand times better." I couldn't help my sarcastic tone.
He looked at me and rolled his eyes before drinking the last contents of his glass cup. Meanwhile, Mr. Chavez who had been watching me lose every bit of my confidence over the past few hours finally decided to speak up.
"Alright, have a seat." He said, and I frowned before sighing and sitting down.
"As awkward as this may get, I'll ask it anyway, what is it that you love about my daughter?" He asked, me, as he fixed me with a firm glare, and I felt my neck warm up with nerves. Being stared down by the father of your future bride was not the easiest place to be in.
I felt my palms warm up and moisten with sweat as I cleared my throat and felt the urge to loosen my collar, then I spoke, "well, I love her smile, I love her strength. She is a very headstrong woman. When I am with her, I fear nothing because even before I slip, she'd catch me. Liliana makes me feel like a man. When I'm around her, I feel like I could be whoever I want to be. I don't feel the need to be cold or guarded around her, I can be myself, and she loves me for it." I spoke with ease, and with every praise I spoke, I felt my nerves melt away, until I was now staring back confidently at Mr. Chavez.
He stared at me a bit longer, but my gaze did not waiver, then he clapped once while leaning back and opening his arms as he declared, "there it is. You see the way you just spoke that with ease, without stumbling, that's because it was not rehearsed or memorized. It's something you know. A vow is not a speech, and as long as you speak of your true love, then you have nothing to worry about. Do you understand what I am saying?" He asked, me in the end, and I nodded while saying, "I do, thank you."
"No need. Now, how about you take a moment, clear your mind, then head to bed, tomorrow is going to be a long day." He explained, and I smiled shaking his hand while saying, "thank you. Have a good night."
Once Mr. Chavez headed to his room, I turned to my father who had watched our exchange in silence.
"Do you feel ready this time?" He asked, me, and I shrugged as I replied, "I was ready for a long time dad, it was just the matter of finding the right one."
"And find the right one you did. Liliana is a lovely girl Frantz. I see the way you look at her, and that's why I'm not worried about you tomorrow, or any day after. That girl loves you, and you love her just as much. I am proud of you son. Now, I'll leave you to gather your wits, just don't stay up too long." My father spoke, and I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and fulfillment fill my chest.
"Merci Papa." I replied, in his native language. He smiled and tapped a hand on my shoulder blade before passing me by and heading up to his room as well.
Finally alone, I sighed, and sunk myself on a seat. For a while I thought of nothing, then my eyes slid over the phone, and before I knew it, I was dialing the number to my suite, turned into the bride's suite.
Liliana answered on the second ring.
"Hello?" She answered softly.
"Il mi amore." I answered.
"Ciao Signor Cavalier." Liliana replied, repeating what I had taught her a while back, and I smiled like a total goofball before replying, "save the dirty talk for the bedroom my love," and I could feel my heart skyrocket to cloud nine when Liliana giggled on the other side of the line.
"You're such a goofball." She pointed out, "and yet you're absolutely in love with me." I replied, and I could imagine Lili rolling her eyes as she replied, "yes, whatever helps you sleep at night sir."
"I miss you." I admitted softly, as I leaned my head on the back of the armchair where I sat.
"We saw each other this morning." She pointed out, but I could tell she was smiling, "yeah," I frowned then added, "but we didn't even get a chance to talk."
"True..." I heard her admit, and I gasped dramatically as I said, in a mock appalled tone, "are you finally letting me win an argument? My, my, this is a grand day."
"I let you win arguments sometimes." She was quick to defend.
"Getting defensive are we?" I teased, and she sighed as she asked, "did you just call me to tease me?"
"No." I replied, in a straight tone, "I called you to tell you that, I can't wait to make you my wife tomorrow." I finished, and Lili sighed as she replied, "and I can't wait to call you my husband."
"Lili?" I called out, and she replied, "yes Frantz?"
"You do know that I love you right?" I asked, in all seriousness, feeling my heart beat with harsh thumps, as if pumping out jugs of love through my veins for the girl which sat across the phone, "and I love you with all my heart Frantz." She replied, and I sighed in relief, always pleased when I hear her reciprocate my feelings.
"I should go get some sleep." I muttered, my eyes suddenly tingling as I yawned widely, and Liliana sighed as she said, "alright my love. I'll see you tomorrow."
We hung up the phone, and I headed to bed.
Liliana-
I hung up the phone with Frantz, and while he sounded sleepy on the phone, I was still wide awake. For some reason, there was a heavy feeling weighing on my heart, and I just couldn't bring myself to go to bed yet. I ate some of Frantz's ice cream from the freezer, I watched an episode of Friends, I had a mini dance party, and yet no sleep. The clock was racing towards midnight, yet my heart raced as if it was pumping at twelve in the afternoon. The later it got in the night, the more anxious I became. I mean, why couldn't I sleep?
Then finally, at 12:01 AM, there was a knock on the door.
I looked at my phone just to be sure that the time on the clock was correct, and when I noticed that it was, I frowned and looked back at the door. Another set of knocks sounded. They were not rushed, they were not urgent. In fact, they were soft, almost friendly.
Knowing that this was the only door on this floor, I figured whoever it was may have gotten lost. Or maybe it was Frantz trying to surprise me. Shrugging, but gulping nervously, I headed towards the door, and opened it to find none other than Christina with mascara running down her face, her eyes red and puffy, her red lipstick smeared across her pouty lips as she spoke in a slurred tone, "well, here comes the bride."
She shoved passed me, and stumbled into the suite, and I stared on shocked and speechless.
I looked after the disheveled blonde, with a blank mind and closed the door as I followed after her. I didn't even try to think on how she found out where I was, I was mostly worried about the state she showed up in. She was wearing a dark red sweat suit, though the jacket was unbuttoned, with one of the sleeves hanging off her right shoulder. Her blonde hair was in a curly mess, with a few knots, and the smell of smoke and alcohol hung on her shadow like a signature perfume.
I sunk myself on the sofa facing her, my hand on my knees in a harmless manner, as I studied her. Her glossy eyes looked over at me, and then she started crying. She placed her face in her palms, propping her elbows on her knees as she sobbed and sniffled. Meanwhile I sat there like Casper the ghost, just watching the show, but making no attempt to comfort her.
Was she drunk? Was she bitter? Was she hurt?
I didn't know. So I waited for her to get it together. She continued to cry for a few more seconds before she picked her shoulders back up and wiped away her tears.
She looked back at me, and I kept a straight face, hopefully void of any emotions, though I was sure that my confusion, and slight surprise was well displayed on my brow.
"Damn, it hurts even more because you're actually a passable beauty." She muttered to herself, and I simply kept a straight face with pursed lips.
"Can I help you Christina?" I asked, unsure of her motive for this unexpected visit.
"So we're on first name basis now?" She asked, in a snarky tone, and I shrugged as I said, "I don't know your last name so, I'm just trying to be courteous. What are you doing here?" I asked, again, feeling more and more excited and worked up. Her unexpectant presence was throwing me off balance. I wanted her gone. The last time I saw Christina, she almost ruined my relationship with Frantz, and now she shows up on the eve of my wedding with him. I had to be careful.
Christina looked at me, before opening her mouth and sticking her tongue in the crevice between her left upper canine and molar teeth, her eyes studying me before she declared, "He was meant to be mine. He wasn't supposed to move on or love anyone else but me." And I felt my eyebrows rise before I made an 'oh' with my mouth, then I pursed my lips forward and nodded. I understood her problem.
So Christina was bitter.