บท 44: Chapter 43
The childhood friend POV
Hello. I am Momoko. I am a normal college student.
A freshman who just became an adult.
And I have been invited to a wedding.
The wedding of my best friend.
I am asked to become the bridesmaid.
I have no problem but isn't that too fast.
You basically start dating seriously at this age.
And she is already getting married.
I look at the card.
It clearly says that
'Rihito weds Ririko.'
Rihito is that guy. That obnoxious guy who always followed around another weird guy.
What is he doing now?
If I remember correctly, I used to play with him.
But that's when we were in elementary school.
We went to the same school and lived just opposite to each other.
So his father asked me to play with him.
And I did. His name is Akatsuki.
A gloomy boy with a big cut on his forehead.
He fell down from the stairs and hit his head was what his father told me.
He doesn't have any arms or legs and is always strapped to his wheelchair.
But weirdly enough, I have never seen him being pushed.
His wheelchair moved on his own.
And that Rihito guy always followed him.
After elementary school, we went to the same middle school and high school.
But whenever we met, he would just ignore me.
I didn't understand that.
And I didn't care so I also let it go.
He also has a sister. Two years younger than us.
Really beautiful like a sculpture. But a total ice queen.
She never talked to him or so I heard.
Anyway tomorrow is the wedding. I have to prepare as well.
And in the wedding ceremony, I arrived earlier.
I am supposed to be the bridesmaid. So I have to go early.
I enter the bride's dressing room.
I see Ririka standing inside and two women fixing her dress.
"You are here?" She asks me.
"Yeah. Sorry I am a bit late." I apologize.
"No. I appreciate it. It was on a short notice but you still came. I am happy."
"My best friend's wedding is today. Of course I would come."
"Yeah. Just wait. I'll be done." And with that her dress was complete.
She looked really beautiful.
I guess a woman looks the most beautiful in her wedding dress.
"You look beautiful."
"You will also look beautiful. Hurry up and find a good man."
"I have no one in mind."
"You say that. But look, even Akatsuki is in a relationship."
I am kinda shocked. That Akatsuki is in a relationship.
"Are you talking about that Akatsuki? The wheelchair guy."
"Yeah. He is also in a relationship with a girl. She is his sisters friend. She also cooks and cleans for him. Almost married."
I am shocked. I guess everyone makes progress.
"I see. I guess I have to start hunting too."
"Yeah. Maybe you can ask Akatsuki. He also matched us. He is our matchmaker."
"Ohhh." I am surprised.
So he is the one responsible for this.
I am surprised.
And the time for the wedding came.
There's only 30 minutes left before the ceremony begins. But the groom was waiting.
Rihito was pacing back and forth.
Ririka is also waiting.
"Is someone missing?" I ask both of them.
"Akatsuki still hasn't arrived." He said.
"So what? You two should go on to the stage." I suggest to what they refused.
But there's only 10 minutes left now.
They finally gave up and went on to the stage.
I stand beside Ririka and Rihito stood alone.
"Where is the groomsman?" I ask.
"It's Akatsuki."
"So that's why you were waiting."
"That's a part. But he has our rings."
"What? Why does he has your rings?"
"Rihito told him to keep them."
I am shocked. It's their wedding and the rings are with Akatsuki.
Just two minutes. The priest is here as well. I look over at the guests.
I see both of their families. I see Mizuki and her family and some friends and some unknown people.
But Akatsuki still hasn't arrived.
But suddenly the chapel door opened.
A wheelchair was being pushed by a beautiful girl on which Akatsuki sat.
But he looks weird.
A bandage covering his forehead and his clothes look tattered.
The girl pushing him was really beautiful.
But they didn't fit each other.
I look at the guests.
Akatsuki's mother looked at him with disdain.
His father was relieved and Mizuki is giving a weird gaze.
But Rihito looked worried so he rushed to his side.
"What happened to you?"
"Nothing. Time is running out. Here take the ring from my pocket and go get married."
"But…."
"No buts. Fast. Go."
Akatsuki was extremely pushy and Rihito took the rings and the priest started.
The girl pushed Akatsuki to his side and stood there as the groomsman.
Akatsuki is right in front of me.
I take a good look.
He is wearing a good suit and probably had groomed himself.
But what happened? He is looking tattered like he had an accident.
And a few moments later the wedding ceremony was over.
After that, the luncheon began.
The bride and groom headed to the dressing room.
Akatsuki was there too with the girl and so was I.
"Tell me, what actually happened?"
Rihito started interrogating Akatsuki.
"Let me start. This morning I woke up and got dressed. And I was exiting. When I went to the elevator, it was broken. So I had to take the stairs. And I don't know why but my leg broke before I could even climb down. So I went back and wear my spare."
"I see. But that doesn't explain?"
"Let me say it. Now I was climbing downstairs. But when there's only two floors left, I stumbled. And rolled down those two floors. Luckily I got off easy but my arms and legs broke. My clothes kinda tore. And my head was cut. Luckily Nadeshiko was just coming to pick me. So I was able to arrive."
He finished.
"Something like that is kinda hard ti imagine." Rihito said with a dumbfounded look.
"Yeah. It was shocking." The girl pushing Akatsuki said.
"I owe you one. Now let's get to the hospital."
Akatsuki said.
"Hospital? Are you injured?"
"Well, I broke a few bones. It hurts like hell."
"What? Why didn't you say anything?" The girl pushing him got mad at him.
Obviously. You broke your bones and still stayed calm.
"Okay okay. Now, for your gift.."
He said.
"Gift? Isn't the rings enough?" Ririka said.
"No. Take it out. It's in my right pocket."
Rihito took a piece of paper.
"What?" He was shocked.
"It's a one month trip all over the world. All paid. Your honeymoon is all planned. And I have already finished the preparations."
All of them had a hard to describe look. But still, one month trip all over the world.
How much money do you need??
"But I won't be able to go there like this." Akatsuki said with a sad face.
"There? You mean to her." Rihito understood it and said.
Where? I am puzzled. But then Ririka and that girl understood it as well.
"Yeah. She is waiting. I have to tell her about your wedding as well."
"Okay. But take care of your body. She is your girlfriend so she would be worried." That girl pushing him said.
Maybe her name is Nadeshiko as Rihito mentioned Akatsuki being taken care of by someone.
"Yeah. Are you coming?" He asks the girl.
"Ok." She said.
What kind of a reaction is that? He is visiting his girlfriend with another cute girl in tow.
Isn't that basically cheating?
"Akatsuki, don't drink too much." Rihito warned him.
"And I was thinking of drinking myself to death." He said with a smile.
Whatever it is, it isn't going well.
"So, I will he leaving." I say to Ririka.
"What? You should stay for a bit longer. Also, Nadeshiko-san, you should stay as well. And you two guys, get out."
Suddenly, Ririka stopped me and Nadeshiko-san and pushed those two out.
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