16
Becky POV
The special day is finally here.
BillyBabe's wedding.
Once again May and Babe insisted on matching outfits for Nat and I that compliment Freen’s groomswoman dress. We didn't plan on it initially but those two roped Nat into their little scheme.
"Hey Nat!"
"My favorite nephew!"
"Aunt May! Uncle Babe!"
"How's my ring protector doing?"
"Good!" Nat is all smiles as he practices what he'll do during the wedding.
"And my groomswoman?"
"I'm doing well." Freen smiles.
“That’s good-”
“Nat, remember when your outfit matched your Mae and Becky?”
May interrupts Babe, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
“I do! I do!” Nat bounces in a flurry. “Mae looked very pretty.”
“Well this time you’re gonna match with Becky!”
“With BecBec? Really!”
“Yep! Your Mae is going to wear the same dress as me but you’re going to look like a little family with the three of you.”
Nat and I greet the other wedding guests in our matching navy blue suits, gold ties and shimmery pocket squares. A midnight blue ribbon tied to my half updo hairstyle to match Freen’s hair bows.
“Yai! Dtaa!” Nat barrels into Dad’s open arms, squealing when he gets lifted high into the air.
“There’s my little man!” Dad looks more relaxed than he has in days. It’s a nice change of pace from seeing him hunched over in his study.
“You look quite handsome, Laan Chai,” Mum smooths down Nat’s hair, leaning as Dad. “I hope you’re ready for all the fun we’re going to have tonight?”
“Yeah!” He cheers, wiggling in Dad’s arms.
“I don’t want him to be around you reckless adults,” Mum teases, referring to the after party later this evening.
“Call me if anything comes up, Freen and I will rush over-”
"Just relax and have fun, Becky." Dad pats me on the shoulder, letting down Nat slowly. “It’s a special day for our family.”
“Is this little guy my nephew?”
Richie pops out from behind me and I have half the mind to clock him in the shoulder.
“Jeez Richie,” I settled for expressing my displeasure at his sudden appearance.
“Hi!” Nat doesn’t miss a beat and carries on with his task. “I’m Nat.”
“Hi Nat! I’m your Uncle Richie,” he holds out his hand for a shake. “Becky’s big brother.”
“BecBec’s brother?” Nat turns toward me, curiously. “Uncle Richie..”
He surprises Nat with a slim envelope and encourages him to open it up. Nat looks puzzled at the large bills and looks up to me, a question swimming in his eyes.
"Richie…" I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"For all the birthdays and special events I've missed out on," He explains, easy-going. "Never again. I'll be at every birthday, graduation…you name it and Uncle Richie will be there!"
Nat gives a tight-lipped smile, handing the envelope to me. "Thanks Uncle Richie!"
"C'mon Nat," I held out my hand for him to take. "Let's go see if we can spot your Mae!"
"Ok!" Nat perks up at the thought of seeing Freen who got whisked away for last minute wedding tasks.
"Wait, Bec!" Richie calls out. "Do I get to meet your beautiful wife-"
I ignored him and continued walking with Nat.
Nat twists around to wave bye to everyone and pulls me along, searching around for Freen.
Our search yields no results as everyone we speak to says they haven't seen her or she's preoccupied with the one of the grooms.
"Let's take a break," I announce to Nat, his head swiveling from left to right.
"Ok!"
I lead him to a quiet waiting area inside the venue and we plop down on one of many cushy couches. Nat beams with all the details he's been told about the ceremony from his favorite uncles.
Wonder how Richie would feel hearing that his precious nephew likes BillyBabe better.
"BecBec."
"Hm?" I dab at the sweat forming on my hairline.
"Don't hurt my Mae."
I turn to Nat who's piercing eyes are already set to meet mine.
"I promise."
I hold his gaze, hoping to convey my sincerity.
"Don't make promises you can't keep." His eyes harden.
He looks the most serious I've ever seen him.
"I love her." My admission is quiet but it's the truth.
He grins, "I know.”
…
We're seated near the front with a great view of Billy and his slight panic struck expression.
There's nothing but a sea of smiles and tears as Frankie and Heng kick off the procession in style. Frankie endearing himself to the crowd and managing to loosen up Billy in the process. Heng looks like he's barely holding it together as he pulls Billy into a tight hug.
Fay and May follow up, looking like quite the pair in their respective navy and gold outfits.
Then came the final two groomswomen.
Nam is…Nam as usual. She knows what her looks are worth.
Freen…
I inhale sharply when we make eye contact for the briefest of moments.
Wow.
Her shy smile somehow overshadows the glimmering gold dress she's got on.
God, she's beautiful.
She looks like an absolute vision-
“Mae looks like a princess!” Nat whispers, kneeling on his chair to cup his hands around my ear. “I’m a knight.”
“What am I?”
Nat hums thoughtfully. “A Queen.”
“Then…” I whisper, “your Mae is a Queen too.” Because I married her.
Nat goes silent, his eyebrows scrunched.
“Can a knight protect a Queen?”
“Of course you can. The Queen will always need her knight.”
Nat nods happily, settling down in his seat.
Babe strides in confidently, his gold suit with its standout navy embroidery matching perfectly to Billy's navy suit and intricate gold patterns.
The ceremony flashes by and before long it's time for Nat to hand the rings over to the blushing, blubbering couple. Nat hugs both his uncles and finds the time to chat about how pretty and cool they look.
"They look pretty and cool, right Mae!" He runs up to Freen, glomping onto her waist.
"That's right." She smiles, smoothing his hair and wai-ed to BillyBabe and the audience. "Ready to head back to BecBec, Luk Chai?"
"Mhm!" He nods, giving one last squeeze before flying into my open arms. Nat spends the rest of the ceremony, standing in front of his chair, loudly cheering for the happy couple.
…
When we say our goodbyes to my parents and Nat, Freen and I pause for a few moments before heading back into the venue.
“You look…,” I struggle to find all the words to capture her beauty at this moment. “Ethereal.”
“Thank you,” Freen shyly tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “And you look…”
“Handsome?” I wink, shoving my hands into my pants pockets. I can feel a cavity coming from this cuteness overload.
“Ok.” There’s a hint of a smile on her lips as her eyebrows quirk up. How can one person be so cute and…attractive?
“Is that right,” I replied impishly. “Should I go see if P’Nam wants to dance?”
I make like I’m walking toward the doors only to be held back by Freen’s hand on the crook of my elbow.
“Please,” she rolls her eyes, scrunching her nose playfully. “As if she’d leave her date for a married woman.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. She might not feel the same way about our relationship as I do. But I’ll happily wait for her.
After all, she's the girl from the park. The one I’ve been looking for…for years.
If someone wants to take you from me…
they’ll have to pry you away.
“Then…can I escort you inside, Mrs. Sarocha Armstrong?” I wrap my other hand around hers, less nervous than the first time I asked her that question.
“Why, yes you can, Mrs. Rebecca Armstrong,” Freen beams at me.
…
The music is blaring.
Alcohol flows freely from bottles into glasses.
Despite the after party being smaller than the wedding ceremony and reception, it seems more rowdy than the busiest nightclub on a weekend.
Frankie and a few others come up to us, gushing about how cute of a couple we are and how precious Nat is.
“You two make such a cute couple!”
“Aww did your son go home already…he was so adorable during the ceremony..”
“As pretty as paintings, ladies! As pretty as paintings!”
BillyBabe teases us relentlessly. “Is this our wedding party or yours?”
“A TOAST TO THE NEWLYWEDS!” Richie yells atop one of the tables.
Oh god…
“Becky!”
“I think P’Nam is calling-”
“Oi Bec!”
“Hold on,” Freen says as I try tugging her away from Richie.
“Is this her?” He’s all smiles when he finally catches up to us. “I’m Richie.”
“Ah…the big brother.” Her eyes light up in recognition. “I’m-”
“The wife!” Richie blurts out excitedly, practically bouncing up and down.
“Richie!” I grit my teeth, my eyebrows pinched in a frown.
“Sorry, sorry..” He raises his hands up in mock surrender. “The beautiful wife.”
“Richie-”
Freen’s laugh cuts through my reprimanding tone.
“You think I’m beautiful.” She gives me a gummy smile. God…I would kill for that smile.
“I think…you’re a lot of things.” My cheeks warm as she tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “Beautiful is one of them.”
“Good to know.” She gently pats my cheek, still smiling ear to ear.
“Ehem.”
I ignore Richie. Probably has nothing important to say.
“Uh…let’s cheers to our meeting, N’Freen.”
“Ok.” She nods in Richie’s direction, plucking two glasses of champagne off a waitress’ tray. She presses the stem of it into my open hand.
“Cheerrss!” Richie takes a swig of his drink, nearly spilling the whole thing.
“Cheers!” Freen takes a modest sip, humming appreciatively. I make a note to ask the staff what bottle they served so we can store some at home.
“Cheers!” I take a small sip, savoring the sparkly, crisp taste of bubbles.
Then almost immediately it hits me.
Someone tampered with my drink.
I push the drink into Richie’s hands, whispering into his ear. “Look. He’s invisible.” There’s someone here who shouldn’t be here.
“HaAhHa!” Richie laughs hysterically, his eyes widening with concern. “You’ve had too much to drink, Bec. I’ll take it from here.” I’ll take care of it.
Richie nods goodbye to Freen and takes off into the crowd.
“…bye,” She waves him off, confused. “Are you alright, BB?”
I nod then stumble forward into Freen. “Richie’s right. Too much to drink.”
“But-”
“Hey Nong, you ok?” Billy claps his hand onto my shoulder.
I nod, holding tightly onto Freen. “All good. Too much to drink.”
“Go lay down in one of the lounge rooms. I’ll let Babe know if he asks about you.”
…
Per Billy’s suggestion, we find ourselves in one of the many private rooms in the venue.
It’s a nice break from the noise and chatter of the party.
My limbs flailing and my feet stutter as Freen sits me on one of the couches.
I must seem intoxicated but my mind is clear.
I hope Richie found the bastard that infiltrated the event and slipped something into my drink.
Although…
Given that everyone present, even the staff, is tied to the Armstrong Mafia…there’s a chance someone betrayed us.
I just can’t believe someone in Mafamilia would do something like this.
“You’re actually a lightweight, huh.” Freen dabs at my neck and collarbone. She helped strip me of my suit jacket, loosen my tie and undid a couple buttons on my dress shirt.
“But…I’m your lightweight.”
Oh no.
“Becky.”
“I love you. I really mean it.”
Did that guy give me some kind of truth serum???
“Becky…”
“I know you must think I’m crazy. But I really do love you.”
Rebecca. Shut. Up.
“You shouldn’t say things you won’t even remember tomorrow.”
Freen looks sad.
Now that’s just unacceptable.
I lean into her, nuzzling against her cheek.
Her breath fanning across my cheeks as we share a hazy stare.
I don’t think.
I press my lips to hers.
What a nice soft warmth.
How am I just realizing that Freen’s lips are so incredibly soft.
I think I’ll die if I go without that feeling for the rest of my life.
She pulls away, breathless.
I gasp, my breathing shallow.
“I’m sorry.”
For dragging you into this mess.
I’d give merit everyday if it meant making up for all the lies and deceit.
I’m about to apologize again for taking advantage of the situation. “I’m sor-”
Freen tugs on my tie and pulls me back into a kiss. A taste so sweet it’s branded into my mind.
I fear I’ll never tire of this.
Of her.