I was having conflicting feelings having his hand interlaced with mine. It was awkward but comfortable. A weird combination that I never thought I would have come across with because on one hand, it felt natural. On the other hand, technically I was cosying up to a total stranger. There I sat unguarded, allowing him to pamper me while I was in such a blubbering mess.
Truth be told, I find it enjoyable playing the role of his wife. Not only I have someone who supported me when I needed but based on my entries, he was my safe person and my best friend. At the very moment I too, feel safe with his presence. Of course I would like to know how it came to that point one day. In the meantime, I chose to go with the flow.
"I saw our wedding invitation," I mumbled, unsure if talking about it would be the right thing to do. All I know, I wanted to let him know that I know what he was going through.
His eyes widened for a moment before wearing a pained expression on his face. "So you finally found out," he stated, carving a melancholic smile.
"I'm sorry. It was all that I talked about here," I said, waving the book.
He chuckled softly and said, "Told you there's more to it than lust."
Instantly, I could feel the blood rushing upwards, bringing fiery warmth to my cheeks and ears at his statement. I covered my face with my hands, utterly forgotten his hand was locked with mine. Oh, how shocked I was when his big hand sandwiched between my face and hand. I tried to wriggle free so I could hide better. My movement turned rapid when his playful chuckles filled the room. But he won! He tensed his bloody hand, bolting my hand from freedom.
"That's unfair!" I whined. "You used strength!"
"All's fair in love and war." A smug grin had now replaced the sad smile that was previously on his face.
Well, if that's how you want to play it, I can play that game too! He may have strength but I have a hidden card that he may not have expected. I smirked and lowered my head closer to his hand. Before he could even think, my tongue has already reached the back of his hand and licked a great portion of it! Immediately, he lets out an outcry of shock and his hand had found its way to its owner.
"Hmph!" I expressed with such a great satisfactory tone and smile. "All's fair in love and war," I returned his witty remark.
"You're right. You are definitely right," he yielded happily. He threw his hand in the air with defeat and his eyes twinkled with laughter. How dashing he looked with these raw happiness radiating off from him. "So which version have you seen?"
I gave him a confused look and asked, "What do you mean which version?"
"The invitation. We did send out the invitation thrice," he answered rather nonchalantly that it took a while for me to register.
"Invitation…?" Instead of completing my sentence, my jaw dropped! Because as soon as that word came out, a question that popped in my head already had its answer.
"Oh, that," I quickly recovered from my shock. "B-but what do you mean by versions?" I stuttered. Deep inside I knew the answer to my question but I begged to be proven wrong.
"We did invite the guests three times so that's three different versions."
"But why? Why can't we sent the same one?" I asked, tailing exasperatedly behind Edmund who was walking around the house to get the original copy of invitation cards. I simply could not comprehend why one would bother with this nonsense.
"Because the dates are different," he replied promptly while his hands were digging deep into the wardrobe.
"So? What's wrong with the initial design?"
"Nothing's wrong. Here."
He handed me an opaque plastic folder, urging me to open it. As soon as I opened it and removed these cards from the folder, I sat on the floor. I was stunned looking at the exterior alone that I could not help but wanting to admire it at a comfortable position.
Three different stunning invitation cards with three different themes! Each and every one of them was unbelievably phenomenal in its creativity despite its simplicity and by the third invitation, I could see there were more traces of our togetherness than the first.
"You design these?" I whispered, still in my newly shocked phase.
"We did."
"Like you and me???"
"Yeah. The design team did help materialising it."
I mouthed out 'wow' several times, unable to shake off the feelings while he sat cross-legged with a stupid grin on his face. Now if I was already thunderstruck by the invitation alone, imagine how our wedding reception would look like! But I did not have to wait long as he handed me three thick books containing our wedding reception details.
Money truly is the king! With each page flipped, a sudden realisation dawned on me. I felt tremendous guilt to see all of this carefully thought planning being discarded just like that. Not only had I wasted his time but I also had squandered his funds.
"I'm sorry that the wedding reception had to be cancelled," I apologised.
"No, please don't say that. There is nothing to be sorry for," he reassured me. His hand patted on my back to prove he meant it. Instead, it only made me feel even worse than before. He was the one with losses and yet, here he was trying to comfort me.
"Still… If I had known earlier, I would have asked you to proceed with the wedding reception last night."
"What good does it do if you're not in the best of health?"
"But the money—"
"I would rather lose the money than you," he whispered. He pushed the loose hair behind my ears and kisses the ends of it. Did he have to be this romantic? Ughhh, why must he be so flirtingly convincing?
"But—"
"If you feel bad, then do me a favour and get better," he said rather firmly.
"I can try but there's no telling I would not lose my memory again." My head drooped instinctively and my voice turned shaky.
"You misunderstand me. Losing your memory is not your fault. Even if you are to lose your memory again, I will still be right next to you as I always have," he comforted as he squeezed my hand. "What I want is for you to continue doing what you're doing now. Eat well, rest well, take your meds, okay?"