ENGAGED TO MY EX'S BROTHER

Emily “Hurry up Emily,” Natalie says. “We are getting late!” “I'm trying babe, I really am.” I reply desperately. “Where are the other brides maids?” I ask. “They are at the reception waiting for you.” she replies. “What about my parents?” I ask once again. “They're waiting in the car outside the restaurant. They've been calling my phone endlessly. They're worried Emily!” Oh! What do I do now? Oh fate, but why? I've been stuck in this washroom in my hotel room for over twenty minutes now. I have a running stomach and I wonder what I ate that didn't go well with my system. Every time I think I'm through, another bout of diarrhoea hits me and I run back into the toilet, carrying my wedding dress high so as not to sweep the floor and get dirty. My name is Emily Joy and today is my wedding day. Oh yes it is! I'm sure the groom is already at the pulpit waiting for me so that we can finally walk down the isle. He hasn't called me yet but I'm sure he's eagerly waiting for me. Isn't that what grooms in love do? They wait for their brides patiently to show up in church. Oh my stomach! I don't know what really went wrong? I ate whatever everybody else, my maid of honour Natalie and my brides maids ate this morning for breakfast. “Natty,” I call her from inside. “Can't you get a solution for this problem. Go and buy me something to stop it please. Charlie might get tired of waiting!” “Okay, I'm coming. Just make sure you're out sooner because it's already late!” she says as she disappears outside. A moment later, I feel some relief and I wipe myself clean then get out of the toilet and walk to the hotel bed. I slump on it as I wait for Natty to come. How I wish I told my mum earlier, she would have at least brought me a drug or come up with a solution! Natty is the one who told me not to inform her! Meanwhile, I decide to inform her either way. I pick my phone from my bed and I'm surprised to find out that it's switched off. How? Who did that? Without giving it much thought, I switch it on and without caring about the many messages streaming in, I call mum and when she hears my voice, hers lights up with joy. “Are you okay? You're keeping us here and your dad is worried. Natalie said you're...” “Mummy?” I cut her short. “I'm unwell. I have a running stomach and I wouldn't stop visiting the washrooms. Can you please bring me a drug to stop it? I'm devastated mum! Charlie must be worried.” “I'm coming right away...hold on right there!” she hangs up and within a few minutes, Natty comes I, carrying a package in her hands. “Oh! Thank God you're out of the toilet. Are you okay now?” she asks, her voice full of concern. “Where is the drug?” “Here.” she shows me a sachet which is in her hands. “ This is a soluble powder and if it doesn't work, you'll have to use this!” she's pointing at the package which is already on the bed. She excuses herself and turns to go and fetch a glass of water to dissolve the powder. I decide to pick the package to see whatever is in there. After opening, I push it aside in shock. “Adult diapers?” I ask in surprise. “What for? Isn't that drug enough? Won't it solve the problem?” I ask curiously. I really don't understand. “You never know Emily. You might need them!” she says as she returns with the solution in a glass. She hands it over to me and before I gulp it down my throat, my mum shows up carrying a packet of drugs and warns me against taking anything watery. I place it on the table and I take mum's drugs which she informs me they are supposed to be chewed. I throw two in my mouth and chew them, hoping they'll give an immediate solution. She advises me to lie down for a few minutes and I'll be good to go. She sits on the couch beside the bed and watches over me as I rest. As I lie down, I get a glimpse of a disappointed Natty carrying the glass and emptying the contents into the sink. She rinses it and places it on the kitchen sink. However, I don't give her behaviour a serious thought. I assume she's disappointed that I didn't take her drug serious and she took her time to buy it for me. After a few minutes, everything is back to normal except for the belching but mum says it's normal for someone who over ate. “Mum! I didn't even finish three sausages!” I tease her, making her roll down in laughter. “Put that phone in silent mode and let's get going!” she says and I stand to leave, throwing the phone on the bed and exits with mum and Natalie following from behind. I don't even bother carrying the adult diapers she brought. What was she thinking anyway? **** We're already in church and everything is going on well, despite us getting there one hour late. The presiding priest is all overjoyed as he starts reading mass. My parents are over the moon, as well as my parents. But wait.. There's something amiss with Charlie. First, he didn't call me and now he's here, looking all nervous as his hand intertwines with mine. His palm is sweaty and all efforts by him to keep calm proves futile. As the mass goes on, he leans and asks me if I read his messages. I tell him that I didn't and that's when I remember the phone has been off since morning and besides, I've forgotten it on the bed in the hotel room! I don't give it much thought since I assume either mum or Natty has picked it up. It's now time to exchange our vows and the priest asks the very same question which every presiding priest asks. “Is there anyone who has a reason why these two shouldn't get joined in holy matrimony?” Silence ensues and I can see Charlie fidgeting nervously beside me. I look around the church and everybody is silent and I assume everything is okay with us getting married but how mistaken can one be? I shift my eyes to Natalia who has just been given the microphone by the priest and she's trembling as she speaks. “I know I shouldn't be doing this but I need to do it!” What is she trying to say? I turn to face my husband to be and his eyes are narrowed at Natalie, as if warning her not to utter a word! “I...I...I..” she trembles, making everybody in the church to murmur, uttering their own words, urging her to go on. “I mean, Charlie and I have been having an affair and I'm pregnant for him.” “What?” I gasp, letting go of his hand and eyeing her angrily. “You? Natalie my best friend?” I ask in shock. “I'm not lying Emily. I'm expecting his child and we love each other. Don't make a mistake of marrying someone who doesn't love you!” “You?” I turn to Charlie who's already on his knees in despair. “You will pay for ever betraying me!” I pull my wedding dress up and run outside towards the road. I can hear mum's and dad's voice calling me from behind but I ignore them, boarding a passing cab. Oh my God! I can't believe what has happened just now! Natalie and Charlie? After getting into the cab, I pull off my wedding dress to the surprise of the driver but his gaze and raised brows drop when he sees the off shoulder body con I'm wearing inside. “Where should I take you?” “Landmines hotel.” I say, assuming my phone is in there. I'm just glad I have some money tucked well under my brassiere. The cab guy drives on and after some minutes, were at the gate of the hotel. “Please wait for me. I need to pick my phone from inside then I'll tell you where to take me.” I say after paying him, intentionally leaving my wedding gown in his car. I'll go in there, delay him till he leaves and if he likes, he can leave with that f*****g gown! I'll call another cab to take me home to my parents' house!