Into Him, Into Her

Into Our Wedding : Eighteen

LEAH'S POV

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Dad was moved to a normal room. I was done waiting now. I had to see Dad with my own eyes. We all entered the room. It was a decent room and I was glad.

Dad was injected with various machines that kept on beeping. I was thankful to God that he was fine. Mom sat on the chair and I stood on the other side with Luke and Lauren, while Aunt Stella was supporting Mom and Uncle Jacob stood with her.

"Dad, I'm so glad you are fine," I whispered as I held his hand. I bent down and placed a soft kiss on his temple. He just smiled.

"Where's my other one?" He asked and Lauren came forward. She kissed him, too. He flashed her a small smile.

"Today, I have known the ones who care for me and also, I have known that life isn't always constructed or permanent," Dad commenced. I tried to stop him but he shook his head.

"I want to announce this without beating around the bush," Dad declared and everyone was surprised about what he had to say.

"Jacob, I think, it's time," Dad hinted and nodded towards Uncle Jacob.

"I think it's time to wed our firstborns and make our relationship blood bound," Dad announced and his motives were now understood.

"Luke and Lauren...please come forward," Dad said. I stepped back and they both stepped front, each from either side. Something sharp inside me churned.

"Do you both have an issue? Will you agree to this marriage and make me the happiest person?" Dad pleaded with them. They both looked at each other. Lauren kept quiet for some time.

“No!” Lauren yelled as if she was in a daze. She blinked her eyes and flashed a small smile. I was sure she must’ve been shocked because I was, too.

"I mean…no… I don't have any issue, Dad." Lauren was the first to break the silence that killed everyone in the room.

"I don't have an issue, either," Luke muttered after her. My breath seemed to have stopped at that moment. My hands turned into fists and my lips quivered.

I don't understand why, but I felt stung. I regretted being born one minute later and being the younger one, for the first time in my life.

~~~~~

LAUREN'S POV

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Once Luke and Leah arrived, I felt better knowing they were there to deal with everything. Luke hadn't left Leah’s side for more than five minutes. I wished Sean stood here with me, too.

The doctor had informed us that Dad’s surgery had turned out well and he was also shifted into a normal room. We all went to greet him.

Dad asked me to wed Luke and I was in a big turmoil. I had all my heart shattered into pieces listening to his words. I couldn't understand my feelings and didn't want to. I was turning off my feelings, trying to feel numb.

•••

“No, I can’t marry Luke. I…I love someone else.” I confessed the truth because that would be the best for all of us.

“What? Why didn’t you ever tell me about this?” He asked, a little enraged. I put my head down.

“I didn’t know it would turn out to be this serious. I thought it was casual dating but I’m very serious with him now.” I informed him and explained how my situation was.

“Lauren, you’ve disappointed me today.” He muttered, looking seriously wounded.

“How could you not tell me, Lauren? I thought you said we won’t drift apart.” Leah asked me and I could feel her being hurt, too. She looked as if her thoughts were right all along.

“No, it’s not true. We didn’t drift. I came here to tell you that I loved and accepted his proposal in marriage.” I yelled at her and then I realised what I had just said.

“What?! Proposal? You are engaged?! Ah…” Dad yelled loudly and the machines were beeping faster.

“What’s happening?” I asked inching closer to him. Suddenly, the machines stopped and a doctor was here, checking Dad.

“I’m sorry, he’s no more.” He announced and my eyes wide. I fell a step back as shock engulfed me.

“Lauren! Look what you've done! This is all your fault! How could you do this?!” Leah screamed at me as tears fell down her eyes.

“No, I didn’t do anything!  It isn’t my fault.” I tried to defend myself but I wasn’t ready to believe that it wasn’t my fault.

“You could’ve told us before then breaking this out like this. Why did you have to do this Lauren?! How can you be so selfish?” Leah yelled at me again. Mom was crying holding Dad’s hand.

•••

“No!” I exclaimed and realised that it was all a nightmare. I blinked my eyes trying to get a hold of myself. I can be hurt but I didn’t want to cause my family any hurt.

Everything that I had come here to do was just shut down completely. I couldn’t deny Dad’s wish or give him a shock about me already having a relationship.

Even if I agreed, I was sure that Luke would deny saying that he didn’t have any feelings towards me but towards Leah. I won’t be the one hurting Dad.

“I mean, no…I don’t have an issue,” I said with my heart practically popping waiting to hear Luke’s denial.

“I don't have an issue, either.” I heard the answer that I wasn’t expecting. My eyes turned wide but I shut them trying not to show the pain I was feeling.

I had no choice of getting out of this wedding, now. I stood there unmoving and just concentrated on my breathing. Dad put my hands in Luke's hand and I couldn't have felt more uncomfortable or awkward.

"So, when must the wedding happen?" Aunt Stella asked and my heartbeat quickened. I immediately left Luke's hand and stood there as my hands felt cold.

"In two weeks or a month, max," Dad muttered and I almost perished. I had to get over Sean in so little time. It was so difficult and I was so done. I needed time but they weren't giving me any.

“Two weeks, it is then. But you have to be on complete bed rest.” Uncle Jacob warned Dad and I felt a brick fall upon me.

My words weren’t coming out to deny anything. I was scared. I was scared that something might hurt Dad and he’d fall sick again or the scene I had just dreamt might turn out to be true.