✧˖*°࿐
"Fuck me sideways" Aneysa whispers, fanning herself as she looks forward towards her husband.
The man himself, giving a helping hand.
"Aneysa, he's putting out chairs" Tsireya chuckles in disbelief.
"Yes. And he's lifting it up with one hand" Aneysa smirks, "you know what else he can lift up with one hand."
"Aneysa, you better stop right there" Tsireya stops her.
"You're right. I'll save all this pent up energy for later at night" Aneysa smiles and forces herself to look away.
"Ooh- ouch" Tsireya suddenly let her, her eyes showing just how stunned she was.
"Are you alright? Has your water broke?" Aneysa asks.
Tsireya shook her head no, "it's not that. This baby is just giving me a hard time."
She winces in pain, before being escorted to a seat, by Aneysa.
"Here, sit down" Aneysa helps her out.
"Could you imagine if my water did break?" Tsireya asks, "it would be awful timing."
"But thinking about it, it could be quite festive" Aneysa shrugs.
"Aneysa!" Neteyam calls out.
"Be right there" Aneysa then walks off to her calling husband.
Lo'ak then follows back to Tsireya with a geeky smile, "our photos will come out the best, when you look like that."
"I look like a bloated balloon" Tsireya pouts.
"Stop it. You look beautiful. That pregnancy glow, all of it" Lo'ak then leans down to whisper, "you know exactly what I'd do to you if we were alone."
"Lo'ak stop" Tsireya looks down to hide her blushed cheeks.
"They're not really paying attention to us right now, if you want to" Lo'ak clicks his tongue, giving Tsireya a wink.
"Absolutely not" Tsireya replies, "we have pictures to take. Now, where is Lo'reya?"
✧˖*°࿐
A couple of hours had gone by, before Tsireya started to notice that her back yard was now getting full, by guests. Despite the fact that it mostly were her family, she had expected them to be at the venue for the wedding.
"Lo'ak, why is my father here?" Tsireya asks, "what is happening?"
"Oh, everyone's just here for the pictures, my love. Nothing to worry about" Lo'ak replied.
"They've all come here? To take pictures?" Tsireya looks at him, unconvinced.
"Yes. Now excuse me a moment, I need to find Neteyam" Lo'ak hurries off.
Meanwhile, the man he was after was stood at the far end, smiling with adoration in his eyes, his attention on nothing other, than his beautiful wife.
"Efe, look there" she points towards the camera, having Efe look towards it, before the two of them pose to take a picture.
"Neteyam" Lo'ak calls out.
Yet he doesn't respond.
"Hello? Earth to Neteyam?" Lo'ak calls out again, waving his hand in front of Neteyam's face.
"Isn't she beautiful?" he sighs.
"Yes, very much so. But that's not why i'm here" Lo'ak replies.
"That sounds very much like it's your problem" Neteyam shrugs.
"Neteyam this is important" Lo'ak shook his brothers shoulder.
With a soft grunt, Neteyam looks back at Lo'ak, "I'm busy!"
"Tsireya's getting suspicious. What do I do?" Lo'ak asks.
"Take her inside to rest for a while. Rotxo and Kiri will not be here anytime soon" Neteyam replies, before turning away to look at Aneysa, yet again.
This time, she looks back at him, before waving her hand, "Tey, come on!"
Despite his irritation, by his brother's tone towards him, Lo'ak walks towards Tsireya, going forward with Neteyam's words.
"Why don't we go in, so you can get some rest?" He asks Tsireya.
"But there are guests here" Tsireya replies.
"They're only here to take pictures. Other than that, we do not really need to be here. Plus, you look like you need a little lie down. Maybe a massage?" Lo'ak asks.
"That sounds great actually," Tsireya takes Lo'aks' hand, as he helps her up, "I've been in need of one since I got up this morning."
"Perfect" Lo'ak gives her a dorky smile, tilting his head before leading her back inside.
...
"Why are you so smiley?" Aneysa asks Neteyam, as the two of them are stood together, getting their pictures taken.
"Am I not allowed to smile?" Neteyam asks, "You asking me this, whilst i'm standing next to you.. God woman, you can be so dense."
"I am not dense!" Aneysa hits his arm.
"Ouch!" Neteyam shouts back.
"Just tell me what you're thinking of" Aneysa tells him.
"Our wedding vows" he replies.
...
"...if I could play this moment over and over again, for the rest of my life, I would. I would imagine myself walking down that isle, again and again, until I physically can not" Aneysa chuckles, then looking down at their hands, that were interlocked with one another.
She sniffles, looking back up at him, "We haven't had the smoothest ride, I know that. But I also know, no matter how bad things get, I will never leave your side. Whether it is your fault, or mine."
"Ours" he whispers back.
"Exactly," she chuckles, "the mistakes we make, will be ours. We will continue to grow together, and learn how to overcome our differences. Because I don't think I can imagine a life without you."
The two of them share a glance with a smile.
"With that being said, I'd also like to thank you. For everything you have, and will be put through, simply because of how dramatic I can be. I've never had anyone stick around for as long as you have, and i can not express just how greatful i am towards you. Your kindness, resilience, i mean, your commitment to make me truly happy by dressing traditionally. I wouldn't be surprised if you had learnt my native language" Aneysa smiles, not knowing, that he had in fact learnt an entire script in her native language, just for her.
"I had a lot more written, on a piece of paper, which i accidentally tore up after being under complete stress, because I was afraid this day would not go well. I was stupid to even think that, even for a second. But now I realized, every day you are beside me, it will always be well."
She noticed his nervous smile, and teary eyes.
"I love you, Neteyam" Aneysa smiles back.
...
"Oh please, do not. I was an idiot for throwing that paper away. I had everything written so perfectly, but could not even remember anything I wrote. And I am not one to think on the top of my head, on something perfect" Aneysa sighs.
"But that's what I loved about it. It was not perfect. It was real" Neteyam replies.
"Your vow, was perfect" Aneysa responds.
...
".. If I could take you back, to the night we met, there's only one thing i'd have to say."
He sighs, his hands shaking.
"It's okay" Aneysa whispers back.
"I wasn't the best man to you. I was the cause, partially, for your pain. Your tears, and sadness. And with that responsibility, I'm sorry, for everything I have done, that has upset you."
Aneysa shook her head no.
"I know that you will tell me it is okay. That it is all in the past, and that you have moved on from it. I have too, I promise" he holds his hands up in defence, making Aneysa chuckle through her tears, a couple of laughs heard within the crowd.
"But this is my promise to you, Aneysa Renrawin, that from now on, I will be honest towards you. I will be understanding towards you. I will be the husband that you've always wanted. Me, you, and our three children" Neteyam lets out a little grin.
"Maybe four" Aneysa whispers.
"Oh?" Neteyam gives a smirk back.
"Please. Save something for the honeymoon" Ao'nung interrupts the two.
Aneysa then rolls her eyes at him, quickly averting her attention back to Neteyam.
"I, um.. I have prepared to give you one final speech" he rustles with the paper in his pocket, before taking it out, opening it from each fold.
Yet Aneysa stood infront of him, confused as to what was going on.
He wriggles his tie, letting it sit comfortably against his chest, before clearing his throat.
Neteyam then looks towards Aneysa's grandparents, "Once again, I thank you both for coming here. K̄hxbkhuṇ."
He then looks back towards Aneysa, who stood looking at him, still very confused.
"There was one night, where I was holding onto your father's journal. After staying up to fix it for you, I had read something. Something your father had left for you. The moment I had read it, I realized just how much your father loved you. Which is what inspired me to write this speech."
- "Nı s̄āytā k̄hxng khuṇ c̄hạn phb b̂ān s̄t̄hān thī̀ ṣ̄ạkdi̒s̄ithṭhi̒ thī̀ c̄hạn pĕn thī̀ k̄hêācı thanut̄hnxm læa rạk xỳāng mị̀mī ngeụ̄̀xnk̄hị khwām rạk k̄hxng khuṇ pelī̀yn lok k̄hxng c̄hạn teim tĕm d̂wy s̄eīyng h̄ạwreāa khwām s̄uk̄h læa khwām pĕn pị dị̂ mị̀rū̂ cb."
In your eyes, I found a home, a sanctuary where I am understood, cherished, and loved unconditionally. Your love has transformed my world, filling it with laughter, joy, and endless possibilities.
Aneysa stood, looking at him stunned. Yet, she herself was not sure, as to whether or not it were because of the fact he was speaking her native language, or the fact that his speech sounded quite familiar.
"Nı k̄hṇa thī̀ reā reìm t̂n kār dein thāng khrậng nī̂ d̂wy kạn c̄hạn s̄ạỵỵā ẁā ca thanut̄hnxm læa h̄ı̂ keīyrtikhuṇ thuk wạn c̄hạn s̄ābān ẁā ca pĕn ṣ̄ilā kảlạng cı læa thī̀ phụ̀ng k̄hxng khuṇ nı yām cảpĕn c̄hạn s̄ạỵỵā ẁā ca yụ̄n kheīyng k̄ĥāng khuṇ pheụ̄̀x phyung khuṇ k̄hụ̂n meụ̄̀x khuṇ rū̂s̄ụk yæ̀ læa ca c̄helim c̄hlxng thuk chạychna læa khwām s̄ảrĕc r̀wm kạb khuṇ."
As we embark on this journey together, I promise to cherish and honor you every single day. I vow to be your rock, your support, and your refuge in times of need. I promise to stand by your side, to lift you up when you're feeling down, and to celebrate every triumph and success with you.
"Wait, isn't this-?"
"Shhh" Ao'nung shushes her, "Just listen."
"C̄hạn s̄ạỵỵā ẁā ca rạb fạng khuṇ d̂wy cı thī̀ peid kŵāng læa peid cı kŵāng pheụ̄̀x s̄ụ̄̀xs̄ār xỳāng peid p̄hey læa trng pị trng mā læa kheārph læa rạks̄ʹā khwām p̄hūkphạn xạn pĕn xeklạks̄ʹṇ̒ thī̀ reā bæ̀ng pạn r̀wm kạn s̄emx c̄hạn khụ̄x tạw tn thī̀thæ̂ cring thī̀s̄ud k̄hxng c̄hạn læa c̄hạn s̄ạỵỵā ẁā ca rạk khuṇ xỳāng du deụ̄xd h̄lngh̄ıl læa mị̀mī ngeụ̄̀xnk̄hị tlxd chīwit k̄hxng c̄hạn."
I promise to listen to you with an open heart and an open mind, to communicate openly and honestly, and to always respect and cherish the unique bond that we share. With you, I am my truest self, and I promise to love you fiercely, passionately, and unconditionally for all the days of my life.
And then it hit her, a flashback running through her head, remembering the time her father was telling her a story.
START OF FLASHBACK
"...Nạ̀n khụ̄x s̄ìng thī̀ k̄heā bxk p̣hrryā k̄hxng k̄heā" her father was sat beside her, reading her a bedtime story.
That is what he told his wife.
"Reụ̄̀xng nī̂ ph̀x s̄wy māk tæ̀ p̄hū̂chāy khn nī̂ khụ̄x khır?" little Aneysa asks.
This story is very beautiful. But who is this man?
"P̄hū̂chāy khn nī̂ pĕn cêā chāy rūp ngām thī̀ mæ̀ k̄hxng khuṇ h̄lng rạk xỳāng s̄ud sụ̂ng" her father replies.
This is the handsome prince, that your mother was in love with.
"Tæ̀ mæ̀ bxk ẁā khuṇ pĕn p̄hū̂chāy khn deīyw thī̀ ṭhex rạk?" Aneysa asks.
But mother said you are the only man she has loved?
"Nạ̀n pĕn pherāa c̄hạn pĕn cêā chāy" her father smirks.
I am the prince.
"H̄āk khuṇ pĕn cêā chāy c̄hạn k̆ xyāk h̄ā cêā chāy h̄emụ̄xn khuṇ" she let out a giggle at the end. looking towards her father.
If you are a prince, then I want to find a prince, just like you.
"S̄ạk wạn h̄nụ̀ng khuṇ ca pĕn cêā h̄ỵing k̄hxng c̄hạn" her father smiles, ruffling her hair.
You will, one day, my princess.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Khuṇ khụ̄x thuk s̄ìng thuk xỳāng k̄hxng c̄hạn neụ̄̂x khū̀ k̄hxng c̄hạn læa pheụ̄̀xn thī̀ dī thī̀s̄ud k̄hxng c̄hạn wạn nī̂ c̄hạn mị̀ pheīyng mxb h̄ạwcı h̄ı̂ kạb khuṇ thèānận tæ̀ yạng mxb mụ̄x khwām rạk læa khwām mùng mạ̀n xạn næ̀w næ̀ k̄hxng c̄hạn nı kār s̄r̂āng khwām s̄uk̄h tlxd chīwit d̂wy kạn" Neteyam smiles proudly, realising his pronounciation was perfect.
"Tey" Aneysa pouts. wiping the corner of her eyes.
"Wạn nī̂ c̄hạn yụ̄n xyū̀ thī̀ nī̀ nı ṭ̄hāna cêā chāy k̄hxng khuṇ pheụ̄̀x bxk khuṇ ẁā c̄hạn rạk khuṇ" he smiles, wiping his own tears away.
I stand here before you, as your prince, to tell you that I love you.
He let out a nervous chuckle, before reading out his last line again, "C̄hạn rạk khuṇ, Aneysa."
I love you, Aneysa.
"C̄hạn rạk khuṇ, Teyam" Aneysa smiles back cheesily, the two of them no longer waiting for Ao'nung to announce them husband and wife, but instead, join together to share a kiss.
A kiss that ignited a spark, setting their souls ablaze with passion and tenderness. It's a kiss filled with the promise of forever, a silent vow sealed with the touch of their lips.
In that moment, it felt as though the world began to fade away, leaving only the two of them, united in love and bound by destiny.
-
✧˖*°࿐
I added their vows, as a flashback, because I did not put it into the first book. Teehee.