Surprise

"What's that? Where did it come from? Who's out there? Why is nobody other than me bothered by the flickers of flight...?! I kept questioning myself with my eyes shut.

Under the veil, my eyes remained shut. At least brides had veils to mask their actions. With my head down, I turned away from the blinding light.

"Who allowed these gossip mongers into our home?" momma questioned in fury with an unnatural smile for the cameras. She has turned again into Mrs. Grey. Everything is for the show now.

"Camera lights..." I murmured. I couldn't help but wonder who hired them. Oops! it slipped my mind that my wedding has been the talk of the town.

By now, any media house or agency must have heard of it. And could just send their team to have the primary info. An advantage to them.

Cameras acting as paparazzi are a disadvantage to us to our privacy. However, the spotlight on my family's kingdom of business serves us as an advantage.

I guess every good thing has a bad side. No one can have it all. "C'mon darling, don't be nervous, smile for the camera," daddy whispered with a fake smile while clenching his teeth.

By now, I should be used to having cameras all over me. Even though it's assumed that I should get used to this situation, it's not like it happened every day.

Mommy teamed with dad on this, " yes darling, you know the paparazzi are always out to inspire the city with rumors and flaws. Don't let them get the best of you."

Mommy's words soothed my heart. She energized my confidence. I found my head up high again, smiling under the veil. "It's just cameras, no big deal..." I kept murmuring while walking on the red carpet to my escort to the church.

In front of me, there stood a sparkling white limousine. Inside me, I kept screaming, "thank you daddy for this grand departure."

I wanted to shout out to the whole world to hear my joy. But how could I, with the cameras all over the Grey's family, this was impossible.

Lydia and Kate held up the edges of my gown to prevent it from catching dirt as I walked into the limo.

As soon as I got in, Lydia and Kate joined in, and the other bridesmaids followed.

Mom and Dad were just right behind us, followed by our security details and the paparazzi. In front of my ride, there were two security escorts too. Quite a grand departure.

Quite an exquisite exit. One that the media couldn't miss for anything. Now I understand why they are so prying.

Once the lead security team started the journey, the gates opened. Even though the windows were shut, I could view everything from the screens at the back.

Suddenly, a deafening silence dropped. The silence was too loud to be heard by the trees and grass we passed by.

"Somebody should say something, please. The silence will make me nervous again," I broke the silence with my eyes turned to Lydia and then to Kate.

"Lexy, this is your day. A big and memorable day. A day that will forever engrave a mark in your heart and ours. Perhaps you should be the one to share anything you wish with us because we don't know when we'll be together again," Lydia said glancing at me.

For a moment I was silent, kind of tongue-tied. Or maybe I lost my voice to Lydia.

I didn't know what to say. "Okay... what do you want me to share? Which part of my life don't you know about Lydia?" This time I asked with my veil up.

One of the bridesmaids, Cindy, mummers, " not all of us here know how you and Jerry met." "Oh, you want me to share my love story for the... I don't know what time?" I questioned them with my brows raised.

Friends and family are always curious about my love story. I fail to understand why they kept asking about it whenever we met.

They acted naturally like it was normal to make me repeat my love story over and over. Anyway, I never get tired of sharing the beautiful love story of Jerry and me. Our love will no longer be a story but sealed with vows, turning it into a reality. Even though I got bothered being asked to share my love story over and over, telling it off enlivens my spirits.

"Yes..." Lydia and Cindy said, both excited but calm. Then I short-lived their joy, "ladies... let Lydia not fool you. It's not like she doesn't know the whole story. I guess she just wants to buy time and keep me calm till we get to the church."

The memories we shared warmed my heart and brighten my face. Probably Lydia's reason to support Cindy on this. The other bridesmaids joined them in urging me to share my love story.

"Fine..., I will do it if you promise to lower your curiosity," I said while glancing at the whole team.

All at once, "we promise," they agreed to my condition. I took a sigh and I didn't notice when words started leaving my mouth.

It is an effortless task. A task I enjoy.

Today again, I recount the day Jerry and I met. My first encounter with Jerry was quite an unforgettable and embarrassing moment. People don't forget such moments, but they do, not me.

On one busy afternoon in my early twenties, before I finished my classes, my stomach started rumbling annoyingly. Anyone close to me could hear the annoying noise from my stomach rumbles.

Since I had woken up late due to exhaustion from a late-night meeting that I had to stand in for dad, I didn't have time to make myself breakfast. Besides, on Fridays I got lonely in the big mansion as my maid, Cathy took the day off. Being alone at home and waking up late, I had to ignore the morning hunger pains.

On my way to school, I grabbed coffee and a sandwich, which I couldn't have because I arrived late for the first lesson.

Fridays are always busy days for me. From one class to another till noon before I could have time to myself.

On my way out, another student bumped into me, sending my coffee mug and sandwich into the air, then on the floor. Gosh! that wasn't supposed to happen. With the persisting hunger pains and noise from my rumbling stomach, I rushed to the cafeteria to order food.

Upon arrival, there was a slight long queue that moved slowly. My day was getting worse. I couldn't bear it anymore. Still, I lacked an alternative but wait in the queue for my turn.

I hadn't realized it was my turn to place and pay for my order until the cashier started me "next...!" After placing my order, I reached out to my handbag to get cash for my order.

Oh no... I couldn't find my wallet. At that point, I felt like the world was crashing on me. "Why me, since morning, things got pretty tight and messy for me," said a voice inside me.

Sorry, I can't find my wallet," I apologized in frustration. Suddenly a hoarse voice from behind interrupted me, " worry less miss, I'll sort it out. Andy, give her receipt for her order then take mine too and deduct it from my card," the gentleman said calmly as he handed over his card.

"Oh-no... you don't have to do this. I have just misplaced my wallet which has cash and two fully loaded cards. I'll fetch it right away," I interrupted.

"I insist, kindly accept my genuine gesture. Your stomach disagrees with you miss," the good Samaritan bent closer and whispered into my ears.

The gentleman left me speechless. I didn't know what to say but thank him while rubbing my tummy to quit misbehaving in an attempt to escape the embarrassing moment.

By this time, people in the queue had already started complaining. I took my receipt and then paved way for the gentleman who had just rescued me from shame to clear the bills.

I barely noticed how fast things happened. The next thing I recall is me and the polite gentleman sharing a table having lunch.

For about thirty minutes, my mouth was busy. Not uttering a word, but busy feasting on my meal.

Suddenly, the gentleman interrupted the moment, " miss, you must have been so hungry. When last did you eat?"

I didn't know how fast I was eating. All I know is that I couldn't get enough of what I was having. I responded with a stare and my mouth full.

"Pardon me, I won't interrupt you. Finish your meal first then we can get to know each other. At least I should know your name so I can stop calling you miss," the gentleman said with his eyes fixated on me.

By this time, I had already cleared my plate, yet my eyes were fixed on the good Samaritan's plate. Since I didn't want to embarrass myself, I started looking into nothing on my phone.

After a while, the gentleman said, "quite a delicacy, no wonder I can't leave this food joint for another. By the way, I'm Jerry Stephens, but you can just call me Jerry."

I hadn't taken a close look at the man sitting in front of me. I must have been blinded by my hunger. Jerry is charming, pleasing, loveable, and sexually alluring.

Jerry had a fixed smile, that allowed me to notice his sparkling white set of teeth. His thick brows and square jaws got me blushing, leading to a fixated gaze.

Gosh...! for how long had I been staring at him. It seemed like I was losing it. "Sorry, I'm Lexy Grey. nice to meet you, " I introduced myself while blushing.

"We should leave or you want to stay here for a while, maybe let the meal kick in?" Jerry asked as he pushed aside his plate.

"No... I'm done here. I should take my leave, I said while standing from my seat. Jerry raised his brows curiously." Of course, I'm not a mind reader, what's up? Do I owe you anything for sorting out my bills? I'll refund you as soon as I get hold of my wallet or replace my cards," I rushed the words out of my mouth and turned to the exit.

Before I reached the door, his hands were already there. He pushed the door, it slid open, then Jerry ushered and uttered, "after you Miss Lexy."

"Just Lexy is enough, I said with a firm tone. For a moment, I nearly got carried away by Jerry's gentleness. Then I recalled that mommy always cautioned me to take matters of the heart slowly.

Mommy believes in a slow place to find true love. Wait, "did I just mention love?" I thought.

I've never been in love yet I was there thinking of love. A virgin heart and body, yet a wild mind. I wanted to figure out and find love on my terms.

"Is this my way of finding love? It can't be because I didn't plan for any of the day's incidences to fall in place as they did. As thoughts kept racing my mind, Jerry walked me to the parking lot where I had left my car. We shook hands and he walked away leaving me by my car.