The Glimpse of My Past

Diane’s P. O. V.

Mom turned her attention to my siblings after that. “Take your belongings with you, and we will soon be leaving. Dave, get your sister’s belongings from her room. I had it all ready, and those were placed in the blue suitcase.”

“I’ll be the one to take Diane’s things, Mom.” Liam offered.

Delightful about how things went through, my lips ended up painting a smile of contentment. Who wouldn’t be on cloud nine when she just recently got engaged? Our eternal bond grew even stronger at this event, so how much more after our marriage?

To add up, Liam had been calling my mother as Mom since last year, but it felt entirely different to me now. I still couldn’t believe what was happening around me, but this is it! I would definitely get married tomorrow and what excites me even more was the fact that I would soon be marrying the person I loved dearly.

Growing up, I used to dream of having an intimate church wedding. But if it would be a beach wedding for now, then it was still fine with me.

Who was I to complain when everything else seemed to be so perfect? It would have been a surprise wedding for me if not for my jealousy and stupidity.

Mom, Liam, and my siblings went inside our house to pick our belongings when I decided to approach my best friends, Karen and Lorenz. They were talking seriously to the point that they didn’t even feel my presence-that I was already close to them and could eavesdrop on their conversation.

The two actually had some undeniable sparks on their eyes while staring at each other. Obviously, there were a lot of unspoken feelings in between the two. It appeared like they were so engrossed over their kind of heart-to-heart talk. It looked like Karen and Lorenz would be a couple soon.

“Hmm, I wasn’t informed that Diane’s wedding would be tomorrow right away? I thought everything was just a mere birthday surprise for our friend,” Lorenz commented. Fine lines were showing around his forehead as he creased it, then he suddenly laughed with his next statements still referring to me.

“Holy crap, I got quite amazed that when I came back from the restroom, Liam was already kneeling and proposing to her. Our witch best friend was so dramatic-she even caused a dragging scene. If only you knew how she whined out loud while suspecting that Liam has a third party!”

And he even called me a witch, huh? He was no longer acting as gay now, but he was still used to calling us freak endearments like that.

Karen crossed her arms in front of her chest and raised her left eyebrow. “Why do you care if Liam wanted to take their relationship to the next level, Lorenz? He truly loves Diane, so it’s just normal for him not to let her go!”

“How about you? I heard that you’re getting married too. So, who’s the unlucky girl then?” Karen teased him, but I was sure that her eyes showed envy to whoever Lorenz was arranged to marry.

“Was ‘unlucky’ the correct term to describe the woman who would marry me, Karen? What if I would be asking you to marry me now, would you also consider yourself unlucky?” Lorenz paused for a while when he noticed that Karen seemed to be jittery, but still, he continued what his mind wanted to speak.

“Now, what? Tell me, Karen. Just tell me you love me, and I will go along with Liam’s proposal here. In that case, the four of us will have a double wedding tomorrow in Balesin! Try me, I’m waiting.” Lorenz brushed his hair up as his serious threat suddenly made Karen stop from grinning.

Although it was a bit dark, the lights from our lamp posts and the glorious moon had helped me a lot. Like a tomato, Karen’s face had turned to scarlet red now. It was the first time that the two had the chance to talk again after our graduation a few months back. It was the first time they talked together when Lorenz was indeed a real man.

It was quite funny how I remembered that event. It was our graduation day, where Lorenz’s foundation, eyeliner, and lipstick were even thicker than Karen and I back then.

But now, who would have ever imagined that he could match my fiancé? Well, both of my friends didn’t bother to take the board exam and decided to simply rest their brains for a year.

I could still remember those times when Karen used to say that she harbored real feelings for Lorenz and if in case that he wasn’t gay, she would even be the one to make the first move to woo him. Quite imprudent!

Those times when she even locked herself in one of the restroom cubicles and hunkered down on the tiled floor because she couldn’t accept Lorenz being gay at all. Outrageous!

But now that Lorenz was starting to confess to her, she couldn’t believe it as well. Little did Karen know that her pretense of being a man-hater was the reason why Lorenz pretended to be gay. They were both experts at pretending. I guessed they were a match made.

By hearing Lorenz mentioned a double wedding, someone could think that Karen’s tongue had been cut off. She couldn’t speak anymore and got suddenly lost for words.

It was far away from the Karen I knew who was so talkative, sarcastic, and intolerable. It looked like her aggressiveness and cussing attitude left her all alone.

“Guys, let’s go!” I mediated with a cunning smile, and their heads turned in my direction at the same time.

Well… I know that you will thank me later for saving you being tongue-tied here, Cannery! whispered the sly voice inside my head.

That was when Liam came out of our house carrying the two blue traveling suitcases that probably contained my personal items. He told me that the other suitcase belonged to Mom and Denise had some stuff in there too. It was then carried by Uncle Greco.

After that, my siblings came out with their traveling bags as well. David was carrying more bags because Denise’s body was still petite to carry. Liam had been attentive in assisting my brother to bring them, which earned a smile on my lips.

“Bro, here’s your camera… but I left the violin inside the house. Would you mind if I will return it some other time?” David was giving the DSLR back to Liam. I knew it. It was Liam’s property.

“Oh, well… no need to give them back to me, Dave. Just secure the engagement photos, okay? The camera, as well as the violin, are all yours!” Liam declared while pushing the camera back to my brother.

“R-Really, bro?” My brother’s eyes were sparkling with great satisfaction as he couldn’t believe what he heard. Tears began to show in his eyes as he hugged Liam. “Thank you, bro! Thank you so much!”

Liam was clearly spoiling my brother. He just smiled at David while slowly tapping the latter’s back. “It’s nothing. Just be the man of the house while your big sister isn’t around. I’ll send you some bodyguards while we are in America.”

My brother’s glee made my eyes sting with forming tears as I snarled, “Well, look who’s the cry-baby now, huh? Hey, Dave! Remember that you have to study hard. Or else, I’ll take them away from you and give them all back to Liam!”

It was Mom who lastly sauntered out of the house carrying a large shoulder bag. She also had two plastic bags with her-probably the foods wrapped in foil or enclosed in some other containers. Mom handed one plastic bag to Karen, from which the latter murmured her thanks.

Then, she gave the other plastic bag to me before finally locking the main door. Mom also double-checked that light switches were all turned off, and the windows were closed too. When we all got out, she locked the gate and secured the key inside her purse.

Because Miss Shey and Neyrah were carrying a huge van, Mom, Uncle Greco, David, Denise, as well as Sheena and Rizza, would ride there until all of us could meet at Liam’s helipad later for our night flight.

On the other hand, Karen and her brother, Michael, who seemed like he never wanted to be away from my baby sister, had no choice but to get into Lorenz’s car. And me? Of course, I would be with Liam-my fiancé and soon-to-be husband.

Quite thrilled, I remembered how Liam earned my first ‘yes’ in just two days. Now, I would only be engaged to him in just a day. Happy thoughts made me feel damn so excited about what would happen to us next.

Everything had been happening in my favor, and I felt drunk with so much gratitude. I could feel like I was floating around as fierce joy overflowed, which had me burnt.

Being lost for quite a while would still lead me back to Liam’s arms, daring me to hope for more. It was the only place I felt safe and secured.

Being wonderfully alive and electrified, I couldn’t be more excited about what would happen tomorrow, and I couldn’t help myself look forward to that. I hadn’t seen yet the design and style of my wedding gown, but I knew that Neyrah would never let me down.

Perhaps, it was the only item that would remain as a surprise, including the whole setting of the wedding venue. But what if my gown would not fit on me? I couldn’t help but feel nervous, knowing that Neyrah never took my size and vital statistics, but I trusted everything in her.

Liam was driving quietly while I still couldn’t believe what had just happened tonight. I couldn’t help myself but stare and be amazed at the engagement ring that perfectly suited my left ring finger.

It radiantly sparked at night, and above the other things Liam had given me before, I fell in love with it. It was indeed magnificent and beautiful. I was glad I didn’t say ‘no.’

“Did you like it?” Liam smiled at me before his attention went back on the road.

“Nah! I just didn’t like it, Liam. I so loved it! It was so beautiful and splendid. I still couldn’t believe the fact that I was already engaged to you and that, I was even ready to be your wife tomorrow.” I was looking at the ring before I gazed at him.

“I’m so excited, and I’m sorry too if I somehow ruined your marriage proposal. I love you, Liam, and thank you for loving me more than I deserved to be loved,” I said before getting a slice of cake and ate it with my bare hand. The container that Mom gave me was sitting fine on my lap.

“Always remember that I love you more, and I’m just right here, willing to do anything for you!” His right hand held and kissed my left hand while his eyes were still on the road. He was smiling as his dimple simply showed off.

Liam was still as stunning as ever, and I just couldn’t help but drool. He was perfect in his own ways, and I guessed that his dimple would never fail to seize me for a million times over.

“By the way, Liam… if I may ask, who is your best man? Also, how long are we going to stay in Balesin Island?” I asked while still eating the red velvet cake, even licking my mouth.