The wedding rehearsal didn't go too badly.

Aside from the fact that the groom's best man did not attend it, and the fact that RC's mother kept glaring at her every time RC reached for a second helping of any of the dinner items, it actually went pretty well.

Niomi and Joe sat at the head of the table beaming. Niomi's university friends had arrived that afternoon and for most of the function, the only audible sound over RC's grandmother's disapproving criticisms was the loud giggling from the bride and her pack.

RC, however, was preoccupied for most of it. Deeply preoccupied. It earned her several glares from her fiery grandmother, and her strict mother, when she forgot what side to stand on and when to pass Niomi the ring.

The object of her preoccupation was mostly, and largely, Jordan.

She irked to know who Leah was, what all his tattoos meant, whether the rumours were real or not, whether the bad boy persona was a disguise to keep people away and to hide secrets, and whether or not she actually like liked him or just like liked him.

It was difficult, because anyone who's been at a wedding rehearsal can testify that those things are literally the nightmare before the nightmare.

They are like the "what not to do on your wedding day" buzzfeed type tutorials that pop up on YouTube.

For example, RC had learnt the hard way that eating two helpings of rice pudding a day before the wedding was not, in her grandmother's opinion, the best of choices because she would, in her grandmother's words, 'be unable to fit into the dress she had so laboriously bought and would therefore closely resemble a hippo with a hernia walking down the aisle behind Niomi'.

But it wasn't like RC was even thinking as she was eating those helpings of rice pudding. She was barely even there.

Her spirit was still with Jordan, who was probably flipping burgers at McDonald's and hating RC for bringing up this mysterious and unknown "Leah" person.

RC heard her mother's alarm clock ringing. She had again stayed up all night.

Her pressed, ironed and perfumed dress was hanging on a hook on her door and her black stilettoes were by her desk, waiting to be worn. Her voice of jewellery, which consisted of glittery black earrings, a simple matching necklace and bracelet, and her watch, was already laid out on her desk.

RC sat up slowly, watching the sky outside her window lighten.

Within a few minutes, the entire household was awake. RC's grandmother barged into her room without warning. "Are you up yet?"

"Yeah yeah I'm up, geez."

"Get moving then!" Her grandmother commanded. "You're the maid of honour!"

RC stretched. "Okay."

"Don't 'okay' me, young lady. Up!"

RC queued for the shower. It seemed like all her relatives who had come over for the wedding had somehow made it up before RC. And, RC felt like they had somehow multiplied overnight.

A beautician came over to dress Niomi and her assistants went about doing everyone's hair and makeup.

It was finally time.

All the guests went off to wait at the church while RC stayed back waiting for Niomi to reveal herself. When she finally did, RC thought she looked gorgeous.

Her off the shoulder sequinned white gown flowed down to her feet and trailed a little behind her. Her hair had been tied up in a stylish hairdo, with loose locks falling softly around her face. Her veil came down to her feet too.

Niomi smiled at RC. "How do I look?"

"Divine." RC replied. And she meant it.

"Hurry up you two!" RC's mother shrieked from downstairs. "We're running late!"

Niomi and RC made their way down the stairs, RC holding the train of Niomi's dress to keep her from tripping all the way down the stairs.

"Honey, you look gorgeous." Her mother gasped, a tear rolling down her cheek. She kissed Niomi on the cheek. "I'm so proud of you."

Niomi beamed, as their father, dressed to the nines in a black tuxedo, walked into the living room. "All ready?" He asked, looking around at the ladies. "They're all set at the church."

"Yeah," Niomi replied, "we should get moving."

RC helped her all the way into the hired limousine that was waiting in their veranda, where her sisters were milling around, with flower baskets in their hands. They all settled into the car and drove off.

By the time they got to the church, RC's stomach was turning. She couldn't put her head around the fact that Niomi was getting married. Which meant that from then on, RC would have to fight her battles against the world by herself. She choked back her tears as she watched her mother guide her sisters into the church and signalled at her and Niomi to alight the vehicle.

Slowly, RC helped Niomi out of the limo, being careful not to dirty her own dress as well as Niomi's veil. Their father was waiting by the church entrance to lead Niomi down the aisle.

RC positioned herself behind Niomi and took her veil into her hands. Niomi locked arms with their father and they slowly walked into the church.

RC gasped when she saw how beautiful it looked. Red roses had been bunched up and hung from the walls, contrasting nicely against the white linens that had been pinned up along the walls. White rose petals littered the red carpet beneath their feet.

RC smiled politely at the staring guests, hoping that her conflicted happiness and sorrow was not showing too much.

Joe was standing tall at the altar, beaming as he watched Niomi glide towards him, looking dashing and polished in his tuxedo.

RC could see her grandmother eyeing the entire procession like a hawk, but she could swear that she saw her dab a tear as they reached the altar.

Joe's best man stepped forward to whisper something to Joe as RC took her position behind Niomi. She peeped at him.

RC almost burst an artery. It was Jordan Brooks.

Suddenly RC's heart was not behaving like a bodily organ but more like a flapping bird, and RC didn't really know what to do.

***

Is this how weddings are supposed to work? 🙈

Oh well...