《SSRO2: Daddy's Home ✓》(18) The Final Vow
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"Day!" Todd shouted as I saw him running down the hallway.
I was looking at the window, my heart beating like crazy.
"Day, what are you still doing here? Everyone's already waiting for you," he tells me while trying to catch his breath.
"Todd, do I look okay? Or do I look like shit?" I honestly ask my best friend slash best man as he arrived in front of me.
Todd looks at me with disbelief and shouts, "Day! You've asked me about that five times already!"
I pouted and looked out the window again, "S-sorry. I'm just so nervous. I haven't slept properly at the hotel. I couldn't eat. And I think I'm gonna faint."
Todd grabs my arm and forcefully makes me look at him. Then he grabs my shoulder and says, "Day, you've been dreaming about this for years. You'll be fine. I know you will."
"But-"
"I'll handle it from here Mr. Cooper," someone suddenly says.
Todd and I looked at our right and saw Chairman Herbert Orlando (If you don't remember him, he's the chairman of EXRay Media).
"Herbert!" I called out, making Todd let go of me.
"Go ahead and join your family at the venue. And tell them to begin the ceremony," Herbert tells Todd.
Todd nods his head then looks at me, "Then I'll head inside. Good luck Day."
He pats my back and quickly leaves Herbert and me.
"Nervous?" he suddenly asks me when Todd was out of sight.
I took a deep breath and look at him, "Terrified," I answered, making him chuckle.
"This is your wedding. You should be happy, not terrified," he tells me.
I nod my head and answer him instead, "Thank you for agreeing to walk me down the aisle by the way."
Herbert smiles and says, "No. Thank YOU for considering me to do so. Even though I know that you chose me because your grandmother couldn't walk the aisle with you."
I shook my head and took a deep breath again, "No...Uncle Hael would have wanted you to. But in all honestly, I wanted it too."
I paused and looked out the window again. Looking at the beautiful garden outside the building that we were on.
Herbert did the same and said nothing.
"You treated me like your own son. Took care of me in the shadows. And gave me the most important thing in your life (The EXRay Media)," I tell him with total sincerity.
"It's embarrassing to say but...thanks for being like a father to me," I finished.
Herbert doesn't say anything.
I thought he felt weird about it, but suddenly tears fell from his eyes, shocking me.
"Why are you crying?!" I practically shouted.
Herbert laughs and puts out a handkerchief to wipe his tears away. Then he pats my head and says, "Hael would be so proud of you. Your parents would be so proud of you. I...am proud of you."
Now, thanks to what he just said, I suddenly felt teary too.
Herbert pats my head and laughs again, "I first saw you when you were a kid. Now...you're a full grown man who's getting married. You should be happy now like what your uncle wanted, okay?"
I smile and nod my head.
"Now come on. Everyone's waiting," Herbert says as he gives me his arm, making me gulp.
This is it.
"Let's go," I say as I gently hold onto his arm.
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We walk towards a large door where the wedding planner was waiting outside.
"There you are!" she tells us. She then takes her walkie-talkie and says, "The second groom has arrived. Get ready."
I exhaled and gulped again. Getting myself ready for the ceremony that we have been preparing for months.
"I'll count to three and signal the men inside to open the doors. Get ready Mr. McCartney," she tells me. But I was so nervous that I couldn't even respond.
Finally, the wedding planner counts down.
One...
Two...
Three...
The large door opens wide. Revealing the beautiful indoor garden that was covered with different kinds of flowers.
Herbert and I slowly entered the venue.
As we got inside, everything was somehow blurry.
Cameras were flashing everywhere.
Everyone was clapping their hand as the song 'The promise' played.
(NOTE: This song was once my favorite. I was supposed to choose a different song but then I remembered this song and I was literally teary when I was listening to it while writing the chapter. I recommend you to listen to this while you read the rest of this chapter.)
But then, as I slowly walked down the aisle, my vision became clearer, and familiar faces welcomed me.
On the right side of the venue was for Damien's friends and family. There were some of his coworkers, AKA the Companions. And some other people that I knew who were from Damien's hometown, Rivermounth. All of them were familiar, but the two people who I recognized the most was Lilith and Abraham. Lilith was Damien's house cook who can make great stew, and Abraham was the man who helped me escape when the Big Dogs arrived at Rivermounth.
I look at them and wave my hand, making them quickly wave back at me.
My previous neighbor Holland, who I just found out was secretly taking care of me while Damien was fixing his case, was also there. Even though I didn't know his intentions, Holland still protected me. He even helps me out when I'm cleaning my apartment sometimes.
"Long time no see," I quickly say when I passed by him, making him smile.
Then there was Christine Laker and Neil White, the two people who helped me out when I found out about the Association because of the masquerade ball.
They were also the ones who were at the pet shop, and Christine was the one who introduced me to Hunter.
"Congrats Day!" I heard Christine shout, making me smile.
In front of them was none other than Jonathan Philips, the man who gave me the gold and black card that literally changed my life.
He was clapping. He wasn't the type of person who always smiles but he was smiling too.
Then there was Marie Cameron, the owner of the diner we went to when Damien and I were driving to my hometown.
I invited her because she was a significant person in Damien and my uncle's life as well. I'm glad she was able to make it here in time. I insisted to ask a personal driver to fetch her but she literally told me, "I don't do those fancy type of shit." Which made both Damien and I laugh.
"Congratulations Mr. McCartney," someone then says.
I saw Maxon O'Conner next, the personal secretary who I got so jealous of.
I was mad at him for no reason, which made me apologize when I met him again. He laughed and told me that I shouldn't be jealous because he was shockingly already married to someone even before I met him, which embarrassed me even more.
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If only Damien told me that sooner.
And I also found out that he helped Damien prepare the proposal, so I felt like a real asshole for acting so immature when I met him.
Then there was a tall man who looked like a mafia, but was actually a very famous CEO of a big company. He was standing beside a handsome Asian man who was covered in tattoos, and a kid who I suspect is their child, Vinnie. Damien introduced me to him before our wedding. He told me they're going to be business partners as soon as Damien finally opens his own company. And he also told me that they were once close friends when Damien was still a Companion, which was very surprising.
They gave out this somewhat dangerous and terrifying aura, even their son too. But they were still clapping, so I guess that's okay.
On the other side of the room was my family and friends.
My coworkers at EXRay Media were there, and of course, the woman who will always be by my side in times of crisis, Jane Roberts.
"I love you forever Day!" she shouts while crying, making me laugh.
Then, the man beside him, was shockingly Richard Peters, also known as the famous, Mr. Peters.
I know it's weird that I invited him, but he's been a nice man to me ever since the photoshoot. And besides, he was the one who called Damien when that asshole Timothy was harassing me at the restroom.
You just HAD to remember that right now -Inner Conscience.
Yup, my inner conscience is at my wedding too.
Alright, I shouldn't be thinking about that at my wedding day.
"You look great Day!" another person shouts, and that was none other than my best friend, Todd Cooper.
Some might think that it's even weirder that I invited my ex at my own wedding, which was also my best man at the wedding as well.
But Todd has been my best friend even before we became together in the past. He was with me before when Hael died, and he was with me before when Damien was away. I could not have asked for any better man to be by my side during the crucial moments of my life.
Todd will always be in my heart. Always.
"Handsome as always Day," his wife says while holding their sons hand.
"Uncle Day!" Zeus - their son - shouts next while jumping up and down.
I smile at them and continue walking with Herbert.
Near the front, I saw my last living family member.
Grandma Andrea Helena McCartney was there, crying, making me almost cry too. I look at her and wave my hand. Wilma, who was sitting beside her, whispers something. Then grandma smiles and waves back at me.
But then, the thing that I saw on her other side finally made a tear fall out of my eyes.
It was a picture of my family while I was still a baby. Uncle Hael and my parents were at the picture. There was a yellow bellflower placed on the chair too, which finally made me break down.
"Mom, dad, sis, uncle...are you looking at me right now? I'm getting married, can you believe it?" I ask as I continue to look at the picture.
Herbert pats my hand to comfort me, so I smile and quickly wipe the tears away.
But after one last step, Herbert and I finally stopped walking.
I slowly lifted my head and saw the man who I will always be thankful for, Damien Nicholas Collins.
Victor Collins, his uncle, was standing beside him.
When Herbert removed my hand from his arm, he goes to Damien and hugs him. Then uncle Victor goes to me and hugs me as well.
Finally, Damien goes to me and shows me his arm.
Damien was smiling, but I could see that he was feeling nervous too, which made me feel a little better.
So I smile and slowly grab his arm, and then both of us looked at the presider.
"Welcome everyone. You may all sit down," the presider says, making all the guests sit back down on their seats.
"Love is a special thing that humans are lucky enough to feel. Not everyone finds it, so those who do are fortunate. Some people say love is a bitter thing that will only taste good in the beginning. But the truth is love is a mixture of every taste. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, but sometimes, like what they say, love gives you a little spice in a life that you thought was bland-"
As the presider continued, I glanced at Damien and whispered, "I heard you ordered 20 cheese cakes for our wedding cake."
"You mean wedding CAKES," he whispers back, making me chuckle.
"You're an idiot."
"You look handsome," Damien suddenly comments, making me blush.
"Love...is love. And nothing can change that," the presider suddenly finishes, quickly making Damien and I stop talking.
He then gestures at us and says, "We are gathered here today as witnesses for the joining in bond of matrimony of Dane Andrew McCartney and Damien Nicholas Collins."
The presider looks at us and adds, "Please look at each other and state your vows."
I slowly let go of Damien's arm, and both of us faced it other.
The moment we faced each other, Damien suddenly sticks his tongue out like a kid, making me and the entire guests laugh.
"Sorry, I'm just fucking nervous right now," Damien tell me, making everyone laugh again.
He then took out a paper from his pocket and clears his throat.
He reads what was on the paper and looks back at me, "Dane, when we first met, I wasn't sure that you'd love me like how I loved you."
Damien gulps and looks back at his paper again, "I was afraid that maybe our paths would cross, but we were only stopovers for each other. But, after so many years, I realized that I wasn't just a stopover, but a home that you will always come back to."
Damien finally puts the paper down and looks at me. To my surprise, Damien's eyes were suddenly red, like he was inches away from crying.
He looks at me, his blue eyes that always captivated me, stared back at me with pure happiness, "I, Damien Nicholas Collins, will be your home, as you are to me. I vow to share everything with you, respect you, understand you, and love you for as long as I live. That is my solemn vow," Damien finishes.
Tears were also pouring out of my eyes now, so Wilma quickly goes to me and gives me her handkerchief.
"Thank you," I say as I quickly wipe the tears away.
I took a deep breath and took out a paper as well.
I gulped and started reading from the paper that I was holding, "Harriett Jackson Brown Jr. once said that 'love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own.' I believe in that quote because you have proven it to me over and over again."
I glanced at Damien and continued, "You sacrificed your own happiness, in exchange for mine. And even if you constantly tell me not to say this but...I will always feel, that I am not worthy of you."
Damien puts his head down and quickly puts out his handkerchief to wipe his tears.
The tears on my eyes continued to flow but I ignored it.
I glanced at my paper before finally putting it back inside my pockets.
I took a deep breath and continued, "But I, Dane Andrew McCartney, do solemnly swear, that I will show you, that loving me was worth it too. I will cherish you and support you. I will respect you and love you. And I will be by your side for as long as I live. This is my vow."
Damien and I stare at each other.
We were both crying, but when our eyes met, we started laughing.
I reached out for Damien and wiped his tears away with the handkerchief that I was holding.
After stating our vows, the presider suddenly gestures his hand to me and asks, "Do you, Dane Andrew McCartney, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
I took a deep breath, "I do," I confidently answered, making both of us grin.
"And do you promise to keep him, love and comfort, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse and to be faithful until death do you part?" he asks next, quickly making me nod my head, "I do."
The presider then looks at Damien and says, "And you, Damien Nicholas Collins, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
I thought Damien was going to joke about this. But surprisingly, he seriously looks back at me and answers, "I do."
I don't know why but the way he said it almost made my heart skip a beat.
"And do you promise to keep him, love and comfort, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse and to be faithful until death do you part?"
Damien takes a deep breath and answers in a low voice, "I fucking do."
Everyone laughs, and so did the presider.
"The rings," he then says.
I thought someone was going to hand it to us, but to my surprise, the door suddenly opens. Everyone starts cheering when we saw Hunter the dog and Cookie the cat wearing a groom and a bride costume. They walk inside the room with small bags attached to their collars. They even had a nametag so we'd know which ring belonged to whom.
"Oh my god that's fucking adorable," I say as Damien and I both went down to take the rings.
Damien takes the ring from Hunter and quickly scratched his head, "That's a good boy."
I took the ring on Cookie next and was about to pat her too but she immediately ran back to grandma, making everyone laugh again.
I pout but laughed anyway.
Damien and I both stood back up and looked at each other. Then we took out our rings from the bag.
Damien takes my hand first as he says, "Dane Andrew McCartney, I give you this ring, in token of my commitment and love."
He places the ring on my ring finger and kissed my hand. Then I took his hand next and said as well, "Damien Nicholas Collins, I give you this ring , in token of my commitment and love."
When I placed the ring on his finger, the presider immediately says with a happy and excited tone, "Mr. McCartney and Mr. Collins, you are now forever bounded by this matrimony. May you live your lives with respect, love and understanding. May you fulfill your dreams and become each other's support for as long as you both shall live."
He then looks back at the audience and says, "It is now my pleasure that I pronounce you...spouses for life."
Everything stopped then and there.
Everyone immediately stood up from their seats. They started clapping and cheering, calling our names like we just won something.
But actually, we did win something.
We won each other, and that's all the prize that I need.
"You may now...kiss," the presider finally says, quickly making me snap back to my senses.
Damien and I looked back at each other, smiling and laughing because of complete happiness.
"I'm all yours now Mr. Collins," I whispered as Damien pressed his forehead on mine.
Damien smirks and whispers back, "But weren't you already mine...Mr. Collins?"
I bite my lip, suddenly embarrassed to be called Mr. Collins.
"Idi-"
But before I could finish the word 'idiot', Damien pulls me close to him and suddenly gave me a kiss, making everyone cheer even more.
When we parted from the kiss, Damien and I looked at the crowd of people.
Everyone here became an important person in our lives. Maybe some had terrible first meetings, but now we were all each other's support.
If it weren't for them, Damien and I wouldn't have gone this far.
Maybe things didn't run smoothly for Damien and I in the past, and maybe things won't go as smooth in the future either.
But you know what?
Who cares...
I'm fucking married!
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