It remained just a bit for me to miss the moment because I was still busy looking for a better space that I could sit in. By the time I finally arrived at the great hall, most of the front seats were already filled up. The hall was filled with people; some were moving around, some were greeting their friends, snapping pictures, and a few were also finding a place where they could see the proper view of what was going on at the front.
Ife was already standing in the front with her father. I had known her since childhood, but I had never seen this look on her face before and how quiet she was. Because age always has one of two to say most times. But this time, she hardly said a word. Her attention was focused on the man that was standing beside her while the lady registrar walked in and arranged some of the papers on the table.
During this time, I had already gotten a seat near the middle. Her younger sister noticed me and gave me a look, which indicated that I came late. I winked at her, smiled, and settled down comfortably without trying to say anything. The ceremony has already begun this time, and I did not want to be the one distracting the sister or anyone because I came late. The registrar has already settled down too while she continued with the ceremony, saying some things while also asking the question that brought together everyone from all over into the moment. When the question was thrown at Ife, if she would say yes to the man beside her to be her lovely husband till death do them part, she stared at the man for a moment before answering. She was still calm and low as she said yes. The man looked at her, looked at the registrar, and smiled, and few people around me giggled and smiled quietly too.
I kept staring at Ife. Early before then, we have talked, and she complained about the preparations and wedding, still second-guessing her dress, paying attention to small details, and keeping saying she was not nervous. But that moment, those things she complained about never mattered. She was right at the front holding the man's hand, paying attention to everything that was being said and also patiently waiting for the next thing on the ceremony list.
After the registrar asked all the questions that were needed to be asked, they were giving some documents to sign in. Ife took the pen, but I noticed how she moved her hands more slowly than she always does. She stared at the paper and signed where she needed to sign and dropped the pen. And when she faced us, and as she moved away from the table, I noticed a small smile on her face that she was unable to hide this time.
Moving outside, the situation of things changed completely. People were all around them to snap with them. One photograph kept shouting that everyone should move closer, while another said they should not rush the couples and everyone should take turns.
Ife laughed as some friends and family members called her name just to praise her and get her attention. The lady who barely talked inside the great hall was suddenly surrounded by people and noise again.
When we eventually got to move closer to each other, she finally showed her bright smile with all her thirty-two outside. She noticed that I had been seeing how everyone was going from where I was. There was this funny thing: she asked me if I came early to witness the start of the ceremony from the beginning, as if I had missed the most crucial aspect of the event. I replied to her that I had not missed any important aspect. She smiled again as she walked back to her man.
A few years or months from now, she might have forgotten who and who sat at the front or back seat. She might not remember all the faces she met and what was said to her. But before she answers, I will remember that moment when she stared at the man and took a moment before she said yes in a low voice. I was around to witness that special moment, and somehow, that was enough.
Images from AI
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