When Everything Fails (De Chavez #2)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

MY HEART was beating like it had been in a race for a couple of hours now. The surroundings had blurred out my vision, only the person in front of me that I had come to see clearly. The smile on his face punctuated genuine delight of what was happening— making my heartbeat ricocheted loudly in my chest. The soft words spilling out of the boy at our side, who was acting as the priest, were unfurling the raring anticipation and apprehension in me. This wasn't the reaction I expected to have— the painfully aggressive thuds of my heart that seemed to maul my chest made me gasp several times now but I had to collect every splinter of strength that scattered beneath my feet.

The wind blew frigidly, making the chills chase down to my spine. The golden shaft of that sun spilled in from the little spaces of the white sheer curtained draped as the backdrop of the altar. The tingling sensation tickled the surface of my feet, crawling up until my stomach, thrashing every possible restraint in me.

A soft sigh flew out of my lips as I locked my eyes with Kei. How can those beautiful eyes be hypnotic? I would grovel in front of him just to have those eyes look at me— they were tantalizingly perfect that I had to gasp many times and duck several times just to make sure I didn't look pathetic for staring at him. But then, every time I avert my gaze from him, a few moments later, my face was tugged by a very strong magnetic force to look at him again. My eyes drifted to those impeccable thick eyebrows fringed those perfect set of dark expressive eyes underneath. My eyes crawled down to his carved nose to his thin pinkish lips stretched in a sexy grin, evoking such electricity to zap through every nerve in my body.

What was this? Why would I suddenly see small details of him? Why would I appreciate the smallest details in his face? I wasn't like this before— I had never appreciated his features; I despised every bit of him. But why was I feeling something in the pit of my stomach? Why was his presence beckoning the unfamiliar emotions that I thought I never had?

"I do..." Kei whispered hoarsely.

My eyes widened when he suddenly spoke. I didn't even notice that the priest— boy, asked him something. Squeals from the girls who were watching us resonated in the surroundings— I didn't even know if all those sounds were squeals or some were snarls. Considering the girls willing to kneel in front of Kei de Chavez, I will never be surprised if someone glared at me after this.

When the priest looked at me, I felt the blood left my cheek as I listened to his words. Each word that slips out of his lips creeps through my veins, making such frantic pulses in my body. When the priest stopped, silence filled the room. My breath... the loud beats of my chest... the imaginary sound of crickets... those were the only sounds that singing in my head. But my eyes were locked in Kei. I was lost... so lost I could scarcely utter a single word. But I had to... they were waiting... Kei was waiting for my response. I wanted to say that I don't, I don't pledge something like that even this was just a game but my mouth seemed to be manipulated by the emotions reigning in my chest.

"I do..." I whispered. I cringed after those two words slipped from my lips. The Aisha I know won't say such things.

We received claps and squeals from our audience. The students who caught and brought us here were jumping off their feet while looking at us. But what the priest— the boy uttered made my body turn rigid.

"You may now kiss the bride," he said.

My eyes widened. Napatingin ako kay Kei at nakita kong nakatingin na siya nang seryoso sa 'kin. My lips trembled as I saw the glint of solid adoration and unscathed hunger in his eyes. I silently drew a breath as Kei stepped closer to me.

"May I kiss you, my wife?" His voice was clipped with rough, stomach-scraping voice.

My mouth ran dry like a lush forest turned into a desert lacking water. He dipped his head, smile flirting on his lips as his eyes leveled mine. His hot calloused hands cupped my face before he leaned closer. Instinct made me close my eyes as I waited for him to kiss me. I didn't want this but why my body was reacting differently from my thoughts?— I wanted it— no, I didn't. But somehow I found myself anticipating the soft brush of his lips against my dry lips.