Forever & Always Him {Benjamin Lasnier}

Extras [3]

Jasmine C.

I stared at the mirror, my hands shaking and eyes wide as we just finished with my hair and make up. I was still wearing my white robe, my eyebrows furrowed. My mom and my bridesmaids came into the room, big smile on their faces. I pressed my hand to my heart, feeling it pound against my chest.

"You look beautiful, hon," my mother gushed as she placed her hands on my shoulders.

"You ready to get into your dress, Jasmine?" Arianna asked, an excited look on my face.

My eyes widened even further, by then Ariana tilted her head and looked at me with a worried expression.

"I can't do this," I shook my head before I left the hotel room as they called my names.

I rushed out, pressing my back to the wall as I tried to catch my breath. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to steady my breathing. I heard footsteps and felt someone hold my hands, squeezing it lightly. It relieved me a little.

"Are you all right?" I heard Ariana's voice.

I tried to breathe. "I'm... I can't..." I said in between big breaths. "I don't... think I can... do this," I squeezed her hand tighter.

"It's all right, it's all right," Ariana's voice tried to calm me, running her hands through my arms as she tried to reassure me. "I know a bride can be nervous, and it's totally all right, everything's going to be okay."

"No," I shook my head, already feeling the tears pooling on my eyes. "I can't do this," I said with a shaky breath.

"Jasmine," Ariana made me open my eyes, looking at me with crazy eyes. "You can't pull out now."

My lips quivered. "I'm not ready," I shook my head, shutting my eyes again. "I'm not ready for this, Ariana, I am not." I held my chest again, trying to steady my breathing.

"Ladies?" I opened my eyes to see my dad, a confused look on his face. "What's going on?"

Ariana looked back at me and gave me a reassuring smile before going back inside the hotel room. My dad stepped forward, putting his hand on my arm. "Do you love Benjamin?"

Tears started streaming down my face, my lips started quivering as I looked up to my dad. "I do, I really do, but dad, am I really ready for this?"

A small chuckle escaped his mouth as he grabbed and hugged me. I buried my face to his chest, not caring that I probably stained his white, long-sleeved polo as he haven't wore his jacket and that I probably messed up the make up my make up artist did beautifully. Nonetheless, I hugged him tightly.

"Did I tell you that I almost never married your mom before?" He randomly mentioned.

I looked up, confusion all over my face. "What happened?"

He sighed. "I was young then, seeming that I was twenty-five when I married your mom. Of course you are younger, being a twenty-two year old I know that you are nervous. But anyways," he waved his hand. "It was our wedding dat and of course I was nervous, like really nervous where my heart was beating so fast, sweat just kept streaming down my face. I kept on pacing around the room, my best friend looking at me as if I was crazy. I probably was but who cares? I was getting married and scared that I called the wedding off."

I laid my head on my dad's chest. "Then?"

"Of course your mom was sad, she wasn't crying or anything when I came to apologize. She forgave me, except for my family, which is why your uncle still hates me."

I chuckled, remembering that time when my mom's brother greeted my dad with a scowl when he came for a visit. But I knew deep down he does like dad.