The Bride, The Priest, and The Groom

Chapter 1

15 years earlier before the marriage.

Kendra and her family just moved in Portland, Oregon. She's originally from San Diego. A very different environment and very far from Portland. Her father was promoted and was relocated to the other branch of their company in Portland. Her mother is an editor of a health magazine.

Kendra is an incoming 9th grader in Lincoln High School. She's a practicing catholic and she goes to church every Sunday. it's her first Sunday in Portland and she can't help but missed her old church mates. She used to be an usherette for 4 years. She started when she was just 11,years old. Kendra, together with her parents, was feeling uneasy to go to a St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral for the first time.

It was bigger or wider than Christ the King Catholic Church in San Diego, the church were she and her family used to go. There were also two column of chairs but the space on either side were wider compare in Christ the King. The altar in St. Mary's is also bigger and looks like a stage of an auditorium.

Kendra was still observing the place when Jane asked "Kendra, do you want to serve here?"

Kendra thought it must be nice to serve in a church again but she hesitated "I'm not sure mom, this church is bigger, it's different from what I'm used to and I think I'll be busy it's my first year in high school."

Jane seemed to understand and said "Okay, if that's what you want" while their looking for a place to sit. They normally sits in front but since their new they just sit in the 5th row from the back, on the aisle side on the right.

Kendra can't help but compare her old church to this new-for-her church. The structure seems older like Renaissance-old but still beautiful. She misses their parish priest when she saw the priest and the servants preparing for the opening ceremony. She misses her church mates and friends. She observes the sacristans and usherette, some of them look like her old friend but not exactly alike. The priest seems younger than Kendra's parish priest. He looked like he's just 30 years old. Two of the sacristans surrounding him is about Kendra age while the rest were 8-11 yrs old.

One among her age looked caught her attention because he looked familiar to her. He has a warm brown skin, black shade eyes, not long but curly hair, and 5"11' in height. The guy is standing 3 meters from her holding crucifix. The guy seem to notice her staring at him. When his eyes met hers Kendra looked away quickly feeling embarrassed. Blood rushed trough her checks quickly that made her looked down so her parents won't notice.

Meanwhile, Jaycee was curious to know who is she. The church bells starts ringing and the choir is singing and Jaycee is just staring at her back curiously until "Jaycee, moved" Andre about 12 years old, pushed him a bit to make him moved.

"Sorry" after 3 seconds J started walking.

Kendra is not blushing anymore but she still avoid to meet eyes with Jaycee again. While the sacristans and priest were walking, Kendra and Jaycee are in line for about a second. They both look in the altar in front, J didn't seemed bother and Kendra just focused herself in the mass.

While the mass is going, whenever Jaycee is serving the priest in the altar, Kendra can't help but look or observe where have she met, if she has, Jaycee. It's time for the communion ceremony and Kendra falls in line together with her parents. She notice that Jaycee is beside the priest assisting him. Kendra became suddenly conscious of herself yet she doesn't know why. Maybe because he caught her looking at him.

But when its her time, she took a deep breathe, exhaled, and "The Body Of Christ" says the priest. Kendra is avoiding to locked gaze with Jaycee. "Amen" Kendra responsed softly.

When the mass is almost over, the sacristans and priest are waiting to take a bow facing the altar.

Jaycee and the rest bowed and march towards the door while Father is blessing the people in the church. Jaycee walk passed through Kendra also avoiding to look at her.

Jaycee was letting others to dip on the holy water which seems like his waiting for someone. Kendra notice that Jaycee is just standing there, while a lot of people are passing him. When Kendra was near J, he can't help but look at him before she dip her fingers in the holy water. She notice that Jaycee did the same, at the same time. Kendra was stunned. After that Jaycee pull his hand quickly away from the holy water and went in the sacristy. She watch as he quickly turn around and walk away.

"Who was that you're waiting for?" Mason said leaning on the hood as he waits for Jay to get in the car.

"I'm not waiting for anyone" Jay said as his thick eyebrows seems to become one.

"Then who was that strawberry blonde girl?" Mason smirked.

"I don't know what you're talkin' about lets just go, mom's waiting." Jason said as he locked the door.