Translucent Waters (Nanase Haruka Love Story) (Free! Iwatobi Swimming Club)

Chapter Thirty-Two: My Brother's Wedding

Chapter Thirty-Two

My Brother’s Wedding

 

Mizushima Kasumi’s Point of View

 

            “Asami, chill,” I attempted to console my future sister-in-law. “Masaru-nii’s not going to ditch you.”

            “You don’t understand the pressure I’m under right now!” she screamed in fear at the thought of my brother leaving her midway through the wedding ceremony.

            I sighed at her (hopefully temporary) paranoid state and said, “Asami . . . relax . . . It’s just wedding-day nerves . . . I think.”

            One thing was for sure. I hoped I wasn’t going to be like this on my wedding day . . . if I even married, for that matter.

            “Asami, you have literally no sense of emotion right now,” I deadpanned. “Just freaking get out there already and get married. Your bridesmaids are already out there and ready, and I bet you that my brother is getting anxious that you’re not getting out there, and possibly, because of that, he might ditch you because he thinks you’re ditching him by not getting out there. Please, calm your nerves and get out there. You should be excited to get married, Asami. C’mon, you can do this . . . for my brother. Take a deep breath and get out there, okay?”

            She took a deep breath, as if to calm down, before exhaling, releasing all of her stress, before saying, “Okay, I’m calm. Sorry about that. I think I’m ready.”

            I shook my head, “You don’t think you’re ready. You are ready.”

            At that she gave me a nervous smile before heading out of the dressing room and into the main atrium. I then took my place dead last behind the other three bridesmaids. Before long, the mahogany double doors to the church’s main atrium opened, and it was now time for us bridesmaids to walk down the aisle, leading the beautiful bride trailing behind us, veil over her head . . . to marry Masaru . . . my brother.

~*~*~*~

            “Dear children of God, you have come to this church so that the Lord may seal your love in the presence of the priest and this community. Christian marriage is a sacred union, which enriches natural love. It binds those who enter it to be faithful to each other forever; it creates between them a bond that endures for life and cannot be broken; it demands that they love and honor each other, (that they accept from God the children he may give them, and bring them up in his love). To help them in their marriage, the husband and wife receive the life-long grace of the sacrament. Is this your understanding of marriage?” the priest declared, once everyone in the audience settled down into their seats and the bride and groom were standing alongside each other.

            “It is,” both Masaru-nii and Asami stated simultaneously as they gazed into each other’s eyes lovingly.

            On the opposite side of the platform stood Nanase, who was lined along with the other groomsmen. He gave me a quick glance before returning his attention to my brother and Asami. Sooner or later, I did the same.