An SK Kind of Wedding

Chapter 5

Three days ago

My apartment was filled with wedding gifts. The wedding was a few days away and yet the gifts had started pouring in since the previous week. I never realized I had such a number of great relatives and friends, not to mention my immediate family. Nick was also popular and half of the gifts were from his side. I hadn't had a chance to catalogue everything so we could thank everyone, properly.

My doorbell rang. I was at the dining area, with my laptop revising materials for a presentation to our big bosses for the next day, my last day at work before I go on my wedding and honeymoon leave.

"I'll get it!" Nick said. Nick had moved into my apartment shortly after our engagement. I had a feeling he was there more to ensure I was safe rather than the reason he actually gave me, which was we were going to live with each other anyway after the wedding, so why not start early. He also made it a point to scout around for a new place for us to move after the wedding.

"Whoa!"

I looked up from my presentation, curious.

Nick walked into the dining area, carrying a large bouquet of white calla lilies.

"Someone sent this to us," Nick said laying the bouquet carefully on the dining table. There was something wrong about the bouquet, beautiful though the flowers were, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Is there a card?" I asked, afraid of the answer.

"Yes. It's addressed to you."

Nick handed me the card. He looked at me curiously.

I opened the envelope with trembling hands.

Congratulations.

May you and nerd boy have a perfect wedding.

Although, who knows? So many things can still happen before your vows are sealed.

Then these flowers can be put to better use.

How do you like my other gift?

I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to kill Kurt at that very moment. He was taking this too far.

Nick took the card from my shaking hands and read the message. He swore under his breath. Then he hugged me tightly. I hadn't realized I had started to cry until I felt Nick's wet shirt against my face.

"Oh god, I—I can't . . . take this anymore," I said in between sobs.

"Shhh . . . I'm here. We're in this together. I'm nerd boy, remember?" Nick said.

I giggled in spite of myself. Because he was a nerd boy. MY nerd boy. And no one should or could ever hurt my nerd boy!

When I got myself under control, Nick took the liberty of throwing away the flowers. He kept the card though. Evidence, he said.

"Wait . . . what did he mean 'other gift?'" Nick asked.

He and I looked at each other, feeling dread. Then we looked into the living room where the wedding gifts were scattered about.

Oh shoot.

o o o o o

Wedding Day

Kurt reaches me and starts to put his hands on me, for what reason, I can't fathom. I let him. And then with all my might and with everything I've learned from all those self-defense classes, I bring my knee up with a force I didn't know I could muster—and which rips my gown even more—and hit him where it hurt and when he almost crumples in pain and gets to about my height level, I bring my open palm up to the bridge of his nose and put my entire weight against that hit. I connect and am satisfied to hear a cracking sound, as the blood rush down from his nose and splatter the hem of my gown.

More guys from Nick's entourage come just in time to restrain Kurt further. They take him far away from me.

I drop down to my knees, ripping my dress further and check on Nick, still crouched on the ground. Everything happened in just a few seconds.

"Nick," I say, fearing the worst.

He turns over, as soon as he hears my voice and looks up at me.

"Are you okay? Are you hit?" I ask frantically, my hands checking him for a gunshot wound. Then, I see blood seeping through his white shirt and I am beside myself in grief.

"You're hit! The bastard hit you!"

"No, Carrie, I'm not hit!"

"But the blood . . .," I say, and then I feel weak.

Nick looks at me and then sits up suddenly and takes me in his arms. "Carrie, it's your blood! You're hit!"

I feel the pain right at that moment.

I black out.