MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter Ninety-One: The First Ceremony
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The morning came gold and warm.
The sun rose over the palace walls, painting the white towers in shades of pink and orange. The gardens were green. The fountains were blue. The flowers were everywhere. Marigolds. Roses. Jasmine. The air was sweet. The birds were singing. The palace was waking.
Percy was up before the sun. He had been waiting for this day for weeks. The first ceremony. The thatched roof ceremony. The beginning of the weddings.
He ran through the halls. His voice was loud. "WAKE UP! TODAY IS THE FIRST CEREMONY! TODAY IS THE—"
Honey grabbed his arm. "It's six in the morning."
Percy grinned. "I know."
She kissed him. "I love you."
He kissed her back. "I love you too."
---
The family gathered in the garden.
The thatched roof was at the center. Wooden poles. Palm leaves. Flowers woven through the roof. The ground was covered with marigolds. The chairs were white. The aisle was red. The altar was gold. The priest was waiting. His beard was long. His robes were white. His smile was warm.
The girls were in their sarees. Lyra in red. Care in blue. Rakki in orange. Mica in green. Ella in pink. Freya in black. Grace in purple. Tita Gemma in white. Jay in gold.
The boys were in their kurtas. Alex in red. Cole in blue. Ci N in orange. Calix in green. Aries in pink. Erdix in black. Denzel in purple. Ion in white. Kuya Angelo in cream. Keifer in gold. Keiran in gold. Keigan in gold.
Percy stood at the center. His kurta was white. His dhoti was gold. His face was bright.
"I'm ready," Percy said.
Honey was beside her. Her saree was white. Her dupatta was gold. Her face was calm. "The ceremony isn't for you."
Percy's face fell. "It's not?"
Honey smiled. "It's for the brides and grooms."
Percy's face brightened. "I know. I'm just excited."
Honey kissed his cheek. "I know."
---
The ceremony began.
The priest lit the lamp. The flames rose. The smoke was sweet. The mantras were ancient. The family was silent.
Lyra and Alex stood at the center. Her face was blank. His face was wet. Her hands were in his. His hands were steady.
The priest spoke. "This ceremony is the first. The thatched roof. The beginning. The promise. The home you will build together."
Lyra looked at Alex. Her face was blank. Her eyes were not.
"I'm scared," she whispered.
He pulled her close. "I'm here."
She held him. "I know."
---
The priest tied the thread around their wrists. Red and gold. The color of blood. The color of sun. The color of forever.
"This thread binds you," the priest said. "Not as chains. As roots. As the roots of a tree that will grow together. That will weather storms. That will stand for a hundred years."
Lyra looked at the thread. At the red. At the gold. At the hand that held hers.
"I'm not good at this," Lyra said.
Alex kissed her hand. "You don't have to be good. You just have to be here."
She looked at him. "I'm here."
He pulled her close. "Then it's perfect."
---
Care and Cole stood at the center. Her face was soft. His face was steady. Her hands were in his. His hands were warm.
The priest tied the thread around their wrists. Blue and silver. The color of sky. The color of stars. The color of forever.
"This thread binds you," the priest said. "Not as chains. As roots. As the roots of a tree that will grow together. That will weather storms. That will stand for a hundred years."
Care looked at the thread. At the blue. At the silver. At the hand that held hers.
"I was running my whole life," Care said.
Cole kissed her hand. "You're not running now."
She looked at him. "I'm not running now."
He pulled her close. "Then it's perfect."
---
Rakki and Ci N stood at the center. Her face was bright. His face was soft. Her hands were in his. His hands were steady.
The priest tied the thread around their wrists. Orange and gold. The color of fire. The color of sun. The color of forever.
"This thread binds you," the priest said. "Not as chains. As roots. As the roots of a tree that will grow together. That will weather storms. That will stand for a hundred years."
Rakki looked at the thread. At the orange. At the gold. At the hand that held hers.
"I'm going to annoy you forever," Rakki said.
Ci N laughed. "I know."
She pulled him close. "Then it's perfect."
---
Mica and Calix stood at the center. Her face was focused. His face was bright. Her hands were in his. His hands were steady.
The priest tied the thread around their wrists. Green and gold. The color of forests. The color of money. The color of forever.
"This thread binds you," the priest said. "Not as chains. As roots. As the roots of a tree that will grow together. That will weather storms. That will stand for a hundred years."
Mica looked at the thread. At the green. At the gold. At the hand that held hers.
"The pattern is mathematically perfect," Mica said.
Calix laughed. "Only you would notice that."
She pulled him close. "Only me."
---
The ceremony ended.
The lamp was lit. The mantras were sung. The threads were tied. The brides and grooms stood at the center. Their hands were together. Their wrists were bound. Their hearts were full.
Percy was crying. Honey was holding him. Aries was crying. Ella was holding them. Lyra was crying. Alex was holding her. Care was crying. Cole was holding her. Rakki was crying. Ci N was holding her. Mica was crying. Calix was holding her. Freya was watching. Erdix was beside her. Grace was watching. Denzel was beside her. Kuya Angelo was watching. Ion was beside him. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand.
Keiran ran to Jay. His face was wet. "Ate Jay! Ate Jay! That was beautiful!"
Jay pulled him close. "It was beautiful."
Keigan stood behind them. His face was cold. His eyes were soft.
Keifer put his hand on Keiran's head. "Did you like it?"
Keiran nodded. His face was bright. "I want to get married here."
Keifer smiled. "Someday."
Keiran looked at Jay. "Ate Jay, will you come to my wedding?"
Jay kissed his forehead. "I'll be there."
Keiran grinned. Keigan's face didn't change. His eyes did.
---
The family walked to the dining hall.
The tables were long. The food was South Indian. Dosa and idli. Sambar and chutney. Coconut and curry. The coffee was strong. The tea was sweet. The air was warm.
Percy was at the head of the table. His plate was full. His voice was loud. "This is the best food I've ever had."
Honey was beside him. "You say that every meal."
Percy grinned. "Because it's true."
---
Lyra and Alex sat together. Her hand was in his. Her wrist was bound. His wrist was bound. The thread was red and gold.
"Does it hurt?" Alex asked.
Lyra looked at the thread. "No."
He kissed her hand. "Good."
She looked at him. "I'm not taking it off."
He smiled. "Me neither."
---
Care and Cole sat together. Her hand was in his. Her wrist was bound. His wrist was bound. The thread was blue and silver.
"We're getting married," Care said.
Cole kissed her hand. "We're getting married."
She leaned against him. "In five days."
He pulled her close. "In five days."
---
Rakki and Ci N sat together. Her hand was in his. Her wrist was bound. His wrist was bound. The thread was orange and gold.
"I'm going to keep this forever," Rakki said.
Ci N looked at her. "The thread?"
She grinned. "You."
He laughed. "Good."
---
Mica and Calix sat together. Her hand was in his. Her wrist was bound. His wrist was bound. The thread was green and gold.
"I'm going to analyze the chemical composition of the thread," Mica said.
Calix stared at her. "You're not."
She smiled. "I'm not."
He kissed her. "Good."
---
Jay sat at the end of the table. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. His wrist was bare. Her wrist was bare. Their threads were old. Their threads had been tied years ago. In a garden. In Manila. In the mud.
"You're thinking," Keifer said.
She looked at him. "I'm always thinking."
He kissed her hand. "What are you thinking about?"
She looked at the family. At her sister. At her brother. At her friends. At her husband. At the twins growing inside her. At the boys who called her Ate. At the life she had built.
"I'm thinking about the garden," she said. "About the mud. About the Ferris wheel. About the contract. About the day you put the ring back on my finger."
He pulled her close. "I'm thinking about the day you took a bullet for me."
She touched his face. "I would do it again."
He kissed her hand. "I wouldn't let you."
She smiled. "You don't have a choice."
---
The night came.
The palace was quiet. The family was sleeping. Percy was dreaming of elephants. Honey was beside him. Aries and Ella were curled together. Lyra and Alex were in each other's arms. Care and Cole were holding hands. Rakki and Ci N were tangled together. Mica and Calix were arguing in their sleep. Freya and Erdix were silent. Grace and Denzel were still. Kuya Angelo and Ion were reading. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand.
Keiran was asleep. His face was soft. His hands were open. The thread was on his wrist. Gold and gold. Like Ate Jay. Like Keifer. Keigan was awake. His eyes were on the window. On the garden. On the fountains. On the palace. On the place where his brother was happy. On the place where his hipag was safe.
He touched the thread on his wrist. Gold and gold. Like Ate Jay. Like Keifer. He closed his eyes. He slept.
---
Jay stood at the window. Keifer was behind her. His arms were around her. His face was in her hair.
"Tomorrow is the second ceremony," Jay said.
He kissed her neck. "The turmeric ceremony."
She leaned against him. "The brides will be painted. The grooms will be blessed. The family will be together."
He pulled her closer. "And then the weddings."
She turned to face him. "And then the weddings."
He kissed her forehead. "And then we go home."
She touched his face. "And then we wait."
He smiled. "And then we wait."
The twins moved. Two small flutters. Two small lives. Two small hearts.
Keifer looked at her stomach. His hand was on her skin. "They're awake."
Jay laughed. "They're always awake."
He knelt. His face was level with her stomach. "Hello," he said. "Today was the first ceremony. The thatched roof. The binding. Your aunts and uncles are one step closer to being married. Tomorrow is the turmeric ceremony. The painting. The blessing. And then the weddings. And then we go home. And then you're born. And then you're loved. And then you're everything."
The twins moved. Two small kicks. Two small lives. Two small hearts.
Keifer looked up. His face was wet. "They know."
Jay pulled him up. Her arms were around him. "They know."
He held her. "I love you."
She held him. "I love you too."
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END OF CHAPTER NINETY-ONE