X- Marriage Booth

Day 10

EVAN

Today I had intended to take John to the closest sunflower village, sometimes known as Sunflower Valley to tourists, which is where numerous varieties of sunflowers are grown. We rode the elevator silently to the ground floor. When we reached the second story, the elevator unexpectedly opened, letting two well-known couples inside. Mary and Paul gave us embraces and kisses as they both grinned and welcomed us. Naturally, I also turned to look at John, who was also grinning.

Mary smiled and said, "Hi, how are you guys?"

John replied to Mary: "We're good, Mary; how about you guys?"

Mary tapped John on the shoulder as a sign that she was delighted with John's regards. "Oh, we're definitely fine, honey; thank you for asking," Paul answered. Because of how they interact with one another, it appears as though they have been friends for a long time. The fact that John is so personable and compassionate is what makes him so remarkable. Not to add that he gets along well with others.

Mary handed us the invitation card after fumbling around in the bag she was carrying for it. "Since we're all here, I'll just give you guys the invitation card."

"Make sure you'll be there; we'll expect your presence, alright?" Paul remarked.

Mary then added with a smile. "Tomorrow night, the major event will start at four to five, and by six to seven, dinner and the party will commence."

John replied, "We'll be there, Mary," and the two of them exchanged hugs and handshakes. We bid the pair farewell and parted ways as we reached the bottom floor. When the automobile was ready for us, John and I stepped outside the hotel and boarded it.

When we both got into the car, I jokingly muttered to him, "I saw you smile back there," and I heard him laugh.

"And since when do you see me frowning?" he asked me while grinning. For the millionth time, his smile lifted my spirits, and I felt better every time I witnessed it. His smiles make him appear more alluring, as if Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, had bestowed her blessing on him.

"Well, I remember on the first day of our vacation here, you were sullen and frowned all day, not to mention you even got drunk." I remarked to him, and we both chuckled.

He replied with a phony smile, "Well, maybe because at that point I still hadn't moved on with my ex-husband—I don't know, it's complicated." He claimed that because it's complicated, he is unsure of whether they are still together or not.

After a moment of silence, he looked at me with his charming smile and added, "But now I can smile whenever I want, thanks to your help, Evan; you never failed to make me better." He then held my hand and gently massaged it.

I questioned him, looking anxious, "How about that day when I left you at the amusement park?"

He laughed once again and declared, "I'll consider that an exemption!" Why the heck am I anxious right now?

I responded, "You seemed so disappointed in me at that time," and the smile left his face. He turned his head away from me and gazed out the window of the car.

He was clearly feeling uneasy as he added, fiddling with his fingers, "I'm sorry for blaming you for what happened to me at the bar; I didn't mean it that way, so I take back what I said."

He paused and glanced at me before continuing, "I know how crazy this may sound to you because it's only been days since we met and we barely know each other, but I think I said those things because I felt so alone, like everything felt like deja vu, and I was also scared."

He added when he met my eyes directly, "I felt jealous, especially when you left and went with your so-called friend." Because of the redness of his eyes, which suggested that he was about to cry, I could tell that he was telling the truth. When I discovered he was envious, my heart nearly burst out of my chest. What surprised me even more was that Jean was the target of his enmity. I gave him a nice grin while holding his hand back.

By the time we split ways for good, we won't be able to share these experiences again, so I'll make the most of them while I can.

He reacted with a smile, held my hand, and drew nearer so he could rest his head on my shoulder. I grinned even wider. Perhaps it would be fortunate if John and I met before Hanz did. He seems clingy and kind, so I'm curious how Hanz was able to cheat on him given how adorable John is.

Only later did we arrive at our objective, exit the vehicle, and arrive at the vast hectare of sunflower-filled ground.

JOHN

I was taken aback by the beauty of the area the instant we stepped out of the car. Many people come because the size of the area where they planted sunflowers is magnificent and ideal for photo shoots.

I looked around the area, and my face literally had a 'woah reaction'. I turned around when I heard the camera snap. Evan was there, photographing everything he sees. When he noticed I was looking at him, he pointed his camera at me, and I heard a click as the camera flashed.

Then, to break the stillness, he remarked, "How about we do some photoshoots together later?" I responded with a smile and a nod.

We proceeded carefully towards the area, and I added, "Of course I also need to do a book cover and I was thinking of using this lovely scenery." We noticed visitors engaged in picture sessions as we approached, as well as vendors setting up shop to sell souvenirs and other items.

However, a little vendor selling keychains and accessories piqued my interest. As a result, I drew Evan closer to it.

"We're going to buy something; look at how beautiful those are!" I exclaimed as soon as we arrived at the vendor.

"I will also buy Evohn a small necklace," he said.

We were browsing together when I noticed a knotted brown leather bracelet. It is two, and it appears to be a couple. So I grabbed it and presented it to Evan right away. He examined it and embellished it after showing me a necklace with a knotted little rope design and a pendant that could be etched with a name. In response to the vintage design we chose, I nodded. He approached the cashier and handed her the necklace, mentioning that Evohn's name would be engraved on the pendant.

A cashier accepted the payment I had in my hand. The two bracelets I was holding were taken by him and placed in a tiny box. They do an excellent job of packaging their goods so that, at first glance, you may mistakenly believe you purchased them from a high-end retailer.

After we were done, we both placed the goods in my small bag and kept exploring the area. We captured a few images around the area as though we were conducting a photo shoot. I'm the model, and he's the photographer. Guess what? No matter how we pose for a professional photo shoot, we always end up laughing. We decided to take a break first and eat because the location was so large and I was hungry and thirsty.

Thankfully, there is a restaurant nearby, so we first made a halt and entered. I first walked upstairs to hunt for a table because the restaurant has a second story. Suddenly, I heard a call, and I turned to see who it was. Before I reached Mary and Paul, who were waving at me, I waved back.Mary and I gave our customary bear hugs, and Paul and I shook hands.I thanked Mary for offering me a seat and remarked, "I didn't expect to see you guys here."

"Paul insisted on coming here to get some accessories and other items for our upcoming anniversary," Mary explained as she showed me what she had purchased. couple bracelets and other things.

"Anyway, are you with Evan?" Paul inquired.

"Yes, he is with me; in fact, we recently completed a photo session for my future book's cover, which I had planned to create, and I was considering using this location," I said to Mary, who just smiled.

"So, have you already finished writing your book? Can you explain the story to me?" Mary said, and I felt a bit anxious, but Evan arrived just in time. He simply grinned at me, and I noticed Mary and Paul exchanging glances with a goofy smile on their faces.

Evan smiled and greeted them, then he and Paul shook hands and said, "Hi, I'm glad to see you guys here."

They talked for a while, and I briefly felt out of place. After Mary asked me if I could tell her the storyline, I was about to go insane. I'm a little worried that if she finds out what the narrative is about, she'll make fun of me.

We started eating when our food was served, and I just listened to what they were saying. Of course I was just behaving properly and minding my own business, but when Evan took my hand, I was taken aback. I glanced at Mary and Paul to see if they noticed, but they didn't appear to because they were too busy chatting and laughing at each other's jokes.

I also turned to look at Evan, who was conversing with them and cracking wise with them. Actually, it was humorous because I found myself laughing along with him at his jokes.

We had our hands on the table, and Evan was gripping mine, so it was only natural that I was tense. I was anxious that Mary and Paul might find us at any moment. I instantly lowered my hand so Evan could release his hold on me when I saw that Mary was looking at me.

We eventually completed our meal, and all of us got up together.

"We'll get going then; we still need to rest for tomorrow's event," Paul stated, looking at his wrist watch. We just nodded and shook hands as a sign of goodbye. But before they could depart, Mary whispered to me.

"Explain the details to me tomorrow, okay? Maybe I can help you with anything," she said quietly, and I grinned. She finally went after patting my shoulder.

Evan and I then went downstairs and exited the restaurant to begin the photoshoot. We went somewhere quiet as we were busy taking pictures, both of us were suddenly dragged away from each other.

I felt like I was being dragged away with a hold on both sides of my shoulders. The fact that it occurred so quickly astonished me as well. I suddenly felt a tiny cloth being placed over my head. This is what?

I questioned them, "Excuse me, what's happening?" and then understood that there was a veil covering the top of my head.

Suddenly, a familiar female voice stated, "You're getting married today, John." It was Mary, and when I turned to look at her, I could see that she was carrying a bouquet of sunflowers. As she walked toward me, I laughed as I watched her.

I asked her jokingly, "You started this, didn't you, Mary?" She laughed and offered me the flowers, which I gratefully took.

She almost laughed as she asserted, "Not me; it was Paul's idea."

I raised an eyebrow and questioned, "So this is what your goofy smiles are about, huh?"

She asked, which startled me, "Do you actually believe we missed it, the way you respond to it when Evan holds your hand, so tell me what you actually feel?"

I knew it; they saw it!

She smiled and said, "Regardless, Paul and I didn't pull this joke on you guys. In fact, we did this since we are both aware of your romantic relationship. There's something in there in the way you two look at each other and smile. Paul and I feel that too, so maybe doing this will benefit you in some way."

"How did you know that?" I questioned, surprised and perplexed.

"To begin with, Evan's smile is something I've never seen before, and I've never seen him treat someone the way he's treating someone now, and I'm also aware of every detail of your previous relationship, and although it may sound absurd, I believe you two deserve each other," she said, and I couldn't help but smile. Evan must've told her everything, which could explain why this girl understands me.

She chuckled and said, "Come on, off you go, princess; your groom is waiting for you," which made me chuckle as well. We walked until we arrived at our final stop.

On a platform, Evan was waiting for me. We both giggled in embarrassment when our eyes met. We both choked back our laughter as I carefully made my way over in Evan's direction. We both faced a man and still held back our laughter as I moved toward him. The man finished his speech, and then he told us to face each other simultaneously.

I'm reminded of the day Hanz and I were married at this very moment. But the strange thing is that whenever I remember our wonderful times together, Evan's face appears instead of Hanz's.

The officiant abruptly instructed us to exchange vows, so we did what he ordered.

I laughed as I stated to Evan, "Evan, I promise to love you always, to honor and support you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be faithful to you in all things until death do us part."

he began to say, "John, I-hmp," but paused briefly because I and him were both trying to contain our laughing. He shook his head and appeared serious, but it was clear that he was still laughing within.

"John, I promise to love you always, to honor you, and to stand by you through good times and bad, through prosperity and poverty, and until death do us part."

Then the celebrant motioned for us to use any rings or other props we might have as he asked if we had any. Fortunately, I remembered the bracelet and pulled it out of my bag to display it to the fictitious official. I questioned the officiant, "Will this work?" He merely nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

We both smiled as I put the bracelet on him and said, "With this bracelet, I, John, take you, Evan, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me through all our years and in all that life may bring us." This time, we were halfway serious and didn't stop laughing.

He grasped the bracelet's pair and pronounced, and Evan said, "With this bracelet, I, Evan, take you, John, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me through all our years and in all that life may bring us." I laughed before he put it in my hand.

We all laughed as the officiant stated, "Now I announce you, husband and wife—or husband and husband, I don't know, I don't care. You may now kiss your groom!" Everyone yelled for us to kiss, but I told Evan, "Don't you dare," and he laughed before kissing me while holding my wrist.

However, it was obviously only on the cheeks, which startled me even more. Everyone yelled, but Mary and Paul in particular.

We both stared at one another after he kissed me on the cheeks, but this time we both recognized that our feelings went above and beyond simple friendship.