Monthly Bonus Content #2 - Farah's Valentine's Scenario Special

There’s a hush over the room.

Everyone is seated in neat columns and rows on uncomfortable fold-out chairs, staring towards the front, where the two people we’ve all gathered for gaze at each other with a look of love that would make anyone envious.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

The words spark a sudden round of applause and hollers from the crowd so loud that it makes me worried it’ll overload Farah’s senses. But when I turn to check on her, she’s clapping and cheering as loudly as everyone else.

She swipes tears away from her eyes as she smiles.

“Are…you crying?” I ask, leaning in close to her to be heard over the crowd, forgetting again that her vampiric hearing means I could probably whisper it and she’d still hear me.

She nods at me, still clapping as the couple turn to wave at their guests. “Obviously. It’s a wedding. Where else can you be so overloaded with happiness?”

“You barely even know them,” I say with a slight chuckle.

“I don’t need to know them to see they’re completely in love.” Her hand drops from clapping to twine into mine. “Thanks for bringing me, babe.”

My body surges with happiness, and I barely even notice as the married couple walk past as I’m so captured by Farah.

-

Farah and I volunteer to stay behind and pack up the chairs while the others head to the reception. With how speedy Farah can be, I knew it wouldn’t take us long, and the hall is almost back to its empty state within ten minutes.

At the far end of the wood-panelled room, an archway of twining, twirling flowers is almost glowing from the sunlight which radiates through the windows behind it.

I stop in front of it, breathing in the sweet scent. “I wonder how they managed to keep the flowers fresh for this long?” I muse.

“Magic,” Farah replies, folding up the last chair and balancing it to the side with the others.

I whip my head around to face her with eyes wide. “Really?”

She chuckles and walks to my side. “No. Well, sort of. These kinds of events are magical in their own way, right?”

I shrug a shoulder and lean into her as we both look over the beautiful archway haloed by the sun.

“So, uh…what are we supposed to do with it?” I ask, breaking the silence that had fallen.

“They asked us to move it outside.” She jerks her chin towards the double doors and the small courtyard beyond. “The couple want it to take photos against later.”

My gaze arcs across the large flowery sculpture. “…Well, this could get interesting.”

After spending five minutes just trying to figure out how to hold the thing without crushing all the flowers, we wiggle it carefully through the open doors and out into the warm garden.

We wriggle the arch and twist ourselves around the knots of box topiary and miniature statues until we can finally plop it down in the centre.

My end bangs onto the ground a little harder than expected, shaking the bouquets of some of their petals.

I stare up with a sharp breath. “Whoops.”

“Ah, don’t worry,” Farah says, waving a hand as she steps in front of it. “It looks better like this.”

“Bleeding petals?” I ask.

She takes my hand and tugs me close until we’re stood beneath it, her finger tipping my chin up. “Look. It’s raining beauty, not bleeding anything.”

I watch the flower petals dance down in soft waves, a couple landing on my face and kissing my cheeks with delicate scent.

My gaze falls back to find Farah’s. “Did you have to train yourself to see the positive in everything, or does it just come naturally?”

“A bit of both.” She grins, wrapping her arms around my middle. “You want me to teach you?”

The world brightens when I’m with Farah like this—as though everything takes on an aura of happiness. My worries of ruining the arch turn to realising how romantic this moment is, embracing Farah as petals rain around us. My anxiety about cramming into a small hall for the reception become excitement about spending the evening with her.

I cup her cheek and sigh. “I think I already get an idea of it when you’re around.”

She tilts her head at me, her grin softening to a smile that makes my stomach flutter. “Are you trying to get me to swoon again?”

“Do I really need to try when it works every time?” I ask with a small laugh.

“Ohhh…such confidence.” She leans in and kisses beneath my ear, whispering, “I love it.”

I sigh at the touch. “We should probably head to the reception.”

“Probably,” she murmurs against my skin as she plants another kiss. “Do you want to?”

“Nope,” I reply, turning my head slightly to capture her lips in her kiss that I’ve been desperate for all day.

Sensations rush through me.

As her hands roam across my back, my skin alights with tingles. My mind buzzes with a million thoughts, all of Farah. My chest barely feels like it will contain all the happiness that blossoms in my heart.

We may have been here to celebrate the wedding of other people, but I know for certain: there are no people more meant for each than us.

When we draw apart, she rests her forehead against mine and lets out a low breath.

Farah gazes into my eyes as though searching for my soul. “You know you’re the world to me, [Name].”

“I’m starting to get the picture, yes,” I reply, trying to keep it light but too overwhelmed by the exact same feelings for Farah.

She swallows and rests her hand on my arm. “No. I really mean…What I mean is—”

“Oh great! You got the arch in place,” the wedding co-ordinator exclaims as he shuffles closer with a clipboard gripped in his hand and a microphone wobbling near his mouth attached to his earpiece.

Farah draws away with a smile at the man while I’m still trapped in our moment, her words echoing in my head and heart.

“What you mean is what—” My words are cut off as the wedding co-ordinator begins bustling about. I shoot him a glare he doesn’t notice.

“The couple will be here soon,” he states. “Do you mind hooking the doors open for me?”

“No problem,” Farah replies, glancing to me with a grin and flinging her hand out. “Come on, babe. We’ve got work to do.”

She springs away, ready to get back to the task.

I stare after her, wondering with every hope I have if the words she’d just been about to say we’re the words I’ve been waiting so long to hear.