Smiles Were Not Enough

Andre returned from the night shift, his teeth shattering. It's the height of the cold season, the snow was dropping and he felt like he was going to freeze. His heavily insulated snow pants kept him warm but not enough to spare him from the cold.

His hood shielded his face by protecting his head and neck. He needed to do this third job to meet up with the demands of his fiancée. Christmas was in a couple of days and finally, he'd done with the job for the month.

He adjusts the water heater before turning the shower on. He heard his phone ringing in the bedroom but was not in a hurry to answer it. He took his time before stepping out of the bathroom.

His mom had prepared a hot coffee for him, he saw it placed by his bedside, the aroma of black coffee filled the entire room, the steam of it writhing away. He chose another outfit with a zipper pocket and head warmer as he took a sip from his coffee and stepped out of the room.

He had hardly sat down to have breakfast when his friend dashed in, his eyes red and desperation written all over it. He glanced at Andre and his eyes went moist. Alice glanced at Felix and then at her son Andre and doesn't understand why they both stared at each other without a word.

"Where's your phone,Andre?" Felix asked, hastiness in his tone. If he could have just answered his phone a while ago, perhaps he could have been able to stop them.

"My phone..." he repeated and realised it's still in the bedroom. "In my room" he said, standing up to come closer.

"I called you earlier Andre..." Felix trailed off and helplessly threw his hands to his side in a dejected manner. Oh gosh, how could he not have known or heard about it.

"Yeah..my phone rang but I was bathing" Andre replied and Felix pulled him saying "Come along, it's urgent..." he said and dragged him out, he sat on his bike and ordered Andre to sit down quickly.

Andre sighed softly. On this cold morning, Felix was going to get him frozen by riding at such a speed.

Obediently, Andre sat down and Felix swerved the bike and started going at a high speed. He got to the garden plaza and saw different varieties of cars all lined up like a convoy and dignitaries all stormed out, shaking hands with a couple.

Felix parked and said "I brought you to see for yourself. They're married now. You can't stop them, they're a couple now but I want you to see them" he said, gesturing for Andre to look in the direction the couple were.

Andre was lost, what is Felix saying, Married, couple. What is his business with that? Weddings were common around the December period, just before Xmas. Bringing him to see a married couple was not worth it on a cold morning like this.

Anyways he glanced at the couple and he sighted Regina Logan and her husband James. They were dressed exquisitely and he wondered if the couple were...

He hadn't concluded his thoughts when he saw her, the bride turned her head and their eyes locked. Andre stood rooted. His eyes wide opened in shock and his body shivered uncontrollably.

"What is going on, Felix" he thought but didn't realise that the words slipped out of his lips and his friend glanced at him, his eyes clouded with tears "a wedding just took place Andre"

Andre's complexion had turned pale. He couldn't believe his eyes, Jasmine is the bride, his own fiancée of three years? He was breathing hard now, laboured breathing as his chest rises and falls rapidly, visibly seen through his clothing.

The couple sighted him and they both walked towards him. Jasmine intertwined her hands around her husband's elbow and walked queenly like a bride truly. Her long expensive wedding dress was flowing behind her, being held by the chief bridesmaid.