Lies From Pretty Lips

ARINOLA SOLADE

ARINOLA SOLADE

AKINWALE

It was my wedding day, the day I've been looking forward to for a while now. The day my best man has also been dreading, he'd convinced himself that Arinola was a gold digger who was only marrying me for my money.

But he didn't know Arinola as I did, she didn't want me for my money. I tried to convince him that  Arinola was different but he refused to budge. He even claimed that I did not know her that well, and he wasn't wrong. There were a lot of things I didn't know about my wife to be and that was one of the exciting parts of our marriage that I was looking forward to; learning exciting things about her every day once we got married.

I had a feeling that there were a lot of things she was keeping away from, all the very best parts of her.

One thing was clear for sure, she wasn't with me because of my money. I remember how she'd been angry at me for buying expensive gifts for her parents or the irritation that she'd always try to mask every time I did something 'extravagant' for her. She was different from the other girls and that's why I want her, why I love her.

Femi came into the room dressed in his impeccable suit, he picked up my blazer on the bed and walked to where I was standing. His outfit could have rivaled mine but while he had settled on an old suit because he had refused to put in too much effort for my wedding, I'd gone for the very best because it was my wedding and I had to do the most.

"It's not too late to cancel you know, I'm sure she'll understand," Femi said handing me my blazer.

I looked at him like he was crazy, why would I want to cancel my wedding on the exact day and break Arin's heart?

"Why can't you be happy for me man?" I asked. "I'm tired of fighting with you over this every time. Today is a special day and as my best man, you shouldn't be trying to ruin it"

"I don't want to fight Wale, why can't you just understand that I'm looking out for you. I Just want you to be careful, there's a lot you don't know about that girl," He said.

I resisted the annoyance that was building up within me, 'that girl' was my fiancee and though there were some things I still didn't know about her, I trusted her and that was enough.

"I'll learn more about her when we get married, it makes things more interesting" I met his eyes in the mirror, I was hoping he'd get the message and just stop already.

"Don't tell me you don't have any doubts too, Wale, come on man" Femi said.

"Arinola is perfect, I have no doubts" I replied a total lie.

I had my doubts, she'd been behaving oddly these days but even that wasn't enough to change my mind. I love the woman and I'm marrying her, screw my doubts.

"You don't love her man, you barely know her enough to love her. You're attracted to her finer qualities" Femi insisted.

"Femi I appreciate you looking out for me but I am a man with a mind of my own, I'm also not stupid enough to be manipulated. I've been attracted to q lot of women and I've never wanted to settle down with any of them. It's different with Arinola, I won't deny that I'm very attracted to her because have you seen my fiancee?" I smiled

"She is the embodiment of beauty, but that is just a plus. I've met a lot of beautiful women and I've also never wanted to settle for any of them. With Arinola it's different, I love her and that's it " I frowned.

He wanted to say something else but I held up my hand to indicate that I didn't want to hear his thoughts about my marriage and fiancee anymore.

"You're a shitty best man for trying to ruin my mood on my wedding day Femi. Enough is enough, I don't want to hear anything else" I said.

"Are you sure she even wants to get married?" he sounded defeated.

"Of course she does, she'd have turned down my proposal if she didn't want to. Arinola does whatever she wants, if she didn't want me, she wouldn't have agreed to be my wife" I responded with an eye roll.

"Okay," Femi sighed giving up finally.

I looked at the watch on my wrist, in eight minutes I'd leave the room. I and my groomsmen would drive to the church and in the usual wedding fashion, wait for my bride and my bride's maid. If I have any doubts, well I'm keeping it to myself.

I've never seen Arinola as beautiful as she was today, she was all sunshine and rainbows. The makeup artist had kept her makeup subtle, paying more attention to her eyes and her lips.
The dress on the other hand fit her like a glove, accentuating the curves of her body. The few inches she'd gained made her look more fabulous and I loved it.

Her skin was glowing as she walked to me with her father beside her. her eyes were darker due to the makeup but they also appeared brighter and her smile never dropped.

"I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband"

Her voice was gentle and sounded like one I hadn't heard before.

"To have and to hold from this day forward"

She was looking right into my eyes, her eyes were becoming moist. Tears of joy, it was an emotional moment for me too. I never thought I'd be getting married so soon and now my soulmate was vowing to love me and be with me for the rest of my life.

"for better or for worse" her eyes left mine and she looked at her toes. I wanted to put my finger on her jaw and lift her face but I held myself in check.

At this moment, I didn't care about the other people around us, just her.

"For richer or for poorer" My friends jeered in the crowd because the latter was impossible. I couldn't help the chuckle and she looked at me again. I winked at her and She dropped her gaze, smiling this time around.

"In sickness and in health until death do us part" she finished.

The priest was taking too long, I just couldn't wait for the recessional hymn.
I didn't even know wedding procedures took this long because I hadn't been to a wedding in a long time.

I wish I could tell him to shut up already and send me and my wife on our way.

The only reason I'd agreed to wed in this cathedral was that my mum had insisted.

Arinola's parents worship at a Pentecostal church and naturally I would have wed her there but my mum had insisted that we get married at the cathedral.

"All the Solades have wedded in this cathedral, you won't break tradition Wale" My mum had insisted.

Since the Ajisafes were fine with it, I'd agreed.

Finally the recessional hymn.

Now I can have my wife all to myself, my wife.

Arinola Solade, there's nothing that sounds better than that.