New Life : A Second Chance

It was time.

The guests were sitting on the chairs, basking in the light of the setting sun. Patrick, who would be officiating the wedding, was standing and awaiting at the end of the 'line'. Kyle was standing on the right of Patrick, grinning away with Xing Han beside him as his best man (naturally).

When the wedding march sounded, Kyle stopped fooling around with Xing Han and focused at the area where Sayuri would emerge.

He had no idea what she would look like, for Sayuri had insisted on him being kept in the dark. He wasn't even allowed to choose his own suit. He went for the fitting, of course, though there hadn't been much that needed to be done.

First, Ben and Ariel appeared, holding hands.

On both of Ben's and Ariel's wrists was something that looked like a watch, but if one was to look closely, it was actually the rings. It was in a small, round glass casing, that was strapped on their little wrists.

On Ariel, the strap had lace appliques while Ben's strap was pure leather but had shadings of sunset theme colours.

They took steady steps down the aisle.

Next, Fleur and Aurora emerged, holding flower baskets in their hands and huge smiles on their faces. Immediately after, Ziad and Alex came into view, and went to stand beside Fleur and Aurora respectively. Ziad on Fleura's right, while Alex was on Aurora's left. 

Thus, the flower girls were in the middle of the aisle and they started walking slowly behind Ben and Ariel. They would sprinkle the petals of the sunset theme behind them.

It was then that Sayuri emerged, holding onto the arms of her uncle.

Kyle's breath got stuck in his throat.

God, she was breathtaking.

She was looking straight at him, and he couldn't take his eyes off her. It was as if everything around them had disappeared and it was only the two of them in their own world.

Behind Sayuri, Kay and Betty followed as matron-of-honour and the sole bridesmaid. Sam was amongst the guests, taking care of their kids and he watched his wife pass by with a smile.

Sayuri stopped a few feet away from Kyle and gave her uncle a kiss on the cheek before he let her go and sat down in the front row on the right side. The FFs were in the front row on the left side, sitting down after having done their duties.

Kay and Betty went to the right, opposite of Xing Han and stood behind Ariel. Ben was standing in front of Xing Han.

Sayuri looked at her handsome husband, who was holding out his hand to her. She took his hand and as she came up, Kyle whispered under his breath to her, "You're so beautiful."

"You're not bad yourself," Sayuri replied softly.

Naturally, Kyle's eyes dropped to the valley of death and gave his wife 'the look'. She just smiled at him.

"And a temptress," Kyle said as they turned to face Patrick.

Patrick was standing there, grinning away.

Since Kyle and Sayuri were already legally married, Patrick wasn't really officiating the wedding. It was merely a symbolic gesture. This was more of a renewal of vows, so to speak, than an actual wedding.

Patrick cleared his throat.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to share with Kyle and Sayuri's very special day."

"Many people believe that entering into marriage is the final step in a romantic relationship. A couple meets, get to know one another and fall in love, decide they want to spend their lives together, and then take the final step—marriage."

"Happily ever after, like in any fairy tale."

"But no. Marriage is hardly the final step in a couple's relationship, rather it is the beginning of a grand adventure!"

"Kyle and Sayuri, you have shared the joys, blessings and challenges of married life for seven years. Today you want to reconfirm your love and commitment to each other."

"May this renewing of the vows you took to become husband and wife remind you that despite the stresses inevitable in every life, your love, respect, trust and understanding of each other will continue to increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living and deepen your love for each other."

"Please join hands. Oh, sorry. You already are. Then face each other please, and not stare at my handsome face too much."

There was slight laughter amongst the guests.

Patrick turned to face Kyle and asked, "Kyle Rexington Smith, will you continue to have Sayuri as your wife and continue to live in this marriage?"

"Always and forever," Kyle replied as he looked lovingly at his wife.

"Do you reaffirm your love to her, and will you love, honor and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

"Naturally, with every breath that I take," Kyle replied.

Patrick turned to Sayuri and asked, "Sayuri Hinata, will you continue to have my worthless and troublesome son, Kyle, as your husband and continue to live in this marriage?"

Sayuri giggled a bit and replied, "Always and forever."

"Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honor and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?" Patrick asked.

"I do," Sayuri replied, gazing at her husband with all the love in her heart showing on her face.

"Rings, besides showing that you own the person, serve as a reminder of your vows to each other, and your commitment to live in unity, love and happiness. At this time, reconfirm your stake on your husband through the meaning of the rings you wear."

Kyle looked at his father, who looked back at him innocently.

Ben and Ariel were now beside Kyle and Sayuri. 

Patrick looked up at and addressed the audience, "Both Kyle and Sayuri have their own vows prepared, so I shall leave it to them at this point."

Kyle turned towards Ben, who held out his wrist to him. Carefully opening the casing, he took out the ring that was nestled inside. Taking his wife's hand in his, he looked at her in the eyes and said, "Sayuri, my love, with this ring, I am reaffirming my love for you. You are my heart, my soul and the reason for living. I pledge my heart, and life, to always love and protect you for as long as I may live."

Kyle slipped the ring into his wife's finger, and she smiled.

Sayuri turned towards Ariel, who was sucking her thumb. She quickly put her thumb out and looked at her mother sheepishly. Ben reached out and carefully opened the casing, and gave the ring to Sayuri.

She took the ring and holding Kyle's hand, slipped the ring on as she said, "Kyle, my husband, with this ring, I am staking my claim on you and declaring that you are mine and mine alone. You are my heart, my soul and the reason for living. I love you then, and I love you more now, and I will love you forever more. I pledge my heart, and my life, to be by your side until my last breath."

Patrick sniffed loudly and said, "Kyle and Sayuri, today you have renewed the vows you made to each other. You have symbolized the renewal of your union by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by the wearing of your rings."

"Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a kiss!"

Kyle grinned and said, "As if I needed to be directed."

"Well, just kiss her then so that we can end this and eat!" Patrick replied.

Everyone laughed as Kyle bent forward and placed his lips on his beautiful wife's lips. With his hand that was still holding hers, he pulled her closer and placed his hand on her waist and another behind her neck.

Once he had her firmly in his grasp, Kyle snaked his tongue in and deepened the kiss, taking his time to explore within and capture the elusive treasure. 

After a few minutes of this, Patrick finally interrupted him, "AHEM. Kyle, could you end this now so that we can go and eat?"

Kyle broke the kiss and laughed, along with the guests. He gave Sayuri a final peck on the lips before he turned to face everyone.

"Everyone, thank you for being here with us on our very special day. We never did have a wedding ceremony before and we got married under really unique circumstances. So I am glad to be able to renew my vows with my beloved, and give her the ceremony I owed her so long ago," Kyle said, "Let's eat!"

With that, they headed towards the dining area.