Vows and Bullets
Chapter 143: Last Week of August (Part 6)

Chapter 143: Last Week of August (Part 6)

Please DON’T READ this Chapter yet. I will update this next week!

I sincerely apologize, beloved agents, my hand hasn’t healed yet T_T. I’m taking medication and following doctor’s advise so hopefully I can get back to writing soon.

I will replace this Chapter with the real one soon, don’t worry, and upload a new one for the next day. I really apologize once again.

In the meantime, please enjoy the continuation of the story below titled "The King’s Beloved". This is the revised version I am planning to submit for paperback publication. Hopefully, I get a chance someday.

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(Part 6 - Continuation...)

While in the car, the two lovers chatted about random things that happened to them recently. Zeid was really talkative and funny. Before she noticed it, they were already near their destination which was none other than the most prestigious hotel in town. She wondered why he took her there. They usually went to hotels if there were meetings or events they needed to attend, but as far as she knew, they didn’t have anything scheduled for the rest of the day. She even checked her calendar yesterday and before she got off from work that day.

Could it be? Rania asked herself. Is he finally thinking of something naughty? Hmm... But we promised not to do that until after marriage.

While she was busy pondering why, Zeid escorted her inside the hotel. They skipped the concierge in the lobby and went straight to the top floor. Walking through the long hallway, they reached the events room where he politely opened the door for her and welcomed her inside. All the lights were off and it was pitch black. Rania hesitated to go but seeing he was unfazed about it, she decided to follow inside.

"Babe, why are we here? And why is it so dark here?" Rania whispered while her steps started to slow down as she spun her head around, trying to make something of the dark space.

Noticing that she was not holding on to anyone and that Zeid was no longer escorting her, she loudly called for him.

"Babe? Babe! Where are you?" Rania shouted, a bit worried as she looked back and forth everywhere, but everything was covered in darkness.

Click!

All the lights turned on.

Since it hurt to suddenly see the light when her eyes just adjusted to the darkness, Rania barely managed to open her eyes.

"SURPRISE!"

Suddenly, a bunch of people came out of nowhere and cheered happily.

As the scene got clearer, Rania saw her friends surrounding her, along with workmates on one side, colleagues on the other, and many acquaintances she shared with Zeid all around her! Her grandparents weren’t there, but some of the pastors from church and even Lailee were there! They came to her and gave her a hug one after another. Then, she noticed the extravagant design of the whole event hall. Large flower stands were everywhere, carefully arranged tables and chairs draped in blue, caterers at the corners, and all the pillars and walls were decorated with colorful curtains and fairy lights. The whole place was so fancy that her jaw almost dropped.

"Oh my goodness! Did you prepare all these for me?" Rania barely managed to ask. Tears began to swell up from her eyes.

"Come on, Ninie. Don’t cry," a brunette girl teased her. She was her best friend, Hannah, whom she met from high school and still kept in touch after college.

"Hannah, you’re here!" Rania exclaimed as she ran towards her arms and hugged her. "You even flew from the other side of the world. Thank you so much... sniff."

Looking at everyone with tears that won’t stop coming from her eyes, she smiled at them and thanked each of them for coming. So many important people in her life came over despite their busy schedules. Life wasn’t that easy anymore, unlike when they were children or still at school, but the fact that they still came for her, she felt so grateful and so happy she couldn’t even begin to explain all her emotions in one.

While laughing, chatting, and embracing each other, the sound of the piano distracted her. It played a classic yet with a modern touch version of Can’t help falling in love by Elvis Presley. A woman with a fantastic voice stood beside the pianist and sang.

"Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can’t help falling in love

With you."

As the music played, Zeid came out from the crowd carrying a box in his arms. For some reason, it was covered with pictures of mobile and desktop games, adding more to her confusion. He approached her slowly, with his feet trembling a bit on every step.

Everyone cheered and squealed loudly, saying, "Go Zeid!" or "You’re the man!"

Rania smiled, finally getting a picture of what was happening. She stood fixed at her place as she engraved her memory of that very moment that Zeid walked towards her, carrying whatever he was carrying. Her heart thumped loud in her chest to the point that she could almost hear it. Smiling and laughing at each other, she gazed dearly towards Zeid who by then, bent down on his knees, offered the box, and asked her to open it.

Rania opened the box with much anticipation. Inside, she found another box—only this time, it was a bit smaller and covered with pictures of foods and beverages. She opened it again and found yet another smaller box which was then covered with images of cars.

To her confusion, she teased, "You definitely put in a lot of effort into this."

Zeid laughed at her remark. But he remained silent, waiting for Rania to finish opening the boxes.

Rania shook her head as she saw that after the box filled with car pictures was yet again, a smaller box covered in pictures of branded clothes and shoes. Then, a box wrapped in gym equipment images and a box filled with pictures of movies after it.

Finally, the next one didn’t have any pictures but was a simple black box. That moment, she hoped that whatever was inside would be a decent one, so she opened it carefully.