I read through the published one and was disappointed to find unnecessary alterations/changes made.
Don't get me wrong. I would be absolutely thrilled if it was corrected to a better sentence or whatsoever but...yeah, disappointment. There was even a typo in the published version! Utter disappointment.
Also, I know many are asking to read it but since I can't provide copies for everyone (I wished I could though! ...or maybe not since the published version isn't as good) I've decided to post the original and unedited one here! It wouldn't take much space since it's just 800 words; one of the shortest one-shot I've ever written to be honest. It was first posted in my Live Journal though, so this isn't the first time I'm openly sharing this one-shot in the internet.
P/s: this story is written in present tense and not past tense because in a way present tense can bring a different mood and feel compared to that of past tense. Because I've written many one-shots in past tense, I wanted to try something new. I wanted to also challenge myself into writing in Present as Past is definitely easier to write plus it isn't a writer's choice to convey a story through that. :)
--
A Step to a New Beginning
Written originally by: Kimberly Lim
Lucas has never liked the idea of wearing a tuxedo. As suave
and sophisticated as it made him look, he still finds the material of the
clothing fairly uncomfortable. They made his skin itch badly, and most of the time, he feels as
though he is being roasted alive in that suffocating attire. No matter how
much he dislikes wearing said formal attire though, he has absolutely no excuse
whatsoever not to wear it on the day he starts a new
chapter in his life.
He knocks on the fancy oak door twice and within seconds, he sees Victoria curiously peeking out from behind the door. “Lucas?” She sighs when she realises it is him and attempts to slam the door into his face, “Don’t you know it is taboo to see the bride just before the wedding?”
Lucas chuckles casually, one hand against the door and another in his pocket, a sheepish smile on his face after he stops chuckling, “I’m not superstitious, Victoria,” He receives a disapproving look in return but smiles when he hears laughter coming from inside the room. The laughter is then followed curtly with a gentle shout, “Let him in, Victoria,” and Lucas cannot help but grin triumphantly.
Victoria remains sceptical but allows him in eventually; after all, the bride has already consented. When Lucas walks in, he is greeted with the crisp and feminine fragrant of the flower bouquets, as well as a face beaming at him serenely. He is at a loss for words, his breath completely and utterly taken by the stunning figure in front of him. “Well, how do I look?” The bride asks as a tinge of pink creeps onto her cheeks.
It takes him a few seconds to register the question asked, and when it finally sinks into his mind, Lucas takes a step forward, and then another. His eyes never leave her as he takes the final step, leaving only a slight gap in between them. He reaches out a hand and tucks a strand of loose hair behind her ear, still smiling as he answers, “Beautiful. As always.”
Sharon blushes upon hearing those words, as her hand gently caressed her dress so as to distract herself from turning a tomato red. She scrunches her nose a moment later and says, “Wedding dresses are supposed to be calm and assuring, so why is it making me feel so uncomfortable? Can I sue the shop?”
Lucas laughs and amused at the idea of them sharing the same opinion, “You’re just nervous. A married life after this, who wouldn’t be?”
She throws a smile at his direction and he could feel his heart skipping two beats at once. The effect of her smile on him has never failed to amaze him. He has known her for years, yet his heart still does somersaults whenever she smiles at him.
She is that beautiful. And he is that in love with her.
“But I’m marrying my best friend, so I shouldn’t be nervous, right?” She asks so innocently that Lucas feels like pulling her into a bear hug and never letting her go.
But he is already breaking a rule by being here before the ceremony. He cannot possibly break another rule, can he?
“It’s normal to be nervous, Sharon. It is absolutely normal.”
He assures her and sees her breathing in and out slowly before a smile reappears on her lips again. He has this sudden urge to just kiss her, but no, that would be breaking another rule, and that simply will not do.
“Ian is the luckiest guy on planet Earth, are you aware of that?” Lucas says softly, just loud enough for Sharon to hear him. She beams at him in return and he struggles (again) to breathe properly, “You’re very sweet, Luke.”
Lucas keeps mum and beams back at the smiling bride. He presses himself (and his heart) to remain calm and reasonable. Lucas knows he has to remain happy for his two best friends — for it is only after overcoming many obstacles and challenges that they are finally proceeding forward to create many new and fond memories together, all of which, Lucas is aware, do not include him in the picture.
“So…” Sharon interrupts the silence suddenly with a smile Lucas cannot exactly comprehend, “This is our last chance to run away together,” she announces jokingly and Lucas laughs again.
He has half a mind to take what she has just said seriously but he does not tell her that, “I’m really happy for you, Sharon. For the both of you.”
He leaves the bride with her maid of honour moments later. Lucas turns around to stare (one last time) at the closed double doors, and concludes that it is indeed a new chapter in his life.
It is the chapter where he lets go.
He knocks on the fancy oak door twice and within seconds, he sees Victoria curiously peeking out from behind the door. “Lucas?” She sighs when she realises it is him and attempts to slam the door into his face, “Don’t you know it is taboo to see the bride just before the wedding?”
Lucas chuckles casually, one hand against the door and another in his pocket, a sheepish smile on his face after he stops chuckling, “I’m not superstitious, Victoria,” He receives a disapproving look in return but smiles when he hears laughter coming from inside the room. The laughter is then followed curtly with a gentle shout, “Let him in, Victoria,” and Lucas cannot help but grin triumphantly.
Victoria remains sceptical but allows him in eventually; after all, the bride has already consented. When Lucas walks in, he is greeted with the crisp and feminine fragrant of the flower bouquets, as well as a face beaming at him serenely. He is at a loss for words, his breath completely and utterly taken by the stunning figure in front of him. “Well, how do I look?” The bride asks as a tinge of pink creeps onto her cheeks.
It takes him a few seconds to register the question asked, and when it finally sinks into his mind, Lucas takes a step forward, and then another. His eyes never leave her as he takes the final step, leaving only a slight gap in between them. He reaches out a hand and tucks a strand of loose hair behind her ear, still smiling as he answers, “Beautiful. As always.”
Sharon blushes upon hearing those words, as her hand gently caressed her dress so as to distract herself from turning a tomato red. She scrunches her nose a moment later and says, “Wedding dresses are supposed to be calm and assuring, so why is it making me feel so uncomfortable? Can I sue the shop?”
Lucas laughs and amused at the idea of them sharing the same opinion, “You’re just nervous. A married life after this, who wouldn’t be?”
She throws a smile at his direction and he could feel his heart skipping two beats at once. The effect of her smile on him has never failed to amaze him. He has known her for years, yet his heart still does somersaults whenever she smiles at him.
She is that beautiful. And he is that in love with her.
“But I’m marrying my best friend, so I shouldn’t be nervous, right?” She asks so innocently that Lucas feels like pulling her into a bear hug and never letting her go.
But he is already breaking a rule by being here before the ceremony. He cannot possibly break another rule, can he?
“It’s normal to be nervous, Sharon. It is absolutely normal.”
He assures her and sees her breathing in and out slowly before a smile reappears on her lips again. He has this sudden urge to just kiss her, but no, that would be breaking another rule, and that simply will not do.
“Ian is the luckiest guy on planet Earth, are you aware of that?” Lucas says softly, just loud enough for Sharon to hear him. She beams at him in return and he struggles (again) to breathe properly, “You’re very sweet, Luke.”
Lucas keeps mum and beams back at the smiling bride. He presses himself (and his heart) to remain calm and reasonable. Lucas knows he has to remain happy for his two best friends — for it is only after overcoming many obstacles and challenges that they are finally proceeding forward to create many new and fond memories together, all of which, Lucas is aware, do not include him in the picture.
“So…” Sharon interrupts the silence suddenly with a smile Lucas cannot exactly comprehend, “This is our last chance to run away together,” she announces jokingly and Lucas laughs again.
He has half a mind to take what she has just said seriously but he does not tell her that, “I’m really happy for you, Sharon. For the both of you.”
He leaves the bride with her maid of honour moments later. Lucas turns around to stare (one last time) at the closed double doors, and concludes that it is indeed a new chapter in his life.
It is the chapter where he lets go.
--
/end/
Cheers, thanks for reading!
-Kimmy
