Maid of honor

"What's the matter my love?" Buzz asked rather worried. Hearing his anxious tone, Jinjing stopped eating and looked at the couple. Meili sprang slightly from her seat and held onto Jinjing's hands, taking Jinjing by surprise.

"Jinjing! you are my maid of honor. That's final." Done with the royal decree, princess Meili sat back and continued to eat her lunch as if nothing happened. Buzz and Jinjing exchanged a meaningful glance and went back to eat as well.

The maid of honor was responsible for a multitude of tasks and closely worked with the family of the bride. Given her current equation with Liang, Jinjing found it awkward to interact with the Sheng's so closely and the awkwardness was evident on her face.

"Meili…I…" she stuttered. She did not want to upset her friend but she could not bring herself to get close to Liang.

Sensing, what her friend was feeling, Meili held her hand warmly and said "I am going to be a bride. It will be the happiest moment of my life and I want my bestie to be beside me, every minute of it." Her emotion clearly showing on her face. Jinjing did not have the heart to say no anymore. She smiled and agreed to Meili's demand.

'I will find a way to stay away from him' she thought to herself.

After the sumptuous lunch, Buzz left to get the car and asked the ladies to wait at the entrance.

Talking about random stuff, Meili declared "I missed you a lot these years. We went through so much as a family. I wished to have had your support during those tough times."

Almost choking on her emotions, Meili continued "initially, I kept calling your number, but it was off. Even as days passed, I would still leave messages and voicemails for you, with the hope that, one day you would turn your phone on and reply to me…." she trailed off "but you did not. What was my mistake? Why did you punish me?" she complained.

Jinjing's eyes were red and stinging. Tears threatening to fall. She hugged her best friend firmly. She was rendered speechless. She found herself to be selfish.

'how could have I hurt my Mei so much.' She admonished herself silently.

Meili broke away from the hug, discreetly wiping the corner of her eyes. "I was miserable, my brother was miserable, my mother's life was hanging by a thread, dad was stressed. We were shattered. And you were not there beside me in my worst time."

Meili's face bore a sad smile and she said "I am not blaming you but, I missed you gravely." She once again embraced Jinjing and the two stayed like that till Buzz arrived to pick them up.

The couple dropped Jinjing to her place and headed to oversee the progress of their love nest.

The conversation with Meili replaying in her mind, Jinjing made her way to her room as if in a trance. She dropped her purse on the floor and sat on the couch with her head held in her hands. She was in full self-blame mode. She repeatedly reprimanded herself for letting her friend down.

As if struck by lightning, she jumped up from her seat and headed to the bed side drawer.

Opening it urgently, she searched it thoroughly, looking for something important. With her breath held in, she looked carefully for the thing which could potentially change the course of her life.