Forbidden Cravings

The wedding hall was bathed in a soft, golden glow, the lights dimmed just enough to give the place a warm, intimate vibe. Chandeliers hung overhead, their crystals catching the light and tossing it around in little sparkles. Guests with wine glasses in hand, their chatter mixing with the faint jazz playing in the background.

I stood in the center of the hall, hands stuffed in my pockets, trying to look casual as my eyes flicked to the stage. Aeri was climbing the steps, her heels clicking softly on the polished wood. She reached the corner of the stage, where a waitress handed her a microphone with a quick, nervous smile.

Up on the stage, Daniel, the groom, stood tall and proud in the center, his black suit catching the shimmering light from a spotlight above. His eyes kept darting to the back of the hall, anticipation written all over his face just to see Sara.

Aeri tapped the mic lightly, the sound cutting through the hum of the crowd.

"Hello, guys," she said, her voice bright and a little nervous. She let out a small laugh, her eyes scanning the sea of faces. "Wow, okay, that’s a lot of you staring at me." The crowd chuckled, and she grinned, loosening up. "So, yeah, I’m up here to introduce someone really special. Someone I’ve known since we were kids, running around causing all kinds of trouble."

She paused, her smile softening as she leaned into the mic. "This is someone I shared a classroom with, sat on the same creaky old bench, passing notes when the teacher wasn’t looking. We’d sneak out to the corner store, buy cheap candy, and do the dumbest things you can imagine—like trying to skateboard down that hill by the park and ending up with scraped knees and grass stains." A few people in the crowd laughed, and Aeri’s eyes sparkled with the memories. "She’s been my partner-in-crime, my confidant, my best friend. Honestly, if she wasn’t in my life, I’d have been bored out of my mind."

The room filled with warm laughter, and Aeri’s gaze softened even more, her voice dropping to something heartfelt. "I’m so grateful to have had her by my side all these years. She’s the kind of friend who makes everything better, who makes you laugh when you’re about to cry, who knows you better than you know yourself sometimes." She smirked, glancing at Daniel. "If I’d been born a boy, Daniel, I’m sorry, but I’d probably have married her myself."

The crowd erupted in laughter, a few people whistling and clapping. Daniel grinned, shaking his head good-naturedly, his hands clasped in front of him.

"No offense taken, Aeri!" he called out, his voice carrying over the noise, which only made everyone laugh harder.