A Kiss To Build A Dream On - Season 2: Bridge

The Devil's Swing - Run

"I mean, I've heard of shotgun weddings, but this is the first time I've actually seen a wedding at gunpoint."

"Mur, I know you're my best man, but this is the perfect time for you to shut the fuck up."

The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to be cut with a knife, which Henry wished he had at the moment. It wasn't for Murray's lack of tact, but mostly thanks to Henry's utter fear of what was about to come. Not even his sharp tuxedo--all white, as requested by Zizi--was enough to boost his confidence. There was a knot in his throat just where the bow-tie was placed. An itch on his lower back where the jacket was too tight. A light throb on his feet thanks to his laces being particularly tight. Everything felt slightly wrong.

"Look how handsome you were, hon. Like a doll, all innocent in white. But White is never innocent, not with you."

In truth, he couldn't get away, even if he wanted to. Since that day, Murray had been tailing him, alongside two other corporate goons that acted as his "entourage". They were just sentinels placed by Jabin to keep an eye on him. Even Murray's appointment as the best man was a move to keep Henry in check--that, and the fact that Zizi genuinely loved having him around.

"You're just being a little bitch," said Murray, sipping from a flask-rum, by the smell of it.

Henry turned around in annoyance, looking at Murray straight in the face. "Can't you even let it go for today? I'm already being fucked by Jabin, and I don't need you to give me a reach-arround."

Murray snickered with a lopsided smile, wiping away a few beads of sweat from his forehead. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I bother His Majesty with my jokes? Please forgive this jester. It shan't happen again."

Henry took a deep breath to retort but was cut off by Murray.

"Three months ago, I told you I was after Zizi. I trusted you. I thought we could have been partners," he said, walking slowly towards Henry. "The very same day, you run off with her to God knows where doing God knows what. And then, you know what happened? I got a call."

At this point, they were so close, their noses were almost touching. Henry was able to smell the alcohol in Murray's pungent breath, being able to easily distinguish the cinnamon smell of Captain Morgan.

"It was Zizi. She called me, half crying, half laughing, telling me she was pregnant. You gator-loving prick. Do you have any idea of how it feels to have the woman you have been secretly in-love with for almost a year suddenly calling you, carrying another man's kid in her? It broke my soul. You broke my soul."

Murray jabbed his fat index finger right in the middle of Henry's chest, making sure to make it hurt like hell. "You listen to me, and listen to me well: You better treat that girl like a goddamn princess, or-"

He never got to finish that sentence, as a sharp knock on the door commanded both men's attention. The person didn't bother to wait for an invitation before letting himself into the room. Of course, Jabin Geber didn't need to be invited anywhere; he could enter wherever he wanted. He owned Henry.

"Hello. Just passing through to see if everything was in order," he said in a jovial tone that didn't translate to his face.

"All peachy," sneered Murray, hiding the flask from view.

"S-same," said Henry, obviously a little shaken up after Murray's rant.

"Good, good. I remember my own nuptials," said Jabin, taking a seat on a cream-colored couch near the door. "I was frightened. I was repeating the words I do over and over again, in fear that I could somehow forget them. I had a beautiful speech in my mind, on how I loved Zeinab. Zeinab was Zinet's mom, of course. But when I saw her walking down that aisle... she blew every word out of my head."