Jade remained conspicuously absent from the breakfast table the following morning; I later learned that urgent matters had necessitated his departure from the city.

The activities were going smoothly; it was a new experience. More people trooped in that day and the coming days. Soon it was a day to the final burial, which was packed. We were told it was going to be an all-nighter. The deceased body was brought home from the morgue in a beautifully adorned Casket, already dressed. The hired undertakers had picked the casket and ceremoniously conveyed it to the mansion where the wake keeping was going to be held with their band, children, grandchildren, siblings, and relatives of the deceased, as well as others present, following behind in that exact order.

The undertakers danced with the casket lifted high, placed on their shoulders, and changed positions while still carrying it. They occasionally dropped it to the ground while the family danced around it. It was conveyed in that manner from the morgue in the town first to the palace because they were from the royal family, then to the deceased’s maternal family house, which was in the same town, just streets apart from the mansion, then to his paternal family house, and finally to the mansion. There, the undertakers danced before dropping the casket on a long table under a tent; the table and the area were decorated specially for the occasion of signing the condolences register and viewing to pay last respect.

It was a grand event. The prayers started shortly after, and the family and mourners stayed awake watching the body. Someone made a joke that the children and grandchildren had better not sleep, so the body of the deceased would not be stolen. A projector was placed outside displaying pictures and videos of notable moments from the life of the deceased, from birth to his passing.

Everyone stayed up; some placed their legs in cold water to stay awake and grieved about the deceased, each sighting their favorite memories of him.

Everyone stood at dawn to get ready for the burial.
The undertakers then moved the body from the mansion to the church in a procession of the band, family, and sympathizers.

At the church, the casket was placed at the entrance while the band played their trumpet and beat the drums. The family danced and was sprayed. The casket was carried into the church, where the funeral service was held. The pastor prayed, and the family made donations to the church in the name of the deceased. Sympathizers also supported the donations after which the body was moved to the graveyard and laid to rest.

The reception followed shortly after.

Most guests went straight from the church to the reception to wait.
It was already past noon by the time the rest of the family and other guests arrived at the reception.

A live band was scheduled to perform on stage, with caterers and waiters stationed on either side of the field. People sat at tables tagged with their names, associations, or organizations, depending on who had invited them.

To say I was exhausted was an understatement. There was no need for people to help with the serving of food, yet I aided the family with serving some special guests.
It was held at the field of a public school, yet it was filled to its full capacity with some guests leaving and others arriving to take Empty seats. They even had to call for a supply of extra dozens of chairs and tables.

The band began to play, inviting the family members one after the other to the stage. He then sings to praise each one of them, who will dance for some time, the well-wishers and their personal guests spraying them with money as they danced.

This was the time I left to support them on stage. Jade knew I led dance practice back in school, so it was as if he was waiting to see me dance. I expected him to act indifferent.

When it was Gabriel’s turn, everyone danced and sprayed him. He then faced me to spray me as I danced, and he was in shock to realize I danced so well despite being a quiet lady.

As he sprayed me, everyone also cheered and sprayed me. Then it was Jade and his siblings’ turn on the stage, and we all trooped back to the stage. As the band leader sang, he was swaying slowly to the rhythm and spraying the Singer, then he said something in the singer’s ear. The singer immediately maneuvered the band into playing a unique sound, the guy playing the talking drum was playing a familiar beat, and it was unbelievably directed at me. I noticed that before I heard the singer praising my name.

That beat and song were my favorite back in the day; I was popular for it. I couldn’t help but fall back in time. Jade was dancing to it, too. That was a duet, and Jade was miraculously my dance partner for this one.

And so fell into the character again. There was a part where I rested my hands on his shoulders, twisted my waist, and another time he held me close to show he had control over me; it ended as always with me being free to dance to stupor as he did the same in acceptance. By the time we were done, everyone was on their feet, applauding loudly.
Gabriel was astonished. Even the singer sprayed me with money. Jade’s sister handed a pack filled with money to me, explaining that she had packed it for me while I was dancing. She also added that Jade was there too, but she was sure he wouldn’t mind.

She had a look I couldn’t quite decipher.

I hope she remembers I’m here as Gabriel’s fiancée.

Questions were flying about, everyone wanted to know if we’d met and whether we had learnt to dance like that.
It was Jade’s sister who gave the explanations, that we were dance partners back in high school.
What a coincidence that I’d end up with his older cousin? I stuck to Gabriel’s side because I didn’t like the fallen look I saw on his face. Jade had a taunting look and was smirking. I had made up my mind to talk to him later.