Chapter 1
Joseph liked control.
As an MC, control was everything.
Control of the program.
Control of the mood.
Control of the crowd.
He had mastered weddings to the point where nothing shook him anymore.
Late brides? Normal.
Drunk cousins grabbing the mic? Handled.
DJs ignoring the schedule? Managed.
This wedding in Ruiru was supposed to be easy money.
Well planned. Good budget. Cooperative couple. Organized planner.
By 10am, Joseph had already done sound check, confirmed the program with the planner, joked with the photographer, and even located the food tent in advance.
He was ready.
Then the bridesmaids arrived for rehearsal.
That’s when he saw her.
Blue dress. Calm face. Not loud like the others.
She stood slightly behind the group, observing everything quietly like she was studying the environment.
Joseph noticed her for a second too long.
“Focus,” he told himself.
Work first.
But during the rehearsal, he kept stealing glances.
She didn’t seem impressed by the hype. She just watched.
And somehow, that made him want to impress her.
The wedding started smoothly.
Bride walked in. Crowd cheered. Everything flowing.
Joseph was in his element.
Jokes landing. Transitions clean. Guests engaged.
Then came the reception.
This is where MCs earn their money.
He lined up the bridal party entrance perfectly.
Groomsmen first. Energy high. Cheers.
Then bridesmaids.
As they walked in dancing, Joseph spotted her again.
She smiled slightly as she danced in.
For a split second, Joseph lost his line of thought.
Just for a second.
But that second was enough.
He announced the wrong name.
“Let’s welcome… Mary!”
The bridesmaid stopped dancing.
Whispers started.
The planner looked at him with wide eyes.
Someone from the bridal party shouted, “She’s called LISA!”
The crowd laughed.
Joseph felt heat rush to his face.
In over 200 weddings, he had never messed up a name.
Never.
He quickly recovered with a joke.
“Ni vile nimesoma program ya next wedding mapema!”
Crowd laughed.
But inside, he was shaken.
And when he looked at Lisa…
She was laughing.
Not embarrassed. Not angry.
Laughing.
That laugh unsettled him more than the mistake.
During dinner break, Joseph stood near the sound tent pretending to check the program again.
He was replaying the mistake in his head.
“How did I mess that up?”
Then he heard a voice behind him.
“Mary, right?”
He turned.
It was her.
Lisa.
He laughed nervously. “Please don’t call me that.”
She smiled. “Relax. It was funny. At least you didn’t call me the bride.”
They talked.
Her voice was calm. Measured. Easy.
She told him she hated attention, which is why she stood at the back during rehearsal.
He told her this was his first time messing up a name.
She said, “Maybe you were distracted.”
He didn’t respond.
Because she was right.
Before leaving, she said, “You’re actually very good at this. One mistake doesn’t change that.”
Then she walked away.
Joseph stood there longer than necessary.
Something about that interaction felt different.
He had talked to many bridesmaids before.
But this one…
This one stayed in his mind.
The rest of the event went perfectly.
But Joseph wasn’t fully present anymore.
Every time he held the mic, he was aware that she was somewhere in the crowd.
Watching.
Listening.
When the wedding ended, guests started leaving.
As Joseph packed his things, he saw her heading out.
He rushed slightly.
“Hey, Lisa.”
She turned.
“Safe journey,” he said.
She smiled. “Thanks, Joseph. And don’t worry...... I won’t report you for calling me Mary.”
They both laughed.
Then she left.
And for the first time in his MC career…
Joseph went home thinking about a bridesmaid.
Not the pay.
Not the success of the event.
Not the compliments.
Just her.
And the mistake he couldn’t explain.
