Love After Marriage

Chapter 5: Are you even allowed to drink?

Two weeks passed by in a blur. The wedding preparations were settled by the parents. Me and David did not interfere and just went along with whatever they asked of us. We went to get our fittings done in the same week and I was also forced into a solo marriage photo shoot in my wedding dress. David had also done a photo shoot in his suit. Bianca was there with me throughout the whole 2 weeks and I could not have been more thankful to her. She was my maid of honour. Amidst all this chaos, I had no time to think about the marriage itself and I was thankful that I never bumped into David. I saw more of my future in-laws rather than my husband to be.Daniel was the only one who knew about David's plans to keep me out of his life. He clearly felt bad for me and always tried to make sure I was kept entertained with his antics. We started to become closer, and this was a good thing because at least would be able to talk to someone who would be living in the same house as me. Irene became more mother like and this suited me well as I was able to communicate with her easily. Henry was ever so considerate and helped me out a lot. Their family was so kind and did everything they could to make this easier on me. I was beginning to think that David must have been adopted or didn't inherit any nice traits except for his looks.

I sighed. sighing had become a part of me ever since the marriage meeting.

I had a beautiful dress picked out and so did my brides’maids. I only had two. Bianca and my cousin Tiffany. She was my mother's side and so she didn't have such a cruel fate. I wish I could switch lives with her,but I couldn't do that to her.

I was very close to backing out of this wedding, but it was the only thing that I could do to honour my great grandfather and grandfather who had been the reason behind all my fortunes. I made a choice and I had to stick to it.

October 15 was fast approaching, and I could not do anything in my power to stop it from coming. The reception could not have come any sooner. I was dreading the day that I had to move in with him. Only good thing about it would be having Daniel around to keep me company. Our little incident has never been brought up, so it made me so much more comfortable around him. Bianca also offered to stay with me for a few weeks to make sure I didn't get lonely. I was so grateful to both Bianca and Daniel. Tiffany also promised that she would visit me as often as she could. Bianca, Daniel,Tiffany, and David were the only ones who knew about David’s speech on the night of the marriage meeting.

I woke up on October 15 and got off my bed only when I absolutely needed to. I tripped on Bianca and Tiffany who were sleeping on mattresses that were placed on the floor. Bianca stirred in her sleep then went back to sleep. I walked into the bathroom and picked up my tooth brush.

“Maybe I could run away. Everyone will be too busy to even notice.”. I contemplated on ways to escape as I placed my toothbrush in my mouth. I immediately recoiled in disgust and spit out the tainted toothpaste.I looked down and realized that I had been so preoccupied by my thoughts that I had put my facial wash on my toothbrush instead of my regular paste.

“What did I do to deserve this?” I started to cry.

 I knew I was overreacting,but considering the fact that I was going to be betrothed to a robot who asked me to get out of his life the moment he met me, I was allowed this self-pity.

I tried to snap out of it and went back to think of the positives.

My wedding dress was pretty. I can meet guys. I mean Daniel's and David's friends were quite good looking too. Maybe I could secretly run away with one. It would be so romantic! Our eyes would meet across the wedding hall and we would fall in love straight away. He would come over and drag me away to somewhere private. He would pin me against the wall and kiss me till we were out of breath and then we'd run away.

I chuckled at the thought and continued with my morning routine. I finished brushing my teeth and turned to leave the bathroom when I bumped into Bianca. Both Bianca and Tiffany were awake both wearing a look of excitement on their faces.

"It's your big day! How do you feel Princess?" Bianca asked.

She only called me Princess when she was feeling extremely affectionate towards me.

“I am not in the mood" I whined. "Please don't ask me to do anything today. I will just attend the ceremony. That's it!"

"We have something that will cheer you up!" Tiffany squealed.

Both Bianca and Tiffany lead me to the private living room that was connected to my bedroom. They handed me a small box that was wrapped so carelessly. I smiled at my friend's gesture and ripped away the paper. I opened the box and there stood the most beautiful necklace. It was a very simple chain and had a pendant with 3 Sapphires, my birth stone, and it looked so beautiful.

"This must have been so expensive. I can't accept this." I said, disappointed.

"It’s your wedding day Rach. We want you to wear this today." Bianca replied excitedly. “Let me put it on for you.”

She brought me to the mirror and draped the necklace around my neck. She then fastened the clasp. She smiled and was fighting back tears of happiness. I thanked them, and we all teared up and hugged each other.My tears were of happiness and mixture of sadness. I have this beautiful necklace, a flattering dress and everything, but I was not getting a husband that would look at me today and feel like he was the luckiest man alive. He would not even tell me I looked decent. I sat down and tried to compose myself.

Just then the door to the private living room opened.

"Good morning!" a very excited looking Daniel smiled.

His face changed the moment he saw my face. He knew something was wrong.

"Rachel, you okay?"

I nodded, but my face gave me away.

Daniel came forward and wrapped his arm around me. I leaned into his chest and broke down. I managed to keep my composure for the past two weeks, but right now, my heart was betraying me. This wasn't how I imagined my big day would be like. I wanted to be married to someone I love,someone who made me feel right. Not someone who didn't even want anything to do with me. Daniel just sat there and hugged me tight. I felt so safe in his arms.But I wasn't marrying him, I was marrying his brother. And Daniel already had his own girl. I was just happy that he was my friend though.

I felt calmer after a while and pulled away from him.

He was about to say something when the door opened again,and David came through it. He saw that me and Daniel were sitting very close.He just gave a confused look and called Daniel in to help him out with the preparation. Daniel gave me an apologetic look and followed his brother out.

I went up to my room and took a shower while Bianca and Tiffany went to get breakfast. I took out my first attire for the traditional Korean reception which was in the afternoon. It was a traditional,grand hanbok that was blue and gold. It was really a beautiful attire. I first ate my breakfast with the girls, up in my room. We talked and joked around,which made me feel better than I felt in the morning. After breakfast, we quickly washed up and we slipped on our hanboks.

We were doing our makeup and hair, when my mom walked in.

"Darling you look so beautiful" she had tears in her eyes. she hugged me and told us that it was time to go down. The reception was held in my house at the back yard.

We finished getting ready and went down and guests had already started to arrive.

"Where is the lucky guy?" asked Andrea, Tiffany’s sister.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him...ohhh there he is." I pointed as both Daniel and David came down.

I had to admit, they both looked so devilishly handsome. They were wearing Tuxedos and man did they look so good. David looked up at me and smiled. That's a first. He came towards me and linked arms with me.

"Hi beautiful" he said as he leaned in to give me a peck on the cheek. “Just play along.” He whispered.

My mouth hung open and I quickly shut it. What a tool, putting up a show just so he could look good in front of others. Daniel,Bianca and Tiffany gave me a confused look, as to say, "I thought he didn't want anything to do with you?".

I shrugged my shoulders. He did not want anything to do with me but he definitely needed me for their family business.

"Omg, you two look so good together! You can't seem to keep your hands off each other" Andrea squealed.

I rolled my eyes and smiled at Andrea. The only thing I wanted to do with my hands was punch David. I tried to shrug off his hands,but he only held me tighter. I glared at him.

"Just play along will you. After today you don't have to see me as much except when you're my escort to company parties" he whispered. “Is that not what you want?”

What a sleaze.

"Dear, why don't you get me some punch" I said with teeth clenched.

He went off and I was ready to leave this wedding place. I took a glass of champagne off the waiter’s tray and gulped it down. I took two more glasses and did the same. Daniel saw my pained face and came towards me.

"You know, you really should not be drinking.Are you even allowed to drink?” he asked jokingly.

I fumbled and held on to Daniel for support.

“Hey, come one. You have had too much to drink.” He said,holding on to me. “David has always been like that, you know. He always had all  the responsibilities on his shoulders. You want me to talk to him?" he asked me. “He really isn’t that bad.”

“I don’t think that will help my situation but thanks for asking.” I said. “Want to accompany me to the back? I would like to get away from this crowd for a while.”

Without waiting for an answer, I pulled Daniel by the hand and dragged him to a further part of the back yard where no one could see us.

"You know when we first met, I thought I would be marrying you." I told him seductively. "What would it take for you to have your way with me. Right here, right now." I whispered in his ear.

"Rach I know you're depressed but this isn't right." he gulped. “You are marrying my brother and I do have someone I am dating.”

I could tell that he was torn between what was right and wrong. I pressed my lips against his and at first, I could tell he resisted but then he kissed me back.