CHAPTER 2
It was 7 am, I lay on my head with the pillow over my ears. My parents were shouting on top of their voices like they had lost something. Before you conclude, I did want to come down but I was just being an obedient daughter. This was the last day. I felt bad I couldn't tell my sister goodbye but all the same, I didn't want to ruin her big day.
I couldn't take the noise anymore so I turned on the mp3 in my room. While I was still listening to 'At my worst by Pink Sweat', my mum barged into my room with Lisa's wedding gown. She was looking distraught.
Oh, Lisa probably doesn't like this gown. Now they need my help. I thought to myself before throwing her a proud smile.
"You have to put this on." There was a sudden purse in my head. I was still listening to music but I read her lips. Did I just hear right? Or was I just hallucinating? Wear Lisa's dress? I turned off the music and got out of bed.
"What?" That was the only word I could think of.
"Your sister has disappeared and the Smiths are here. The wedding is in 30minutes and I don't know what to do. I really don't know what to do, Hannah. It's all over." She broke down in tears.
Lisa had disappeared. These words kept echoing in my ears. Why would she run away? We discussed the previous night but she didn't mention anything like this. Was that why she asked about my escape root? I rushed out of the room with my mum behind me. She was screaming my name but I refused to listen.
I ran into Uncle Ben's room and pulled down the portrait. The small door was open. Lisa had escaped. Why? Why? Why? Did I just help my sister escape?
"Hannah,"
"Where is the bride?" A lady in a yellow gown asked. She was very pretty. From her looks, I think she was around her 30s. "It's almost time. You need to come out quickly. Everything must go as planned. The press is here." She couldn't see me because I was inside Uncle Ben's room. When she was done discussing it with my mum, she went out. I came out from inside the room and tapped my terrified mum. Her hands were shivering and she was sweating. I held her hands tight and looked into her eyes.
"It's going to be okay. Maybe Lisa stepped out to get something."
"It's not okay. She's gone. She ran away with her lover. Here's the letter she left behind.
I read the letter with tears in my eyes. Lisa had run away with her lover. She's been in love with him for the past two years. Why didn't she tell anyone about this?
"We don't have much time." My dad snapped me out of my thoughts. "Use the other stairs. There are guests outside."
"Come on." My mum pulled my left hand as I struggled to break free from her clutches. When we reached Lisa's room, six ladies were waiting to dress her.
"Mum, what am I doing here?"
"Go and have your bath."
"Mum,"
"Now!" I entered the bathroom and took off my clothes. I sat under the shower and allowed the water to roll down my face. This wasn't one of my many dreams. It was my reality. I helped Lisa escape. Lisa had told everyone in her letter that I helped her escape. Now I hate her even more. Today would have been a very happy day for me but Lisa ruined everything again.
Once I was done bathing, my mum stepped into the bathroom. It was almost like she was waiting for me to finish bathing. She brought along Lisa's wedding gown.
"Mum, please don't do this," I begged. "I'm not ready for marriage. I'll never be happy with this man."
"What do you think is more important? Your ego or your parents' self-respect? His father, Mr. Smith will ruin our lives. If there is no wedding, there would be blood. Don't you love your family?"
"Mum." I took the wedding gown from her and tried it on. It fitted perfectly. This gown, I've always dreamt of wearing it since I was a kid with the love of my life by my side. Now, my dreams have been shattered.
My mum opened the bathroom door and helped me out. I sat down in front of a mirror as Lisa's makeup artists did their work.
"Mum, I don't want to get married."
"You must get married. You don't have a choice. You will eventually get married someday and that day is today." She took my veil from one of my hairdressers and fixed it In my hair. "You are doing this for your family. You must get married."
"Married? Mum, you must be kidding. I will never get married to someone I don't love!" Ignoring my reply, she got up and said,
"Come downstairs. Your dad is waiting for you."
"Why? Oh, so I'm only good at covering up for Lisa's mistakes!"
"You don't want to get married, right? Take off the dress." She opened the zip of the wedding gown. She was very good at emotionally blackmailing me. "Go and rest. It's fine. Let Mr. Smith kill your dad and me. You don't care about us." She sobbed.
I gave out a loud sign before reaching out for my zip. I didn't want to marry into the Smith house but I also didn't want to lose my parents. Mr. Smith was a dangerous man. One you would never want to joke with. Once you were on his blacklist, it was very hard to escape him.
I zipped up my gown and looked at myself again in the mirror.
"From today, I will no longer be known as Hannah Brown but Hannah Smith."
"You will get used to it." She held my hand as we came out of my room. We alighted the stairs together.
When we got to the back. Yes. The wedding was being held at the back of my house. It was my soon-to-be father-in-law's choice. My dad held onto my hand and walked me down the aisle. When we got to the front, my soon-to-be husband took my hand and we stood opposite each other.
The priest kept speaking words I wasn't interested in. I just wanted to run away. I kept staring at the door to know if Lisa would show up, but she didn't.
"Liam and Hannah, have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?
"I have," Liam answered. Freely? Wholeheartedly? I glared at my mum before answering.
"I have."
The Reverend father then asked again, "Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?
"I am." I was only doing this for my parents. How can I spend the rest of my life with him? Never. Once I clear my dad's debt, I'll get a divorce. The Reverend Father turned to Liam and asked,
"Liam Smith, do you take Hannah Brown to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?"
"I do." After I was asked mine, we exchanged rings. When it was time for us to kiss, Liam raised my veil and paused for a while. He had just realized that I wasn't the girl he was to marry.
Before Liam could say anything else, I pulled him in and kissed him. I wasn't going to let him embarrass my family in public. All these efforts won't be a waste.
By now his parents had noticed the changes. I could see Mr. Smith arguing with my dad.
Liam and I walked down the aisle and entered the car that was waiting for us. I was already married to Liam. There was nothing they could do to my parents.
I relaxed my head on the seat, ignoring Liam's questioning gaze.