07 | Silver Linings

____ 𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄

"What're you doing, Sebastian?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at him. 

He stood from his seat and got down on one knee as he took out a small box. He looked up at me, a smile plastered on his face. Several gasps erupted everywhere as they saw Sebastian. I looked at everyone in the room and they were all taking pictures, lights flashing everywhere. He opened the box and there was a diamond ring inside, 

"Adrianne Chanelle, my love. You don't know how long I've been meaning to ask you this but, will you marry me?" he asked, looking deeply into my eyes, searching for an answer. 

I wanted to laugh at what he said. He barely knew me and he said 'you don't know how long I've been meaning to ask you.' Like what? He doesn't know a single thing about me and he says that as if he does. 

Though I wanted to laugh, I dreaded his question though. I hated it. I never wanted to answer it, not at this moment. 

I couldn't find my voice. What the hell? 

I don't want to answer his question knowing this would bring me closer to actually getting married to Sebastian. 

"I– I–Yes..." I answered, barely audible. 

He rose to his feet and pulled me into a hug. Cheers and roars erupted behind us as everybody clapped. Sebastian pulled away and placed the ring on my ring finger as he smiled widely at me, planting a kiss on my cheek. I flinched as he cupped my cheek with his one hand and the other holding my waist. He leaned into my ear and whispered, "At least try to look happy." He kissed the side of my head.

Wasn't he taking this way too far? 

I forced a smile and gave him the sweetest one I could conjure up. And so, we continued eating in awkward silence. Until a ton of people went to our table, asking us many questions while cameras flashed. 

"How long have you been dating Adrianne?" 

Sebastian smiled as he held my hand. "Three years." 

"When will the wedding be?" 

"We still don't have a date planned out, we just got engaged," he answered. 

"How does it feel to be marrying Adrianne Chanelle?" 

"It feels like the best feeling in the world to finally marry the woman of my dreams. She's so talented and I love everything about her." He kissed my hand and everybody in the restaurant cheered, a few whistling here and there. 

"How about the woman you went to an event with? What was her name– Amarra Avery?"

Sebastian's grip on his fork tightened as he took a sharp inhale. "Never heard of her." 

When we were on our way home, everything was silent. None of us talked. Not a breath can be heard from either of us. His kiss on my cheek lingered longer than I would have liked and it's a feeling I don't like feeling at all. I held onto my seat belt, squeezing it is the only thing keeping me calm and from bursting into tears. The thought of marrying at my age when I wanted to do more before I get settled is making me feel…different. I feel weird and not like myself. It's such a strange, foreign feeling that's swimming around in my heart and infiltrating my mind. The whole world will know of this union, but they won't know the truth about it. They won't know that this is all…scripted. Maybe what's really bothering me is the fact that I'm marrying a person who I've no connections with. 

"We're here," said Sebastian. 

I took a deep breath, my vision blurring. I'm afraid that if I blink, a tear will fall. I'd hate crying in this person's presence. 

"Yeah, thanks, I guess." I took off the seat belt and inhaled deeply. "You're lucky. You get to be free and happy because you won't even care about me." 

"You don't get it, do you?" he said, looking at his hands. 

I looked at him, keeping my quivering lips shut.

"I don't want marriage too," he said. "I want to do several things. I want to travel all around the world and do some things on my own. I'm just like you; I'm not yet ready. But for some ungodly reason, my father decided to make us marry each other. I don't want this. I don't want to marry someone who'll end up hating me. I don't want to marry someone whose opinion of me has worsened because of the image my father has put out." 

I turned away, opening the door and getting out. 

I don't if it's just me but from the way he said it, it was as if he was sad. 

__________❇__________

To comfort me, my sister, Emmanuelle, and I decided to watch her favourite movies. Anything with my sisters makes the heaviness on my shoulders lighter, even just a little bit. There's something about being with them that makes me happier and forget about all the commotion going on in my life. It's with them that I found peace. I used to find it with my mother but she's no longer here. But my sisters are enough. I love them with all my heart. 

Emmanuelle and I were watching the Twilight movies on the TV. While I was busy critiquing the story and characters, she was busy defending the characters to me. I didn't expect June to knock on the door. I was too sucked up into analysing and judging that when she knocked, I was pretty bummed and nervous. Cause, with all the shit that's happening, knocks mean the worst for me. 

When June knocked on our door, I was suspicious especially since every knock from June meant 'Adairʼ and I am not excited. They bring unhappiness to my life. They bring an awful feeling in my heart. It's awful. 

"Mr Adair is here," she stated before leaving the room. 

I sighed and gave my laptop to Elle. "Continue watching, I'll be back in a minute." 

I went down to see Mr Adair sitting in the foyer, crossing his legs as he picked up some magazines from the table. The magazines that have my father or me on the front cover. I saw him scowl at it before returning it onto the glass table. I cleared my throat as I walked towards him and he looked up from the magazines, a smirk on his lips. 

"Hello Adrianne," he greeted. 

"Hello." I looked at him. He looks dressed up and it's weird. 

"Do you like the ring?" he asked, holding my hand up. 

I pulled my hand back as I raised an eyebrow at him, slightly creeped out. One thing people shouldn't do with me, holding my hand while acting like some sort of creep. "What're you doing here?" 

"To let you know that tomorrow me and my Sebastian's mother will be meeting up with your wedding planner," he said. 

"Okay? Why are you telling me this? So that I could participate? I'm pretty sure I've done enough especially that awfully scripted dinner you made us do," I shot. "If you would give me the honour of not participating, I would be very glad and delighted." 

"Oh, but do you have a choice?" He chuckled. "If you didn't go to the club and caused a scene, you wouldn't be in your current situation. Your request simply can't be granted." 

My eyes widened as my eyebrows pulled together. "Look, I know I messed up that night. Heck, your own son is wondering why you want us to marry. Why do you want us to marry each other, Ian?" 

He shrugged his shoulders, circling around me as if I was prey. "Who knows? Maybe it's karma. The possibilities are endless, Adrianne." He looked amused. "Just know that you brought this upon yourself." He circled around me before saying, "Goodbye, Adrianne Adair." He fixed his coat before nodding at me and leaving the house.

I scowled at him. I stood there, dumbfounded. He was getting on my last nerve. Plus, that was super cringey. I stomped back to my room and plopped down on the bed.

"Oh um, Annie?" Elle said quietly. "I didn't mean to look at your phone but I looked at your phone." 

I looked up and saw her pointing at my phone. I received messages from Sebastian? But why?

I grabbed the phone from her and read the messages. 

Sebastian Adair:

Adrianne. My father left saying he's going to your house. 

I wonder what he went there for. 

I groaned and angrily typed, 

Adrianne Chanelle:

You could've warned me a bit earlier.

Sebastian Adair:

Why did he even go there? 

Adrianne Chanelle:

You're the son, right? You ask him yourself.

I blocked him and closed the phone 

"Why did Mr Adair come here?" Elle asked. 

"He said that tomorrow, he'd be meeting up with the wedding planner," I mumbled. "I wasn't given a choice, this seems pointless," I added. 

Elle pulled me into a comforting hug and I shut my eyes, hoping that this is a nightmare. But, with my luck? Of course, it's reality and boy did I wish my dreams were real.

Right now, I'm silently wishing my bed could eat me wholly to hide from the problems which lurk around the corner. I'm not in the mood to see any of their faces nor hear their voices. Nor will I put up with their bullshit. I bury my face into my pillow hoping that the three dreaded knocks never come. Why the hell does this happen to me? Why does nobody listen? 

I grip the comforter harder as I hear footsteps pass by my door. Every few seconds, I prepare myself for the knocks but luckily, no knocks have come. 

I seriously wasn't ready to see their faces now or ever. I hope sleep will come to me soon. I hadn't slept the entire night due to worrying over what will happen today. I glanced at the wall clock to see that a minute had passed. Why is time moving so slowly? 

A few minutes more and my eyes had felt very heavy. I felt blessed to have been sleepy and welcomed darkness as I shut my eyes. 

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

Are you serious? I sulked. Just when I drifted off to sleep, that's when you decided to come? 

I glanced at the clock to see no more than ten minutes had passed when I closed my eyes. Great. I glared at the door hoping my gaze would repel them. I kept glaring at the door until I heard the doorknob twisting. I quickly hid under the comforter as I heard footsteps...two footsteps. 

"Sir, should I leave you here?" June's voice asked. 

"Yes," a male voice replied. "Thank you, June." 

Wait...I know that voice. 

The comforter was pulled off me. Looking up, I see a familiar face. 

Liam.