1#01

1

On the day I was meant to walk down the aisle, the boy I had secretly adored for years uttered a vow that left me breathless.

He promised that if I took the initial step, he would take care of the remaining 99.

His gentle yet determined words became my guiding light. My heart pounded with wild excitement as I rushed to our rendezvous, filled with the notion that this would mark the beginning of something wonderful. However, upon arrival, the harsh truth hit me like a bolt of lightning. His grin wasn't one of affection but of arrogant victory.

His companions erupted in laughter behind him, their jeers filling the air.

"Look! She actually fell for it! A grand each, don't forget to pay up!"

Clutching his winnings, he turned to my bridesmaid who had driven me there and embraced her in a way that was impossible to misinterpret. His treachery cut deep, leaving a gaping wound in my heart.

With a mocking grin that shattered my dignity, he said, "Ravenna, don't be so conceited. It's her I truly desire, not you. Did you honestly believe I'd fall for a married woman like yourself?"

Then, as if to twist the knife further, he dropped to one knee, presenting a ring to my bridesmaid. The onlookers gasped, their murmurs piercing the air like countless blades.

Observing my somber expression, he laughed, the sound dripping with cruelty. "If you wish to scamper back and proceed with your wedding, go ahead. But I doubt the groom would still accept you!"

What he failed to realize, what none of them understood, was that this supposed elopement wasn't his triumph; it was my move in a game he wasn't even aware he was playing.

------

When Hendrick Pierce knelt and proposed to Viella Ivory, my bridesmaid, the realization struck me like a brutal punchline to a joke I hadn't known I was part of. It wasn't merely a proposal; it was the climax of their meticulously planned mockery.

I was the one who had received Hendrick's seemingly sincere confession text, the one who dared to believe in a love that wasn't mine. I was the one Viella had so kindly encouraged, whispering assurances about pursuing true love, even driving me here under the guise of friendship.

And now, amidst the cheers and well-wishes of the crowd, the two of them stood intertwined, reveling in the success of their deception.

Meanwhile, I remained motionless, the heaviness of my wedding gown weighing on me like shackles, a pitiful figure in a performance I hadn't agreed to join.

After kissing Viella with all the showmanship of a man savoring his triumph, Hendrick turned to his friends, his smile as broad as his ego.

"See? Ravenna actually ran away for me!" he bragged, gesturing dramatically. "The proof is right here, now pay up! A thousand each, no backing out!"

The group burst into laughter, their voices laden with scorn.

"Come on, Hendrick! With that level of charm, how could we not finance your happily ever after?" one chimed in.

"To Hendrick and his bride, may your love last as long as your vanity!"

After tossing their sarcastic blessings into the air, his friends turned to me, their faces contorted with contempt.

"Ravenna, should we praise you for courageously pursuing love or just admit you're as clueless as a chicken without a head? You're married; how can you still be hung up on Hendrick?"

"Honestly! Hendrick is way out of your league. Take a good, hard look at yourself!"

"We bet you wouldn't show up, thinking even you wouldn't fall for this. But here you are, too pathetic to even look at!"

I stood immobile, my hands clutching the hem of my wedding dress so tightly it nearly tore, the fabric straining under the weight of my silent rage.

Hendrick pocketed his earnings with a self-satisfied smirk, then sauntered over to me, leaning in close as if to whisper something kind.

His voice, soft yet taunting, pierced through the fog. "Ravenna, are those tears I see? Don't tell me you're about to cry."

Then, with an exaggerated turn, he waved at his friends, his tone shifting to feigned reproach.

"Really, guys? Have you no compassion? You've nearly brought the bride to tears! On her special day, too, how could you be so heartless?"

I jerked my head up, desperate for some indication that this was nothing more than a terrible nightmare.

But Hendrick thrust a microphone into my quivering hands before I could even collect my thoughts.

His grin widened, cutting through me like a knife. "Ravenna, today's my big day. Everyone else brought me gifts, but you didn't."

He paused, allowing the words to linger in the air, a mockery in themselves. "That's alright. We've been best friends for over a decade, haven't we? You don't need to give me money. Just sing me a song."

My heart plummeted as his smile grew even colder. "Sing 'Today You're Marrying Me'!"

The air caught in my throat, disbelief flooding my chest. How could such cruel words flow so effortlessly from his mouth?

The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers echoing like a merciless serenade.

Viella blushed, turning her head coyly. "Who said I'd marry you? You're so annoying," she murmured, her voice tinged with playful protest.

Hendrick grinned, blowing her a kiss with theatrical flair before pivoting back toward me. His voice was sharp, cutting through the noise. "Sing! Didn't you always love singing back in the day? Let's hear it!"

Someone from the crowd joined in, their laughter ringing louder than my pounding heartbeat. "Yeah, Ravenna! Weren't you the one always secretly singing for Hendrick in school? What's wrong now? Too shy with all these eyes on you?"