Happy House: The dream of escaping

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet” _L. M. Montgomery It was magical. It was more than Tina Peterson could ever dream of for her wedding and yet, here she is in her hotel room getting dolled up and ready to wear the most beautiful wedding dress she has ever seen in her entire life. In the mirror before her, she looked beautiful as a makeup artist applied shades of red to her lips, another one brushing up her face with concealer. "Please close your eyes for a little bit," one of the make-up artists instructed. Tina complied with a happy sigh, her lips stretched into a little smile. She fought the urge to turn around as she heard the sound of the door being pushed open. Her best friend's voice drifted in right from the hallway, even before she stepped into the room. "My love" Lucy sounded way too enthusiastic. "You can't believe how much the crowd is out there. I felt like a kpop idol while Kyle and I arrived" "It was expected," Tina smiled. Eyes still closed and trying to stay as still as possible so as to not ruin her make up. No matter how excited she was to see her best friend, she would never risk messing up her make up on her big day. Lucy Morgan, was Tina's best and only friend. They had met on campus while doing their masters and had immediately clicked. Two years ago, Tina was the best lady when Lucy got married to her now husband, Kyle. And now, Lucy was to be her best lady as well. Already dressed in a wine color fit-and-flare dress, Lucy sat down carefully on the bed behind the vanity where Tina was being made up by two stylists. "They really went all out with the decoration. You won't believe until you see it" "It was all Mrs. Jackson's idea," Tina chuckled. Her mother-in-law was so sweet and immediately took over planning almost all the wedding. Tina had been panicking on the day her father had revealed the date of the wedding just two months after she had agreed to marry his friend's son. She had tried really hard to make her father shift the date a little, but she was reminded again and again that the date or time must not clash with her husband-to-be’s schedules. Then her mother in-law, so sweet as she is, had decided to plan the whole thing, since the bride and the groom were too busy. Tina couldn't be grateful enough. "Well, your mother-in-law sure has an immaculate taste. Hope your husband is like her" Lucy giggled. Tina also chuckled along as she finally opened her eyes when she felt the stylists were done with her face. But the thing was, she also hoped her husband would be as sweet as his mother. She had only interacted with him twice and both times he was indeed sweet. Charming even, very thoughtful. "He is sweet" Tina replied even if she did not fully believe her own words. But Tina had also watched him grow up from afar. Behind her TV screen, on social media with thousands of people commenting on how beautiful his eyes were or how charming his laughter were. He did have beautiful eyes though, it was the first thing Tina noticed when they met for the first time. "I would agree," Lucy said as she watched Tina get up to put on her gown with the help of the two stylists who were working silently. "He wouldn't have a million fans if he was an asshole. Have you even listened to his music?" "Not really" Tina smiled at herself in the mirror as the stylists adjusted her dress. "I mean, I know the popular ones like Buttercup and First Love but... You know I'm not really a fan of music" "You are getting married to a literal Pop star" Lucy deadpanned. Tina turned around to face her best friend with a big smile. "How do I look?" She asked. "Like someone who's getting married to a Pop star" "Shut up" Tina snapped but there was no bite to her words and if she wasn't caked in makeup her face would be red as well. The rest of the time in the hotel room was spent getting her ready while Lucy talked her ears off but Tina would have it no other way. About twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door and a muffled voice telling them that it's time. Within a blink of an eye, Tina was standing with her father before the entrance of the church, staring at the closed door from behind her veil. Dressed in a Ivory mermaid gown with a bouquet clutched tightly in her hands. Smile strained and heart beating loudly. "I'm so proud of you princess" her father's voice forced her out of her anxious mind. She glanced at him briefly, nodded a few times before she spoke. "Thank you" was all she said. "Your mother will be so proud of you," her father said again. "She will," Tina answered again, but this time her voice wavered. Her mother would be proud of her only daughter getting married, but not like this. Not to a man she has barely seen before, let alone interact with. But she could blame her father, he was getting old and she was already 32 without a boyfriend. And he hadn't forced her either, her father would never do such to her. He had just planned it and talked her into accepting. It was for her own good after all. The door suddenly opened with a loud groan, startling Tina from her thoughts as her father guided her through the aisle. On the red carpet, they walked slowly and Tina's eyes were trained on the floor. Not looking at the too many crowd that filled the church nor was she looking at the altar where her soon to be husband was surely standing. "You're doing fine" Tina heard her father's voice but she wasn't really sure if she replied to him or not. The walk was too long. Was the church that big or were they walking too slow. Tina was not sure. But eventually they made it to the altar. Her father moved back as she climbed the altar and moved closer to her husband. Her breath hitched when she looked up at her husband to be and he was already staring at her, intently. "Dear beloved" the priest's voice jolted Tina out of her thoughts, making her startle a little before she composed herself. "We gathered here in the sight of the lord and in the presence of family and friends, to witness and bless the joining together of this man and woman in holy matrimony" The priest's voice was too loud and the hall was too silent. Tina was now staring at a random button on her husband's chest just because she couldn't maintain eye contact even behind the veil. "Korede, do you take Augustina to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her..." The priest's voice continued to boom across the church but Tina thought it was going in a different direction. _Korede_ that is her husband-to-be's name. His birth name was Korede. Tina had always called him Korey. That's what he calls himself, that's what his fans call him too. But Tina was not his fan, she was to be his wife and... "I do!" Korey's voice was the one that startled her this time around. She glanced up at him briefly before focusing on the priest's voice since she figured it would be her turn soon. "Augustina, do you take Korede as your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him and keep him, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as you both live?" "I do" "You may speak your vows" Korey's voice was soft but loud as he started to recite his vows. "I, Korede, take you, Tina, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in wealth and in debt, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” Tina swallowed before she started her vow. Which she had practiced over the week with the help of her best friend. "I, Augustina, take you, Korede, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in wealth, and in debt, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” "The rings" Tina looked down and suddenly there was a cute little girl beside them, holding a cushion with a beautiful bowl where two rings lay side by side. Tina blinked slowly as she watched Korey's tattooed hand pick up a ring. She reached forward and picked up the other rings. She didn't even recognize the little girl, was it a family of Korey? Was it his younger sister? Cousin? Tina startled yet again as Korey picked up her other hand and slid the ring into her finger gently. "You're so jumpy" he whispered, voice laced with clear amusement. She ignored him as she grabbed his hand and slid the other ring into it. " By the power vested in me, and by the union of your vows and rings, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride" The cheers started the moment Korey moved forward to lift up the veil and for some reason, Tina felt her skip and her stomach dropped as she felt his other hand grab her waist. Everything really only happened in a minute or so but Tina had felt like it was an hour. The kiss. Korey lips were just so soft as they met hers in a soft, barely there kiss. When he pulled back, Tina was almost chasing his lips. Even with the cheers and confetti, Tina took her time before she opened her eyes slowly. Her husband was already looking at her, a smirk on his lips and his eyes were fond, Tina could not help but blush. The cheers were too loud and there was screaming but Tina didn't mind, her husband was still holding her and he was now smiling brightly. Almost glowing. He is a Global Popstar, of course he glows in cheers and praises. And Tina, she was feeling high on hopes. It's never too difficult to fall in love with a global popstar after all