From Roommates To Lovers

CORINNE’s POV I woke up with a knot in my stomach, the weight of the day bearing down on me. My eyes were all weary, the room which I've always stayed inside looked odd to me. I just couldn't figure myself. It's my wedding day, a day that's supposed to be filled with joy and excitement. But as I laid here, staring at the ceiling, all I felt was unhappiness. The thought of marrying a stranger I've only met once was really sickening. I just couldn't bear it. I needed to vent my anger out on something or someone. What a selfish and egocentric father I have! Getting married to a stranger for the company's benefit? Who does that? I didn't even know the man I was supposed to marry. We've met only once, and it was a brief, awkward encounter. I didn't even know what he had towards me, his aim, his objectives. I was oblivious! As I got out of bed, I felt like I was walking into a nightmare. I was supposed to put on a happy face and pretend like everything was okay, but there's no way my facial expression wouldn't say it all. I was scared, unhappy and felt trapped. I just had no other choice but to stick to my father's bargain. All he needed me to do was to get married to a business partner for the growth of his company. To him, I was just an ordinary pitch for his business. I finished taking my bath in no time. If I was my normal self, I would have spent almost an hour in the bathroom but everything was just not right. I was impatiently waiting for Monica, my friend and my work partner in my father's company. She had promised a day before that she was going to come so early but right now, I was really pissed. I could hear distance noises from the sitting room, at that moment, I knew relatives were already arriving for the f****d up wedding I was about to indulge myself into. I sighed deeply before finding my way to sit on the edge of the bed, nervously picking on my nails at the same time. The loud beep of my phone, indicating a notification, brought me back from my reverie. I glanced at it through the notification bar before finding out it was Monica's message. “Hey babe, I'm sorry I didn't stick to the plan. Put on your dress and meet me at the agreed location.” I read it out aloud, like I was reading to a circle of friends. I gritted my teeth in anger, solemnly staring at the wedding dress my mother got for me from a distance. I walked towards it and touched the material for the first time since she bought it. I shook my head and gently picked it, placing it on my body, trying to check if it would fit. “Are you really doing this, Corinne?” I asked myself, trying so hard to control the tears that were about to drop down my eyes. I continued staring at my reflection at the mirror, my full gaze on the mirror, my wedding gown on my left hand, while my phone was on my right hand. After a whole semester of thoughts, I decided to dress up to avoid Monica's screams. I dressed up in no time. I was the true definition of an unhappy bride who didn't even know her groom. I tried eavesdropping, if I could hear anything concerning the groom's location or whereabouts, but everything was suddenly silent. I passed the second door, instead of passing the main door out. Monica and I pre-planned everything already. She had done her part, it was left to me to maintain the plan to avoid delay or any obstruction. I successfully maintained the plan and got out safely. Without delay or anything, I met Monica patiently waiting for me inside the equipment room that belonged to my father. “Babe!! We need to be hasty with this. Time is no longer on our side.” Monica voiced out, her voice calm, but rushy. “I know I know… is everything in order? Are you sure there won't be consequences for what we are about to do?” I asked her, my eyes scanning around the small room. “There won't be any consequences, babe! Besides, you can't get married to that dimwit while I'm alive. We just have to flee away. The apartment is intact and everything is perfectly in order.” Monica spoke again, assuring me. “The Uber?...” I asked, but got interrupted by her. “I told you everything is in order. The Uber man is waiting. I love you!” Monica said, before pulling me into a warm hug. “I will always love you also.” I replied, still embraced in her warm arms. “Promise me you'll be fine, Corinne.”Monica asked as we both disengaged the hug. “We are running out of time!! Bye!!!” I screamed, running towards the uber man who had been waiting. The thought of my parents, my relatives, my only sister, Chloe and every other person who had planned the wedding left me in trance. I was inside the car, but I just couldn't feel anything. Am I the bad daughter my father had always known me to be? “We are here, Ma'am.” The uber driver's voice brought me back alive. I cleared my throat before alighting from the car. I turned to the driver's side to give him the man his money but he rejected it. “The other madam has paid.” He said and drove off instantly. “What a best friend I bagged!” I commented and smiled before entering the big building. I took a glimpse at the small note with me, which was labelled “Room 103” before I entered the building fully. “What are you doing!!?” I yelled, and dropped the bag on me, before confronting the strange guy that was trying to unlock my room. “What does it look like I'm doing and who are you?” He asked, glaring dangerously at me. “Are you trying to trespass? You're asking the owner of the room which you were trying to unlock who she is? Are you being real?” I asked and scoffed before throwing the small note at his face. “You're mistaken, young lady. This is my room! Kindly leave now before I lose my mind.” The guy said, trying to unlock it again. “Your mind? Lose your f*****g mind, you coward!!!” I screamed, before squeezing the key to the room with him but we were distracted by a neighbor who yelled at us due to my screams. “Young lady, leave this place now and go find your room. I'm the rightful owner of this room! My key is enough evidence for proof!” The guy said, showing off his key. “Well, I have mine also. I am the rightful owner of this room, and I hereby, present my key also! This is my apartment! I said to him, showing him my key also. “What???!” He exclaimed surprisingly.