Bound By Lies

CARMEN’S POV “Carmen, are you ready?” My mom yelled. The aftermath of her voice rang in my head. It made me feel like a child being scolded for playing in the mud. Still dazed from sleep, I tried to figure out if it was still afternoon or evening already. My sluggish brain tried to process what was happening, Fuck! Today is Trish's engagement Not long ago I decided to take a nap and set my alarm to wake me up one hour later. Guess I overslept. I looked around for the alarm clock and checked, I still had about thirty minutes to get ready. “ Coming!” I yelled back as I hurriedly rushed into the bathroom to have a quick bath. During my whole twenty-two years of existence on earth, I had never taken such a quick shower. I carefully slipped into my black corset dress that stopped above my knees. The off-shoulder sleeves were made with delicate lace and I loved the color because it made my fair skin pop and attractive too. I brushed my hair and styled it to perfection. “ Come on Carmen, we’re gonna be late” Barbara my cousin shouted from downstairs, her patience seeping out of her. I don’t blame her though, I’d feel worse if I were in her shoes, it was her best friend's engagement party. if only mom had allowed her to go to Trish's house earlier. She couldn’t even attend the white-themed party Trish organized for her friends because my mom viewed it as a lame event meant for Ill-mannered people. We were going for an engagement party, A billion-dollar engagement sounded more appropriate since the two wealthiest families in New York were getting married in a few days and decided to throw a lavish engagement party. Trish was getting married to a rich billionaire too, Carl Taylor. Everybody considered him to be New York's richest, hottest youngest yet eligible bachelor. Well, I don’t see him in the same light, to me Carl is nothing but a cold-hearted playboy who will do anything to get under a woman’s skirt. I wonder how Trish managed to get him hooked, I mean New York's number-one playboy is finally getting hitched. Miracles do happen indeed. Initially, I was not the type who loved such events, but the way Barbara kept singing about how glamorous this engagement would be hooked my interest and I could not help but wish to attend. Even though I was only going there to taste the different varieties of exquisite cuisines. “ That’s it, I’m leaving. Trish will kill me if I show up five minutes late, I’m sure you will not have trouble taking a taxi.” Barbara yelled. “ I'm done!” I yelled and smiled at myself in the mirror, I was impressed with the handwork on my hair. I grabbed my makeup kit and went to work. I was about to use the dark eyeliner when My mom yelled my name again, making me smudge it against my cheek. “ GREAT,” I growled, grabbing a wipe to clean the charcoal color steaking my face. ‘ I give up, I'm leaving. Barbara will kill me if we don't make it to the Ronalds on time.’I said to myself and picked up my strappy heels before exiting my room and heading for the stairs as if my room was on fire. “ Sorry I was styling my hair and trying to get my makeup done,” I gasped as I arrived in the living room barefoot, like some psychiatric patient who was trying to escape. Just when I was about to get off the last step, my dress got hooked by a nail which I don't know how it got to where it was. Almost stripping me naked, I tried to control it by bending down slowly to free my perfect dress from the nail but my gorgeously styled hair loosened, making all the pins drop shamelessly on the floor. I stood upright and stared at my mom and then at Barbara, who didn't spare me a murderous look. My mom looked frustrated too, she's the kind of woman who expects you not to ever do anything wrong. She loved perfection and right now, I was the complete opposite. She might die from a heart attack when she discovers the truth behind her perfect daughter. Besides, I could keep up with the facade; after all, I've done it for years. “ Sorry, I will just hurry and cha…” “ you know what?” Barbara cut in, “ I can't wait anymore, not even for you to breathe. Call Aaron, he's your boyfriend, right? I'm sure he won't have a problem coming over to pick you up.” Barbara said with all finality. “Mom!” I turned and cried to my mom, but instead Barbara replied, “Carmen,” her cold demeanor reminded me of my high school teacher, that woman was the devil's twin sister who escaped from hell. “ You owe your cousin an apology, and this should be the last time you try something like this. I did not raise you to be so tardy.” My mom scolded me. Sometimes I wonder if I was her only child or not, come on, I thought we deserve special treatment. Why does mine have to be different? “ I get it, mom. It won't happen again.” I grunted. “ Good. Give Aaron a call now, and if you are thirty minutes late, then forget about attending the engagement” my mom said with a firm voice. “ But Mom, Barbara is my only invitation to the engagement. The event is strictly by invitation remember,” I grumbled. “Thirty minutes Carmen,” she repeated while Barbara searched her gold clutch purse and flinged an IV at me. “ But I didn't mean for any of these to happen,” I said with a sad tone. My mom stared at me without any form of emotion on her face, “ Remember this family has a reputation to protect and it will be very nice if you don't end up ruining it by showing up very late at the engagement.” Mom reminded me. I know she was probably thinking about her classy group of friends who gathered once in a while to sip expensive wine and envy each other's designer clothes. Of course. It’s always about the family's reputation. Every mistake I made ruined the family's reputation. “ I won't Mom,” I said, faking a smile and going back to my room upstairs while my mom drove Barbara to the engagement. Not like it's my first time faking a smile, I have been faking smiles all my life. Hiding the pain no one ever noticed, not even my mom. I only hope I will never fail them or give them a reason to be ashamed of me again. Luckily for me, my boyfriend Aaron was around the neighborhood when I called him, and in no time he arrived at our mini-mansion. I finished my makeup, changed my dress to a coral peach off-shoulder gown that also stopped above my knees, styled my hair, and put on my heels. Ria, our maid, came to call me when Aaron arrived and I hurried downstairs with a big grin. And there he was. My very own prince was charming in his slim-fit black suit that matched with black chucks, looking cool and handsome, as always. His curly hair looked so perfect, tumbling to his forehead like bangs. His soft eyes made his brown eyes sparkle with an irresistible charm as he held my gaze. Ria stared at us as we reached out to hug like two lost lovers finding each other after years of endless searching. I didn't want to break free from his embrace, Aaron is my definition of a perfect gentleman. I tried to suppress the wide smile on my face, still lost in the frenzy of the moment when Ria’s voice interrupted us, “ You are running late Miss Carmen,” Ria, or should I say Nanny Ria believed that only married couples should show affection in public. She will always tell me whenever we are having a conversation that showing affection in public is quite pointless if we aren't sure we will end up together in the future. I doubted that though. I hooked my arm on Aaron's arm and stared at Ria. My eyes fixated on her and I know it took her an effort not to roll her eyes at how I looked at her like a hawk waiting for the perfect moment to strike. “ Where’s Barbara?” Aaron asked. “ Ohh, she left with Mom a few moments ago,” I replied, smiling as if I just won the lottery. Aaron's face dropped when I told him Barbara left already, maybe he expected her to wait for me. “ I see; Best Friend duties huh” he said with a fake smile. I smiled and nodded my head. “ Have fun, Miss Carmen,” Ria said, breaking the tense silence between us. “ I will Ria, bye,” I responded and made my way out with the love of my life. “ I have goosebumps when I am around your maid,” Aaron whispered to me when we were out of earshot. I giggled. Facing him, he looked elegant and gorgeous. I ran my fingers through his soft curls and smiled. “ You look so hot. I'm jealous” I said with a frown. He smiled at me and his brown eyes glimmered under the sunlight. “ You look ravishing babe, and if not for the fact that you won’t want to miss Trish's party, I would have suggested we skip the engagement,” he said, putting his hand on my waist, sliding it slowly to my hips. He leaned closer and to my face to kiss me and I slightly parted my lips to welcome his. “We should be on our way babe,” Aaron said, and we rushed into his white Mercedes Benz parked outside the gate and together, we left for the engagement, laughing.