It was a typical Tuesday morning, the hallway was buzzing with news about the upcoming welcome home party for the three Kims. The amount of people talking about it made me scoff, I find it rather ridiculous, why make a fuss about having a party with such bullies?
"Will you attend the party on saturday? Oh my gosh, I just can't wait to meet my future in laws." I almost rolled my eyes when I heard that from Hanna, "And I'm super excited 'cause they invited everyone, I just wonder why."
"Duh, they'll probably announce who will take over the school. Either it's Bobby, Jayden or Kiefer." Another answered.
"Whatever, I have to be extra pretty this weekend, Kiefer needs to notice me." I almost bursted laughing when I heard another comment about him. It's just so pathetic to hear it directly from her.
"What are you smiling for?" Kiesha points out when she glanced at me. "Sis, don't smile too much, scary." She teases.
I rolled my eyes and raised a notebook at her, "Mind your own business, Kiesh."
"Anyway, Keith called me, he said dad wants us to be with them at the party this Saturday and according to him, we can't say no." I groaned upon hearing it, my plans of being peacefully locked up in my room are ruined. "And guess who's party that is."
"Ugh! Kiefer, I know, you don't have to keep reminding me. My blood is already at its boiling point." I quietly responded which made Kiesha's smirk grow.
"You know Keira, we have a saying." She stopped on her tracks before moving closer to me, "the more you hate, the more you love." She coos in my ear and my automatic response was to make a face at her.
"Bullshit."
"Keira." Well, speak of the devil and he shall appear. My eyes landed on Kiefer who's now standing in front of me. On my peripheral vision, I can clearly see how Hanna's face displayed an angry scowl whilst watching us. "I want you there, I'm really expecting you to come."
He hands over an invitation, it was a gold one with my name written in elegant calligraphy. I sighed before answering, "Well, don't. Going to that party will be the last thing I do." I stated with finality, although I knew I would never win against my father's decisions, it was worth it to let him know that I despise that party because of him. "We're not friends anymore Kiefer, don't even think that you can restore our old friendship. No one can fix a broken plate."
-
"How does it feel to eat your words and be like a prisoner beside me while we're on our way to the party hmm?" Kiesha never knows when to shut up.
I'm trying to keep my cool in the car, but in my mind? I'm secretly strangling my brother and father for forcing me to attend this God forsaken party.
"Can I jump out the window?" I asked Kiesha and rolled the window half way down beside me. I stuck my head and enjoyed the cool breeze that was met with my face.
"Kei, the driver said close the window." I was instantly pulled back from my peace when my big brother, Kieth, interrupted me. "Kei."
"Fine, fine. You always ruin everything." I mumbled.
"We're here." Dad announced as our car parked in front of a grand looking hotel.
From the outside, you can see the parking lot filled with well known and expensive cars. A sign that a lot of the attendees must be filthy rich or either a celebrity.
Loads of media and paparazzi were crowded outside the venue, waiting for the other upcoming guests. Right as the door of our van opened, we were bombarded right away with camera flashes. Our bodyguards do their best to surround us, but still, reporters shove microphones at our faces, making me feel anxious.
Relieved, we finally got inside the venue without a scratch. Dad was immediately greeted by a variety of people, some are stockholders from our company and some are his personal friends.
"Harold! Good to see you again!" We halted when a woman almost the same age as our mom addressed us, "These are your kids? You got them to attend?"
Dad just laughed and looked over at us, quietly standing beside him, "Well, forced."
"Oh how time flies. It was just like yesterday when they were little kids, but now they're all grown up." The woman smiled and gazed at me "they are all so beautiful and handsome."
"Well, of course! Who else would they look like?" They let out another set of booming laughter.
The woman never left our side or at least daddy's side. Up until we were guided towards the assigned table exclusively for our family. "It's just so nice that finally, you and Andrew agreed on merging our family business. This will be the highlight in the business world."
"Well, it won't be possible if it weren't for my daughter and your son." Daddy glanced at me with a smile. "Right Keira?"
I was so clueless with what's happening, especially when the party started and I was suddenly the highlight of the party. "Congratulations on your engagement, Ms. Lee." Merrily announced by the emcee as he gestured to me to come up on stage. I noticed Kiefer on the other side of it, in his hands is a magnificent bouquet of flowers while quarrelling with a random guy.
At that point, I knew what was happening. I planned on running away, however there were bodyguards around the stage.
So, what now? Is this the part where I have no other choice but to accept whatever they'll say next? Like the ones in movies where I'm forced to marry a guy I don't love and worse, I HATE?
"Let us welcome, the main protagonist of this party, Mr. Kiefer Kim!"
He was smiling widely when he went up the stage with the flowers resting in his arms. My hands felt numb and I felt cold sweat dripping down my forehead as I saw him make his way to me and hand me the flowers. I wanted to slap and scream at him so bad, but I stopped myself. Especially when I saw Kiesha shaking her head, reminding me that daddy's watching.
I had no other choice but to act as if everything was fine.
And when the program ended, I got off the stage and ran to the nearest bathroom. I can hear his footsteps just right behind, "Keira! Keira! Let's talk about this please."
I paused and faced him, fuming mad, "Are you happy huh? I told you to stop bothering me, but this is crossing the line Kiefer!" I was trembling, eager to smack some sense into him. "If you think for one second that I'll agree to be married to someone like you just like that? You're wrong! I'm not the same Keira you used to know."
I was about to walk away when he spoke, "I didn't want this too, Kei! But I have no other choice if this is what my parents want. I'm sorry if this is the only way I could think of to prove to them that I can save our company, I'm sorry for dragging you into Keira."
"'Sorry', I'm sick and tired of hearing it from you. That word slowly loses its meaning 'cause you use it over and over again. If you truly feel sorry, go back there and take back what you said. Tell them you don't wanna marry me! Don't drag me into another one of your games, Kiefer."
"Keira, please let me prove myself to you again, let me prove that I really do feel sorry for what I did in the past. Keira, just one chance, please." I bolted out of there, not giving him another chance to say meaningless things.
I don't want to hear any more of his lies. Who knows? This might be a part of his act. I don't want anything to do with him and I will do everything in my power to not let this damn wedding take place.
"Oooh, look who's here." Great, just when I thought this day couldn't get any worse. I scoffed when I recognized that annoying voice, "The audacity you have to flirt with Kiefer." The impact of her pulling on my hair made me close my eyes.
"Let go." I calmly said. "Let go while I'm being nice, Hanna. You don't know what I can do to you" I warned her, but by the looks of it, my words had no effect on her because it couldn't get through her thick skull. Instead, she tightened her grip and proceeded to shout at me.
"Your kind is what I hate the most, do you think you can get away with everything?" Feeling the frustration build up inside me, I couldn't help it and harshly pulled away her hand from my hair.
"I've done nothing wrong to make you angry, Hanna and don't wait 'til I do 'cause it will not be pretty." Her look of disgust is still visible. "If you're doing this for Kiefer, go ahead! He's all yours, I don't care about him or you. Just leave me alone!"
I never went back to the party, I turned my phone off after sending a message to Kiesh that I wasn't feeling well and that I needed rest.
When I got to my condo — where I usually stay whenever I need some time off with our family — I desperately plopped myself on the bed. I think I've gone mad from the events that happened today, making me pull out some of my hair.
While changing clothes, I couldn't help but notice the engagement ring that's now on my ring finger. The big diamond in the middle shines as the light hits it perfectly, the band of the ring sits just right around my finger and the small gemstones around it makes it even more beautiful. I sighed and took it off.
If this happened years ago, I would be screaming at the top of my lungs cause of joy. I wouldn't be able to contain the happiness my heart would feel. But now? I don't even know how to react.
To be honest, I'm just scared to fall down in the same well. Because for the second time, I'm afraid I won't be able to save myself.