[Wedding Day]
Beside tens of beer cans was Lili, hugging one of the bed's legs and giggling in her sleep. Her hair was a mess with chunks of chips struck. The room not only appeared dirty, but it was also shrinking and smelled like a local bar.
"Wake up!" Bella shouted while patting her unconscious friend. Her voice sounded as if some disaster happened and there was an urgent need to get up. Strangely, she didn't seem drunken and appeared as if already washed.
"What happened?" Lili asked with closed eyes, aware of her dramatic friend.
"It's your wedding!" Bel screamed again, which made Lily close her ears.
"So? Isn't it why we celebrated Bachelorette Party yesterday?" Lily cried in her half sleeping and half drunken voice
"Yes, but shouldn't you go to the spa?"
Lili's jaw tightened and wrinkles formed in her eye corners. "No, I don't want to!" She whispered, trying her best to keep her calm and not shout at Bel.
"Don't you want to look good in pictures?" Bella continued; her questionnaire was reluctant to stop the fuss. Her voice was so loud that Lili felt her head breaking and ears ringing. Deciding to cease the useless discussion once and for all, Lili sat and glared at Bel.
"This marriage isn't my choice. Why should I celebrate or even try to look good?" Agreeing to have a party itself has landed her with a headache and sleep deprivation. She didn't want to waste any more of her energy on any more marriage related stuff.
"Even if it isn't your choice, it's your marriage. Forget about everything - your father, that Niklaus and the main reason, bankruptcy. Do you want to look like an aunt on your big day? Look at your dark circles and tan on your skin."
What Bella said made sense, but Lily couldn't think or analyze. All she wanted or urged was sleep. "Why would I look ugly? Beau said that he had TAKEN CARE OF!" Lily hissed while rubbing her eyes.
"How is three hours enough for waxing, manicure, pedicure, makeup hair and dress alteration? Your wish, don't complain later when you see yourself on tomorrow's news, TV and Internet." Bel kept trying her best to persuade Lili. She wanted her friend to have marriage just like every other girl, as she wasn't sure of how Liliya would be after marriage.
"Why would I wish to look the best on the worst day of my life?" she feebly said, gave an OK gesture, and went back to sleep. However, Bel's words weren't getting out of her head. Gradually, her brain started imagining the comments people would make.
"She looks like a maid to Mr. Cooper."
"Is she in the pits of poverty that she can't afford a spa?"
To make the situation worse, she dreamt of memes and trolls on her, portraying her as an unworthy and ugly girl. "NO!" Lili screamed and sat, to find Bel laughing at her. "YOU!" Lili held Bella's neck between her hands.
"So?" Bel teased while raising her eyebrows
"Fine! We'll go!" Lili sighed and rushed to the bathroom to freshen up. As the water from the shower hit her, she realized how her life was never been in her hands. Just like every human, she didn't get to choose her parents or gender. Her bachelors course was selected by her father and now, her husband, the wedding venue, the wedding date and even the wedding outfit weren't in her hands. She wished she had Bella's ability to live in the moment and enjoying the present.
"Come fast! It's already 10. I have booked for an appointment at 10:30 at our favorite spa." Bel yelled.
Lili pursed her lips and smiled, noticing how Bella kept trying to lift her mood. Bella has been Liliya's friend for only four years of university life, but somehow, they have a unique connection. Especially Bel, she always stood beside Lili, guiding and helping her during every hardship. Even at this moment, when all her classmates were busy applying for jobs or higher studies, Bella didn't waste a second to travel three hours to be beside Lili.
Reaching the spa, Bella asked for bridal care. Liliya, of course, complained, but with a glare from Bel made her mouth shut. This was another specialty between them. Bella acts like a mother a few times, and in those situations, Lili could never win against her.
Two staff ladies started working on her body, which Lili felt comfortable, but at the same time unnecessary. However, she had to bear with it, as the person she was going to marry wasn't a common one. Apart from being rich, successful and powerful, Niklaus was the heart drop of every unmarried girl. Lili sucked her lip and huffed, recalling how the teenagers cursed her in the social media for stealing their hero. Because of the nonstop messages in the social media, she didn't have a choice but to mute all the social media applications.
Since her hands were free, she opened one of the muted apps to find 2k messages. "God!" she groaned aloud, that Bel rushed to her. Her mouth hanged out loosely and eyes widened to see Lili have one million followers. As Lili scrolled over the messages, both saw the absurd, weird and unreasonable messages. Lili thought that she might have to read curses and rude words, but instead her inbox showered with requests and pleadings.
"Nik is not a social person, so could you please post a few pictures of him?"
"I heard you are bankrupt. Can we trade with Nik's pictures? The more unclothed he is, the more money you get!"
"Can you trade me with his schedule?"
"Are you a K-Pop fan? How about I make you meet the BTS? But in exchange, I want Nik's nudes."
Lili's eyes glittered to see the last offer. But there was something that was making her uncomfortable and angry. "Why do these girls call Mr. Cooper as Nik." she feebly growled.
"Jealous!!!" Bel teased, raising her lip corners and brows.
Lili shut her eyes, "Why would I be?" she instantly blabbered and bent her head down, to be pulled by the lady, who was working on her hair. 'Am I jealous? Why would I be? But why was I annoyed by those girls?' She huffed, closed her eyes, and decided to relax and concentrate on the ongoing pedicure and hair massage.
The staff worked on her body, trying their best to make her feel comfortable and relaxed. And to some stage, the spa was indeed calming her down. There were a few initiate services, which Lili rejected but had to do because of her mom, Bella. Left with no choice, Lili concluded to try those services, which in her opinion were unnecessary. She was damn sure that she would never allow Niklaus to lay a finger on her.