BRIANN P.O.V
"It's about Mrs Mason" I paused to take a quick glance at her face which already turned into a stabbing glare and I frowned.
"She's gay!"
I would never let my sister be with an hypocrite like her,she deserves someone better and I think Massilo is definitely her future.There was silence for a moment until Mr Mason broke into laughter, "You're so funny, what made you say so!?"
"Well-uhm...she..." I got shut by Mrs Angeles sudden presence and she came to me just to whisper into my ears.
"Sua is missing!"
Her words thudded in my head as I tried to believe what I heard right.So this was her plan all this while,why does it have to be now,and if the Mason family finds out,our family will have to pay a great consequence and I can't let that happen, what can I do?.
I ran back to the hall,looking around in case I find mom anywhere,but she was nowhere nearby.It was a great relief that no one had known about the news,so I went down to the back door and rushed for the kitchen located somewhere close by,raking my hand through my hair just as I sighted mom by the cliff with Michelle.
"Mom!" I called out hurriedly as I pulled her away towards the back door leading to the kitchen. "Sua is missing!" A gasp came out of her,realizing her eyes becoming wide with shock and we both rushed back into the hall,trying so much not to be suspicious nor grab any attention.
But when we got into the dressing room, there was no one around except Mrs Angeles who held Sua's wedding dress in her arms and we found the window slightly opened.Sua,why do you have to do this and never thought of the consequence I would have to endure, what are your intentions.
As soon as I peeked through the window,i saw Sua's stilettos and footprints that led into the woods. "She would have not gone somewhere far,we can still find her" I spoke confidently.
"But we got no time to look for her,the event is about to get started and in no time,the bride's presence would be needed" Mom said in a haste,pacing about.
"We have to find a better way" I said.
"Your dad must not hear a word about this"
"We can still catch up with her before the event starts,we need to go out there"
"No I don't think so,we have only five minutes left" She wandered around for a while before facing me to digress,
"Make sure no one comes into this room,I shall send out few men to find her and buy them some time"
"Mr Adriano!!" Mrs Angeles called,already trembling on her wobbling feet as she bowed so low,hiding the dress behind her and we turned to see Dad at the doorway with fury.
"Honey,I thought the event would have started"
"Where's Sua?" Dad suddenly asked,smiling sarcastically.
"Well...she went...she..." I stuttered nervously while avoiding his strict glare and mom walked up to meet him,trying to take him away,but he pushed her aside out of anger. "I said where's Sua? why isn't anyone answering!"
"Dad...she..." I paused,still had nothing to tell as an excuse than staying silent.
"Oh...she's missing.Do you know how humiliating it would be if the wedding is called off.People from different countries are here" He yelled.
"Why don't we send out some men to find her" Mom suggested.
"We don't have time for that.You made this mess,so you must fix it.Briann would be the bride and we shall look for her discreetly"
"What...but dad!"
"No complain,you'd definitely stand in place of Sua as the bride.Anyway...you look so much like your sister.
"No,i can't.What if i get caught"
"Then you are in big trouble" He walked away as mom ran after him.
"Mrs Angeles...doll me up for the wedding,I shall make sure I find her immediately the event ends.How long do I have to pretend to be my sister"
"I'm so sorry" Mrs Angeles apologised.So this was how I ended up marrying Massilo while hiding my true identity.Though,it was all thanks to the makeover,i was able to imposter everyone,so easy that I became free.
And I got called to the altar with dad by my side,we both walked down to meet the groom even if fear ran through us,we held back our emotions.I caught a glimpse of Mrs Mason suprised glance when she stomped out of the hall with anger.There was no way I would be able to explain the situation,she won't buy my words.
The chandeliers sparkled like stars above the grand wedding hall,casting golden light on the sea of elegant guests who sat in hushed anticipation.The soft scent of roses lingered in the air, blending with the tension that clung to me like a second skin.
I stood at the altar,my sister's wedding dress fitting just a little too tight,the lace was brushing against my collarbone like a reminder i wasn't supposed to be here.My heart pounded,not with joy,but with confusion,fear and disbelief.Just hours ago,i had been helping Sua prepare for the biggest day of her life before she vanished without a trace.
Now,i was the bride.
Beside me stood Massilo,Sua's almost-husband.Tall,composed,painfully handsome.His eyes,once meant for someone else,were now fixed on me with quiet wonder.He hadn't protested when the families made the rushed decision.Neither had I.There hadn't been time.The scandal had to be avoided.
The officiant's words blurred into a fog until only one line rang clear:
"You may now kiss the bride"
My breath caught in my throat.
I turned slightly toward him,the hall watching and waiting.His face moved closer.My instinct screamed to pull away,to look down,to cry,to run like my sister did.
I hesitated.Lips trembling.My eyes flickered to his,unsure of what i should do.
But i couldn't humiliate my family.Not after everything.
I closed my eyes and kissed him.
It was meant to be quick.Just enough to satisfy the moment.But something flickered in that touch.Warmth,strength and safety.My lashes fluttered and i found myself leaning in slightly before pulling away.
I didn't understand the flutter in my chest.Or why his scent lingered in my mind long after the kiss.Or why my cheeks burned every time he smiled at me throughout the remaining hours of celebration.
I had married him for duty.
But without knowing,i had opened the door to something else.
Something dangerously close to love.
AT NIGHT
The hall was booming with hot music from tons of speakers which liberated me to have some fun while dad and mom were busy searching for sua in the woods.I kept drinking and drinking till I was unable to take another cup,already seeing two of everything.People around were busy eating and dancing along with the rock song,turning the hall into a
bar.
"Briann" I suddenly heard my
name from nowhere and I noticed Mrs Mason pulling me outside. "What did you do to Sua?"
"i did nothing much,i helped her stay
happy because i don't want her to be
with you" I slurred my words,roaming around unsteadily.
"So marrying Mason was your only
choice,you are hurting yourself. Where's sua?" She asked,struggling to put me on a spot.
"i don't know,"
"what do you mean?"
"where did you take Sua?"
"I have to find Sua" It was difficult to tell the right steps to take as I ran down to the parking lots and shuffled in while Mrs Mason ran after me,but I was long gone,already driving into the woods.
The night was heavy with silence, broken only by the distant cry of crickets and the soft creak of trees swaying in the wind as it was dark and stormy,the kind that mostly accompanied the tumultuous affairs of the heart.My thoughts were consumed by the atrocity that might befall me and the hand of my fate which were surely upon me.
But outta nowhere,the car collided with a tree that stood tall and proud in the shadow of darkness.The car which was once pristine and white was now crumpled against a tree trunk with steam hissing from the hood like a sigh of surrender.
Headlights flickered weakly, casting long shadows across the narrow, winding road that cut through the dark woods.
Inside the car,slumped over the steering wheel,i was seated in a ruined bridesmaid dress that was once white was now stained with wine,blood,and dirt.My hair,once neatly pinned was now hung wild around my face,tangled with leaves.My lipstick was smeared,my eyes glassy,rimmed red from crying and drinking far too much.
I had driven blindly into the woods,too fast, too angry,too heartbroken.Sua had run away,left the groom,the guests,the vows and no one knew why.I only knew i had to find her because it wasn't safe alone in the wild.
The empty wine bottle rolled off the passenger seat as i stirred,groaning softly.My head throbbed from both the crash and the alcohol,and the airbag had left a harsh burn across my arm.The world outside looked like a dream.Foggy,broken and shifting.
"Sua…" I whispered,my voice was barely a breath. "Where did you go?"
Tears slid down my cheeks as i reached for the door with a trembling hand.I didn't care about the cold.Or the blood.Or the accident.I just wanted Sua back.
But the woods gave no answer.Only silence.Before the pains hit me,I was already crawling out of the car and I laid unmoving on the ground,watching how my blood spread quickly through the wet sand with my head spinning and my body was becoming sore,i was in a pool of my own distress that left me feeling like hell.
Is this the end.
A flashlight suddenly peek over my half-lidded eyes and i saw Sua running towards where I laid helplessly as she was marveled at the sight before her.Her cries gradually faded when I took one last glance of her face before i eased to die with a slight smile of relief.
END
"What do you think would happen to Damel investment from now on?" The voice said from a broadcast while i tried to escape from those memories flooding back with agony and i got snapped out just as i realized i was standing at an intersection,six feet away from the hospital location.
What was that vision about,was i married to Massilo? what is happening to me,i thought i was an orphan,so Mrs Angeles lied to me,Sua was my sister,i was from a rich home,but why didnt she let me know from the very beginning.
What could have happened to Sua and where could she be right now. Is she dead? i'm just so incompetent, i could not even protect my own sister,i dont deserve to live.My family carried a great loss because of me.Suddenly,a loud crash interrupted my reverie as i was thrown away into the air and hit a car windshield,stumbling down to the ground, the shattering of glass shattered the serenity of the afternoon.
It would be better if I just die.Amidst the chaos and confusion,a mangled metal carcass laid motionless on the asphalt.The air was heavy with the acrid smell of burnt rubber and gasoline,mingling with the pungent scent of fear and anxiety.Why do i still want to live,this isn't right,please let me just die,I don't want to create more problems for those close to me.
I was covered in cold blood which oozed from the cut over my left arm,unable to feel my body as the pains weighed me and I began to cry in agony.The accident resulted in a significant traffic build up with several lanes of the intersection currently closed while the onlookers frantically called for emergency services, there was no way I would be able to hold on a little longer.
I was already lost in the chaos when the wailing siren grew closer and closer and the ambulance arrived,the paramedics rushed to the wrecked vehicle,trying to extricate the occupants from the twisted metal,but the damage had been done, bloodied and battered bodies were hastily loaded on to stretchers,as the urgency of the situation weighed heavily on their minds,I was taken into the hospital immediately and was placed on a stretchers,my eyes refusing to be awake and eventually shut.
AUTHOR'S REVIEW
What do you think about this chapter? I'm sure most of you would be disappointed at the way she found out about the whole truth too soon.But a lot will still happen.Most of them will still die,but I shall make sure those parts doesn't look so tragic.