ALESSANDRO
Good morning, she said, standing up as I approached. Morning, I replied gruffly, trying to hide my growing irritation. You finally decided to come downstairs, I muttered lowly, but loud enough for the both of us to hear. I apologize for wasting your time… I. She tried explaining.
Likewise, I quickly cut her off and stood up so quickly she was caught by surprise and shifted back, almost losing her balance but was able to steady herself quick enough. Let's go, I said, already walking out the door without feeling remorseful about making her almost fall. And she followed quickly as we got into my car and I zoomed off.
I trudged through the mall, Sofia by my side, as we searched for engagement outfits. This was the last thing I wanted to be doing. Forced smiles and fake excitement weren't exactly my forte.
Come on, let's try this store, Sofia said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I followed her into the boutique, feeling like a reluctant participant in this charade. The sales associate greeted us with an overly enthusiastic smile, and Sofia returned it with a faint one of her own. I, on the other hand, grunted a hello.
As Sofia began trying on dresses, I wandered around the store, pretending to browse. In reality, I was trapped in my thoughts, replaying the events that had led us to this point. Our engagement was a farce, a business arrangement that neither of us wanted. Yet, here we were, pretending to be excited about it.
The hours dragged on, with Sofia trying on dress after dress, each one eliciting a slightly more enthusiastic response from her. I offered my critiques, trying to sound partially interested, but my heart wasn't in it.
When it was my turn to try on suits, I picked out a bland, navy-blue one without much fuss. Sofia looked at me disapprovingly. Don't you want to try on a few more?
I shook my head. No, this one's fine.
The rest of the day was a blur of shopping and forced smiles. We grabbed lunch at a nearby café, the conversation stilted and awkward. I couldn't help but feel like we were just going through the motions.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the mall, Sofia turned to me with a hesitant smile. I think we've found some nice outfits. Do you want to head back?
I nodded, relieved that this torture was almost over. Yeah, let's head back.
The drive home was silent, the tension between us palpable. I could feel the weight of our situation bearing down on me, making my chest tight.
When we arrived at my place, I turned to Sofia and said, I'll see you later, okay?
She nodded, her eyes downcast. Okay.
I watched her walk away, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. This day had been a necessary evil, but I couldn't wait to get back to my normal routine.
As I turned to go inside, I noticed Sophia's forgotten purse on the back seat. I groaned, feeling a sense of frustration. This day just kept getting better and better.
I got out of the car and walked back to the house, the purse in my hand. I couldn't help but feel like this engagement was a mistake, a disaster waiting to happen. And I was stuck in the middle of it.
As I walked back into the house, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. The engagement party was just a few days away, and I was dreading it. All those people, smiling and congratulating us, when in reality, we were both trapped in a situation neither of us wanted.
I tossed Sofia's purse onto the couch, feeling a pang of guilt for not being more considerate. She was trying, after all. But I couldn't help the way I felt. This engagement was a business deal, nothing more.
I wandered into the kitchen, opening the fridge to grab a beer. As I popped the cap, I heard a knock at the door. I groaned, wondering who it could be.
I made my way to the door, opening it to reveal my best friend, Lorenzo . Hey, man! Congrats on the engagement! he said, slapping me on the back.
Mock me all you want now! I growled while ushering him inside. Oh come on, it can be that bad. At least she looks calm so you don't have to worry about taming anyone or constantly suspecting her. She barely even knows the real why the engagement is going through. Lorenzo tried encouraging me.
But that's the problem, quiet people are usually the deadliest and I can't possibly imagine being tired down to any one especially someone who is very far from my type of girls.
Lorenzo kept trying to make me view the engagement form a positive view and after sometime he left.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur, my mind consumed by thoughts of the impending wedding and the life that lay ahead. I felt trapped, like I was hurtling towards a brick wall with no brakes.
As the night wore on, I found myself pacing around the house, feeling restless and agitated. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was making a huge mistake.
Eventually, I ended up on the couch, staring blankly at the TV as the hours ticked by. The engagement party loomed ahead, a constant reminder of the life I didn't want.
As the clock struck midnight, I finally drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the day's events. But even in my dreams, I couldn't escape the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach.
The next morning, I woke up feeling groggy and irritable. The engagement party was just a few days away, and I was dreading it more with each passing moment.
I got out of bed, shuffling to the kitchen to make some coffee. As I waited for the brew to finish, I glanced out the window, feeling a sense of disconnection from the world outside.
This engagement was a business deal, nothing more. But as I looked out at the bright, sunny day, I couldn't help but wonder if I was making a huge mistake.
The days leading up to the engagement party passed in a blur of activity, with Sofiaand I am going through the motions. We attended meetings with the wedding planner, discussed the guest list, and finalized the details of the party.
But despite the chaos and activity, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. This engagement was a farce, and I was the main actor in this play.
As the day of the engagement party approached, I felt my anxiety growing. I didn't know how I was going to get through this, pretending to be the happy groom-to-be.
But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on getting through the next few days. I would put on a show, smile and laugh, and pretend to be excited about this engagement.
After all, that's what I had agreed to. And I would see it through, no matter how much I wanted to run.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. The engagement party would be a test of my endurance, but I would get through it.
And then, the wedding would follow. A whole new set of challenges and pretenses.
I sighed, feeling the weight of my situation bearing down on me. But I would push through, for better or for worse.