?. ?. ?. || ?.?? ?

◌ ⋅ • ☽ 𖥸 ☾• ⋅ ◌

When the morning sun gently warms my uncovered toes at the end of the bed, I fight the urge not to fall back asleep for another hour or more if given the opportunity.

However, I end up deciding to go back to sleep instead. I settle for just as long as I could get for today. I already know it won't be long before Alice, GiGi, or the others, would be knocking at the door to wake us up.

Suddenly, my right eye opens when I realize the single word that has just stained my brain momentarily: us.

The word has never seemed like such a nasty phrase until now, but only because it's associated with the likes of him and myself.

I decide it's for the best to sneak out of bed before he wakes up, but I wasn't expecting him to wrap his arm around my side and pull me into his chest.

"Good morning, wifey," and just like that, my day begins with a harsh slap to his cheek and him rolling off the bed in pain.

◌ ⋅ • ☽ 𖥸 ☾• ⋅ ◌

"I told you that it was your fault," I admit while sitting at the dresser and doing my makeup for the long day ahead of me. "You shouldn't have been fooling around,"

I hear the low groan, even though he tries so hard to hide it. "I told you already that I was just trying to have some fun. You know, lighten the mood. We haven't spoken to one another in weeks, and I thought we should at least try to get along in one way or another before we're married."

Holding in my sigh, I just release it and calmly answer him.

"Taehyung, we don't have to get along. You know that, right? I'm doing this for my freedom, and you're doing it for fame. There's no bond between us besides what feels like a servant and master ordeal. You are, after all, holding the golden key to my freedom." I admit while putting on a light eyeshadow color.

To be completely honest, I don't normally go all out for makeup like this, but I was reminded by Alice, when she stopped by just moments after I slapped Taehyung in bed earlier, that I needed to dress appropriately in case any photographers spotted me today.

"And I promised you that after one year you would be free as long as you married me, did one small activity, and helped the girls out. I won't go back on my word, Ada." 

"We'll see," I mumble while putting the finishing touches on my makeup.

Once I'm done, I'm surprised to see him sitting on the end of the bed, not even fully dressed yet.

He wears a navy blue button-up shirt that's not even buttoned all the way while the necktie around his neck is hanging over both sides of his collarbones. He tilts his head at the ground, thinking hard.

"What if I make another promise to you?" He suddenly says. His eyes lift from the floor until they reach mine.

"You don't need to make any more promises. I have enough, and soon, this whole nightmare will be over." I stand from the chair, but he starts talking right before I can walk away.

"I'll make your life a dream. When you're here with me for the year, I'll make everything perfect. I feel bad... since we're kind of the same—"