you do not just wake up and become a butterfly

∞

there was beige letters bordered with silver being gripped tightly upon in between my fingers, just gazing up on it made my insides churn in uncertainty and even more when my friends are pushing over the border to explain what is the meaning of this and how come most of them weren't even aware of it all.

days ago, after establishing our list, minho and I had decided to send out the cards despite me being reluctant to doing so. after all, the wedding would be soon and we just need to confirm the numbers that are coming. the last step. the last step before I marry choi minho. "come on, lisa, tell us!" urges the younger one out of all us, and the only mother. "you never told us the choi minho! and now, you're getting married? since when!?" the baby in her lap also babbled unintelligible words but seemingly in attempts to copy its mother.

a sigh left the latter, "we... we aren't dating — "

"I call bullshit on that."

"calling second."

"calling — "

"can you guys stop for a second." requested lalisa firmly, a thin thread away from snapping in anger of her friends' attitude towards the issue. this being especially as they don't know the situation she been in. it frustrates lalisa, looking all over her best friends, knowing that out of all of them, she would be the only one who is marrying for business and not even to someone who she had feelings for — the only emotion she feels towards her spouse is respect, but not anything any near love as the women before her felt for their own husbands.

an angry lalisa was a rare sight. and to them, own that they wouldn't want to see. instantly, even the older women of the group had become quiet to listen. they knew when to stop joking around. and only then, could they tell that something had been wrong and some of them realising it had been with the partner all along.

"it's an engagement for business." she clarifies bluntly. "nothing more, nothing less — it was all arranged by my father." she waved the invitation to her own wedding in her palm before placing it on the table. the sight of it hadn't been angering her at all, or frustrating even — yet she wanted it out of her sight. "not for my sake, but for both companies. I couldn't do anything but say yes."

silence sprawls, and they could still tell that the thai girl was somewhat disappointed in then for their actions, they briefly shared knowing glances until momo was the first one to speak. "lisa... we're sorry — "

"for barging into my apartment like this over an invitation for my wedding? you're forgiven." her tone was straight forward and cutting them off like a dagger, her eyes didn't need to raise themselves from the table for them to know she would stare at them blankly and without even so far as acknowledging them. "... I'm sorry, everything has just been a mess lately." lalisa recognised that she should address her stress at her friends, when they all came here out of their curiosities to solve this riddle that had been her future status.

standing up from the couch, ready to ask them to leave as they had drained her energy for the morning, they all do the same and jennie was first to speak this time. "h-how about we go out together, hm?" She grasps hold of the younger girl's hands in attempt to persuade her and make her feel better. "we haven't even gone out as much lately! since all of this has been happening and — " the woman knew she had to choose her words carefully as they've already caused so much for their best friend like this. "you need a rest, don't you? come on, let's get some food! but you some new clothes perhaps and everyone too, we can go to my house since Baekhyun is overseas and — "

but she was calmly interrupted by the way lalisa smiled, shaking her head slowly and gripping back onto jennie's hands. "that would be great to do, but I really just want to be left alone for now." the model sent her a concerned smile and attempted one last time.

"just for today?"

"... no, jennie." replied lalisa, in a taciturn manner. "I know it's rude of me to not have offered you guys anything, and I'm sorry for this, but please... I promise I'll talk to you guys some other time but just for today." after seeing the invitation in person, the thai added to herself mentally. "I'd like it if you left." all of them, despite the hesitance and guilt that took over their actions, acquiesced to their friend's request and began to leave. they wished her the best, and reminded her that if she need anything from them, they would be a phone call away or a drive from them. at such words, lalisa couldn't help but simply smile at them, but not as brightly as she usually would.

∝

" — and I'm all too grateful for my wife's father, the one who was able to make this all possible by giving me his blessing to marry his daughter." minho turned to face the girl who was sat down beside him whilst he was still stood up. her attention focused downwards to the table as her husband continued to read from the piece of paper that had been printed for him, his speech. "in all honesty, I always admired him. despite him being my rival in business, never did I think that one day I would get to meet his daughter and even go so far as to marry her."

a clap was heard and then a chair screeching, the couple looks up to kibum who smiled wryly with a sense of frustration tugging his features. "okay, this is beyond painful to watch, to be honest with you." he sighed whilst massaging his forehead to prevent his rising headache from getting worse. "this is supposed to be the best day of your lives! at least, you will have to pretend it is because it's clear neither of you want to be here or do this — believe me, it's more than obvious." minho lowered his hand that held onto his speech as his opposite had come up to scratch at his neck.

"it's a rehearsal, kibum." minho grumbled. "we're merely practicing when it's still some time away."

the stylish man across from them threw his hands into air, forlorn with the way the couple before had been acting towards each other even. the lack of enthusiasm from both of their parts had the male discouraged to do all of this for them. "minho, you're my best friend — but I'll tell you right now that I hope you won't use a tone that shows you're not giving a shit about anything at the day and even looking like you could just leave the place at any time and knowing everybody would care but you won't." hands to his own hips, kibum doesn't hold back in scolding his best friend with truths on his behaviour. "it's not all about you." then, his narrowed, warning eyes go to the younger female in the room who holds onto her arms, not really being able of avoiding the scolding from him.

"and lisa, you can't look depressed throughout it all, okay? smile or even look at him when he's speaking, the attention is going to be on you two. your father said himself the media doesn't know that it's for the sake of business, they genuinely think that you two are a thing. he wants to keep it that way from harming the business." he then softens his tone, but still keeping the firm tone. "I know you don't want this, but can you at least look more lively, for me?"

the latter nods instantly, turning to look at minho. he also stares down at her her, and both feign smiles before continuing. "okay, then! minho, from the top, more emotion this time — charisma even. it is rehearsal, but still, you have to do it with everything you've got. give me life."