Rudest Shock
Flowers in hand and ring in his pocket, Roark was ready for his final date with Luciana. This was it this would be make it or break it and his entire life would be changed by this decision. He'd risked a lot for this and it would better be worth everything he gave up. He was really nervous, after all this was a first confession and he and Luciana had not even kissed yet. This was really hard, a hard battle.
Yet he couldn't help thinking of Gardenia. He was really regretful of assaulting her so coldly, even if the remarks she made about his father were over the top. Gardenia was mocking, but never insulting. It was totally unlike her character to behave this way; so he felt. All the same, what had he done? Luciana was pretty, clever and strong. In short she was perfect- what could possibly be wrong in her?
He walked nervously, albeit still guilt ridden by his actions. Slapping a woman was an outright act of cowardice, and Gardenia was his best friend. She was pretty much the only one who listened to all his problems and fears and could write both an encyclopaedia and a biography about him; probably even better than Riley. Roark sweated in guilt and basic fidgetiness. Was Arceus ever going to forgive him? He even felt a little tear fall onto his hand. "This is awkward." He wondered. "She is my best friend, but why would I feel so terrible doing this to her? I've punched Riley over a million times and yet it never made me cry... am I becoming weak?"
Later on, he shrugged the thought, or at least tried to. It might have really failed for the whole night he suffered nightmares of Gardenia trying to kill him or her dying... why did he do this? Yet he couldn't wonder- was marrying Luciana the right thing? It may bring him happiness, but would it be worth it? He thought of Gardenia's words long and hard. They plagued his mind for really long until he reached Luciana's destination. He knocked on the door and contemplated leaving, but when he set his eyes on her gorgeous form, he couldn't. She was wearing a long black dress that was more like an actress'. "Hello Roark." She said sweetly. "Hello, Luciana. May we leave?" he asked her politely, which was irritating him no end- he tried respecting women but such false politeness was never his thing! She agreed and went to the same garden restaurant he loved, with her sighing in tiredness of course.
They ate a normal dinner which Roark just couldn't enjoy; it seemed so plain and so baseless. "Here Cranidos, have my share too." Said he and then placed his past along with the gnocchi he ordered for him, which Cranidos wolfed down immediately, but felt sad. Why wouldn't he be? His master was sad too! Roark was still having a heavy heart. "Damn this guilt- why isn't it going yet?!" he wondered irritably. Then he approached Luciana and she stood there emotionlessly. "Yes, dear?" she asked him coldly. Roark was shivering, but he felt it was about time.
Dropping himself to the floor, he confessed "Luciana- you've been the light of my life. I really love you and would give up almost anything just to see that beautiful smile on your face- I really would, Luciana I do! So, in all that devotion I'd place for you, I really have to confess- I would do anything, swim the deepest sea, cross the hottest desert, work forever for anything you desire even if it kills me! So what I want to say is..."
Luciana looked at him acidly. "Go on."
Bending on his right knee, he spoke "Luciana... will you marry me? Or be my fiancée?"
Then he saw something approach him and Luciana. It was a large red car and a lady arrived from it. Slim figure, long blonde hair and wearing a faux gem dress; she arrived at the two lovebirds and stared at them condescendingly and then laughed. "Ha! Roark, you fell for it! You silly little nerd, you fell for my damn trick! Honestly, am I good or what?" Roark looked at her blankly- what the hell was she saying?
"Oh, Luciana! Tell him- tell this pathetic fool about your real social status, will you? Look at him- he looks just as good as a pauper in rags, am I right, Luciana?" she scoffed. Luciana was stunned herself that this was her sister's setup and said "Alright, Elisha. I will." Roark looked at her stunned "Luciana is this true?" he asked her hopefully. Standing up, she said "I'm sorry, Roark. I love being your date, but I can't accept." Roark felt crushed. Shocked as he was, he could still blurt out "why?"
"Because" Luciana said slowly "I'm married!" She then called out a butler looking guy out. "Roark, this is my husband; Boris." She introduced. Roark was so shocked, he couldn't speak. Muteness, grief and betrayal consumed him. He could neither move nor speak; and felt something actually started eating him inside. Elisha on the other hand burst out laughing. "Haha! Roark you stupid perverted fool! Did you actually think I would go for the likes of you? Setting you up with my sister was the best antic I have ever performed! It worked so well- this stuff rules! Face it, Roark, nobody likes you. So shut up and take that cheap quality obviously 12 carat ring away from here. Go out, begone!"
Roark was shaking, he knew not of what. "How could you..." he looked at Luciana. "I'm sorry, Roark. I was told you were a modelling contractor... as much as I loved your manners; I'm still amazed by my sister's stupid trick." She answered contritely clutching her husband's shoulder while he glared at his sister in law and then at Roark which made him shudder. "Face it, Roarky- life is no bed of roses, and especially with those looks. I'm not surprised that Jana thought of you as an eyesore!" she scoffed referring to his high school crush. He was furious- nobody was allowed to call him by that name. "Shut it! Nobody can call me by that name! Not one... Not except..." he was about to complete his last sentence when he passed out and fainted in shock and horror. That was the last time he saw Elisha or Luciana as they sped away from there asap.
When Roark revived, he was in Riley's arms. "Where am I...?" he mumbled and then was shocked to see him being carried by Riley. "What the hell-?" Riley then spoke "Relax, dude. I couldn't get you to your house. Tell me what happened?" Roark broke don at last, telling him his entre sob story which almost made Riley cry. "I can't believe it! I risked so much for her- my money, my life, my job, my career, my position, my eyes, my friends! How could they have deceived me so badly?" he wailed as he couldn't stop crying. Riley was saddened- seeing Roark depressed made anybody cry; he was such a sweetheart in reality, very few people knew that.
Riley just patiently listened to his anguishing tale. "Why the hell did I slap Gardenia? She was the best girl who understood me and loved me for me- why did I do that to her? Now I've lost my other best friend too! What am I supposed to do now?!" he wailed while Riley was busy thinking of a solution. Then he did something few guys did- he went and embraced him. "Roark, it's okay. Just promise yourself you'll never do something like this again and I'm sure she'll be your friend again. Violence is traumatising, but I'm sure she'll understand. Come on, now- I know where she is. Come with me!"
Riley was never the kind who'll leave him wallowing in a pit of depression and self-pity; it'll screw his life up even more. He was going to rehabilitate him his style as he walked over to the house bravely.
Wishing Roark best of luck, he dropped him off at a house and knocked "Hello, is miss Gardenia there?..."
