The Soulmate Curse

LAVENDER (for love) - Part 3

The award ceremony was grand. It was a formal affair, with everyone dressed to the teeth. 4D printed ball gowns, classic tuxedos, and a variety of biomimicking textiles were on showcase. Finn's dress was designed to mimic a blue morpho butterfly's wings, changing colour and shape with perspective. It cinched at the waist and spread outwards into an asymmetrical circular skirt that ended with a small train. The jacket that went with it was short sleeved and reached just below her bust. It had a section of it on the back that could spread out like butterfly wings. It was gorgeous. Zhen was in a black suit with an asymmetric slim fit blazer that had a mandarin collar and three-quarter sleeves. Her crisp shirt was blue. She'd changed from grey so she could match Finn's dress. She also had a matching blue pocket square. Walking into the conference hall together, they looked amazing.

Finn found her mum in the crowd. She turned to Zhen. "Do you want to meet my mum?"

"I thought we agreed not to do that," said Zhen absentmindedly as she searched the crowds.

"Do you see him?" asked Finn, tamping down on the hurt from Zhen's statement.

"I don't think he's here," Zhen said, worry tinging her words.

"He's probably just running a bit late."

"I should go find him. Make sure he's alright."

A man walked over to them and said to Zhen, "Miss Roberts, you're needed at the back. They're going through the itinerary for the ceremony."

Zhen looked at him. "Tell them I'll be a while. There's something I need to do now."

Finn pulled her to the side. "Go with him, Zhen. I'll find your dad."

"This is my..."

"When I agreed to be your fake girlfriend, you agreed to let me commit to the role," said Finn. She smiled to try and put her at ease. "Let me help you."

"I'm sure he's fine," said Zhen looking at the man who'd come to fetch her.

"Exactly," said Finn. "He's probably just running a little late. Now, go. Be awesome. I'll be back soon."

Zhen nodded and followed the man.

Finn immediately walked over to her mum. "Hey mum, I need your help."

They walked to Zhen's dad's room. They knocked but got no answer at first. They kept knocking until the door finally opened to reveal a man in his mid-sixties wearing nothing but a vest and a pair of boxers. He looked groggy and half awake. His face was covered in scruff. His eyes bloodshot.

"What?" he said gruffly. His breath had enough alcohol in it to warrant a flammable warning.

He didn't get a chance to say anything else. Finn's mum opened the door wide and slapped the man hard across the face.

"What the..." he called out, fully awake now.

"Shame on you!" Finn's mum screamed at him. "Your daughter is downstairs waiting for you and you're sleeping off a hangover! If you're not out of that shower in five minutes all clean and dressed, I will do more than just slap you."

"Who the..."

"Cuss at me and I promise you'll wake up in hospital," said Finn's mum, cutting him off.

Zhen's dad looked utterly bewildered at this point. Finn turned to her mum in amazement. She'd never seen this side of her. She was a volcano, barely contained and ready to burn everything to the ground if she thought that was necessary. Zhen's dad raised his hands in surrender and headed to the shower. Exactly four minutes and forty-seven seconds later, he was back in the room with Finn and her mum, wearing a tux and clean shaven. They got back into the hall just as the ceremony began. Finn caught sight of Zhen peeping from behind the stage and waved. She waved back, with the biggest smile on her face.