Marigold got up from bed when she felt a sharp pain in his head. Unable to get up right away, she thought about what had happened last night to please Ethel. What she remembered is that she has been drinking more alcohol and Ethel is forcing her to do a 'dare'.
'Call a number of one of the people that you didn't know, say what you want to say.'
She immediately picked up the cellphone, the number on the calling card he called. Last thing she remembered, the man answered her call. And she was able to say things that should not be said.
"Did I really do that?" She was suddenly awakened. She lost her sanity because she felt like she was being torn apart by the pain.
"Getting drunk makes you look desperate." She saw his mother entering the room.
"Mom, I told you. You shouldn't have allowed me to go with Ethel," she complained as she struggled to get up from the bed.
"You also need to have fun. You just broke up with Jack, having fun is the first step in moving on, my daughter. Fortunately, you already know what that man really wants, you can still find someone that suits you better, the rich, handsome and unlike him who only wants your virginity," her mother sincerely replied.
Marigold nodded. "You know, you shouldn't be suggesting to me finding a new boyfriend, it's a headache. But if someone comes, why not? But, no rich person will hit on me, ma. It's very impossible."
Her mother just grinned and shook her head. "That's good. And you can do what you want with your new boyfriend as long as you have to get married first? You know there's more to that Jack, you're at the right age and you already fulfilled your responsibility as a daughter, you also need to find someone with whom you can start a family. "
"Of course ma, and I will make sure that we will get married before I will have sex with him."
They both laughed. Well, Marigold is just setting good manners to be an example to her younger sister, CheChe. She did not want to include women who were injured early and strongly believed that sexual matters were sacred. But she was not judgmental of those who got pregnant while still not married. She grew up well and she didn't give up on her intimate moments with Jack during the times when they were just the two of them together.
"Ew, disgusting." Marigold shook and slumped on the bed again.
"What's disgusting?" Marigold's mother asked in astonishment.
"Nothing. Wait, I'm feeling sleepy, I need to sleep for at least an hour." She quickly covered herself with a blanket. Her mother just scratched her head before she finally left the room.
'You're disgusting Jack. It's sickening to think that you're my first kiss! Ew, yuck! Disgusting!' Her past moments with Jack are like a nightmare for her now. She literally despises those moments.
She is waiting for something in return for being sweet and treating her parents well. She thought then that he could wait until they got married.
'You are a messenger of the devil.'
Marigold parted the blanket slightly when she thought of Ethel's stupid dare. She bit her lip so hard, she immediately reached for her cellphone in her purse. She was bombarded with many messages to a number that was not saved in her phonebook.
Suddenly her chest throbbed. She even hesitates to open that message.
"I'll sue you."
"Thank you, I'm a professional person but I'm willing to forget that because I have to deal with your rudeness."
"You ruined my whole night! You're a nuisance!"
"Call me as soon as possible!"
She slapped herself. Is that how bad she did last night? Her hand trembled as she began to type a reply. She could not continue replying because she first checked if her suspicion was correct, that she had dialed the number on the calling card.
Raymart Javiera.
She winced when his initial number and the number on the calling card matched. And she suddenly noticed that there's already a ring on her finger.
"Where did I get this ring?"
She took a deep breath as she was trying to recall every detail that happened with her and her companions. She came back to her senses as she realized that she just accepted the fake proposal of Raymart!
"Oh my god! I thought that was just a dream!"
***
"My grandson's breakfast is ready" Smiling, Mrs. Chanda served Raymart's favorite sunny side up egg with chicken soup for breakfast. Somehow, Raymart's annoyance lessened because of his grandmother's effort. Mrs. Chanda became his sole guardian because his parents were already living abroad with her other adult siblings. He is her favorite grandchild and the only close among of his siblings. Raymart also chose to stay in the Philippines because of his career in SLI. On top of that, he also didn't want to leave Clarize. Speaking of her, his annoyance returned when he thought about her cheating on him.
"I feel like I'm losing my appetite grandma," he said with a grin.
"Who loses his appetite?" The old woman glared at him to give him a warning.
"Okay grandma, I said I'm going to eat."
"Are you busy today? Join with me for our zumba session," Mrs. Chanda said while smiling. At the age of 72, she is still very active and rarely gets sick. Raymart was just infected by her grin.
"Don't just stay here at the house, it's good you haven't broken a bone yet," Raymart jokes.
"Hey excuse me, I'm your coolest grandmother. Don't you dare tell me that. I'm strong and my beauty hasn't faded, if you only knew, I look like Margie Moran on my youth."
"Yes grandma. All right, you've won," Raymart joked to Mrs. Chanda while chewing food.
"Oh, how is your girlfriend doing now?"
Raymart stopped eating. He seemed to want to throw up what he had eaten when he realized what his grandmother was referring to.
"She's okay. She's just busy," he lied. He has no intention of telling how she cheated on him because Mrs. Chanda might chide him. He knew her grandma, she's very caring and protective when it comes to him.
"I hope she's always busy what? Because when she's here it's like he's becoming a wave and she's a traitor. I just don't really feel her."
"Obviously grandma. You're right."
The old woman frowned. "Why, is it true what I'm hearing? You don't contradict me when I insult Clarize before, what happened grandson?"
"Nothing. Just. We broke up, grandma, Our relationship didn't work."
"Wow! What good news! Oh go ahead grandson after you eat, get dressed and look for someone new as long as she's polite and not demonic!"
Mrs. Chanda's smile reached her ears. It was as if a thorn had been pulled out from her chest from what Raymart was going to announce.
"Eh, why did you split up?"
"'l'll keep it a secret," Raymart shrugged. He caught his attention by the ringing of the notification message on his phone.
"I'm sorry for what I did last night. I want a good conversation. Just don't sue me, please? I'm sorry Mr. Javiera."
He knew immediately who the message was from but he still wondered, why was she able to know his number?
Suddenly his eyes narrowed and she looked at Mrs. Chanda. "Grandma, are you spreading my business number again?"
Mrs. Chanda nodded. She also didn't want her grandson to be bothered by the calling card she was handing out. This is not the first time she has done such a thing. And she's glad, someone took a bite of her gimmick. Suppose it does not know what the grandson is saying.
"Hmmm. I'm sorry, I just want you to find a wife very soon," Mrs. Chanda apologized.
Raymart took a deep breath again.