The car ride was unbelievably quiet unlike every other day that we used to be in. Lincoln's eyes never dared to shifts away from the road and so neither I. His sudden appearance to my doorway was too much of a reminder that I am meant to see his face all day, everyday when I finally get to marry him.
Walking side to side, I can clearly sense the stares and judging looks of everyone as we are heading to the private room of the club. A female staff wearing an all black suit leading us the way to our reservation.
The loud music slowly got muffled and closed to fading away from the sense of hearing as we took a turn to the corner room on the second floor of the establishment. The lady in front of us opened the door using a key card and we're welcomed with loud noises, a mixture of laughter and pop songs. Added by the red and purple lights and artificial smoke that's giving off a typical party vibe.
"Tiffany!"
I heard someone called my name the moment I stepped inside the room. A pair if hands instantly wrapped around my neck and the familiar scent of perfume attacks my nose. "Sammy!" I screeched in delight as I immediately recognized who it was.
Samantha Cruz is one of Lincoln's way too many girlfriends. We met in middle school and became good friends. It just happened that she developed an unrequited love for Lincoln and distanced herself away from me when she got the knowledge of us, our arrange marriage.
In fact, I even heard the rumor of Samantha and Lincoln's dating scandal – which immediately turned down to prevent any chaos on our family. What they didn't know is that Lincoln already have his fair share of being a womanizer. He always have a girl to play with.
"How have you been?" Her hands landed on my shoulders to grip on it and I can clearly see how her eyes shifts to look on my back.
Of course, Samantha is not yet over with Lincoln. Like every other women that he slept with.
I stifled a laugh before gently putting Samantha's hands on her side. "I feel like the question was not for me," there's a hint of playfulness on my voice as I speak.
She did try to make me believe otherwise but I simply cut her off by flashing a quirky smile. There's a part of me that wanted to treat her just like how I used to. But knowing she might take advantage of it is quite scary.
Especially when I'm seeing her right in front of me lingering around Lincoln. Her arms snaking around his and her chest pressing against his biceps.
The very scene made me rolled my eyes, a little annoyed thinking how dare him fetch me up from my place and flirt right in front of me. If not for the loud music everyone would hear how much my heels crashes against the tiled floor while repeatedly cussing Lincoln inside my head until I'm fully seated.
"Hey there, Mrs. Sandoval!"
One of our friends shouted only to catch everyone's attention and eyes bore excitedly on me. It's as if they are waiting for something to drop, for us to announce the thing that they've been waiting for way too long.
"Not now," I firmly said and reach out for the pretzels on the table.
Their disappoinment were delivered in random screeches and wails. It drew a smile on my face. I should stay single and free as long as I can.
The party passed by like a train carrying loads of trade. Before I knew it I was already on my room and the sun is shining directly through the satin curtains and reflecting on my face.
Feeling as lazy like every other day, my hands rubbed my eyes while I struggle to keep up with the hangover from last night. Grasping my hair way too tight, I noticed a note on top of my bedside table when I got up from the bed. I blinked my eyes multiple times to adjust my sight to the light and my orbs instantly went wide as I read the words written on it.
A meeting at 7 in the evening with my parents and Lincoln's.
"Oh my gosh." I can't help but to be stunned as finally what I've been fearing of is a few hours away from now.
I've never felt so stressed aside from the daily headaches that my work were giving me. This is another kind of stressed. The kind of stressed that can't be countered with any food or drinks, not even consolation!
Heaving a deep sigh I looked at digital clock. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets as I saw the current time.
It's already 2 in the afternoon.
Oh gosh, how much alcohol did I drink last night to end up like this?
Most importantly who took me home?
"Or maybe I shouldn't have asked," I mumbled out.
A familiar jacket laying on the other side of my bed and by looking at the fine lining of it I can easily tell who the owner is. I carefully picked up the clothing, the pad of my thumb running along the soft and silky texture from the outside while the roughness of the inside is noticable with how the way it scratched against each other.
I shook my head before throwing the jacket on the middle of my bed. Paving my way inside the bathroom to rinse off the smell of alcohol on my body, I decided to think of what to wear after relaxing on my bathtub with lots of bubbles brushing along my skin.
My head resting against the tiled wall while thinking of ways to escape the plan of our parents and prolong the engagement furthermore. I'm not yet prepared to face the married life – a life with Lincoln.