I never knew my dad was going to make it this public. It all was making my stomach turn so I dropped my phone and scanned through my room like it was my first time in here.
Although it has been ages since I have been in here, the feeling was different now.
I stared at the picture frame of my mum sitting pretty well on my bed stand and I wiped the little dust that was already forming on its surface.
She was pretty, calm and nice and never had a great time in her marriage. She was the only support I had. The only one who was always on my side and never for once left except now, she's gone.
I looked to the side and saw another picture we took together when I was in high school. She looked happy. I would never have imagined that she was suffering.
Suffering within her. I never knew she was sick.
I sat on my bed with my eyes closed trying to avoid being emotional but it couldn't be evaded.
I miss my mum, I miss her so much.
I sat up in bed at the ring of my phone and saw the caller to be my dad.
"Hey, dad"
"Hey, Richard." he greeted and it was so unusual. He doesn't do pleasantries nor does he cut the chase. He's used to beating around the bush except for this time, he did all that.
"We will be dining with your wife and her family. This marriage shouldn't only be a contractual one but also a proper one. You'll be informed about the date,"
This whole thing was his idea. Not meeting before the marriage was all his idea. I was getting curious but chose not to ask too much.
"But we weren't meant to meet until the wedding day. They signed the contract. Why is that changing now?" I was agitated.
"It's only reasonable you meet her and get to know who you're spending a year with,"
Getting to know her doesn't matter to me. It doesn't even change a thing.
This is getting stressful and I hate to be stressed.
"Okay, dad" I replied without any objection.
There was no point opposing him. He has always made decisions as regards my life and I just sit back to accept such decisions.
Despite my curiosity about why I had to be engaged in an arranged marriage for a year and why she has to be the one, I asked none and just accepted it all as he wishes.
This was all his call, I'd leave it all to his fate.
****
Caroline
Two weeks had passed and I haven't had a chance to meet my prospective husband.
I wasn't looking forward to it but I sure thought the due processes were meant to be followed.
The scene I had witnessed that night was in my head like turmoil.
"What happened that night?" Clara asked as she was obviously choosing what to wear. She asked the same question for the thousandth time since the last weeks.
I tried to ignore her question as always since I don't know how to relate the whole scene to her.
"What would you do if you caught your husband to be giving another lady a back shot?" I asked Clara who wasn't interested in anything at the moment but to dress up for a date.
"The church back shot or the Brazzers back shot?" she asked.
"The pornhub back shot,"
"Damn! That's some intense fucking right there!"
"What would you do?" I asked, directing my full attention to her as I anticipated her response.
"I'd get married to him like nothing happened and when I do, I'd fry his balls and feed them to the dogs or eat them with a cheeseburger," she answered while applying mascara.
"Something more realistic?"
"I'd confront him and if he denies, his eyes would be plucked out,"
"Come on, Clara! Something more realistic,"
"Okay. How about having the two douchebags do it in front of me? That sounds so much fun than I had intended it to be," she said with a smirk.
"I really need something more achievable. You sound so crazy,"
"Hold on, are you getting married?" she asked with all full attention on me.
I cleared my throat and went to the kitchen.
"What do you have here?" I tried to feign, but she wasn't having it still.
"Are you getting married?" she repeated. She was getting too serious now.
"No, I'm not. You sound so ridiculous," I denied.
She looked at me intensely and I know she doesn't believe me.
I hate that we haven't gotten close up to a month and now, she could easily read through me.
"What?" I asked since she wasn't ready to look away.
"The truth, Carol," she said and her eyes portrayed a pleading look.
"Don't call me Carol. God! You never listen. Call me anything else. Something like Line or even Car. Damn!"
"I'm not having you change the topic, 'Carol'. Spill it all out, now!" she stressed the Carol, making sure I know she wasn't giving in.
"Okay. Fine! I'm getting married," I finally complied.
"OMG!" She gasped. "To who?" She asked and now, all her attention was on me and I wasn't feeling it.
I hesitated a bit before answering her.
"Richard Trenton,"
"What about him? What has he got to do with this discussion?"
"I'm getting married to Richard Trenton, silly!" I eyed. How could she not think I could get married to him? Was he a god? Hercules or something? I scoffed internally.
"Which one of the Richard Trenton, sweetheart. Not the famous one we know, is it?"
"You are so annoying. It's him," I answered and she gasped again.
"Oh, sweet Cupid. You are getting married to the famous businessman's son and successor who is 25 years old and a law graduate?"
She explained like that had been the only thing she was willing to learn and speak about but to be honest, I couldn't care less. This was not something I was dying for.