"Girl! Is your news true?" Amirah exclaimed as she entered Casa de Cafe, where I was waiting.
"Tss. You're late! I've been here so early!" I grumbled to my friend, annoyed.
"Is it the end of the world because you waited so long?" she sarcastically asked.
"You scumbag!"
"So, what is it? Is it true? You're going to marry your crush?" she inquired, her eyes twinkling.
"Yes," I replied, sighing.
"Oh my gosh! You're flirty! You said you're just going to flirt with him, girl! Not only that, but you already flirted with him, and now you're going to marry him? Can I know your prayer?"
Her face was beaming, as if everything had gone back to normal. Maybe I'm thrilled too, but a life has been ruined. Our relationship, as well as his relationship with his girlfriend.
My friend's happy expression faded as she realized I was in trouble.
"B... Is there... Is there a problem?"
I told the entire story, as well as how angry Mommy and Daddy were with me. I could see the worry in her eyes.
"I'm sorry... I hope I was just waiting for you," she said sadly, holding my hand on the table.
"Hey, it's not your fault... It was my mistake, it was my choice, so don't be sorry."
"Didn't you say Steve had a girlfriend?" She asked, I am nodding, "How's that? How are they?"
"That's it; it's humiliating for Steve's girl, and I'm sure she'll think I enticed her boyfriend to marry me."
"Girl! There's also a problem with Steve. He's the man, he should be in charge! But since you're both drunk, there's nothing left... You guys undressed each other even if you didn't see each other. Architect Steve is also different!"
"Hmm... I'm not confident, Daddy can't be disobeyed either. Steve will definitely be sued. It's a bigger concern," I said, leaning back in my seat.
"You know what, girl, don't stress yourself out too much; nothing has happened yet, and you're not sure, so relax first."
"How can I calm down, A? I'm a complete mess! I graduated as an Architect for our company, and now I'm just the wife of a man who doesn't even love me?"
"Hey... You know, the issue between them, maybe they can work it out; and about you and your future husband, you know, if you get married for a long time, he'll learn to love you? It's not a stretch, B," she said.
Learn to love? Me? That seems as hazy as my Daddy's eyes, as he appears to adore his girlfriend. Tss.
"I don't know what to do, and I can't stop Daddy either."
I wasn't sure what to do or if I should do anything else. I would rather not ruin the relationship, but it happened. Further more, I already ruined someone's relationship by the time Daddy decided to marry the two of us. Like wise, I even violated my parents' trust. One night mistake, too many replacements.
After Amirah and I talked, we went home one by one.
As I was driving back to our subdivision, I noticed two people laughing. Their joy was visible on their faces as they walked hand in hand.
I only felt more guilty; the woman had no idea. Who would dare to say that to her that her boyfriend will marry someone else?
I’m also a woman, so I know how she’ll feel, just in case. As a woman, I want to avoid experiencing that. But, I can inadvertently do something to other people because of one night mistake.
I'm sorry ...
Suddenly, my tears flowed as I watched them move away from my habit. It was only then that I noticed that I had stopped on the side.
I slammed into my steering wheel and, there, cried silently.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry if your happy relationship is ruined... I'm sorry if pain can replace your eyes full of love for each other. Likewise, I am genuinely sorry...Sorry... "
I sobbed as I cried inside my car. I can hurt others, while being hurt too.
Why? Why do we need to suffer just because of one wrong night? If only I could bring that night back...
I calmed myself after I released the weight on my chest. Somehow, crying makes you feel better. I went home after I calmed myself down. I did not meet any parents, as usual was just a helper.
I grew up having housemaids with me.
I just locked myself in my room, drowning myself in thought. It was as if there were no life lying on my bed, just staring at my ceiling. It immediately entered my mind to stalk Steve's account, to get to know him better and how long they have been his girlfriend.
I immediately grabbed my laptop before diving into bed and leaning against its headboard. I immediately went to Steve’s profile on IG.
The more I stalked, the more tender I became. I felt even more guilty, feeling regret for the two. The more I felt sorry for the woman, the more confused I was about whether to continue to marry Steve.
The post on September 2, when the night happened, shouldn’t have happened. The day when women dream the most. The happiest day for the two of them before Steve went to Rose’s birthday.
The day they got engaged, the day of their anniversary, was the night of Steve's offense. One night of mistake will ruin five years, in a relationship destined to become one.
The heaviness in the chest, the hardship, the pain... How can I marry the man of my dreams, if on the other hand someone is suffering? How can I be accepted to marry someone who has promised marriage to someone else? The pain, to the person he truly loves.
I ruined everything, I ruined their happily ever after.
Three knocks brought me back to my senses. I immediately turned off my laptop and wiped my tear -soaked face.
"Ma'am Czes, it's dinner time..." The maid called from outside the door after it knocked.
"I'm coming!" I loudly answer back.
I went to the bathroom and washed my face, so they're not notice that I was crying. But, it also didn’t take away the puffiness of my eyes. I looked at myself in the mirror.
"I'm exhausted... But, I need to pretend again to face my Dad."
After I arranged myself, I went out of the bedroom down to the dinning room.
I felt nervous again, a weight in my chest. I was going to deal with my parents, but there was fear inside me. Fear that they might not like the Brianna in front of them. That maybe it's missing again...
I sat down carefully in my seat, after I sat down, they just started eating.
The whole dinner for the three of us was quiet. They still don’t pay attention to me, or look at me. I feel like someone else is with me, I feel like, I need to get along with new acquaintances. It just hurts that we have become like this to each other.
"Prepare yourself tomorrow," Daddy told me authoritatively after dinner. We were still sitting in the dinning area.
"F-For what?" I was nervous to question.
"I invite your fiancé and his family for lunch tomorrow. We will talk about the wedding, the date and all."
"D-Dad..."
"What? You're thinking about his girlfriend?" Suddenly it smirked, "I'm not comcerned with their relationships, just marry him. You don't have to worry about someone's problem. Is that clear?"
"But... Dad... They're-"
"Stop Czes, I don't want to urge about them. Just do what I said."
What now Brianna? How can you stop this wedding?
I went back to my room floating, not on my own. I reopened Steve’s last post. This was probably the happiest day of their five years. Then only someone like me who has crush on him will be ruined.
If he does have a girlfriend who will get hurt, it's okay to arrange marriage with him because I've wanted him for a long time. But, if this is the case, they will definitely curse me both.
Just now, I could have imagined the pain that marriage would cause to a woman. That the man who promised her marriage, would be with someone presented at the altar.