Running and gasping, Triana and Isabella raced to their favourite place. Aghast at the sight they saw, Trianna couldn't hold back from drinking from her most treasured pot.
...
It was like today, the breeze was perfect, it caressed the dancing trees, and the shade underneath the mighty oak was where he stood, smiling and beckoning for me to come and drink from his hands. Why did I give it a second thought? why didn't I run into his arms with reckless abandon? Why did I hold my breath and shut my eyes to the one whose eyes burned with blue love flames? I call you Billows. You make me run wild in the thoughts of you.
...
Every day I hoped for an opportunity to damn consequences, silence naysayers, embrace obscurity, drown in the river of myrrh and let my hair cascade in the oil of the aloes you bathe me in.
To treasure, the moment I first saw you, is what I'll forever do. I just want to be where you are! Is there a way? if there was a path, I'd tread all my life until I find you. if I knew your name, I'd bare it with me until my dying days knowing I shared one thing with you. I wonder if you knew my name?
"Triana, snap out of your daydreaming, here he comes," said Isabella...
I turned to look and there he was. Ah, not the one I hoped to see, but him... Paolo Duncan is the smooth talker, the dread of the young lady, except Isabella.
....
Isabella Peters, I really love to call her 'Isa'. Isa has been my best friend since fourth grade. My family really likes her and sees her to be the only brother I ever had. No, not what you are thinking. Isa is a girl but she's defended me and bullied many spoilt princes for me except Paolo. Isa is never afraid or timid before anyone but never overcomes Paolo's taunts. They hate each other totally and I love it! Paolo is the only one that reveals Isa's femininity.
...
I wish I had one more moment before I get swooped again by Paolo's bewitchment. Unworthy of you is how I feel every time I enjoy fleeting moments with Paolo, knowing you might be out here searching for me too. I am an insatiable slave and Paolo's charm is my prison warden, yet when I find you, I sure will break loose.
...
"My dazzling star of the night. My princess and Jewel Triana... And the black shadow in the dark Isabella Peters" said, Paolo Duncan as he stared at Isa after lifting his head from kissing me on the left cheek.
"What a pleasure to be struck by deafness than hear a voiceless hawk cry. Triana, I do hope you come home... interrupted by Paolo as he kneels on one knee with a ring in his hand. What are you doing? Triana, please don't say yes".
...
Befuddled and overwhelmed by many other voices screaming "say yes. Say yes, lucky girl. Just say it". The thought of my mother's nagging if I failed to marry the rich, proud and arrogant Paolo Duncan.
The stigmatization... Just like Julia was forced to marry the old Gerald as the 3rd wife and was made a public spectacle on her wedding night to prove she was a virgin. I wasn't up for such humiliation.
The premonition that follows, if I turned my first suitor down after being seen in his garden at odd hours. He invited me to come and see his moonflower bloom for the first time. He promised we wouldn't be alone and yes we weren't, as he also invited Magaret, the malicious reporter to witness when he would kiss me at the bloom of the moonflower. Madam Duncan, not willing to let any scandal rub on her family assured Magaret that Paolo and I were courting.
...
"Come now princess, don't keep your prince kneeling for an obvious answer. Just say yes and kiss me real quick before my mother hears I knelt for three minutes waiting for an obvious yes". Paolo said holding my hands.
"Don't say yes Triana" said Isa...
"Yes Paolo, yes I will be your wife," I said knowing I was about to take the destructive path. Paolo excitedly fits the ring into my finger and kisses me as everyone cheers and jubilates except Isa and me.
"Congratulations dear Triana, I had a wrong impression of you, as I've seen you as an uncouth lass ready to leech on the next handsome and rich young man," said Magaret the reporter as she pats me on the back.
....
"Triana princess, we must hurry to tell my mother immediately. She said we will be married in seven days." Paolo said excitedly. "whoa, whoa. Seven days?" Isa and I exclaimed... "yes my princess, I'll be contesting for senior congressman in two weeks. So everything about the wedding must be concluded in seven days and dedicate the first three days after the wedding to yanking and sucking every juice in you".
"Ewww. I may puke." Isa says walking out on me, Paolo and his boorish friends as they hollered and roared in laughter.
...
Madam Ducan at my home having tea with mother at our arrival. "congratulations you too" mother said excitedly. "I have just come here to show your mother the design of the wedding dress my son chose for his wife-to-be. It is the type Duchess Meg wore for the ball. Because of the peculiarity of the dress, you may have to grow to a size 10 in 6 days" said Madam Duncan.
I can't believe he's had everything planned out from the first night he saw me at the ball. How so unassuming and gentle he was. I thought I had fallen in love with him as we danced so gracefully. I was enticed by his smooth talk and charm, he soon got under my skin but I was mistaken not to heed Isa's warning, now I'll be paying with dear life. In 6 days I will be getting married into a family without values, a family obsessed with power and ready to smother anyone to protect their name and worse, a man who is a control freak and has nymphomania.
...
Save me.