It started with arranged marriage

Chapter 3

Lily Jane Collin  -

The whole dining room was filled with laughter and happiness. Everyone was busy with eating and talking. I felt like I was the only one who left out from the dinner. Mom and aunt Julia were having their own conversation, the same as grandma and uncle Max. Steve, Nick and Eric were also their own boy talks. I just wish the dinner would be finished soon so that I can have my own time. 

“The dinner was really great. Thanks for preparing dinner for us,” aunt Julia praised mom about how delicious the dinner was. “Julia, thanks for enjoying all of our food,”mom replied back. 

Nick was putting down his glass and he told me “Lily, you can go and take a rest, I’ll clean up the table.” “I can help you Nick. Anyway it’s too early to go to bed too.” I said, smiling back to him.

“Eric, give a hand to Nick. Let Lily rest,” aunt Julia said, getting up from the chair. 

“I’ll help Nick cleanup. You can go and rest,” he stated. “Okay then. Let me know if you guys need extra hands.”

The dinner was done and it was not so bad either. Everyone was spending their own time. I walked into the living room and mom, aunt Julia and Steve were having a conversation. 

“Steve, tomorrow can you help me with Christmas tree shopping?” I asked him hoping he said yes.

“Didn’t you plan to go with Nick?” he asked. Actually I was planning to go with Nick but I was worried maybe Eric might be tagging along with us. I felt awkward and uncomfortable around him. So I decided to ask Steve to go with me tomorrow. 

“That was a plan. But I thought it might be more fun going with you,” I lied. “Lily, honey, you just go with Nick. Steve needs to help us with groceries shopping tomorrow,” mom cut me off. 

“Okay then____, good night guys. I’m going up now,” I announced and walked out from the living room. 

As soon as I reached my room, I searched my phone and I was checking messages from Nicole and Emily. My thoughts were interrupted about Eric. I got that weird vibe, awkwardness, and I felt like I was xtra careful and shy vibe when I looked at him or around him. I just hoped tomorrow he wouldn’t tag along with us. With all that thought plus tiredness, I fell asleep within a minute. 

Today was three days before Christmas. Everyone was excited about preparing Christmas and decorating. I took a quick shower and went downstairs. 

Everyone was there already and I was greeted with delicious smells of pancakes and blueberry muffins. “Morning guys,” I greeted with a big smile. 

“Nick, let’s go tree shopping after breakfast,” I asked, tapping his shoulder. 

“Eric is coming with us too, be ready in 15,” he said after slipping his coffee. I was literally shoveling down the food without chewing. I was almost choked on food. Eric handed me over his juice cup as soon as he saw me. “Thanks,” I said with an awkward smile. He just smiled back at me without saying anything back.

Everyone was prepared to go out shopping except grandma and uncle Max. Mom, Steve and aunt Julia were going shopping for groceries. Me, Nick and Eric were going to go and get a Christmas tree. 

“Bye Grandma, have fun with uncle Max at home. Let me know if you need anything,” I said while hugging grandma. 

We’d been on the road and had been driving for about a year. Or well at least  that’s how I felt right now. All the way to the market was silent.I was sitting at the back seat with frustration and boredom. Nick and Eric were just talking softly at the front and both of them did not even care to make conversation with me. Meanwhile, I wanted to ease the atmosphere so that I started to connect with Bluetooth and started playing music. 

The whole car ride was full of awkwardness well at least that’s how I felt. Eric and I didn’t talk any single word all the way to the market. In a short notice we arrived at the market that’s where the Christmas trees were sold. 

I was so excited to choose the tree. I urged Nick to follow me quickly, “Nick, common___ hurry up.” Even the whole selecting trees processed Eric didn’t say any word either again. But sometimes we did make eye contact accidentally or I felt like he was looking at me the whole time from the back. 

“Lily, why took you so long to pick one. Just pick one. Jesus!” Nick urged me to select quickly. I choose the tree that I think might be perfect for our house. “Okay done. Let’s go and pay,” I dragged Nick to the cashier.

While Nick was paying money, I saw a small local farmers market across the street. I wanted to go and look around so I asked Nick and Eric to come with me. 

“We don’t have enough time dear sister,” Nick said smiling sarcastically. “We do have enough time dear brother,” I said back sarcastically. I knew that my brother would not give up easily. So I asked Eric “hey! Do you wanna go look at the market?” I stirred up my courage and maybe I was hoping to get back up help from Eric. 

“Let’s go and have a look bro. The market looks interesting,” Eric told my brother. My brother just groaned and gave me his deadly glance. 

I was thankful to him even though he didn’t answer my question directly to me. At least I got to go to the market. I just gave him a pleasant smile and we exchanged thankful looks with each other.

We looked around at the market for a while and we went back to our house. The Grocery shopping group had already arrived home first and they were busy decorating and preparing foods. I also started decorating the Christmas tree as soon as we arrived home. Everyone was busy with their own job. Some of them were at the kitchen preparing for food. Some were outside setting the Christmas lights. 

I was taking a break from decorating the tree, outside of the house I saw Eric who was on the phone. He looked pretty serious with his phone called. I was kinda curious and stared at him inside and tried to figure out what he might be talking about. He saw I was looking at him and I tried to look at the other side quickly. Honestly I really wanted to know who he was talking to and what he was talking about. I just stopped my thought there and continued with my work.