It started with arranged marriage

Chapter 25

- Eric William Miller  -

“Man! I can’t believe you are the first one getting married among us,” Drew said then he raised his glass in a toast to me. I was spending my last night as a bachelor with some of my friends at the club. In two days I would become a married man. I felt suffocated so I sneaked out to the outside to get some fresh air. While I was standing alone outside smoking, Nick and Drew were following me outside. 

“It’s weird right? You will be a married man in two days. Besides that you are getting married to Nick's sister,” Drew squealed while passing me the lighter. 

“Yeah,” I added, puffing a cigarette. “Eric, please be good to my little sister,” Nick completed in a calm tone. 

“I will,” I said. Thereafter, we chatted there for a while and then went inside. Nick went back first and me and Drew were drinking till after everyone went back. I was so drunk that I couldn’t go back alone so Drew sent me back to my house. I was still in the bed having a good sleep and a familiar voice woke me up from my peaceful sleep. 

“How much did you drink last night? You look so wasted,” mom bellowed in fury. Then she opened the curtain and the sunlight was directly spotting on my face. I groaned as I woke up and walked to the fridge. I finished up a bottle of water on the spot then I sat on the couch with a heavy hangover feeling. 

“Mom! What are you doing here this early in the morning,” I asked, drinking another bottle of water. 

“I stop by to check you how much that you finish packing,” mom stated why she was here. “Mom! don’t worry about that, it’ll be done by afternoon. I already called the moving out agency, they’ll take care of everything” I said looking at mom. Even though I told her that I arranged it she was still looking around the house and nagging. 

“Mom! I’m begging you, trust me I know what I need to do,” I pleaded to her then told her to go back home and relax. Afterwards, I sent her to the elevator. “Don’t forget to go and pick up your tuxedo,” she called-out from inside the elevator just before the door closed. 

“Ok Ok,” I murmured quietly myself. As I entered my place, I started to look around. Today was the last day to live at this penthouse. As I was looking around, a lot of memories about Sophia rumbled into my mind. We used to spend a lot of time together here at my penthouse. While I was thinking about all the past memories, the door bell was ringing. It was from the moving out agency. I left work with them and then I headed out to pick up a tuxedo. 

I was stopping my car at the red light while on the way to the tailor shop. I saw Lily and her friends were crossing the street. I immediately changed direction as soon as the traffic light turned to green. I was driving along the road searching for Lily and her friends. Within a mile drive, I saw them that they were at the park, sitting on the bench. I parked my car quickly and walked toward them. 

They seemed shocked when they saw me unexpectedly. “Hey! Hi!___” Lily said in shock. “Hi! What a surprise,” Nicole added whilst Emily was poking her on her thigh. “Sorry for interrupting your hangout and following you guys. I saw them from across the street that’s why,” I apologized to them. “It’s okay we are just killing some free time,” Nicole said. 

“If you guys don’t mind, can I take Lily with me now,” I asked Emily and Nicole. They were chuckled on what I said.  

“Of course, no problem,” Emily and Nicole urged Lily and pushed her in where I was standing. 

“I mind, excuse me,” Lily urgently spoke up. “Don’t be shy Lily, just go with him,” Nicole teased her. She was blushing and at that moment she was super adorable. 

“I’m not shy,”she lied. “Then go with him,” Emily said. “Just take her,” Nicole whispered to me. “Thanks guys and excuse us now,” I thanked both of them and then took Lily’s arm and walked to the parking lots. 

“Let go of my arm, it’s hurt,” she said, trying to shake her arm from my grip. “Oh sorry!,” I said as I let her arm go. I opened the car door for her and she hopped into the car. As soon as I started the car she was about to ask me something. But I stopped her before she could ask. Then I called my PA to go and pick up my tuxedo and sent it to my parents house. I sent him the address and then started driving. 

“Ok now, explain why are you following me,” she asked me right after I finished the call with my PA. 

“I thought that you might miss me because we haven’t met for more than a week,” I responded in a teasing, playful tone. 

“You wish,” she hissed out of blush. I could see her cheeks were red like a tomato and she was trying to hide about that. She looked so adorable, cute and innocent. I didn’t understand everytime when I met her I felt like there was something that was drawing me into her. I felt happy, bright and peaceful when I was around her. 

“Did you eat yet?” I asked her. 

“Who else still hasn't eaten at his hour,” she said. “Me,” I stated as I pointed my finger to myself. “Can we go and eat something, I’m starving,” I added. 

“Sure,” she answered me right away. I didn’t expect her to agree because she ate already. “You should eat on time. It’s not good for your health,” she said, looking at me in worry. 

Shortly after we arrived at the restaurant. I was waiting for the food to deliver and she was looking at her phone. I knew she was playing with her phone because she felt awkward. 

“So Lily, how many boyfriends do you have before,” I asked her out of the blue. Seriously, I didn’t know what made me say that. Maybe at least I should know about her past relationship or just be curious because Nick never mentioned his sister. 

She was also caught out on my unexpected question. She looked at me quizzically. “If I say none, will you believe,” she said calmly. “Hushhh, haha, funny,” I laughed as I looked at her. 

But her face remained  still as calm. But I ignored to believe her, it was impossible a girl like her didn’t have any boyfriends. 

The waiter delivered the food and I started eating. She was just having a coffee and accompanying me. “Do you have any questions about me or anything that you want from me,” I asked. 

She was thinking hard about my question. “I do have one request, can we make a contract,” she said. 

“Contract? What kind of contract?” I wondered what kind of contract that she said. 

“Like the agreement between us, and the period of time that we will stay as a married couple,” she stated. 

“Are you crazy, this is not a movie,” I whispered-yelled at her. “This married will be like others, stop thinking stupid stuff,” I added. Seriously, why did I make that kind of statement. I, myself, had the one with no pure good intention about this marriage. Now I wanted this marriage as real as others. What was I thinking about?  

“But___,” she paused and she seemed like she was hesitant to continue.  

“But, what?” I asked. 

“You have a girlfriend right?” she asked with hesitation. 

“That’s none of your business, you will be my legal and real wife, more or less,” I stated. She was mad at me because of my statement. 

“I don’t care how many girlfriends you had or have. Now if you are done I need to go back now,” she said as she stood up from the chair. 

“I’ll send you off,” I offered her. “No thanks,” she disagreed right after I said. “I don’t like when other people disobey me,” I remarked. She looked like she was carrying a puzzle expression on my words and action. I just ignored her and took her arm and headed outside.