Love and Hate Marriage

Chapter Four

Ciara made the decision to leave after speaking with Tan's mother. She was even invited to lunch with her aunt, but she declined and pretended to have something else on her mind. However, she did not accept the invitation because her main reason for going there was to help them and also to see Tan.

She realized it had been a while since she had gone shopping, and she felt a little off. She went to a mall and was astounded at how much it had changed.

Poverty is uncommon in the city. Or perhaps she doesn't know because she isn't used to wandering around. She would rather stay at home and follow Drake on social media.

When she arrived at the mall, she was very happy because it was her first time again going there. She's not someone who would go out without anything important to go. Because of so much happiness and excited she was, she didn't even notice that it was already dark. She finally decided to return home after receiving a call from one of her friends, Michaella. She invited her out on a date. And she said yes because she misses her friend and going out with her.

They visited a bar. The town's most well-known bar. The Uptown Funk Bar. She's been there a few times now, and she can't deny that this bar is superior to the others she's visited.

She was overjoyed, and several men approached her, and her friend Dan continues to tease her, telling her that she hasn't changed at all. She's still poisonous and attractive to men, despite her habit of ignoring them and not paying attention to them at all times.

"You know what Ciara, I really envy you and your body." Her friend said. She was confused by it.

"Why?" She asked.

"You didn't know? I mean look at you and your body. No matter how much you eat you don't gain wait. You still have that curve that men will definitely go crazy." Michaella said with a frustrated look. "Just look at me. I'm getting exhausted and frustrated everytime I eat because I'm getting fatter and fatter." Ciara softly laughed at her friend's reaction.

"Hey! Who told you you're fat? No you're not! In fact you are as sexy as hell! And even if you'll fat, you still look amazing. So you should embrace the hell out of it." Ciara said. "And just look at your boobs girl, it's very plumpy."

"Yeah you're right about it. Alex even love it." Michaella said as he touched her boobies.

"Ewww! That's so gross." Ciara reacted to her friend, making a disgusted face. Michaella laughed as she rolled her eyes at her.

She once had a boyfriend when she was in New York but she broke up with him when she decided to leave the country.

They only lasted about a year. She initially thought the man was good enough for her, and she even sacrificed everything for him, except for the most important thing she possessed, her virginity. She wouldn't just give it to anyone. She'd already set it aside for the man of her dreams. Even if it is impossible.

Their relationship ended because the man cheated on her. She overheard him talking with his friends that he was just playing with her and even caught him making out with a woman in a bar. When she confronted him, he got mad and told her he did it because she refused to give him her virginity. He was a motherfucker and a low-life creature for doing that. And she was sorry he had loved a man like him for almost a year. She was such a moron, a fool for loving such disgusting man. If she only knew from the beginning that the only reason why he courted her was because of her virginity then she should not have said yes to him..

She had lost interest in finding a new one after what had happened. She became traumatized. For the time being, she doesn't want anything or anyone except Tan. Despite the fact that she knew it was impossible. She will be in less pain because she already knew the outcome.

She shook her head to clear her mind of the painful memories. She shouldn't think about it right now. She must have fun. Men's eyes were all over her as she approached the bar counter, salivating at her like stray dogs. Who wouldn't want to? She is dressed in a black spaghetti strap crop top, a denim short, and black high heeled boots. She also had a denim jacket, but she didn't wear it because she was too hot. Thankfully, she wore this outfit today.

"One hot shot please." she said, and the bartender nodded. She shifted her gaze to the dance floor. And the scenario is insane.

Women are crazily brushing their hips to men which makes them go crazy. I can see lusts on men's faces as women are wiggling their buts on their crotches.

The bartender handed her the order and said, "Here's your order ma'am. One hot shot." She gave the bartender a wink, and he blushed. She was amused by his reaction. He's adorable.

She returned to her friend Michaella on their table, but she was no longer there.

"That girl, really!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. Michaella had to have been dancing on the dance floor with some guy.

Michaella's boyfriend is okay with the idea of her going out to a bar. It doesn't bother him as long as Michaella doesn't do anything to betray him and ruin his trust. He said it's fine for her to go out and have fun every now and then, but she should know her limits. And he respects the man for it. He is pragmatic. That's the kind of man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

She was sitting there listening to music and sipping her wine when a man approached him.

"Hey! Ciara, right?" he asked, and Ciara gave him a puzzled look. Because of the lighting in the bars, she can't see the man's face completely.

"Uhm, yes? Do we happen to know each other?" she asked as she stood up on the couch.

"Hey, don't you remember me? It's me, Marco" he replied, and Ciara wondered if he knew anyone with that name.

"Sorry, but I don't think I know someone named Marco. You perhaps know me on f*******: or i********:?" she inquired, still perplexed by the man's identity. She has no recollection of him.

"No, I'm Tan's friend. We met the last time. You don't remember?" When he mentioned Tan's name, she realized he was the man in Tan's house the last time they had a dinner at their house and he was there too. There were actually two of them.

"Oh, right. Sorry I forgot. What's your name again?" She asked.

"It's Marco. Marco De Jesus." He replied simply.

"Oh, hi Marco. It's nice to see you again. Sorry if I didn't remember you earlier. Where's your other friend? Uhm, what's his name again?" She nodded.

"It's fine. No hard feelings. It's Enzo. So who's with you? Or maybe you're alone?" He asked.

"No, I'm not. I'm actually with someone." she said as she sipped on her shot glass. "I'm with a friend. How about you? Having a good time all by yourself?"

"I'm not alone also and I don't think we will be enjoying the night. Some dude here is celebrating his heartbreak and depression because he was left behind." he said, then burst out laughing. Adeline became perplexed once more.

*Depression and heartbreak? What exactly does he mean? And who does he mean? * She pondered.

"Huh?" she asked, unsure of what he meant.

"It's Tan. He is getting wild after Carol left. She went to New York without telling him.

*What the hell? * She felt bad for Tan while also feeling happy.

*Does that mean she has a chance with him already?* She pondered.

She knows it's wrong of her to fantasize about it now, but she can't stop herself. It sounds like music to her ears. It makes her heart flutter.

"I didn't know that. Sorry." She apologized even though she doesn't know why she did. But she felt that her prayer is already answered. The Lord heard her prayers.

"You don't need to apologized. You didn't even done wrong."

"f**k YOU ALL! f**k THIS LIFE! LEAVE ME THE f**k ALONE! I DON'T WANT ANYONE OF YOU! JUST BRING ME CAROL! I WANT CAROL!" Tan's voice drowned out the bar's music. He was inebriated and couldn't stand up straight. His other friend is attempting to help him sit down on a chair, but he is resisting.

"f**k you, dude! What the hell is wrong with you. You'll get us in trouble. Just calm down and listen will you?." Enzo said, frustrated.

Ciara and Marco dashed over to Tan's table.

"What's happening here?" Adeline inquires, concerned.

"You're Tan's childhood friend right? Can you bring this dude home? He'll get in trouble if he stays here a bit longer. He had been breaking tables and glasses for almost 10 minutes now." Enzo said as he drank his beer, shaking his head in frustration.

"That's why I said earlier that it was kinda wrong for him to come here. I know he'll do this." Marco said, and as he was about to pat Tan on the back, Tan slapped his hands.

"I SAID f**k OFF! DON'T TOUCH ME UNLESS YOU SHOW ME CAROL!" he yelled, and everyone stared.

Ciara is standing right next to him. He appears jumbled. His hair is a mess, his shirt is crumpled, and his eyes are bright red.

*But he still looks handsome and hot,* her mind yelled. She moved her head. She shouldn't be thinking about such things right now.

She went to Tan and sat down next to him. She should take him home right now. Aunt Lily will be worried for him.

"Tan. Tan, can you hear me?" he called out, and the man turned to face him.

"Carol?" he blurted out, making her feel pain struck in her chest. She was the one in front of him and yet he was still looking for the woman who left him behind. How funny.

"No. It's Ciara . We should go home now." she said, assisting him to stand. She also took his beer and placed it on the table.

"Carol? I'm really sorry, love. I didn't mean everything that I did, okay? I won't stop you anymore just please come back to me. Please." he said, pain and love visible in his eyes, which Ciara finds very painful. If only he could look at Ciara like that. If only she was the woman Tan's is referring to.

She asked Tan's friend for help to put him into her car because she would be driving Tan home.

"You sure you'll be fine?" Marco inquired once they were outside.

"I will. Don't worry, I'll bring him straight to his home." she said with a smile.

"All right, take care and be safe." Marco said.

Ciara started the car and drove it out of the bar. Then she remembered Michaella, her friend.

"s**t! I wasn't able to tell her that I'm leaving. She'll get mad at me for doing this." she muttered to herself.

She exhaled a sigh. She'll just call her when they arrive at Tan's house.

She turned to face the man next to her. He was sleeping soundly. She kept driving, and they arrived at Tan's house a few minutes later. She collapsed in her car first, then dashed to Tan's and was about to unbuckle his seat belt when the man's eyes opened.

"Ciara?" He blurted out her name, and Ciara's heart rate increased dramatically. It went crazy and she can already hear it beating fast.

Hearing him say her name is very unusual for her. It gives her body chills and it makes her go crazy.

"Yes?" she asked, her gaze drawn to the man's eyes.

Tan, on the other hand, remains silent. He's just looking at her face before moving his gaze to her lips.

Ciara gulped and bit her lips unconsciously.

Tan's eyes were locked on her lips, and what happened next shocked her to death.

Tans grabbed her and kissed her on the lips. Her eyes widen in surprise. But she quickly recovered and closed her eyes. I'm sensing the sensation of his lips.

She knew she was doing something wrong. It's not proper. But she can't help herself. His lips are so soft that she can't help but kiss him back.