As I turned my head away from him, I felt the weight of his words settle in the air between us. "Why didn't you say anything back there?" My voice was laced with a mix of frustration and concern.

"I was still processing everything," He admitted softly, feeling a bit vulnerable. "May I sit on the bench too?" he asked, his voice gentler now. I nodded, allowing him to join me.

"But you should at least express your thoughts. What will your girlfriend say if she finds out?" I tried to reason, my mind racing with questions and doubts.

"What girlfriend?" His confusion was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of surprise. "Dania? Wasn't she with you?" I asked, referring to Sharyl's other minion. His scoff caught me off guard.

"I don't have any relationship with her. She's just being delusional, thinking I'm her boyfriend," he explained, rolling his eyes. "I don't have a girlfriend." There was a sincerity in his tone that made me pause, and when he turned to look at me, I caught a glimpse of something in his eyes—was it fondness?

"Hmm..." I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "It's not like I care whether you do or not," I muttered, my words more defensive than I intended. "But I'm still against this marriage."

"You can't refuse. Our parents have already signed the contract," he reminded me, his voice heavy with resignation.

"Is this even allowed? Forcing their only daughter to marry someone they barely know?" I couldn't hide the frustration in my voice. "I hate this. Why am I stuck in this situation?"

"I don't know," he admitted softly, his eyes reflecting the turmoil within. "I'm sorry that you're stuck with me for the rest of your life," he added, his gaze dropping to the ground.

"Close your eyes and picture us standing in the spotlight at our wedding... but wait, not with you. Definitely not" I sarcastically said

"Definitely not happening," I declared, shaking my head firmly. "Really not happening." I felt his sigh wash over me, his disappointment palpable.

"We could at least get to know each other," he suggested, a note of hope in his voice. "I mean, we're going to be married soon."

"No, I'm not interested," I replied, my resolve firm. "Can you just leave me alone to think about this...?" I pleaded, craving some solitude amidst the chaos of my emotions.

"Okay," he acquiesced, standing up from the bench. "If... if you need anything, feel free to reach out to me." He handed me a piece of paper with his number written on it, a small gesture that softened my hardened exterior.

"You seem to have a lot of admirers if you're handing out your number like this," I remarked, unable to resist a teasing jab.

"You shouldn't assume," he retorted, his tone defensive. "I'm not that type of guy." With that, he left me alone, retreating back to the restaurant.

As I watched him go, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions swirling within me. I sighed, sliding the paper with his number into my pocket. This might be useful in the future.

I lingered outside the restaurant for a while longer, relishing the cool breeze against my skin as I grappled with the weight of my circumstances. Eventually, with a heavy heart, I made my way back inside, steeling myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

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TBC

Updated on : 19th May 2024