“No way,” I yelled angrily, “that is bullsh!t. Even if that happens in this 30th century of young teenagers getting married. I won't! I believe in love, and would marry for love!”
Dad chuckled devilishly on the wheels as he loosen his neck collar with his left hand. He stamped his feet on the accelerator and drove madly, barely avoiding the cars on the road.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” a scream escaped my mouth. “Do you want to kill us, daddy?” I screamed louder
“You think I just want to give my daughters out in marriage?” He said over the rear mirror “You must see me as a bad father, don't you? Do you think I am happy about this??!” He yelled and drove like a lunatic. Other cars, trees, traffic lights, had become blurry. The wind was choking me.
I feared for our lives. “Please, Daddy. Please stop, okay I will do as you want,” as soon as the words left my mouth, the car stopped.
Dad leaned over the wheel, “We have gone bank—rupt, Pum— p—kin,” he said with raking shoulders as a loud sob slipped from his lips.
I shook my head briefly, not believing what he said. Then the rumors of Dad’s company ‘going bankrupt’, the late payment of our school fees, the domestic staff leaving one by one. The bitter truth was there all along. Hot tears kissed my cheeks…
Pom. Pom. Pom. Four police cars surrounded our car.
.
“I am sorry about that,” Dad said as we left the police office.
I simply nodded, and walked briskly to our car. I entered the passenger seat while waiting for him to enter and start the car.
I just wanted to drown myself in my thick duvet and cry my eyes out. I felt so miserable for my life.
The marriage, tomorrow's headline about “Mr Wright and his daughter, Sarah, in Police Custody”
Dad entered, looked over his shoulders at me, he sighed deeply and started the car. He drove us to the house, all the while stealing glances at me via the rear mirror.
I never said a word, even when he called my name umpteently when we got home. Like fire on my skin, I jumped out of the car and ran all the way to my room. I bolted my door and climbed onto my bed to cry.
I didn't know how long I slept for, but when I awoke. A sound was buzzing in my ear and I was putting on pajamas. “Linda,” I smiled faintly before stretching to pick up my phone. It was Zara. I mentally groaned before sliding the “accept” button.
“I know you don't like anyone disturbing your sleep, but you’ve got to hear this” Zara quickly said before I scolded her
“Okay?” I gritted my teeth
“Check the internet, there's something you need to see,” Zara said, making me sluggishly walk over to my laptop table. “It's about me or?”
“Of course, it's about you,”
“Okay,” I wore my glasses and turned on my laptop. My fingers moved to type my name. Sarah Wright. A lot of news came up.
I sighed deeply and clicked on the first news blog. It was of me and my dad in the police office, there were pictures to prove the claim. I was only surprised the news came out this early.
“Yeah, about me and my Dad in the police station,” I said dryly, closing the tab and almost switching my laptop off when she said,
“Yes, but that isn't all. There are news, rumors about you and Damian getting married!”
What?
The sleep left my eyes. “What!” I screeched into the phone.
“Exactly my expression. I couldn't believe that, I know that you aren't into him and he isn't…” Zara was saying but my fingers had gone back to my laptop’s keyboard.
I saw so much news of Damian and I, even photoshopped pictures of us in love and going on secret dates. Worse of it all, was a video of Mr Delance telling the world that his son was getting married to me in a week’s time.
A week’s time!!! Daddy said in one month’s time!
“…and then there was Damian’s father claiming that his son was going to marry you. I could tell it was all made up, but why would anyone do this?” Zara said
I didn't know what to say. I was stunned. Shocked. Scared. This was Zara’s dream, her getting married to Damian. I wouldn't want her to find out like this, even more I was yet to accept all of these.
“Are you there?” Zara asked into the phone
“Y-e—ah,” I answered slowly.
“You know what, I’m coming for a sleepover,” Zara suggested. I panicked “No, no. Don't, it's really late, Babe. Let's meet in school tomorrow,” I said and ended the call.
Coward.
I sighed, shutting down my laptop and crouching to the floor. I really hate my life.
A loud knock jilted me from my reverie. Linda doesn't knock like that. “Who’s that?” I asked, hoping it was Dad. I needed to clarify the marriage time. He told me a month’s time and Mr Delance told the world a completely different thing.
The person behind the door wouldn’t answer, it caused me to frown. I peeped into the vision hole and saw Stephanie. My heart somersaulted.
I could count the number of times Stephanie visited my room this year. The first was when she needed me to do a school project for her, the boy who she bullies to do her school work fell sick. The second was because she needed the perfect dress for Damian’s homecoming party. Now she is here— and I was scared.
It can't be good. Could it be because of the news, Damian and I?
The knock came again loudly, this time with a crack sound. I opened the door slowly “Hi, Steph,” I said nervously
She pushed her way in, before standing to look at my room with contempt. Her hands shook with anger “You!” she turned to look at me again
“Yyy—eee—ss,” I answered fearfully. I knew what Stephanie could do in anger. I watched her once bashed a teacher’s car and fought a boy.
She. was. dangerous.
“Tell me, what did you do to steal my man?” She said slowly, walking predatorily towards me. I swallowed, fighting the urge to run away.
“Your Man?” I feigned ignorance, cleaning my sweaty hands over my pajamas.
“Damian!” she snarled “How come Daddy just affirmed to me that you two are getting married in a week’s time?!”
“Look Steph, it's not what you think. Dad made the marriage arrangements, Honestly I didn’t ask for it.” I said, aware that I was shoving my Dad under the Bus. I couldn't bear to face Steph’s wrath, she is my twin and I love her more.“Really?” she sneered, as though I was some pest beneath her. I swallowed hardly “If that is true, why didn't you say anything to me? You know how much I love Damian,”‘Love? No Steph, you are obsessed with Damian. You literally have his pictures all over your room,’ I almost said but bit back the words. “I am sorry that you are just getting to know,” I apologized rather “Sorry won't excuse this betrayal!” she yelled, tugging at her hair frantically. Betrayal? I didn’t ask for either for this?!!“Fine!” she grabbed my arms roughly “We must come to an agreement; you will end up with Prince Kareem, and I, with Damian Delance,”“What?” My eyes widened. It wasn't enough that I had to have sleepless night with migraines over the sudden tragedy of my life, an
It was Damian. The human I am to get married to in a few days.What? What is he doing here? Shouldn’t he be at a concert or something?I got more jittery than I was.“Yeah, if it’s no other than the boy who gets to marry her,” the boy sneered at Damian and his protocols.Damian balled his fist, “Touch her one more time and I will make sure that you rot in prison for a long time,” he threatened. By now, all his minions had deserted him. They stood afar off, telling him to let me go.He hesitatingly released me from his grip “Whatever, Mr singer. Just know that this isn’t over yet, and I rule this school now,” he said, nudging Damian as he walked past. Damian grabbed him by the shoulders and flung him to the floor. It happened so fast that my eyes widened. Woah!“Rule the school for all I care, but you will stay away from this girl. My girl,” Damian thundered, before walking to drag me off.What just happened ? I stared at his profile as we walked past the school corridors into an empty
What is Coleman doing? Is he really doing this? “If I don’t have you, nobody else will.” He tried kissing me again but I turned my face away, struggling to get him off me.Goosebumps had washed over me and I smelt danger. His home was in a distant estate and no one was home.“Stop it!” I screamed “Let go of me, Coleman! Don’t do this!" I cried pushing him off me, but he weighed me down and went for my lips. This time he caught it and pushed his tongue in my mouth.Oh, God! This is not happening to me!!!I tried to move away, but he wouldn't let go. He kissed me roughly, and then his hands went under my skirt.I yelped. Jilted. And tried escaping him but Coleman wasn’t thinking. He wasn’t thinking about me or the consequences that could come from this.He didn’t think about my reputation or his. He wanted to have his way. And his way, he will get.I tried pushing him again, but he pinned both of my hands to the bed and used his left hand to unbutton his shirt. He flung it where his tro
We used one of Dad’s cars, and Mr Idris drove us straight to the venue. "Woah! Are you kidding me? Is this a carnival or what?" "Whoosh! This was why I wanted us to come on time. Now, the whole place is filled up already," Zara grumbled as Idris found a place to park. "Geez! This place is too rowdy. I don't like crowds." I protested. “Durrh, you are his fiancee. You should learn to getting used to the crowds,” Zara snapped at me. Zara held my hand as we maneuvered through the crowd, and I was amazed at how some girls were looking. Many wore customized shirts with Damian’s name and pictures. Eyeglasses, rings, necklaces, stickers, and even hairbands—all with his name printed on them. Oh heavens! Girls are crazy over my husband-to-be? Zara led me to a spot by the entrance where customized items were sold. She bought a bangle and two light stickers with Damian’s name on them. Wearing the bangle on her wrist, she handed one of the stickers to me. "Huh? What are you doing?” I proteste
The day Zara and I attended the concert, was the day Dad told me of a meeting with the Delances. that we would be having Dinner with the Delances. In his words, “You will be having dinner with your in-laws in wo days time.. It will be an opportunity to know all the family,,” So here I was with Dad, dressed in a shimmering blue gown and walking through the door with a man called “butler,”. We were at the Delances Mansion. Butler led us into a little hall, when I barely heard my name and was enveloped in a hug. “Sarah!" Delance's mother said. I inhaled her expensive perfume, which was soothing and I suddenly missed having a mother. "Hello, ma'am" I said nervously when she released me from her hold. Then I saw the man beside her. Mr Delance. My amazinggg father in law. Arghh. “Hello darling,” his eyes lit up with joy as he pulled me in for a hug. I didn’t know when I relaxed in his hold. What is wrong with me? I was supposed to be mean to him because of what he did by making that
I lifted my eyes to look at Damian, his face was cold and hard but I couldn’t help but admire his sculpted jaw, soft-looking lips and Adam apple. His sapphire eyes have now become my favorite thing. Indeed, I now understand why all girls are crazy over him. Woah! This is the man I will be getting married to. Fate is mysterious.Just then his eyes caught mine. Oh, God! I think I just stopped breathing. I quickly looked away and then, I heard him scoff.“No!” Damian grumbled, burying his face in his food.“Alright,” Mrs Delance took her attention from him, “let’s have the wedding on the 9th, since it’s Sunday and we should take their needs into consideration,” she beamed.Our fathers simply nodded “that will be perfect,”“So honey” Mr Delance said to his wife "I trust you will be taking care of the decorations and all Sarah will be needing for the wedding?"Oh, God! Do they really have to talk further? “Of course, you know I wouldn't dally in such important issues,”Mrs Delance replied
“Yaay! I am so glad that you’ll be sleeping over,” Mrs Delance squealed “it feels like I now have my own daughter,”“Honey, be calm,” Mr Delance chuckled, coming to hold his wife from me. “Let’s leave the both of them. They wouldn’t know each other if we were always in their faces.”Damian simply brought his phone from his pockets and started typing furiously.“Or better still, why don’t you show her the room beside yours. That’s where she will be spending the night,” Mr Delance said “Wonderful! Hurry up, boy” Mrs Delance said excitedly, making me wonder why she wants her son and I to get married. Did I perhaps do something in my other life that is making Mr and Mrs Delance love me?Damian simply groaned and stood up. He walked off without saying anything, “Follow him,” Mrs Delance whispered. Emily nodded quickly too.As I turned to follow him, poor, typical me tripped over the edge of the rug and dives forward in a way that may be mistaken as a Superman act. One arm outstretched in f
I sat in front of the mirror as the make-up artists kept touching up my face, in no time I had transformed into a breathtaking woman. I couldn't even believe I was staring at my own image.Finally, I am about to get married to Delance, and become part of the Delance family. It is happening for sure, but am I truly ready for this?“You look gorgeous, dear,” Nanny Linda said as I stood up. I gulped hard and looked into the mirror. The makeup artists excused themselves.“Thank you,” I mumbled at her. She held my cheeks warmly, I tried not to cry “You’ll do just well, darling. I am so proud of you”Just then, the door opened and I turned to see one of the makeup artists coming in with an envelope."Excuse me," she interrupted politely. I got this package outside. Someone asked me to deliver this to the bride,”“Really? Thank you very much,” Nanny Linda said, stretching her hand to collect the item.“Do you know who the sender is?” I asked, but she shook her head “okay, a male or female?”