1 Chapter two: A turn of events

"Do you have to go?" Kyson laid flat on my bed whining while I finished putting the essentials I'd need for my overnight stay at home.

"Kyson it's just two nights. You're acting like I'm going for a year," I threw a pillow at him, teasing him.

"That's what it feels like." He pressed a hand against his chest, looking hurt.

He was the epitome of a drama king.

"What am I supposed to do while you're gone?"

I unintentionally rolled my eyes. "I'd be surprised if you'd even notice that I'm gone, not when you have Gianna around anyway."

The words left my mouth before I could process them. It was in the spur of the moment and my emotions got the best of me. I never was the type to talk about the things that bothered me, I was the type to let things slide because everything was easier that way.

He sat up, a very serious look on his face. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." I shrugged it off, "forget I said anything."

At the speed of light, he got off the bed and forcefully grabbed the clothes I had in my hands tossing them aside. "You're not going to brush this off like you brush everything else off."

"Do you really want to do this right now?" Our voices gradually grew louder by the second.

"Yes, Adalia. Right now!" He growled at me.

I crossed my arms across my chest. "Ky, you barely even notice that I exist whenever Gianna is around."

He shook his head in amusement. "So that's what this is about? you're jealous of my girlfriend?"

"Jealous really? Of what? her rotten personality?!"

This whole thing had gotten out of hand but it was too late to back down now.

He looked like there was so much more he wanted to say but he knew it wasn't worthit. "You know maybe coming here was a mistake. I'm leaving." He pushes past me and walks to the door.

"Good! I was just about to tell you to leave anyway." I shout after him, not knowing what else to say.

This was our first fight and I didn't quite know how to act. All I knew was that I hated every second of it. My stomach felt like it was tied up in a thousand different knots and my chest hurt. I knew keeping everything inside would lead to it, eventually blowimg up in my face, I just didn't expect it to be so soon.

<<•>>

"Why are we setting the table for three people? Are we expecting a guest?" I called to my mom in the kitchen.

My dad who was watching the news channel on the sofa pivoted his body to face me. I'd forgotten how poor my moms hearing was so he was probably going to answer in her place.

"Remember Ian, honey?"

Ian was a family friend of ours, he'd known me since the tender age of 11. Back then he would interact more with my parents because I was only a child then. I vividly remember that our first real conversation was when I had turned eighteen. We talked about our dreams, aspirations and all our future plans. From all I knew about him it was safe to conclude that he was a good man.

"Yes I remember him. Is he the one coming for dinner?" I asked while placing cutlery beside each plate.

Stroking his chin, he silently whispered something to himself before answering me. "Yes he'll be joining us. Er, how much did your mother tell you about the purpose of this visit?"

"Not much," I shrugged. "She just mentioned something about it helping our current situation."

He shook his head like he couldn't believe what I had just told him. Then at an alarming speed he got off the sofa and stormed into the kitchen slamming the door shut behind him.

They tried their best to keep their voices low but I knew they were fighting, I just didn't know what about. I thought of placing my ear against the door of the kitchen to try piece together what their argument was about but the door bell rang and I had to attend to it.

"Hello—" I said, absentmindedly opening the door but froze as soon as I saw him.

One thing was for sure, he wasn't the same Ian I'd remembered from years ago.

His crystal blue eyes focused in in on me, I felt like I could sit and stare into them for hours and still not be satisfied because they were that alluring. His black, thick hair was darker than usual and I felt the urge to run my fingers through it. It was like all his facial features had enhanced over the years making him all the more attractive.

"Adalia." He breathed out my name, I shuddered and pulled myself back to reality. "You're still as gorgeous as I remember you being."

He took my hand in his, then slowly brought it up to his lips, never breaking eye contact and placed a light kiss on it. I became paralyzed, how could an action so simple be so impactful?

"Ian!" My dads voice beamed from behind us. He walked past me and went to give Ian a handshake and hug. I cleared my throat and stepped back into the room not sure of what I should have thought about what had just transpired.

"Come in! Come in." He was ushered inside and the door was closed. They sat on the sofa and forgot everything else as they immediately indulged into a full on conversation. Heavens knew what they were talking about, I had never seen my father so giddy and animated as he spoke.

"Dinner's ready." My mom called out to us, seconds later and we all headed to the dining room.

My mouth watered at the sight of my moms chicken lasagna. Her food always tasted as good as it looked, it was a shame that I didn't have much of an appetite. My fight with Kyson had been weighing down on me heavily.

I took a sit first, followed by Ian who surprisingly chose to sit on the chair that was right beside mine and my parents sat right across us. It's not a big deal, I tried to convince myself as I quietly waited my turn to serve my food.

From the corner of my eye I could see Ian occasionly glance my way then look away. It made me feel self conscious and awkward. If he had something to say why couldn't he just come right out and say it? Staring didn't do anyone any good.

"So..." My mom drank from her wine glass then set it down. "how's school going baby?"

"Good actually." I answered poking at my food and swirling it around. "My midterms are coming up and I've been preparing for them."

Ian looked up from his plate. "What course are you majoring in?"

I answered him quickly and turned my attention back to my plate."Journalism."

"Interesting, was it something you always saw yourself doing?" He took a bite of his food and waited for my response.

I pushed back my plate and folded my arms across my chest. "What's with all the questions, Ian?"

When I was in a bad mood anything and everyone got on my nerves. I felt bad that Ian had to be a victim of that today.

He gave me a menacing look before he took a swig of his wine and went silent. He exchanged a silent look with my mom and she frowned back at him.

My dad noticed my sudden change in mood and spoke up. "Adalia, what's the matter? you've barely touched your food."

Sighing out of fustration, I laid my hands on the table and knotted them in front of me. "Kyson and I had this huge fight, I'm just worried we won't be able to recover from it."

Ian let go off the cutlery in his hands and they hit the table making a clinking noise. Our heads all twisted to face him.

"Who the hell is, Kyson?" He asked, with his voice in a deadly low tone. He looked at both my mom and dad searching for answers.

"Um, Kyson is my bestfriend. First the questions, now this? please adjust your bust before it combusts." I shook my head disapprovingly and took a sip of my water. He sure had become more enstranged over the years, I thought to myself.

He tilted his whole body to face me and then leaned in and whispered against my ear. "Is that the way to talk to the man you're betrothed to?"

"Me? Betrothed to you? You're a funny man, Ian." I said out aloud and broke into a hysterical laughter. I laughed until tears of joy were flowing down my face. Then I noticed everyone else wasn't laughing in fact they had tensed up.

"You should've have told her, Diana!" My dad angrily said to my mom who was at a loss of words, before leaving the dinner table unceremoniously.

It seemed like I was the only one who didn't have a clue on what was unfolding right infront of me.

"What's going on?" I asked my mom who could barely meet my gaze now.

"Mrs Green." Ian rubbed at his temple, not lifting his eyes to look at either one of us. "You told me she was fully aware of the deal and you told me she was onboard with this."

Why were they talking about me like I wasn't in the room?

"What deal?!" I stood up abruptly, the chair making a screeching sound as it collided with the wooden floor.

"Adalia sweetie."My mom walked

from her side of the table to mine. There were tears visible in her eyes. "You'll want to sit down for this."

I sat down slowly, hoping whatever she had to say wasn't anything serious but little did I know I was in for the biggest surprise of my life.