Chapter 1

Looking straight at my eyes he said

"I'm getting married".

Those 3 words shattered me as I tried to find the next words that I should utter.

"I don't understand." I whispered.

I was hoping he'd be joking or he just pulled a silly prank and some of our friends would laugh and come out from hiding holding cameras but nothing made me prepared for what he said next.

"I'm sorry, Asha. I-I don't want this to happen but my father told me I'm marrying his friend's daughter. And I tried to reason with him but . . he didn't agree." he explained while holding my hand.

When he called me here, I thought he wanted to share some of his problems with me but I didn't expected it to be about us.

I tried to find some emotion in his eyes that would give me strength to fight for our relationship but all I see is pity. Pity for what? Is it pity for our relationship or for me?

"Then make me your mistress." I told him.

"If becoming your mistress means that you'll still come to me and love me just the same then I'd agree. Just please don't leave me." I pleaded, my eyes clouding from the unshed tears.

"Don't tell me you're gonna cry?" He asked more like reprimanded me not to cry. I removed my hands from his hold.

Those words he uttered pushed my tears out like damn waterfalls that couldn't be stopped. I just remembered we are at a mall so I looked away trying to stop my tears.

"Oh my god, you are really like my mom. You guys could cry anywhere." he said a bit embarrassed.

I really tried my best to stop myself from crying because I suddenly felt so angry and couldn't stop myself from saying what came to my mind next.

"If you knew you couldn't continue our relationship until the end then why did you asked me to try loving you when I clearly rejected you a lot of times. And now that I've already fallen for you deeply you're saying sorry? That you couldn't be with me?"

After saying these words I walked away from him . . .

* * * * * * * * * * *Flashback* * * * * * * * * * *

I am sitting at the corner most table in favorite spot at the cafe my family owns, watching Turkish drama on my phone. These dramas got me so hooked up that sometimes I don't even notice that it's already dark outside. They are just so good with cliffhangers and it always gets me so on edge whenever the next episode hasn't posted yet.

The bell chimes indicating that a customer has arrived not until when I heard a loud and obnoxious voice that could only belong to my friend, Amber Riley.

"Ms. Asha Elsher, you better be on your phone reviewing our exam on Pharmacology. You can't be a pharmacist by just sitting there drinking coffee." her words bouncing on the walls of the empty cafe.

"Shush, we don't want everyone to know that we'll have exam, now do we? Plus it's not coffee, it's mocha latte." I told her not once removing my eyes on the drama I'm watching. This is the most exciting part! After a whole 20 episodes of them doing everything but a kiss, this is a breath of fresh air.

Amber dropped three heavy books in front of me and went ahead to pause my phone when I exclaimed "No no wait! It's the episode where they'll finally kiss!"

"Who?" She asked and looked at my phone.

"Asha our priority should be our exam. We can't afford to fail it." That's what she always say whenever we have our final exams. I sighed disappointed and nodded at her. I know she's right so might as well get on with it.

After reviewing for 30 minutes straight she suddenly asked me "I remember you were telling me about a guy you'll try to like?"

"Yeah what about him?" I asked.

"Are you sure with your decision? We can't force our heart to love someone we don't, you know." she said shutting her book.

"He told me he had been waiting for me for 2 years now and I want to give him a chance."