Caroline

"Have you two been married once? Or probably, have you lived with him?" I asked jokingly but she seems to take it all a little seriously.

"What do you mean? I have never lived with him. Why would I even marry Richard Trenton? That's so absurd, Carol," she scoffed defensively and I was a little astounded.

"Easy. I was only kidding or more to say, I was only asking," I rolled my eyes.

Although, It's crazy how she knows a lot about the man I am meant to marry but I know little to nothing than his name and how famous he is.

"How do you know so much about him?"

"Are you a dummy? Who doesn't know a lot about him?"

I don't and I wasn't interested.

"Why haven't I seen the news about your marriage with him yet?"

"It's all over the internet except my picture isn't shown,"

She immediately took her phone that was on the dressing mirror and searched for his name.

"It's so rude how your picture isn't in any of the blogs but it doesn't matter," she seems happier than me, the wife.

She read one of the headlines out and was immediately irritated at the description.

"...a lady of an unknown background? This is so disrespectful. We should make your background known then,"

"It really doesn't matter to me. I equally don't want this marriage," I pointed out and she looked at me like I was throwing up.

"Are you crazy? No, you must be crazy. How could you not want a 'marriage' with Richard Trenton," she emphasized on every of her words and I still couldn't point out the honour in that.

"You could have him," I said and she rolled her eyes.

"Sincerely, It's nothing serious. It's just for a year,"

"Trust me, even if it's for a day I'd gladly give him a first child,"

I laughed so hard. "You exaggerate a lot and think of only unrealistic things,"

"You don't believe me?" she asked, equally laughing.

"We should go shopping. Everything on me, Carol,"

"Come on! I told you it's not a big deal,"

"If getting married to Richard Trenton isn't a big deal, then go for his father. Make it a big deal!"

"You sound so ridiculous," I commented with a smile.

"Come on, Mrs Trenton. You should always think fast," and I slapped her shoulder jokingly at the title.

"Just call me Carol then," she wouldn't even joke about this whole thing if she knows I truly don't want the marriage and it's just an arranged thing for money.

"Nevertheless, we're going shopping," she affirmed and I immediately knew there was nothing I could do to change that.

"Hold on, let me get this straight. You were talking about him?"

I looked at her, unsure of what she was driving at.

"The husband to be who cheated. Was it him?"

One thing about Clara, she's quite inquisitive and she never forgets a thing when she's curious.

I looked at her, not sure if to reply to her or not.

I am not in love with Richard but I most definitely do not want to say anything bad about him when of course there's nothing to say than he's a man-whore.

The silence in the room as we stared back at each other was enough to absorb me but I was withdrawn when my phone rang.

"Hold on a second," I pulled out my phone from my back pocket only to be disappointed by the caller who I thought would be my saviour.

It was my dad.

I instantly knew what he was going to speak about, so I didn't bother to pick.

"Was it him?" Clara asked again.

I wish she could drop the discussion.

My phone vibrated and a message notification popped up on its screen from my dad.

"I guess you are well. We are having dinner with your husband to be and his father this week,"

"You're having dinner with him this week?" Clara's voice startled me.

"The way it seems, I am,"

I didn't have the ecstasy feeling to meet him like every other lady would feel seeing their husband and his family and in fact, Richard Trenton.

I looked at Clara and uncertainty was evident on my face.

I doubted for that minute if I truly wanted this even for the money or if I should gradually walk away and forget it all while I could.

I was so anxious as to how the one year of our togetherness was going to be and that fear alone was beyond failing in school.

Two words were to be said.

I do.

Two words I wasn't prepared to say just yet.

Two words I never thought of saying until five years just like I have planned since I was in high school.

Two words I might end up saying twice to two different men.

Two words I have to mean when they are being said.

Two words that would be a beginning of a new world I am to start.

Those two words seem heavy but should be spurred out of genuine love for one's partner.

But now, those two words were one to be said to someone I do not love or know. Someone who I caught cheating on me even before we got married.

Those two words I am meant to say in a week to Richard Trenton.

Two words to be said to a year of infidelity.

A year that I could not in my right capacity be prepared for. I tried to muster the best courage and encouragement I could summon within myself but it was all void.

I couldn't place my explanation on the right path as to how I was feeling at the moment. I wanted an escape. Not just an escape from reality but an escape from my world. This world that seems not to be owned by me. A world that seems to be controlled by people other than me.