17: the secret

It’s finally break time. I’m picking up my things after our teacher left the room then someone suddenly called me.

“Roma!”

I looked at our doorway and I saw my friends standing right there then they waved at me. I stood up and walked towards them.

“We’re having a long quiz in Language tomorrow,” Josephine blurted.

“Yeah, that’s right. We’re taking it too,” I added.

We have the same teacher on that subject and she’s also our homeroom teacher.

“Aha! I know!” Jeyra suddenly chimed in that shocked us.

“What?” AJ asked.

“Let’s have a group study at Roma’s house!” she suggested.

We looked at each other then these three looked at me with their pleading eyes like they’re expecting me to agree.

“Okay, fine. Let’s do it later,” I affirmed.

They made a big smile. “Yes! We can study and have some bonding!”

I just chuckled a bit while scratching my nape from their reaction. I can’t say no to them either.

“Roma!”

I looked at the person who called me. I raised my brows while he’s smiling at me and waving his hand.

“And who’s that cutie, Roma?” Josephine queried.

“He’s Chester, Caden’s older brother.”

They widened their eyes at me after I answered.

“Hi,” Chester greeted.

I noticed how he caught my friends’ attention and they seemed fascinated by him.

“Oh, Chester. What brings you here?” I asked.

“I came here to see you. Can we talk just a bit?”

I thought for a bit before answering. “Okay.”

Chester smiled, “Great. Let’s go?”

I looked at my friends. “Wait me up.”

Then I followed Chester outside our school. We found a bench beside the gate and sat right there. He excused himself and told me that he’s just going to get something in his car.

My gaze were on the ground and I’m swaying my feet while sitting here because it didn’t reach the ground.

“Coffee?”

I looked up when I heard Chester spoke. I smiled and get the coffee that he’s giving to me.

“Be careful. It’s still hot,” he reminded after taking a sit beside me.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” I queried.

“Actually, nothing much. I just came here to see you,” Chester answered then he sipped on his coffee.

“Don’t you have classes today?”

“I still have. Vacant.”

“Wait, why you didn’t choose to study in Caden’s school? It’s just nearby.”

Chester laughed awkwardly. “I didn’t pass the entrance exam.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Caden is a lot smarter than me. He even aced that entrance exam and got the third rank in over-all.”

I was surprised from what Chester said. It means that stupid jerk is actually smart and gifted?

A moment of silence went in between when he spoke again.

“So, let’s talk about your arranged marriage with my brother. Are you really willing to marry him?”

I set aside my coffee cup then I breathed deeply. “I don’t have any plans on getting married. Especially at this age. I’m still young. My goals for now are study and get a career first. And that’s my focus for now. You already know the reason why we got engaged, right?”

“Yeah. I know.”

“If this is the only way to save my family, then I’ll do. Whether I like it or not. It doesn’t matter anymore if we don’t love each other.”

Chester nodded, “You’re like Caden on that part.”

I looked at him after saying that.

“He’s also willing to do everything just for the sake of our family. Whether he likes it or not,” he added.

I heaved a sigh then sipped on my coffee.

--

Our classes were now over and just like what we planned, I brought my friends in our house for our group study.

I can’t refuse to them anyway. And I don’t want to bring them at the Morgenstern’s mansion. I don’t want them to know that I live there now.

And when I brought them here, there’s nobody here because I am the one who’s earliest to get home. Good thing that I still have the spare key of our door.

My silly friends went straight to my room and started to play like kids on my bed.

“Wait for me there. I’ll just get you some food and drinks,” I told them after putting my bag aside.

“Alright, Roma,” they replied.

I went to our kitchen to prepare some food for them. I saw some packs of instant noodles and decided to cook it. After that, I put its plate on the tray with a pitcher of fruit juice and also some bread.

“Here’s our snack,” I said after getting inside my room, holding the tray.

I noticed that they’re reading a paper and I was confused when I saw how serious they are while reading it.

“Roma, what’s this? You have an agreement with Caden?” Josephine queried.

“Caden is really your fiancé and both of you are planning to cancel your engagement?” AJ asked and the one who’s holding the paper.

I was stunned from where I’m standing at. How did they find our treaty? I didn’t know that I left it here.

“Answer us, Roma. What does it mean?” Jeyra blurted.

I didn’t answer instantly. I put the tray at my study table and I can’t look at them directly. I gasped before I speak.

“All that you’ve read are true. Caden is really my fiancé and he’s not my boyfriend. And we’re making a way to break this stupid engagement,” I answered.

Their jaw dropped after what I said. Then I told them what really happened and what kind of situation that I’m in right now. Except that part about living at the Morgenstern’s

“I can’t believe it, Roma. So, that’s your real situation. You need to cancel your engagement as soon as possible before your wedding day comes. But in order to do that, Kiara should be Caden’s girlfriend and you must help him to make it come true,” AJ summarized.

“That’s right. But the problem is, that jerk is extremely shy when it comes to Kiara. The total opposite of how an annoying jerk he is. Why is he like that?” I complained.

“Roma, just be patient and understand Caden. Yes, he likes Kiara. But I think he’s just making sure about his feelings. They’re childhood friends, right? I think he’s still weighing his feelings for Kiara if it’s just a plain crush or real love,” Josephine explained.

“I also think that Caden isn’t ready yet to risk his friendship with Kiara that’s why it’s really hard for him to confess,” Jeyra added.

AJ and Josephine nodded as they agreed with what Jeyra said.

“But how long would he need to make sure about his feelings? We just have a year to cancel our engagement!”

“Chill, Roma. Besides, you already met Kiara. Think of it as a stepping stone for helping him realize his feelings,” Jeyra advised.

I just heaved a heavy sigh and shook my head.

--

It’s already evening and I’m sitting on the bench here in the garden. I decided to have some fresh air after having dinner.

I breathed deeply to feel the chill of the evening breeze then I slowly exhaled it. Then I looked above and saw the twinkling countless stars and the half-moon.

After a moment, I felt someone sat beside me.

“I heard that Chester visited you on your school today. Is it true?” It was Caden.

I just nodded as a response.

He laughed awkwardly, “Is he taking seriously being your fake boyfriend? I think he forgets that. . .”

Then I looked at Caden but he quickly moved away his gaze from me.

“That. . .you’re just doing it when Kiara is around,” he added.

Those things that I’ve talked with my friends suddenly crossed my mind.

“Caden.”

“What?”

“Are you really in love with Kiara?”

He looked shocked from what I asked.