Chapter 2: Prank

"Are you f-cking insane, Jackie? How would I do that?!" Stunned with what just her friend blew, Dalmi forcibly dropped her fruit tea on the bedside table and threw him the pillow she got beside her.

The cold night was spend thinking about things to do to stop her unwanted wedding. Jackie was sitting at the edge of the bed, wearing a pair of black anti-radiation glasses as he surfed the internet through his laptop. They were formulating plans for about an hour, and they stumbled upon things like telling Dalmi's father that she is a lesbian or that she will run away and will disown him as her father to stop him from doing this to her–but she knew to herself that she couldn't live without riches so they instead, came up with the last, passable yet impossible idea: To spend a night with Casimir Thompson.

Thinking about his name made Dalmi wonder about a few things. How does he look like right now? What if he is already married? Or if he has a girlfriend right now? It's not like she has not met him for ages, but it felt like that since the last time she saw him was about a year ago, and at a party where she just caught a short glimpse of him when she was about to go home and some reporters were interviewing him.

Casimir Thompson is the only man who can make her legs tremble. He was her crush from college days. Thinking about it, Dalmi remembers herself as someone who plays with boys and hangs out–not until that man came into the picture.

With his dark eyes, thick lashes, thin lips, and prominent jaw, he could make every woman bend on their knees. Even Dalmi, the woman who claimed that she's not going to drool over a man and she can't believe it! Thinking about the College girl Dalmi made her cringe.

She shook her head.

"May I remind you that Casimir Thompson rejected me way back in College? Heck! I will never talk to him again!" she stood up, putting her hands at her waist. "Even if you kill me, I won't do it!"

Jackie also stood up and put his index and middle finger at the side of his forehead, staring at her with his wrinkled nose and duck-like lips.

"You're stressing the hell out of me. This was the only way out, Dalmi! And it's also beneficial!" He let go of his forehead and strode towards her place. He touched her shoulders and search for her eyes.

"Dalmi, I'm telling you. This might be a solution to your problem and the stepping stone to have the man of your dreams!" He let go of Dalmi and sat at the edge of the bed, his hands intertwined with each other, staring dreamily at his ceiling.

"Man of my dreams, my ass! I have moved on from that major humiliation a long time ago!" Dalmi rolled her eyes and reached for the fruit tea, putting all her frustration into that drink.

What Jackie wants her to do is to have a night with that hunk, snobbish man, Casimir Thompson, and make sure that she will have a child from him. Or if not, then at least get him whirling around her fingers and make him agree to act as her long time boyfriend.

After all, Dalmi's father only wants her to have that absurd arrange marriage to set her up with someone she despises the most.

 I can just make him stood beside me...right? And then my father would be glad because of a false accusation. She thought. Her father will think she was all alone but was actually having a secret relationship with someone.

But Casimir was beyond her league! The man didn't even utter a word when she confessed! He just stood there, glanced at her for two seconds with his blank eyes, and then left! It was humiliating and traumatic! So much to cause for another embarrassing moment!

"Imagine yourself at a party with the elites. The young, Dalmi Arizona is clinging to an old man's arm. Just imagine how people would laugh at you for that," Jackie uttered to make her mind clouded with those probable scenes completely.

"Anyway, age doesn't matter. Who knows how love works? Maybe you will fall in love with him event–"

"Heck, no way!" Dalmi retorted. Her nostrils about to spit out invisible smoke, and her eyes almost throwing him daggers.

I swear I will never get myself to marry someone like that. I have never cared for myself for years and made sure I am pretty enough just to marry a well-off, old man! 

She cursed the man insider her mind, blaming him for accepting his father's offer.

"Then would you rather do our plan or choose to marry that man?" Jackie raised his brow and walked towards his wooden cabinet, where his secret storage of make-up lies.

"Let's just get another plan, Jackie!"

--

Red and blue lights, smoke, crowded people, and an upbeat music. Dalmi massaged the sides of her forehead after she took another shot of whiskey. They are again, inside a nightclub and ready to get wasted. 

"Chill out, girl. You are drinking so much." Jackie removed the shot glass in her hand and waved to someone.

After some seconds, their quiet table became so noisy. Their old classmates, some workmates from the same company, sat beside them and ordered many drinks.

They are inside a bar owned by Jackie. They decided to put aside the plans for now and just have fun and booze, the reason why they are in this dark place.

"Dalmi! I haven't seen you these days!" Carl, one of her old classmates who used to fancy her, sat beside her and put a shot of brandy.

"Looks like you have something in your mind, huh?" he concluded. Dalmi reached for the glass and drank it straight before glancing at him and licked her lips.

"How are you, Carl? It's been a while," she uttered, a bit annoyed at how big his smirk is.

Carl is a pretty boy, but not enough for her to like him way back in College. That time, she only had eyes for Casimir. He was the most attractive man in her eyes, and even though she was only two years older than Carl, his body was mature. That is a small age gap, but the built screams supremacy. And even after all these years, Dalmi still sees Carl as a boy and not a man whom she can be attracted to.

"Fine, just like before, you? I heard from my parents that your father would arrange a marriage for you. You still don't have a boyfriend right now?" Carl barked into laughter, making Dalmi furrow her brows and look at him in annoyance. This boy looked smug, and he sounded like he meant to offend her, and she is already buying it!

"Where did you get that news? Are you now a gossiper?" she sneered. She moved a bit to her left to show him that she doesn't want to be near him.

"Hmm...I also heard that your father is planning to expand his business. It looks like you are being sold–"

"What the heck is your problem? You are more nosy than Jackie! You get to call yourself a man?" she stood up, wholly infuriated about the man's words. She knew that there was a possibility that the marriage is up to something, but she can't afford to hear that she was being sold! It's not like it was the only word he could create?

"But it's already a big topic! See? Guys!" He roamed his eyes around the U-shaped table. The people in front of them stopped talking to the people beside them. Some, with lips, parted, and some, are silent.

Carl sighed.

"What do you mean being sold? Dalmi has a boyfriend! Right?" Dalmi's eyes immediately widened. What the hell is Jackie talking about? 

"Of course, our Dalmi will never agree on a fixed marriage! She has a long time boyfriend!" he added.

"You don't know what you are talking about, Jackie." she shook her head and sat on her seat, leaning her head against the cushion.

I wish I really have a boyfriend right now. She internally said to herself and pushed herself up.

"Indeed, I am in an arranged marriage. I don't even know what kind of man I will marry. I'm telling you this since..." she took a deep breath and poured herself another shot of whiskey. "I need help, " I continued.

"Then why don't you just follow the plan we made and get the hell out of that marriage?" Jackie caught everyone's attention.

"What plan is that, Jack? Let's try and make Dalmi do that. She needs help, anyway." Carl shifted his mocking gaze at Dalmi before dropping another shot in front of her.

"Since she doesn't want just anybody to act as his boyfriend...I thought it would be good if it would be Casimir Thompson," Jackie laughed loudly, making her glare at him. She thought Jackie already let go of that plan, but he didn't! He was still pushing her to do it!

"What? You still like him?" Dalmi shook her head at Carl's query. "Then, would you mind if I will act as your fake boyfriend? We know each other! I can help you!"

"Oh please, quit it with your hopes. You are just trying to make moves at Dalmi. Concealing it as an act of help, but will later on request for a payback. Who knows what it is? I know who you are, Carl." Jackie's next words made her feel at ease. He is sometimes smart and useful.

"So, Dalmi. Why don't you hit on that man? He was alone." He went towards her and curled his fingers at her hair, trying to enhance the artificial curls more.

"Must I do this?" She gulped and glanced at the familiar built of a man on the bar counter. She already saw him earlier, and nothing even changed. He can still make her legs tremble in nervousness.

"If you want to be free, then you need to. You are picky, and Casimir was the only man suited for you. Right, guys?" The whole group yelled and cheered at Jackie's words. Making Dalmi sigh and walk towards the girl's powder room to retouch.