The decision

Ethan

I was imagining various reasons why my future bride had not come, when my father spoke.

"So Georges, how are you? Business, how's it going?"

 

"Ah Fansou, you know, business is business." He responds in a parable as only they understood their business language.

"I didn't see my future daughter-in-law with you, nothing bad happened to her I hope?! Or would she have withdrawn at the last minute, as these children often know how to be stubborn and rebellious?"  asked my father anxiously.

 

Me too, I open my ears greatly to listen to the reason for the absence of my future wife.

"Ah yes, my daughter... First, I would like to apologize to you for being late. You know that I make a point of honor on punctuality..."

"That's what I was telling my family just before you arrived." My father said within him cutting him off.

"Actually, I had a little problem with my daughter." 

Hearing him say that, I gloated in my heart, surely this girl is more reasonable than I thought. Who knows, if she's going to be my way out of this meaningless marriage.  But to my great disappointment, I hear him continue to say.  

"She had malaria and she's been in bed for two days already. Since the appointment had already been made between our two families, I couldn't not come today. But at the next meeting , my daughter will be present."  He reassures my father in a convincing tone.  

The rest of what they said, I hadn't paid attention to. At the end if the day, it did not interest me at all. They could do whatever they wanted, I knew what was my benefit. I entered my room at the end of the meeting with a bit of disappointment. My father has decided to marry me against my will. All this, just because he wants to blackmail me for the job I'm applying for in his company. Can't he just give it to me? Am I then ready to take the plunge for marriage? Why does he want to sacrifice me for his professional interests, supposedly he does it so that I become responsible. Bullshit, just bogus and misleading excuses!

The following week, my sister asks me to accompany her to the supermarket. Of course, I refused, but she insisted so much that I had no other choice. Tania could show herself persuasive. Finally, I had no other choice than to accompany her.

"Tania, you take me for your slave, I don't like it!" I complained while driving.

"You should consider yourself lucky to be my slave, microbe ! There are hundreds of guys who would dream of being in your place." She said in an ironic tone.

 "Yeah, that's it ! What guy would even want it first? A monkey like you?! And I am the President of the United States." I replied laughing.

My sister and I like to tease each other. She's my only sister and the youngest in the family, our parents only had four children. The other two left home early to go to Europe to continue their studies. They are now working there and are not even talking about coming back home. I think they are running away from our dad's control. Since they left when we were still very young, we don't have a close relationship. My sister and I having lived together, we are very close. I know it's her way of spending time with me, so I don't have to worry too much about pleasing her. We arrive at the mall then she goes out to shop.

"Won't you come with me?" She asks me for the umpteenth time as she gets out of the car.

"No thanks! I'm not ready to spend an hour watching you walk the runway trying on clothes you don't even need and probably won't ever wear."

"You don't know what you're missing! I will nevertheless keep you a boxer shorts." She pointed out laughing as she turned her back on me to enter the mall. 

I stay in the car waiting until Tania finishes her shopping and comes back to me. As I know it will take a long time, I take my laptop and I start writing. Yes, I am a writing enthusiast. I've been writing books since childhood and it's my favorite hobby. I write for about half an hour, then I don't know by what force of fate, my gaze took off from my computer to land on a young woman going to the mall. My God, what a beautiful sight I see at this moment? This body, this behind, this gait... It's quite simply the good life! I follow the girl in the gaze until she disappears from my field of vision as she enters the mall. I file my computer and place it in the back seat, then I sneak into the mall. With a quick glance, I scan the inside of my gaze and without much effort, I manage to have the young girl standing in the left corner of the room. I walk towards her direction. She is standing in the cleaning products department. I walked slowly and placed myself at a good angle to admire this angelic beauty. On the spot, I imagine a scene to speak to her. I walk towards her and throw her like a fool

"They're beautiful, aren't they?!" 

I realize my blunder when it is already out and I would like to go underground right now. Indeed, the pretty young lady is holding dishwashing powder in her hand. I said what first came to mind without thinking. Like any answer, the girl smiled at me without saying anything. I almost melted like wax on fire in front of this divine smile, it is so beautiful. I had never seen such a beautiful painting. She has extraordinary teeth and beautiful white teeth. I hang on her pink lips as I hear her sweet honeyed voice telling me

"Looking for something sir?" I jump in then I answer

"Yes, could you recommend a good product for the dishes please? You seem to know your stuff well."

She smiles again and I'm about to fly away from that smile. I was already swimming on a small cloud when I heard my sister's frog voice. At that moment, her voice sounded like a toad's in my head. She had never pissed me off so much. How dare she interrupt me at such an important time like this? I turn to her, glaring at her.

"I think I heard you tell me that you would stay in the car?!  What are you doing here? Also in the dishwashing department?!" She said all of a sudden in me instantly shame. 

I did not say another word. I turn to her and we left in silence.

 

"You were supposed to do at least an hour I think?!"  I say annoyed as we get to the car.

"I never told you I would stay one hour.  It was you who insinuated that I would do more than an hour."

"But you usually take a long time when we come here." I said.

"Yes, but today I just wanted a dress and I found what I needed faster." Clara replies.

"That's it! It was precisely today that you decided to take less time. Couldn't you spend a little more time?" I retorted grouchy.

"But in the end what do you want? You complain all the time that it takes me way too long to shop. Today that I decide to make you happy by taking less time, you're suddenly grumpy. What should I understand from your attitude?!" Tania questions looking lost.

"Let it go!" I reply, not knowing what to answer him.

"Oh no! You won't escape from me so easy!" She replies without letting go.  

She stares at me for a moment then says. "I bet it's that young girl you were talking to. Correct me if I'm wrong."

"You should have seen her Tany... She's so hot, she's an unparalleled beauty!" I outlined excitedly. 

My sister cheerfully laughs at me then tells me in a still mocking tone

"I knew it was a woman behind your sullen mood. So you are unable to go out without drooling behind a woman's buttocks?"

"Hahaha! That's it, go ahead, make fun of me!" I say imitating her.  

"But know that this one is not like the other girls that I often see. Her pure and innocent eyes, her piercing smile, her princess manners... I have to see her again no matter what it costs me." I say hovering midair. Tania starts up again, laughing.

"I see that you took a lot of time to observe her. But do I need to remind you, my dear big brother, that you're on the verge of getting married?" Tania reminds me bringing me back to my harsh reality.

"Did you have to remind me of that? What a killjoy you are!" I reproched her disappointed. 

We arrived home a few minutes later. I think that girl bewitched me. I just see and see her smile and look at me.

Naella

It will already be a week since the famous meeting between my family and that of my supposed future husband took place.  I wonder what excuse my father had to give them when he got there without me.  Or maybe he just didn't make it.  Today, after returning from the mall to buy some dishwashing products that are missing at home, I come across my father who threatens Charles

"You'd better tell me where my daughter is or the police will show up right away. And I'm not telling you what will happen to you and your mother!"

 I run towards them, before my father punches Charles. Arrived at their height, I shout at my angry father

"Daddy stop! Charles has nothing to do with it! I'm the only to blame."  

He turns to me, looking angry.

"I give you two minutes to pack your stuffs and meet me in the car!" 

He turns on his heels then leaves.

My father is very angry. I had never seen him in this state before. I get down to packing my bag while giving Charles' mother the package I brought from the mall. I take out my bag in hand and I come across Charles. I have tears in my eyes. Charles looks at me without saying a word. Nevertheless, I manage to articulate these few words

"I'm sorry..." 

He lowers his head.  I turn away from him then I join my father in the car. We arrive in the house in the silence of a cemetery. I carry my bag towards my room, but my father shouts at me when I'm at the step of the stairs.

"Wait girl!" 

I stop without turning to him, then I throw him in a gloomy tone

"What more do you want daddy? You got what you wanted right? Threatening poor helpless beings... I thought you were better."

"You're not at the end of your troubles my little one. As you have decided to challenge me, we are going to do this showdown until the end. We'll see who will last until the end. I realize the hard way that I've been very lax with you. You're showing me by this behavior that you're just a spoiled brat and therefore I'm going to treat you like a brat. And to begin with, I forbid you to see this va-barefoot from now on!" Threatened my father audibly.  

Until then, my back was always turned. But this last sentence makes me turn sharply towards him.

"No dad, you can't ask me such a thing. I will never accept it! I love Charles and I don't intend to give up on him." I say in a defiant tone.

"Who talked to you about asking? I'm not asking you girl, but I'm commanding you! And to prove to you that I'm serious, from this day on, all your outings, you will be accompanied by a driver. And if I find out you've set foot in your rascal's house or stopped to talk to him, I'll put him and his mom in jail.," My father keeps threatening me my with a stern look. I am distraught. I shout at him in anger

"You can't do that! I'm of legal age and free to do whatever I want! You can't hold me captive!"

 

"Well, that's what we'll see! You can go and file a complaint if you like! And one last thing," he says when he gets to my level. "This wedding will take place whether you like it or not. Otherwise, you'll be responsible for the disappearance of your boyfriend and his mother." 

He is beyond me after saying that. I throw it to him crying

"Aren't you ashamed to sell your daughter as an object of base use? And my feelings then, have you thought about it?" 

My father stops, turns his head back and answers me

"In the event that my only daughter is unable to know what is right for her, I will feel no shame in making wise choices for her good. And as far as your novelas things are concerned, please don't bring them back to me, because feelings are born in marriage." Concluded my father.  

He continues on his way to his room and leaves me distraught. My God, what am I going to do in the face of his determined look?