Chapter 04: Marriage?

I didn't sleep a wink last night. What did they mean by Damian and I getting married? Was it all a ploy to make us befriend each other?

I remember how the remaining part of the meeting went. Damian left briskly. I almost did, but had to respect both fathers.

Damian’s dad had chuckled at his son’s retreating figure “He knows I wouldn't joke with something this delicate. Not to worry dear, he will do my bidding,”

Do his bidding? It got me even more confused. I looked at my Dad for help but he kept smiling sheepishly.

“Do take care of yourself, darling” Finally, Mr Delance smiled at me and left.

What just happened?

“Let me call your sister, we should get going” my Dad said, still grinning from ear to ear

I stopped him from moving “Dad! What’s going on? What was that supposed to mean?” I stamped my feet at him

“Pumpkin,” Dad grinned, holding my shoulders tenderly “Mr Delance and I want you and Damian to get married soon,”

My head spun, my eyesight going foggy. A knock at my room door interrupted the trail of my thoughts. It was Linda, and she came with breakfast.

I turned to the other side of my bed, not looking at her. I felt my bed dip. Linda came to sit beside me, and touched my forehead gently, “are you okay?”

“Its just school stuff,” I lied to dismiss her.

“Oh is there a way that I can help?” nanny Linda ask worriedly

My heart went out to her. She was like my second mom. The tears slipped from my eyes, and I turned to hug her. I remembered what happened after Dad made the big announcement to me. I’d even suggested that he marries Steph off to Damian, but he angrily refused, stating that he’d chosen an Arabian prince for her.

I cried silently on our way home. Steph, with the help of some friends was brought dead drunk to the car. No one said a word afterwards…

“Talk to me,” Nanny Linda’s voice brought me to reality. Just as I opened my mouth to tell her, Dad walked in, halting the moment.

“Good morning, sir” Nanny Linda quickly stood up from my bed.

“Good morning, Linda” He smiled crookedly, sipping a cup of coffee. “I need you to take my dirty clothes to the laundry”

“Okay, sir” she nodded, before kissing my forehead as she excused herself from the room.

Dad smiled mischievously, “Good morning, Pumpkin. Do get dressed. I’ll be dropping you and Steph to school today,”

“No!” I grunted, almost throwing my pillow at him

Dad laughed heartily and closed the door.

“Argggggghhhhhhh” I groaned loudly into my pillow.

***

“Bye, Pumpkins” Dad said as he dropped Steph and I at school. We didn't reply him, and in no time, we heard the loud blast of Dad’s car

“I love you, my Pumpkins!” This time he said it so loudly that tens of students at the entrance chuckled loudly.

Oh, no. Red color rose to my cheeks. I turned to look at Stephanie, she was embarrassed as well.

“We love you too,” Steph and I said.

“Better,” he grinned mischievously, making everyone laugh. I ran away as Steph went to meet her friends. That was so embarrassing.

I got to class and met Zara. We did our handshake, and she asked about the party.

“Nothing happened,” I lied, avoiding her eyes as we sat. Zara stared at me suspiciously but the teacher’s entrance saved me from further questions.

Classes went in a blur, and I was so happy to go home. However, when I got to the park, where I always meet Mr Idris. I saw my Dad waiting beside my car.

A deep frown settled on my face. Weeks ago, I would’ve been thrilled to have my Dad come pick me up from school, but now, I didn’t even want to see him.

“So, I told Idris to rest for the day.” he said when I got close. “I want us to have a Dad and daughter’s talk, it's the reason I sent Eric to pick Stephanie on time. She is meeting the Prince as we speak.”

I looked away, crossing my arms.

“Please pumpkin, lets talk in the car. Something came up,” he said, opening the car door for me. This was what I always wanted; to spend time with my Dad. Looking around, I saw no other free ride. Hesitatingly, I got into the passenger seat, while he got into the driving seat and drove us out of the school compound.

“You said something came up?”I asked half-heartedly, looking out the window.

“Uhm, yeah- its about you and Damian,” he stared at me through the rear-view mirror, dropping a bombshell“We want you both to get married in one month,”