My arranged marriage: Emelda and Bryan.

Bryan's POV "Argh!" I let out softly, my forehead furrowing as I tried to sit up, holding my head which was pounding furiously. The scent of the early morning sun rays and its warmth mixed with the scent of the sunflowers sitted calmly in the ceramic vase close to my window filled the room. As I stretch lazily, blinking away the haze of sleep still heavy on my eyes, I realize I'm not alone. A woman is lying next to me, the sheets pulled up to her chest. "Hassshh!" I sighed as I struggled to recall the events of last night's party. I had gone out like every other night, and had returned drunk. Quickly, I tap her shoulder. "Get up," I say gruffly, "It's time to go." "Uhmmm…" She muttered softly, her tone showing she was still very much sleepy. "I need more sleep." "Yesterday night was so good that it took all my strength away." She added, a flirtatious smile appearing on her face as she ran her hands across my hairy chest. "Get up and leave!!" I growled with a frown. "F

(Jonathan's POV) "You can stop here," I uttered softly to my driver, who like the caretaker had served me for years. "I wouldn't want to draw any attention to myself." "Okay sir," he responded, parking the car a few meters away from the bus stop. My skin was instantly grazed by the hotness of the sun as I stepped out of the limousine and began to walk towards the commercial bus that was still taking in commuters. "You can sit over here sir," a young teenage boy gestured towards me as I scouted for a seat. "Oh, thank you." I nodded, a faint smile visible on my face. As the wheels of the bus began to move, my mind wandered back to that fateful day when I met Emelda. It was one year to the day since I'd lost my son and daughter-in-law in a car accident, and filled with grief and sad memories of them both, I'd sought solace in the bottom of a bottle in a bar which I later found out was owned by Emelda's stepmother. The liquor had numbed my senses, dulled my pain, but only fo

Emelda's POV It was two in the afternoon when the cab which carried us from the bus park came to a halt in front of an old dilapidated apartment complex. "We are home, " Jonathan announced before stepping out of the vehicle and walking over to the other side of the car to help me out. As my silver sandal heel kissed the floor, a knot of dread tightened in my stomach. I stood still for some time as I looked around what was now my new environment and new home. I was jolted back to reality immediately Jonathan who had been talking to the cab driver tapped me softly on my shoulders. "Shall we?" He beckoned, a weathered smile on his wrinkled face. He was a good man, but I couldn't help but feel disgusted that he had gone past me and made a deal to marry me, like I was a property easily sold and bought. Still overwhelmed, I only nodded as I followed him. As we made our way up the stairs, the stairwell leading up to his unit reeked of stale cigarette smoke and mildew, and t

Emelda's POV     I jolted awake by the sound of a loud voice and a sharp tap on my shoulder.   "Hey, Sleeping Beauty!" The voice called out. It was Bryan's, his tone mocking and aggressive.  Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up, the room still swimming in a haze of grogginess. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice thick with sleep.  "Is this how you sleep?" Bryan smirked, his voice dripping with contempt. "Wow, you sleep like the dead. Guess that means you won't be nagging me in the middle of the night, huh?"  I ignored his jab, climbed out of bed and smoothed down my hair. "It's late," I said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Dinner should be ready soon."  Bryan scoffed. "Yeah, well, I'm starving. What is there to eat?"  Swallowing the retort rising in my throat, I headed to the kitchen. I opened the old wooden cupboard to find a bag of rice and some tinned vegetables. Not exactly a five-star meal, but it'll have

(Bryan's POV) As the car pulled up at my destination, a deep feeling of joy and excitement washed over me. I was ready to party and get wasted. I had had enough for the day, and this was the only way I could release all the piled up stress. "Have a great night, Sir." The driver uttered, his face beaming with joy as he counted the money I paid, including the extra tip I gave him. As I stepped out of the Uber, I tried my best to hide my embarrassment. I couldn’t let anyone know the real reason why I wasn’t driving my own car. Immediately I dismissed the driver, I caught sight of my friend, Luke, strolling towards me. “Hey, Bryan! Where’s your ride at?” he asked, jokingly. “Thought you’d show up in your flashy car. I know how you love her so much and always want to show her to the world.” I let out a forced laugh. “Oh, she’s getting some TLC at the mechanic’s,” I lied, trying to sound casual. “Just giving my baby a treat.” Luke chuckled. “You and that car of yours, man. It’s lik