chapter 3.3

Zarie’s POV

next thirty minutes

I arrive at Penelope’s house quite early since it is just a twenty-five minute drive from my house to hers plus I was driving pretty fast, venting my frustrations on my innocent baby.

Penelope scolds me for been late, even though I am just an hour late.

I did not even realize time was running that fast.

But can I tell be blamed? Nope! For all the things going on right now, checking the time is the least important thing to me.

’I am sorry. I am just so frustrated that I even forgot about the project.’ I tell her, my voice voice breaking at the end.

I just want to let go right now, I just want to cry and I know with my best friend, I do not need to act so tough.

I know with her, I can be more transparent and let it all out.

And so that is exactly what I am doing right now. I am crying my eyes out whiles Penelope sits patiently by my side on her living room floor as she gathers me in her warm embrace.

’Hey, what happened?’ Penelope gently ask me after I have calmed down a bit from my breakdown.

’Everything happened! My mother happened! My hopeless future happened! I mean, everything is so wrong.’ I tell her, my voice picking up a bit.

’Do you want to talk about it?’ She asks me, still holding me in her kind arms.

Sometimes I wonder how she is so patient with me. She is the only person I come to when problems at home get too overwhelming for me to bear.

Her arms are always opened for me and her ears never seem to get tired of listening to my never ending problems.

Penelope may act all strong but she also has her own problems. She lost her parents to a very fatal accident.

Since then, she had been staying with her uncle and his wife, who are taking over her parents’ business till she graduates and take over.

Penelope lost her parents when she was just five. They had left for dinner with a business partner but they never returned due to the fatal car crush.

Since that time, I have watched Penelope into a very strong woman who rarely show emotions. I know she tries to mask everything up and act as if she is not affected but just like she is my comforting place when I am stranded, I am also hers.

We keep each other up when we are down because we are all we’ve got.

Penelope has always been the mature one though and that is understandable, seeing she is one year older than I am.

She will be graduating in a few months, whiles I have one whole boring year ahead of me.

Unlike me, Penelope has got a very kind and understanding uncle who did not step on her freedom and agreed to make her move out when she suggested.

I know my mum gives me the freedom I need but she is always refusing me when I tell her I want to move out.

To be honest, I do not even understand her. She hates my guts so much but when I want to do her a favor and leave her house, she disagrees.

I mean, I am eighteen, turning nineteen in a few months so I do not know why she is even refusing me.

After I have told my best friend everything, we decide to move to the kitchen for some food.

It is funny how Penelope told me she would have spanked my mother with her bare hands if not that my mum participated in the process of bringing me into the world.

She also consoled me that everything will fall in place, which I hope so too.

She also made me laugh so much with all her fake, made up stories.

As usual, Penelope is the one cooking the main meal whiles I do the desert because even though I am also a good cook, I always admire Penelope’s cooking skills and that is why I am so obsessed with her food.

She knows how to satisfy my hunger and care for me genuinely.

I know it is just lunch but we are both foodies and when we are together, we eat whatever we feel like eating, not giving a damn about the time of the day.

After the lunch is been served on the dining table, we sit down to enjoy.

The atmosphere is very nice with us having light conversations, whiles enjoying the delicious meal.

’So tell me, what are you going to do about the situation? I mean, the fact that you have to marry that Cold Zavier Knights.’ Penelope asks.

’hmmm, what can I do? I have already agreed to and that means, I will have to just go with the flow.’ I say, the sadness evident in my voice.

’Yeah I know and I am really sorry you have to go through all this but you should also look at the bright side of it all.’ She responds.

’okay, so tell me the bright side of this awful deal’. I retort, looking at her as if she has grown numerous heads.

’Hey Zarie, I do not intend to make you mad but what I really meant to say is the guy you are going to get married to is hot and handsome, rich and he probably is very good in...’ She says, raising a playful eyebrow at me.

’haha’ I laugh , cutting penny short from saying what she really intended to say.

’Yeah Penny, I know where you are coming from and where you are going but please spare me with your naughty stuffs ok?’

’mmm, but that is the truuuth’ She says in a childish tone while pouting, making me laugh so hard.

This girl always knows how to cheer me up.

’Tell me Penny, how was your date with Roland?’ I ask her and her face brightens up even more. No doubt it went well.

’yes sweetie, it was great and so much fun than I even thought.

He is actually a nice man with great manners and a descent job. For that, I am keeping him.’ She tells me a with an innocent face but with a tone that portrays a different meaning to what she said, which makes me laugh even harder.

’Hehe girl, you are such a naughty bitch. You agree?’ I try to say between laughs.

’Of course I agree. You do not have to tell me that.’ She says with an innocent face.

’You naughty girl’ I tell her but she only smirks .

~time skip~

’Zarieeee.’ I hear my mum calling.

‘Yes mum, I will be down in a minute ‘ I shout back at her.

Actually, I just returned from Penny’s house and I am just done with a shower.

Deciding to wear something very simple, I wear one of my denim shorts, a black crop top and my favorite white unisex slipper.

I go downstairs and I hear my mum talking with someone in the living room so I decide to wait in the kitchen, not wanting my mum to embarrass me in-front of whoever the visitor is.

Yes I know all the things my mum is capable of doing so the best thing for me to do is to wait and get a signal from her whether she wants me there or not.

I am aware she called for me but it could be she just wants to say something to me real quick so, it is better to wait for a signal.

However, before I can even get to the inside of the kitchen, I hear my mum calling me to come to the living room.

I make my way there and I am met face to face with the last person I expected to see in my home at ten in the evening.

~>

Okay, so now I am left here all alone with Zavier.

My mother, been the annoying ass person ever on earth decided to leave me all alone with Zavier right after she introduced us.

’So I guess you are the one going to be my wife?’ Zavier asks, checking me out, since I am still standing, making me a little bit uncomfortable.

Without waiting for my answer, he continues.

’Sorry if that makes you feel uneasy. I just want to verify from you if such a beautiful woman like you is truly been given to me.’ He says in his rich masculine voice which sends shivers down my spine.

He is already flirting!

’Hey, why are you standing? I am in your house and you are standing whiles I, your guest is sitting’. He says whiles letting out a short laugh and I swear his laugh is the most pleasant male laugh I have heard so far.

’Zarie, come on, sit down’ He says again.

’OMG! The way my name sounds coming out from his mouth.

’hey’ He says, bringing me back from my train of thoughts.

’umm sorry’ I say, smiling sheepishly at him.

I can’t believe I am behaving so stupid in-front of him and it is only our first encounter too. Ugh!

We have not even had a proper conversation yet and here I am, already swooning over his voice. Zarie, how pathetic!

‘Oh no problem at all’ he responds, smirking at me as if he knows what is running through my mind.

He may probably think I am so stupid right now.

I mean, I cannot understand it myself.

I am not a shy person but here I am, standing timidly in-front of a man, already blushing.

Get a grip on yourself Zarie! This is just a contract. He probably doesn’t even like your presence but he is just been polite for business sake. The pessimistic part of my mind tells me, rubbing the harsh reality in my face.

Even though it is the truth, I realize that just thinking about the fact that Zavier could hate me makes me a little bit disappointed but I dismiss that unwanted feeling almost immediately as it appears.

Anyways, it is not like I like him or anything.

Are you really sure about that? My subconscious ask in a mocking voice.

’Thanks’. I intend to say in my normal voice but it only comes out as a whisper.

’Really? I am in your house and you do not have to thank me for asking you to sit down in your own sofa.’ He says, eying me as I sit down beside him, leaving a reasonable space between us.

’Come on, relax. I do not bite?’ He says as he stares at me with a beautiful smile plastered on his cute lips.

I am again lost in my own world of thoughts but I quickly jerk away as l feel something cold on my thighs.

Author’s note;

Thank you for reading, stay safe.