REDS AND BLACKS

Chapter 7

Reds and Blacks

"Look, I'm…I…just let me go home, please. I promise not to come here again," she pleaded. The polythene bag containing the food swung behind her as she crossed one hand against the other at her back. 

"Look, I need you to do me a favor," I requested in return to let her go free. 

"What should I do for you, please?"

"Good! Wait and see," I promised and made a call.

"Hello, Antonio, track me."

Within a few seconds, he appeared like a ghost. 

"Antonio, take her to the boutique, get her a nice red dress, take her home to get clean, and let her dress up. I need this to be done in twenty minutes," I commanded and wished noticing the time wasn't enough! 

Her blonde hair was very attractive and I think she didn't need to waste much time on it. 

Antonio adjusted his hat, got his tall body to the entrance, and signaled her to follow him but she didn't move an inch. 

"Do you want someone to see you this way? I guess I call someone else," she started walking towards us. "Don't make me lose my temper, you won't like it!"

As she was walking out, she still had the food she had packed in her hands. 'This girl might be going through hard times,' I imagined. "What's that in your hand?" I took it when she walked past me and tossed it back into a basket containing leftovers. 

"You will have more when you come back, be a good girl," I said my last words and stepped away. 

After they were gone, I set an alarm for them. I needed her badly, I didn't want to do anything with Angela, 'Why in hell will my mother stoop to care for me this way? How does my marriage life…'

"Matt, look, you are all grown now!!!" My grandma testified and took my hand. "Come greet my friends," Old women! She pulled me behind her like I was still a little kid. 

"Meet your uncle, he has lived practically all his life in Korea, he came here today all because of you," She oriented me. 

For about five minutes, she just introduced me to almost everyone at the party. I think my mother deliberately gave me the wrong time. 

"Where's your fiance?" Someone tapped my shoulders. I turned slowly to look at the person before I gave an answer. I did not want to be rude. I wanted to keep my head up until the party was officially over. 

"Oh, I am sorry, I've not seen her around," it was the politician. He wasn't family but what was he doing at the party? He looked into my eyes and turned his face diagonally. "I just want her to be free, I think she's around. I just don't want to bother her. Trust me." 

"Don't let me start believing the rumors, kid," he warned.

"Why don't you help those rumors die!?" I retaliated and stood in his face.

He nodded and vanished. 

The alarm sounded. The time I had them was up but they were out of sight. 

"Hello! May I have your attention, please? I guess by now, you have all finished taking lunch and have talked to everyone here…It's time. Let's start."  The MC and Uncle announced. 

I began to sweat under my black suit. 

People began to stand in couples. I began to feel lonely and different. 

"Tell everyone my son is getting married soon!" Catherine, my mother passed out fake news but who thought it was? 

They all clapped and shouted "Congratulations" in chorus. 

As I was focussing desperately to see Antonio park my car outside, the room became tense, silent, and cold all of a sudden. Eyes were being caught by something. They were all looking back and at the same place.

Soom their eyes halted on me. 

I wasn't amazed to see Angela stand at the back quietly and hold up a very-big-wide-smile. She closed her eyes when I didn't smile back. I know it was so fake. This lady would be my devil for the day and face my wrath!

"What?" I blew out on her angrily. Others did not know I was angry. She knew but wouldn't stand down. "What's wrong with you? Do you want to have me disgraced in front of my family? Hold on, what are you even doing here? You ain't a family woman." I whispered a thousand questions into her ears but she just made up another irritating smile making me more crazy. 

"Here, drink something. You'll be fine," she stretched her arm and offered me a glass of drink, all this while, eyes were still on us. They've all pulled back leaving both of us in the middle of the hall room as if we were acting some sort of 'Shakespeare's play, Othello'. Nope, I'm not too ugly to be 'Othello'. 

"Don't make me humiliate you. Because you wouldn't like it." I warned her but she still insisted. 

"Take it, my boy!!!" My mommy cheered and clapped. I looked around to see people in their reds, and blacks. And each black matching with a red. For my mother, she stood with the politician. 

I looked around and watched outside but there were no signs of Antonio and Kate and rain started to pour. I began to lose hope and accept to be with her but for sure, I've dreamt I was with Kate that day. 

"Hey bro," my brother suddenly showed up and hugged, "Man, pretend we are cool and I'll help you out." He whispered in a very low pitch into my ears. I understood the game he wanted to recreate. 

"Hey you, where have you been!?," I intentionally laughed and hugged him again, "You dare not think we are cool," I also whispered in his ears. The drama was so good. 

"Let me have this drink, I'm so thirsty," he playfully said and took the drink from Angela's hand. All of a sudden, the whole hall began to clap here and there. 

I think taking the glass meant he would need to be with Angela. 

"Parker!" My uncle called out, "You just intercepted a nice scene, now you'll need to take Angela for the night." The MC explained. 

"No, he took a shot for his brother!" My mother debated and my brother stepped back. I had no choice but to take Angela. 

They clapped again but I wasn't happy about it!

I had to give a speech on how my life had been after my father's death and how I'm taking care of his companies. 

"I think Matt is first on the list," the MC called out. 

Immediately I mounted the stage to give my speech with Angela behind me, and a cool breeze blew in the hall. Every single person dropped their jaw in awe. At last, Kate came in a beautiful and distinct red gown. Her hair was partially covered with a fascinator and her red bag said it all. 'This girl is very beautiful.' I recognized it. Why were they even this late!?