PROLOGUE
PROLOGUE
“I cannot wait for my turn to get married!” Veronica, one of Dahlia’s friends, happily exclaimed as her cheeks reddened at her own fantasies.
Hearing their friend’s statement, both Dahlia and Leah frowned. Leah’s face was undoubtedly unreadable when she faced Veronica. “Why is that?” She asked.
“Well.. it’s because..” Veronica trailed off, giggling. “I can now say that I truly believe in love. Thanks to my parents being lovey-dovey now! Hehe~”
“Huh..?” Confusion quickly etched on Dahlia’s face as she tried putting the pieces together. "Seriously, what happened?”
“Ugh, fine. I’ll tell you.” Veronica rolled her eyes before resuming her story with a smile. “So.. yesterday I saw my mother receiving a bouquet of flowers from my father and afterwards my dad took my mom on a date! Isn’t that cute!”
“What a bare minimum but go off…” Dahlia heard Leah whisper, almost making her chuckle but she suppressed her urge to do so.
“Then?”
“You cannot just dismiss what I said by just saying “then” as if it’s nothing! I saw it in my own eyes that their relationship is getting better as each day passes by, duh?” Veronica sighed, “The fact that they are trying to fix what used to be broken is just making me super duper happy!”
Her statement only made Leah and Dahlia simply look at each other before shrugging off. Dahlia blinked a few times before focusing her full attention on Veronica. She swallowed the lump in her throat, mustering courage to ask her something that she had been curious about for a long time and now she had the chance.
"Aren't your parents in the process of divorce..?" she asked, hesitation laced in her tone.
Veronica glared at Dahlia badly before scoffing, "That won't happen, Dahlia. I'm sure about that especially since I've recently witnessed a lot of their sweet moments, why would you even dare to think like that!"
Dahlia could only sigh in front of her, "I didn't mean to be rude, Nica. I said that because you told us back then that your parents were divorcing.''
''It was back then, duh! They probably changed their minds after knowing they still love each other. How sweet''
“Ah I see.. I’m glad to hear it, then.” Dahlia said, pursing her lips as she chose not to speak anymore for the fear that she might say something more than she might intend it to be. Silence filled the atmosphere between the three of them for quite a moment, not until Dahlia and Veronica quickly turned their heads towards Leah when she laughed out of nowhere.
"Eh, didn't you think that your father is just that sweet to your mother so that he can hide his cheating?"
The two girls were both stunned by what she had said. Dahlia's eyes widened at Leah's unexpected words. She could not believe that her friend would say something as blunt like that. Saying such sensitive things should be brought slowly, at least that's what she thinks. Dahlia is about to stop Leah when Veronica suddenly interjects,
"Leah...!" her voice was evidently quivering
Dahlia felt weak at the situation. She bit her lip as her chest was pounding loudly when she perceived that the atmosphere between them took a drastic turn. The fact that she couldn't even do anything to stop Leah made her chest feel heavy. How could she even say those words? Leah knows that topic is sensitive for Veronica yet she uttered those words like it's nothing. That thought baffled her.
Leah raised her eyebrow as she looked at Veronica intently, “What? Isn't that the truth? Your father always does that to the point that your mother doesn't know that he has a mistress. He treats her so well that she doesn't know that there is someone else.”
Veronica's brow furrowed once again while her tears were brimming at the corner of her eyes, "You know nothing, Leah! Is it bad for me to hope that their relationship would change?! Besides, you don't see what I see!"
Leah chuckled, "Oh, trust me, Nica. I know something and I definitely see what you don't see. I witnessed your father with the same whore yesterday in our hotel just like those previous weeks. Now tell me, can that person even change? Think again, Ver.” Leah rolled her eyes, making Veronica still. Her words were like a sharp knife, stabbing every corner of Veronica's heart deeply. Veronica's long wishes were struck down in an instant.
“Also, can you calm down? I haven't even done anything, yet why are you so riled up? You're so sensitive." Leah yawned afterwards.
When Dahlia heard every word that Leah uttered, she felt her blood boiling in an instant. Her neck feels so hot that she can feel its redness.
"Leah please!" Dahlia uttered in disappoin. "If you have nothing good to say just shut your mouth! We're not in her shoes so we can't simply say anything. Being kind and sensitive is just free but why is it so hard for you? "
Dahlia looked at Veronica before taking an immediate action to quickly wipe the tears that flowed down her cheeks.
Veronica said mockingly, “Just because you lack care and support from your parents doesn't mean you have the justification to do this to me, Leah. Don't compare me to someone like you who doesn't even have parents and at the same time lacks care. We're not the same.”
Dahlia’s mouth opens wide at what she had said before scolding her, “Veronica!”
Leah squinted her eyes, trying to analyze whether Veronica is serious or not. She quickly stood up at what she said, "Excuse me? I'm just telling you the truth, what's wrong with it? You're being insensitive, you know?”
"For someone who knows the word insensitive, why can't you apply it?” Veronica retorted back. “Ah! Don't worry, I can understand that it is difficult to apply because there is no one to guide you. Maybe I can help you since we're friends.”
"You—!”
Because of Veronica's last words, Leah suddenly grabbed her hair.
"Guys!"
And that was the end of their good talk about getting married…
Marriage isn't even real. So why debate about it?
It will only be good at first but in the end it will not be worth it. Just as early as you start it, the earlier it will end. Marriage is like a rose. It is beautiful when you look at it from a broader perspective but when you get the chance to hold it, there you experience the thorn and suffering.
Fights that always happen. Screaming at each other's throat every other day. Profanities that reach Dahlia's ears. It's getting tiring.
"Bullshit! You know I am very tired from my work and yet this is what would welcome me when I get home?!"
"Hah! So, is it now my fault?! You're the one who is at fault here! Why can't you just tell me the fucking truth?!"
"There is nothing for me to confess because I have not committed anything wrong! You always accuse me, it's tiring already for Pete's sake!"
Please tone it down. It hurts my ear, you know?
When the quarrel didn't stop after a few minutes, Dahlia just sighed and decided to plug in earbuds in both of her ears before laying down on the bed and closing her eyes. There she felt peaceful at last.
But that peace didn't even last long..
What did she even expect?
"Raphael, do you take Dahlia to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
How in the world did they get here?
"Dahlia, do you take Raphael to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?"
"..I do."
Everything happened so fast that Dahlia no longer knew what the priest was saying. The ring exchange is over and now…
The Priest said. "...I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Dahlia looked in the direction where her parents were sitting. She can see the happiness in their eyes. Who would've thought they'd be this happy? Dahlia flinched when her mother's eyes met hers and was signaled to just focus on her husband.
My husband, huh? That word.. felt foreign to her.
Her gaze went on the man in front of her. Dahlia's eyes widened when the man held her face and placed his lips on her, making the guests scream and applaud.
Hours had passed and it's already evening. The time for their “honeymoon". Her heart was beating fast to the point that she could hear how loud it was in both of her ears. She stopped walking back and forth in their room when the door swung open.
Dahlia raised her eyebrows a bit when she saw how his eyes stared at her with no emotion.
"Don't expect anything in this marriage." He uttered, emphasizing each word. Dahlia just stared at him and couldn't help but marvel at his accent.
"I won't ever sleep with you. Nor fall in love. Got it?"
That's the last thing he said before leaving Dahlia in their room. When she heard the door click, the girl only sighed with joy.
Don't worry. I won't fall in love with you either.
Dahlia happily dropped her body on the soft mattress as she hugged the pillow she placed on the side before going straight to sleep.
She really thought that everything would be peaceful..
But why is it like this?
"Why are you so careless, huh?! You could've died there, you know?!" Raphael said while holding my wrist. He sighed loudly as his fingers ran over his hair, "Dammit, woman! Stop making me worried like that! I don't even know what I will do if something bad happens to you!"
What in the world is happening?
