Chapter 1
The scent of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air as Naima sat cross-legged on the plush rug of her bedroom, poring over a stack of college application forms. The golden rays of the late afternoon sun spilled through the curtains, painting her workspace in a warm glow. She tapped her pen against the edge of the paper, deep in thought, when her mother’s voice broke through the quiet.
“Naima, come to the living room. Now.”
The tone was firm, serious. It wasn’t a request—it was a summons. Naima frowned but set down her papers. She padded down the hallway, her mind racing through possible reasons for this abrupt call. Did she forget to do something? Was she in trouble?
Entering the room, she found her parents sitting side by side on the couch, their expressions unusually solemn. Her father gestured for her to sit. She complied, her unease growing.
“We have something important to discuss,” her mother began, folding her hands neatly in her lap.
Naima’s stomach tightened. Important discussions in her household rarely led to anything she enjoyed.
“Do you remember the Alvarezes? Jaime’s family?” her father asked.
She nodded slowly. The Alvarezes were long-time family friends, though she hadn’t seen them in years. Their eldest son, Jaime, had been a quiet, serious boy who barely spoke during family gatherings.
Her father exchanged a glance with her mother before continuing. “We’ve been talking with them, and we believe it’s time to solidify our families’ relationship.”
Naima tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
Her mother leaned forward, her voice soft yet unyielding. “We’ve arranged for you to marry Jaime.”
Naima blinked. The words didn’t register at first. “I’m sorry… what?”
Her father sighed, his tone turning firm. “This is a good match, Naima. Jaime is a respectable young man, and this union will strengthen our families. You’ll have stability, and it’s for your future.”
Her future? Naima’s future had always been her own. Or so she thought.
“I haven’t even graduated high school yet,” she protested, her voice rising slightly.
“You won’t be married immediately,” her mother assured her. “But the arrangement is set. You’ll marry before you leave for college. It’s a small ceremony, nothing extravagant. Then, you and Jaime will continue your studies. Together.”
The room spun slightly, and Naima gripped the edge of the couch. Marriage? To someone she barely knew?
“Do I get a say in this?” she asked quietly, her throat tightening.
Her parents exchanged another look, this one filled with quiet disappointment. “We know what’s best for you,” her father said. “You’ll thank us one day.”
Naima’s voice caught in her throat, and she simply nodded, unable to find the words.
Meanwhile, across the city…
Jaime Alvarez sat at the dining table in his parents’ home, twirling a glass of water in his hand as he listened to his mother’s announcement.
“You’re going to marry Naima,” she said with a smile, as if she were offering him dessert instead of reshaping his entire life.
Jaime straightened in his chair. “Excuse me?”
His father waved a hand dismissively. “We’ve already spoken to her family. The arrangement is made. You’ll marry before you leave for your master’s program.”
Jaime’s jaw tightened. “And I didn’t get a say in this because…?”
“Because this is what’s best for you,” his mother replied. “Naima is a lovely girl, and her family has been good to us for years. This will be good for everyone.”
“Good for everyone except me,” Jaime muttered under his breath, though he knew better than to argue further. His parents weren’t the type to entertain rebellion.
Later that night, lying awake in his room, Jaime stared at the ceiling. He barely remembered Naima—a quiet, polite girl from the few times their families had met. How was he supposed to build a life with someone he barely knew?
And yet, he already knew the answer. He didn’t have a choice.
