Arranged Alliance

Friends

Nora Duke

"Nico, I am bored." Adrian said to Nicholas, who was playing a game on his phone.

"So, what can I do?" He said without looking at him.

Adrian looked at him in disbelief, then he made a scowl, looked at him, plopping on his seat and looked around. Suddenly, he looked back at me. I flinched, then looked away. My left seat was empty, Adrian took small steps and sat on an empty seat beside me. "So do you talk?" I looked at him like he had grown another head.

"Yes?" It was also a question to me. Adrian tilts his head and a question mark on his face but he shakes it away.

"So, tell me about yourself." He asked eagerly about my life.

"About what?"

"Anything you will be comfortable talking about too... Go on. Anything" he said with an addition of wink, I was a little hesitant to talk to him. "Ok, let me start." I nod toward him. He turned his whole body toward me, "Umm, do you have siblings?" He threw. I shook my head. "What? But the girl at the weddi-"

"She is my step-sister." I said and he made an 'oh' face. "Do you have siblings?" I asked. He was surprised but then smiled at me shaking his head, "Why?" That was a hilarious question, but he still answered.

"I don't know about my parents, I only have a cousin like a sister and an uncle like a father, but you know they can't fully fill that place." He said and, for a second, I thought that his and my lives were the same. We have the same situation, emotions and life. There is some kind of relationship between us, but in the next moment, I know that is not true. I put my comforting hand on his shoulder and passed him a smile.

"I can understand." I spoke.

He looked behind me and made an 'oh' face. "Nico. Nico" Nicholas faced him, asking what? Adrian gestured to him to look behind him. He looked and also made an 'oh' shaped face. Both of them stood, I also did.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Your family is here" they both spoke in union. I looked towards where they were both looking, now it was my turn to make an 'oh' face.

"Nora, my daughter." Sana hugged me crying. My daughter? I didn't hug her back, instead grabbed Nicholas's hand. He was still playing the game and flinched a little, but didn't protest. "What do you think if you are going to get married and going to out of the country, I am going to leave you." She whispered, "Don't forget who I am." she pulled and wiped a fake tear. "Take care of Nicholas, hmm" At Nicholas name I grasp his hand tightly, as he was pulling from her stepmother, he also grasps my hand tightly.

"I think we have to go." Adrian said farewell to everyone. We didn't pull our hands. We sat on the seat and didn't leave each other's hands.

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On the plane, I was sitting on one side. Besides me was Nicholas sat. He was continuously playing on his phone. Why did Sana say to me to take care of Nicholas? Why does she threaten me so much? Is there something that I don't know, or is she using me? Is Nicholas related to my mother or Elizabeth? It is clear that he is related to my family in many ways. My biological and her biological were best friends even our step mothers are friends and now our marriage. It's not a coincidence. What game are they playing? All of them. I was so much in thought that I didn't realize that I was staring at him. Nicholas snapped his head towards me. I immediately looked away. He shrugs and looks away. Why does my heart skip a beat when he looks towards me? Another reason to get nervous. I shake my head.

There was an announcement that a plane was flying, so sit on your belt and calm down. I was struggling with my belt, suddenly I got pushed back and he bound the belt. I was nervous, really nervous; this was my first time on a plane. A hand was on my hand and I grasped it tightly. I looked beside myself. Nicholas is playing on the phone while grasping my hand. I looked forward and a small smile playing on my lips.

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We are at a hotel where we are staying. It was a big hotel, maybe they booked a cottage. Anyway, we are at reception. I was observing the hotel, Nicholas grasped my hand like I was three-years-old, and was going to run away. "Thank you so much". Nicholas's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. But he didn't say that to me. He nodded towards the receptionist and tucked me with him, "Let's go". He led us towards the elevator, I glanced at the receptionist, she was glaring at me, I was a little backed away. What didn't I even for receiving glares? We were in the elevator. Nicholas pressed the 7-floor button and started playing on the phone.

"Nicholas", I called him. He just hummed. "Why was the receptionist glaring at me?" He just chuckled and didn't answer my question and put this question down.

The rest of the elevator was quiet; my hand was sweating so I left Nicholas's hand but he grabbed it again. I looked at him, but he wasn't. What is his problem? The elevator opened and there were some people. I jerked his hand out, he was standing there dumbfounded. Serve you right. He put his phone in his pocket, a smirk tucked on his face. He walked towards me staring at me, but I didn't look at him. He grabbed my hand again. I tried to pull it away but his grip was tightened.

We were standing in front of the room. Nicholas punched in a password and the door opened automatically. We stepped inside. For a moment, standing there, I was in awe of the room or house, whatever you wanted to say. The moment you step inside, it has a big living room. a white sofa big enough for two people. In front of it was a whole wall T.V. On the left there was an open kitchen, but who would go there? Stepping on the right side was the king-sized bed. On the right was a walk-in-closet and attached bathroom. Infront of the bed was the balcony.

I went straight there. We were in Bangkok; it was the most beautiful city and view I ever saw. We arrived at almost midnight. There was a little town on the right and left side that was shining with lights and in front of me was the beautiful blue ocean that was now black because of night but the sand was the same color. It was not hot but not that cold.

"It's beautiful." I didn't realize it but I was smiling.

"Don't you think we have to sleep?" Nicholas said, stretching his arms above his head. "I am tired", saying that he got his sleeping outfit and entered the bathroom. I also got my sleeping outfit and started to explore more. He walked out of the bathroom, and I walked in without looking at him. I got in, went for a shower, then got my night outfit and went out. Nicholas was standing on the balcony. I dried my hair and brushed it. I also joined him on the balcony. There was a silence between us, a comfortable silence. I close my eyes and enjoy this moment. I didn't have it for years. I don't even know when the last time I felt like this. Maybe it's freedom.

Freedom from my parents.

Freedom from that dark room.

Freedom from crying in a corner and missing my mother who I never met in my life.

"Nora" I heard my name, but I ignored it, still enjoying myself. A hand tucked my hair strand behind my ear, I still didn't budge, then it was stroking my cheek. I leaned into it. "Nora", I opened my eyes and met with beautiful black orbs. I didn't move his hand and was grateful he didn't also move. "You also went through a hard time." I nodded.

"How do you know?" He came closer and stroked my cheek gently.

"Just." He shrugged, brushing my hair with his hands.

"Why? How?" I asked, but still not moving. He came closer.

"I was just curious, and you didn't talk much. I am sorry if you are hurt. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable answering my ridiculous question. It's just that that I don-" I shut him shut by putting my forehead on his chest. Then my ear contacts his heart, I can hear his heartbeat, it's so fast.

"I never hear this fast heartbeat." I said, smiling, but he couldn't see me, because my hair was falling on both of my sides. He put a strand of hair behind my ear and stared at me with those black orbs, smiling.

Thug. Thug. Thug. Thug.

This is the voice my heartbeat is giving. It feels like both of us are heartbeat in rhythm.

"Do you want to be my friend?" He asked suddenly, amusement in his voice. I laughed and straightened my position. We were both not close, but we were close.

"Friend? Why do you want to be my friend?" My question didn't surprise him, instead he smiled.

"Because a friend is whom you share your secret with, tell them your problem, they always stay by your side no matter what happens, they never leave you, they accompany you, annoy you, laugh with you, cry with you, etc. In short, a friend is a light that never goes dull." He explained to me, looking into my eyes. He put both his hands on my cheek, "And you want that friend."

"So, you will be my light that never goes dull?" I questioned him. He chuckled and nodded. I tilted my head in confusion and he raised his eyebrows. "But you already have your friend. Named Adrian. He has all that you explain." He chuckled to himself but I was still confused.

"Yes, he is my friend. But I also want to be friends with you. So, what do you say?" I think a little, but a question bugs me.

"You won't leave me alone?" I questioned him. He stared at me, an intense stare.

"That's a same question I want to ask from you," he said. We both stared at each other a while for finding the answer. "No." He said, and I smiled.

"So, we are friends?" I asked a little later. He shook his head. "Why?" I asked in a confused tone.

"We both have to tell a secret that we never tell anyone except each other." I nodded.

"Let me think" I said. I have so many secrets but some of them know someone like Sana, Lucy, and dad. Then it clicked.

"No one knows my real birthday date."

"Mine too." He said in a playful tone.

"Liar. Your father has to know."

"I am not lying. My father doesn't know"

"How can I trust you?"

"My family thinks my birthday is on 25 Feb." he said.

"My family thinks it is 13 November," I said.

"Really don't parents know their child's birthday?"

"I think the same. But I don't want to reveal my birthday. You know it's a secret between me and my mom. Our only secret." I spoke.

"It's also mine and my mom's secret." he said, smiling, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Shall we tell each other birthday".

"How about at that same time?" I nodded. "Okay at three" "1... 2...3"

"15 July." We both said at the same time. "1996". We both stared at each other. "Friends" we both shook hands while laughing. When we were really tired and stopped laughing, so we said, "let's sleep". We were a lot of union. Both of us started laughing again. Never in my life have I laughed this much.