Unexpected Bliss

CHAPTER 3

Ryan is my husband

“Michael,” I said in disbelief.

My eyes dilated in surprise as I paused and stared at him for a while. What is he doing here?

“Oh hi Angel” he said surprisingly, as though he had just seen an old friend.

“Do you know each other?” my mum and the other woman there said simultaneously.

“We were friends in high school” Michael said, rushing his words.

Oh wow! So we were friends in high school. I didn't know that.

“Ohh” the other woman said.

“Good evening ma’am” I said, greeting the woman.

“How are you dear? Come take a seat” she said, pulling the chair beside her out for me to sit. I can already tell that she’s a nice woman.

“I’m fine,” I said politely.

I also greeted the man who I guess is “my husband’s Dad” that sat adjacent to me and he just spoke back to me casually.

Michael sat opposite me, so we could stare at each other easily. I won’t say I was staring at him, i was sending him deadly glares.

“Okay, so why don’t we make a little introduction” Mr Thompson said.

Yeah, their surname is Thompson.

“I’ll go first,” the lady who looked like she was in her early twenties said.

“I’m Nina, Ryan’s sister,” she said cheerfully.

From here, I also guessed that Ryan was the man I was getting married to.

“Um.. I’m-” I was interrupted.

“Angel, right?” Nina said, giggling.

“Yeah,” I murmured, smiling.

Michael also introduced himself. There was no need for the parents to introduce themselves because I already knew who they were.

But where is Ryan? Why isn’t he here? I thought.

Mrs Thompson had previously been out looking rather worried. I didn’t know what the issue was, but i knew it was related to Ryan.

She looked angry but quickly concealed it with a smile when she drew closer to the dining.

“Sorry I took so long,” she said, and returned to her seat beside me.

Her husband was looking at her inquisitively, but I could tell that she was avoiding him.

“Is something wrong, Mrs Thompson, where’s Ryan?” my mum asked.

“No, it’s fine, he’ll be here in a jiffy,” she replied.

I noticed that Michael was looking at me the whole time. He was grinning but I just ignored him.

I bent my head and stared blankly at my food. So Ryan isn’t going to come, huh? I know we are both being forced to get married, but does he need to make me look like I'm particularly interested in all this?

I started picking on my food when I perceived a familiar smell, it was followed by footsteps. I thought Ryan was there,so I lifted my head to look at him.

What? Is that Ryan? Oh my gosh!

Ryan was the handsome guy I met at the club.

He walked in graciously, looking at the floor.

He looked sad, yet attractive. For a moment, I was lost staring at him- his features - his body build, his green, luring eye. His lips.

I need to stop this. I was staring.

Our eyes met, he looked at me surprised. He had a bit of amusement but it was soon replaced with a plain face.

“What took you so long, Ryan,” his dad said, but he didn’t say a word and just walked closer to where we all sat.

“Have a seat” my mum said with a smile, pointing at the seat beside his sister.

“Thanks” he said almost in a whisper as he took the seat.

Afterwards, we all had dinner in absolute silence.

Eating in silence was too awkward for me, so I excused myself to use the bathroom.

I walked into my room and sat soberly on my bed.

I was just fed up with everything.

A knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts as I opened my eyes to have a look.

“Yes, come in,” I said, wondering who it was.

“Hey Angel,” Nina said as she entered my room.

“I’m sorry to have disturbed you, I'm actually looking for the toilet. Am I in the wrong place?” she said.

“No, it’s fine, you can just use mine,” I said, smiling.

When she was done using the toilet, she came to sit beside me on my bed.

“Your room is beautiful,” she said and I smiled in return.

“You know, you shouldn’t be nervous about your marriage with my brother, he’s the sweetest person ever, once you get to know him”, she said sincerely.

“Take good care of Ry, okay, he may seem tough and cold and all that, but I feel like he needs a shoulder to rest on. I can see that you’re a good person and I hope to see you too all lovey-dovey in the future. You know, you guys actually look good together…” she kept on saying positive things and that made me a bit better, but delusional.

“Who’s the other guy there?” I asked to know how Michael was related to them, because the last time I checked, his last name wasn’t Thompson.

“Ohh! That’s Michael, he’s our cousin but he grew up with us” she said, and i just nodded.

“What have you been doing here?” mum said as she barged into my room.

“We were just talking,” Nina replied as we stood up.

We trailed behind her to the dining. They were still there, but it seemed like they were ready to go.

“My dear, where were you?” Ryan’s mum said as she patted my hair.

“I’m sorry, I was-” I said before she cut me off.

“That’s all right. We have decided to give you and Ryan some space to talk and get to know one or two things about each other” she said, and I instantly became agitated.

Ryan also lifted his eyes from his phone and scoffed. It was absurd. What’s the use of getting to know each other now, when the wedding is in three days?

“Come on now, let’s excuse them” my mum said as they all left.