How It All Started: The Surprise
Jake P.O.V.
Carmen and I have been childhood best friends since we were born. No one could literally drive us apart. We can read each other's minds. We are on the same wavelength, they say. It didn't take our parents long to notice it and they took it upon themselves to set us up for marriage. Yes, you read it right. While still young, our parents had already fixed our marriage. Some think of it for business gains but also they thought that we are perfect for each other and that we were unknowingly deep in love with each other since we couldn't even live without the other.
They're so wrong. To us, we're nothing more than brothers and sisters. We knew of the contract and God knows how much we tried to acknowledge it. But it just sounded funny. We tried a lot of times to try to make it work out. We tried kissing, but only ended up gagging at each other's mouth. We couldn't make it work so we just decided to fake it.
Don't get me wrong. Carmen is very beautiful - sophisticated and elegant. Any man would be more than lucky to have her as his wife. It's just that fate is not on us. The bond we have created over the years is that of siblings. I love her more than my life, like how any brother feels towards his sister. That's just it.
We dated other people but we made sure to do things discretely and we vowed to protect each other. Carmen fell deeply in love with a guy, Mark. He is a good man. Matured and well grounded. Being an only daughter whose dad is always busy, it is natural for Carmen to fall for an older guy like Mark. Well, he just 10 years her senior but he acts and thinks like an old man so there.They become inseparable. But no one knows about it except me and some of our very few closest friends.
I, on the other hand, is enjoying the time of my life. I do not want strings attached. I date a lot of girls and has never planned of marrying anyone. Like a typical young adult, a lot of my relationships, if you can call them that, are more just for fun and leisure - nothing serious. There were a few serious ones, which lasted for some months but I hated it when girls become too attached. They're just in love, they say, but their being clingy, always wanting my time and attention chokes me. I couldn't breathe. I often ask for a break when things rise up to this level. And when I ask for space, I never go back.
Mark told me that it's just because I have not met my match - the right girl for me. He said that once I do, I'd be the one clinging onto her for my dear sanity. "Never gonna happen.", I often tell him with a chuckle. He is unbelievable, but I love him because he makes Carmen so happy. I can always see the glow in her eyes when she is with him. I am always their third wheel and their protector.
One day, Mark and his friends were planning for a surprise party for another friend. It'd be a dinner party at her house and Carmen wanted to join them. So Carmen came to me with her cute chinky eyes,
"Jake, I really want to go and celebrate with them. Please... pretty pretty please?"
it's so funny that she tries so hard to make them look puppy like when she wants something from me.
I chuckle at this sight, "Why not? Go! Enjoy yourself. There's no harm in celebrating someone's birthday at all.", I said reassuring her.
"But they'll be spending the night there.", she pleaded. Oh, I know where this is going to. She wants me be to be part of it as a chaperone, just like all of their weekend trips or vacation trips abroad.
I have no choice but to go because, now at 30, our parents are ever more watchful of our actions. According to the agreement, the engagement will be announced anytime soon so time's running out and we cannot make mistakes. Unlike Carmen, I can do things with other women very discretely. Carmen is only allowed to be out late or stay the night with me, so I agreed and called her parents for permission to take Carmen for an overnight stay at my house.
I have been with (Carmen and Mark) to their common friend's houses but not this. This very minimalist and simple, yet elegant apartment is new to me. I knew a girl owns it but I don't know how she looks like because I couldn't see any of her photos around. All I see are plants, abstract paintings, and furniture. I can see though that she likes keeping things in order. Even her cupboards and fridge look like it came out from a home magazine. It amazes me to know someone real and alive is like that.
"This looks like a condo unit showroom", I said aloud which others responded with a chuckle.
I had the luxury of checking things out because we barged in to her apartment, without her, as her friends are preparing for a surprise. Naturally, we would raid through her cupboards for cutlery and utensils to set up the food we brought.
Mark's phone rang informing them that she is coming. So they turned off the lights, lit the candles on the cake and when the door opened, "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Gracie. Happy birthday to you!"
She looked surprised then smiled, laughed a little as she wiped little droplets of tears. She looks happy and calm. I feel calm when I look at her too. I didn't notice that, like them, I was also beaming at her. Her happiness and calmness are radiating. Suddenly everybody reached out to her for a kiss on the cheek and a hug. I observed that Carmen hugged her more tightly than everyone else and Mark kissed her both on her cheek and her forehead. Intriguing...
