The Hidden Secrets

CHAPTER 4

DERRICK'S POV

"Who could this girl be? She looked like someone who wouldn't be found in a club. She was looking so unhappy yesterday". I thought to myself

Ever since my encounter with her, I have not been able to think straight. If only there was a way that I could help her.

I was so lost in thought that I could not hear when my best friend entered.

"Hey Derrick", Charles called out, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Yoo Charles, what's up", I replied.

Charles has been my childhood friend ever since I was young. I would say he is practically a brother I never had. He knows when I am at my lowest and right now Charles could sense that something was wrong with me.

"Derrick, are you okay?", he asked curiously.

"Sure, I'm good", I hid my worries as much I could.

"No man. You are not. I know you better than you know yourself so spill it. Ohhh…wait, is this about that girl you told me about?".

"Ye..s". I stuttered.

The next thing I could hear was laughter. Charles was laughing so uncontrollably that he started shedding tears.

"Seriously man? What is so funny?", I looked at him in disgust.

"Nothing", he replied quickly.

"You know you are not supposed to be bothered about remembering what had happened to you in the past", Charles added.

With the mention of my past, my face became gloomy. Charles saw this and apologized immediately.

"I do not want to talk about it. I do not want to remember it because each time I do, I always regret my decision", I stated.

"I understand you. But you know that you don't have to blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't your fault", Charles tried to appeal to me.

Charles always finds a way with his words. I guess that is why he is still my friend. He is always there for me, to lighten my burden.

I offered him a drink which he accepted politely. Then, we went on to discuss life and things going on around us. We were chatting loudly when I heard the loud honk of my Dad's car from outside.

"Ohh they are here", I said.

"Let me be on my way then", Charles said.

I looked at Charles's face and a little smile crept up my face. Charles and my parents were never on good terms. My parents assumed that Charles was the reason why I refused to get married. It got to a point, my parents thought that I was gay and my partner was Charles. I was forbidden to see Charles for 2 weeks until my parents did their findings and noticed that we were just best buddies.

Charles stood up from the bed and I escorted him outside. On getting outside, he saw that my parents were yet to get out of the car. He smiled and I knew that he was happy that he wouldn't greet my parents. I bid him goodbye and he hurriedly left.

I was about to go back to my room when my dad called out.

"Derrick Carl", he said.

"Wait! What?!, my dad called me by my full name. This only meant that I was in trouble", I said to myself.

Dad had a habit of calling me in full when I was in trouble or he had some important announcement for me. Either way it is, my gut feelings are telling me that it won't be nice.

"Yes Dad", I answered him immediately.

"Come here", he ordered.

"Okay Dad. I am here. What is the matter?", I said as soon as I got to where he was sitting.

"Young man, sit down first before asking me what the matter is", he said.

At first, I wanted to prove stubborn but I sat down as soon as I saw his serious expression and my mom was also sitting quietly beside him.

"What could these people be up to?", I thought to myself.

My father finally cleared his voice to speak.

"Derrick, when are you bringing a wife home? We are tired of this promiscuous behavior", he said, his voice laced with disappointment.

I knew it was about this marriage. How many times am I going to tell them that I wasn't interested in marriage? They seemed to have forgotten my past.

"Dad?"

I looked at his face before continuing.

"You know I can't get married".

"You can't get married or you don't want to get married", he asked me curiously.

"I can't," I repeated.

"Yes you can", he answered firmly.

"Dad, why do you speak like you forgotten what I've been through in the past? You and Mum knew what I went through. You know how I spent my whole Christmas in the hospital. I am sorry but I can't go through that again", I told him with so much anger in my voice.

"Keep quiet!! Don't speak to your dad in that manner", my mom scolded.

"I am sorry", I apologized for my rude behavior.

"Derrick, you do not have a point. You are getting married today", he said sternly.

"Today? Dad…seriously". I said fuming with anger.

"Exactly! Today it is and that's final. If I have told you earlier, you'll surely sly us once again. So go get ready. We shouldn't be late".

I can't imagine this. Truth be told, if I had been aware of this decision of theirs, I would have run away to a place where no one would find me.

But how could my parents arrange a marriage behind my back? I didn't even know this lady in question. I stormed off angrily to my room. On reaching my room, I took and dialed Charles's number. He is the only one that I could talk to right now.

"Hello bruh. You missed me that much?", he asked jokingly.

"Snap out of it dude", I yelled at him.

He apologized immediately.

"What's wrong bruh", he asked me.

"I am sorry that I snapped at you",I apologized after realizing my mistake.

"It is time. So, tell me what is getting you so worked up", he replied.

"I am getting married today", I finally told him.

"So that is some good news. Congratulations Derrick", he said.

"Charles, are you being serious? Are you not supposed to ask who I am getting married to?", I asked him disgustedly.

"Sorry brother. So who is the lucky girl?", he asked me.

"The fun part of it is that, I can't recur meeting her before . All I know is that I am getting married to a lady and the wedding is scheduled for today", I told him.

"So What are you going to do now?", he questioned.

"I do not know. I am so pissed off. How could my parents scheme this? A wedding? And I was just knowing today", I told him.

"Bruh it is fine. This isn't where the world will crumble. It is just a marriage. Good luck".

Do keep me updated bruh, good luck once again.

I stood there, my mind racing, my hands trembling. I never planned for this to happen.

In a few hour's time, I would be a husband to a woman that I do not know. Crazy!!.

The thoughts of it send shivers down my spine.

The time passed quickly and it was almost time for the wedding. I fixed my tie for one last time. I went downstairs when I heard my dad calling for me.

We drove in the car quietly and in no time, we got to the venue.

The wedding venue was a little field on the outskirts of the town. The lighting was organized in chronological order. There was a pastor standing at the front already waiting to share the vows. I looked around and saw the guests chatting happily. Most of them were from my supposedly bride's side. My parents only invited one of their co-workers to go with them.

I went up to meet the pastor waiting for me. The bride was not here yet. I was happy and a part of me wished that the wedding should be canceled. I was still rejoicing quietly when the presence of my bride was announced.

"Everyone rise", the pastor ordered.

At that, everyone stood up for the bride to be let in.

I was still backing the crowd and I hadn't seen my bride.

She got to the altar and the pastor asked me to turn around.

On turning around, I saw the lady standing right in front of me.

My mouth gaped in shock. My eyes widened in bewilderment. I could not believe this.