Love Arranged by Fate

CHAPTER2

Very early in the morning, after they resumed the first semester, Susan was very happy because she would have all the time to discuss what the barrier was doing to help her understand a few months back when they were still on holiday. She was desperate to let her conscience go, so she could focus on her life. Just as she was about to enter her bedroom, she heard a knock on the door.

"Who is that?" she asked.

"It's me, Deborah."

"Oh my goodness! I was about to take my bath so I could come over to your place," Susan said, still walking toward the door.

"But I'm here now, that's why I called you, my bestie." Both burst into laughter.

As soon as Susan finished taking her bath, like someone trying to run from a lion, she asked, "So, how are we going to carry out what we were discussing on the phone already?"

"It’s very simple," Deborah replied, "Look for any handsome young man here in school or in your department so we can carry out an arranged marriage."

Susan, hesitant, asked, "Isn't this too risky, or should we forget about it?"

Deborah replied in annoyance, "No, not like that, just that I'm scared."

"Don't worry, there's nothing to be scared about," Deborah encouraged her.

"So between Kelvin and Mark, who do you think you'd be cool with for this arrangement?" Deborah asked.

"I think Kelvin is cool," Susan replied.

"Good," Deborah said, "but..." Susan started stammering.

"But what?" Deborah asked again.

"How do we pay him? Do you even think he’ll accept this?"

"Yes," Deborah said, tired of her friend's doubts. Just as Deborah was about to leave, Susan cleared her throat and said, "I’m fully in." She sounded like someone who was convinced and had made up her mind for good.

Deborah was very happy hearing this. "Now we can go with the flow."

"Yes, of course we can," Susan agreed.

"So, when are we meeting Kelvin so we can discuss this?" Susan asked.

"Don't worry about that. Isn't it Kelvin?" Deborah laughed, and so did Susan.

It was a beautiful moment when Deborah met Kelvin and engaged him with the deal. He agreed without stress, although he was a little bit worried. But he thought to himself, "Is it not just for two months? Before you know it, I'm out."

"Okay," he said to Deborah, "but if I may ask, who is this lady I’m acting like her husband for?"

"She’s Susan," Deborah replied.

"Wow, cool," Kelvin said.

"Why?" Deborah asked.

"Because she’s one of the smartest students in our department, and I’m also smart, so this arrangement is going to be perfect without mistakes."

Kelvin was a tall, chocolate-skinned young man who loved keeping himself clean. Because of this, every lady dreamed of having him, and Susan was no exception, but she wouldn’t let her feelings be known to Kelvin. Kelvin, on the other hand, had been crushing on Susan since their first year, but she kept avoiding him from a distance.

Jeff, Kelvin’s best friend, wanted to be sure of what Kelvin was about to embark on, so he asked, "Kelvin, tell me the truth. I know you love this lady, but what if it doesn’t work out as planned?"

Kelvin had told Jeff there was nothing like acting; he was going to be real and, from there, win Susan for himself. Jeff was still worried since Kelvin told him about the plan. "How can my friend accept such a thing in today’s world? Why can’t he just tell the lady his intentions instead of going through this elaborate plan?" Jeff was lost in thought.

"Jeff," Kelvin called, "what are you insinuating? Haven’t I told you to stop worrying about this? It will definitely work out," Kelvin reassured him.

It was at Deborah’s house where all three friends gathered to plan how to carry out the arrangement to ensure no mistakes were made.

"So, how do we go about it?" Kelvin asked.

Susan had already developed feelings for Kelvin, imagining how handsome he looked and how she couldn’t wait to have him. "But how can I let this guy know I don’t want this to end as just an arrangement?" she thought to herself.

Just then, Deborah tapped her and said, "You see the reason I called for this meeting is so we can set boundaries and know the limits for everyone. We haven’t even started, and you're already thinking too much."

Susan, on the other hand, refused to accept that she was developing feelings for Kelvin and insisted she was thinking of something else.

"So, what are the restrictions?" Kelvin asked.

Deborah answered, "This is how it will go: both of you will stay in the same room, but there will be no sex."

"Is that all?" Kelvin asked.

"No," Deborah said. "You guys must act as if you’ve loved each other for a long time."

Kelvin, hearing this, was so happy inside. "Exactly what I had in mind," he thought. "So, what do you guys think?"

"It’s okay by me," Kelvin said.

"What about you, Susan?" Deborah asked.

"I’m okay with it. I just pray it works out," Susan replied.

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson had been worried since their daughter wasn’t giving them any good news. "I wonder what’s wrong with this girl. Doesn’t she know we’re getting old and that she needs to take over the companies from us while we’re still alive to witness and celebrate it?" Mrs. Laura said. They both seemed confused about the situation.

"I just pray that in everything she’s doing, God helps her so she doesn’t regret it tomorrow and put the blame on us," her father added.

"I pray so too," Susan’s mom replied.

It was becoming clear that Susan's feelings for Kelvin were becoming unstoppable. She didn’t want the whole arrangement with Kelvin to remain just a plan, as what she now felt was real. So she thought to let Deborah know, hoping it would make things easier for her.

Immediately after their morning class, Susan quickly ran to Deborah and grabbed her hand as if someone was after her.

"What is it?" Deborah asked.

"Can we find somewhere quiet to talk? There’s something bothering me that I’d like to share with you," Susan replied.

They finally found a comfortable place for their discussion.

"So, what’s bothering you this much?" Deborah asked.

"I think I like Kelvin for real because of the way I feel about him."

"Really?" Deborah knew from day one of the arrangement that her friend liked Kelvin but didn’t know how to express herself. Maybe she thought that because she was a lady, it would be better for the guy to make the first move. So, she kept everything to herself, even when Kelvin made advances on her during their first year.

"You’re not saying anything," Susan asked, as Deborah pretended nothing was going on in her mind.

"There’s nothing wrong with it if you love him; it’s cool with me," Deborah replied.

"But..." Susan started.

"But what?"

"You still have to stick to the plan."

"But why stick to the plan?" Susan asked.

"It’s good you stick to the plan so you truly know for yourself if he loves you back."