Beneath The Facade

Chapter Two: A friend's advice

Mira sat at the small, cosy coffee shop, sipping on a warm latte. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and the soft hum of conversations created a comforting background noise. Brida, her best friend since childhood, walked in, her bright smile illuminating the room.

"Hey, girl!" Brida exclaimed, plopping down in the chair across from Mira. "What's going on? You sounded so serious on the phone, I hope you're good, yeah, what's the problem? “.

Mira took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the coffee shop to ensure no one was listening. "The wedding date has been fixed, and I don't know what to do. It will be announced during the family dinner on Sunday. Girl, I am confused," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Brida's eyes widened. "Already? That's so soon!" She reached out and took Mira's hand, offering a comforting squeeze. So what's the plan now? They should have at least given you time to put yourself together and make a choice of date yourself; it should be your comfort, I guess.

Mira nodded, feeling a knot in her stomach. "I know, but I guess they are afraid I might not come up with a date anytime soon since it's not my choice of marriage; girl, it's their thing like it's a family plan. I am the victim here and am lost in all this. And the worst part is, I don't know how to tell Alex, I haven't been able to tell him about all this family drama and all plus we haven't talked in a while his night job is really taking most of his time, girl how do you think he will react to it, will he be happy for me? Will he let me go? Do you think he will accept this as fate? Or what do you suggest I do?"

Brida's expression changed, her eyes clouding over for a moment before she regained her composure. "Why bother telling him? It's not like you're in a serious relationship or anything. I believe you guys are just into this High school thing and nothing serious, not as if he really does care to that extent. Besides, he hasn't reached out to you for a while now, claiming he's working and giving other excuses."

Mira raised an eyebrow. "That's not the point. The point is, I care about him, and I don't want to hurt him, you know am more like a comfort to him since he lost his dad and things haven't been easy for his mum and his sister, plus that's the reason he has to work tirelessly to meet up with their needs and other needs. Besides, while will you say a thing like that, Brida, you, of all people, should know better. Come on, girl."

Brida leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Mira, listen to me. You're doing this for your family, for your father's legacy. Don't let Alex hold you back. You deserve so much better than someone who can't even commit to his family’s needs not to talk of you, you see my point, he's still struggling to take care of himself he doesn't care about you or the choices you have to make, he has other responsibilities to face and not you. I know you love him, but girl, have a second thought about this, not to be at the losing end." As Brida spoke, Mira couldn't help but notice the intensity in her friend's eyes. It was as if Brida had a personal stake in Mira's decision. "Mira, trust me," Brida continued. "You'll be happy with Greg. He's rich and successful, and he'll take care of you and help save your father's company and legacy that you have always wanted to live on, remember when we were kids, how are you doing sing about making sure your family has the best and you will do anything to see your family happy and how you so much you want to make your father proud, girl this is that opportunity you have been praying for, I know it's looking like you want but it's still an opportunity to help save your family and make daddy proud."

Mira felt a pang of uncertainty. Was Brida right? Should she just move on with the wedding and forget about Alex? Will he be happy with her after all they have both been through? Will he see this as a betrayal, but on a second taught, does he really love me that much to give a s**t about my decision? Brida is kind right about me saving my family’s name and all; I just hope I am doing the right thing. As she pondered Brida's words, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her friend was hiding something from her, staring at her as She reached out for her phone and sipped her tea. “Hey girl, are you okay? You seem lost, or is there something else you want to talk about? Brian asked, looking at Mira suspiciously, “ No, nothing at all just thinking about what you have said, nothing serious.” “Okay then, hey girl! You will be fine, ok, trust me, you got this, okay? So how about we go shopping and plan for the bride bride-to-be? Teasing Mira to help lighten her mood and change the atmosphere, dragging her from her seat as they both laugh, walking out of the shop.

Back to the Brown's house, Mira walked in hearing her mum and her brother talking from the kitchen about a threat and lives to be at stake, but she couldn't hear them clearly, so she walked into to kitchen to meet them asking, “guys are everything okay? Is anyone in danger” but her mum quickly responded “ no darling no one is in danger we were just chatting about a movie nothing serious “ as she forces a smile on her face, Mira looked at Mac he wasn't looking like some that's just having a movie discussion, he's looking furious and really worried, so she asked “Mac are you fine? He said “ yeah yeah sure am good, em just to remind you of the dinner on Sunday and also to Inform you that Mr Greg will be around for the dinner too, so you both can start getting acquainted with each other” “ but it's a family dinner, why will he have to come is it necessary for him to be around? Mira asked, “ Well my darling “ her mum replied “ he's going to be family anyways so it doesn't matter, we just have to prepare for him and your other cousins that will be around, don't worry my baby girl, everything will be fine alright” with her mum giving her a tight hug of relief “ you look exhausted and hungry why don't you go upstairs have a bath and come down for dinner, the table will be set in a few minutes ok” her mum continued patting her on the back, Mira said, “ okay mum I will be downstairs in a moment, I really need that shower”.

Mira got upstairs to her room and threw herself on the bed looking at the ceiling having a lot going through her mind, she stood up took off her boots, blue pants and brown shirt, picked her white slinky tower wrapped it around her curvy body and went to the bathroom, she turned on the water in the bathtub and stepped ln, lying in it she was starting thinking about what Brida told her, also how Alex has not been able to hear about all that is going on with her right now, because she really needs some comfort from him and tears rolled down her cheek, she said to herself “ I know I would be with Alex in difficult times like this to help him go through it with ease, but why is he blacking out on me, could it really be that he doesn't care or has something happened to him” she kept thinking and crying and there was a knock on her door “ hey baby the food is getting cold! You are taking too long to freshen up” her mum called. Immediately, she stepped out of the bathroom, put on some clothes, and made her way to the dining to join others for dinner.

It was 7am on Saturday morning, Mira sitting by her window, in her room picked up her phone to call Alex, but as usual, his number was not reachable, she tried several times as always, but still not connecting so she dropped a voice note for him saying “ hey Alex I have been trying to reach you but to no avail, we really need to talk it's important if you can hear this voicemail, it means am on my way to your house I really need to speak with you today.” She dropped her phone, made her way to the shower, dressed up and headed to his house, running downstairs she met her mum setting the table for breakfast and her mum called her “ Mira where are you off to in a hurry, girl it's just 7:50am where are you going to looking at the clock on the wall” Mira walked up to her giving her a peck on the cheek, saying “ good morning mum I really have to catch up with someone it's important okay” “ how about breakfast “ her mother asked “at least take something” Mira picked a slice of toast bread from the plate her mum was holding giving it a bite she said “ am fine ma, trust me, love you” she said this giving her mum a peck and rushing towards the door.

It was about 35mintues drive from Mira's place to Alex house, get to his block, she found him outside the house trying to work on his car, she rushed to him and hugged him so tight that he felt he couldn't breathe again and he said “ hey hey easy on me girl, are you trying to kill me or something” she laughed letting him loose and said “ Em am sorry but it's been a while and i really needed that hug from you, what's up with you though” she said hitting him lightly on his chest, “ what happened, no calls no text, no replies, did i do something wrong that you don't wish to speak with me anymore” Mira asked “ no not all I have so busy with work, you know how it all goes right, work at the store in the day and at the club in the night, it's really stressful you know” he said holding her by the hand walking towards the bench around the corner of the compound, “hey I know it's not easy and that's why you have me to talk to like always, you got me worried you know” Mira said, “ I know and am so sorry it wasn't intentional, so what's up why are here this early, don't tell me is because you missed or is there something else” he said giving her a teasing look and a cute smile with a wink, “ yeah sure i did miss you, i wish i could say that everything is ok, but it's not” Mira responded looking down with her eyes filled with tears, “ is it about Your wedding with Mr Greg, or there's something else?” Alex asked,

Mira raised her head with a shock on her face, and full of surprise, she asked, “How did you know about it? I mean, I haven't mentioned it to you, not even in the voice note, or did my brother reach out to you?” She asked, looking furious with her hands shaking, “ No, I haven't seen or spoken with Mac in a while now; he didn't say anything”, Alex responded, “Then who did?” Mira asked “ Brida, I saw her yesterday, she came around the store and she told me about everything, and that you have made up your to go on with the plan since it's to help save your family, and I totally understand with that, because it has always been your dream to keep up with the legacy” Mira was so disappointed that Brida could do a thing because she told her that she would love to break the news to him by herself, “ but why will Brida do such, I mean I was supposed to tell you by myself’ Mira responded “ Hey babe it's nothing, you

telling me or she telling me, wouldn't make a difference anyway, you have made your choice and I think it's for the best,” Alex said feeling less worried or concerned about the whole thing. Mira wasn't happy at all because he was acting like he doesn't care or love her like Brida said, “ but it's so unlike him, something is wrong somewhere or is he seeing someone else” Mira pondered within, looking at him, he has a cute smile with his dimples on both cheeks, Alex is tall, having broad shoulders, with sis packs chest, having this cute Melanie n***o complexion with a dark afro hair cut, bold eyes and cute kissable pink lips, Mira kept staring at him as he was smiling and rubbing her back, he said “, are you ok babes I really need to work hope you don't mind?” She shook her head with a fake smile on her face, feeling disappointed with his reaction on the matter she stood up “ I think I really have to go now I need to catch up with something” Mira said standing up and making her way out “ okay it's fine, hope will catch up later” Alex said walking her out of the compound.

Mira got back home made her way straight to her room buried herself in her soft mattress and cried, feeling disappointed and betrayed, but her best friend and her so-called boyfriend, it was a good day for her after all, but she believed it was fate at work and she made her mind to open herself to the reality of becoming Mrs Greg Philips.

Chapter 3 is shaping up to be a tense and revealing scene. Here's a possible draft to get you started: