Mixed feelings by S. N. Nina Arthur (beach read .txt) 📖

“slow down Nessie”

“I’m late, I’ll going to miss my class, Judy”

She quickly served breakfast and had it quickly. Paul dropped me at my college and I rushed inside, I quickly reached my class and took my seat at my usual place. Professor has come and began the class.

****

Later, I was sitting with my friends at our usual spot in the cafeteria, having our lunch. Beth was talking to Zach about her new project and he was listening to her very carefully. I was checking my schedule for the next class, Aron and Megan and others were having a conversation about some new article they’ve read about.

“No, It was real I thought it’s fake but It isn’t,” Morgan said, explaining to them that she saw an article about the aliens. “Morgan, It’s fake there’s nothing in Area 51, It’s just a military base,” Timothy said, “But the saucer, How can it be fake,” she asked him, “wait, let me show you,” she said, pulling her phone out and typing something, I smiled at them shaking my head. All of a sudden she screamed my name, I flinched on my chair. Everyone in the cafeteria was looking at us now, I turned to Morgan and she was gaping at her phone screen, “Morgan?” Aron called her out, but she didn’t respond. “Morgan!” Rachel called her, shaking her shoulder. She looked at me, “Bitch why did you hide your engagement from us?” She said, “What!” Everyone at our table said at once, standing up from the chair. I looked up at them, I sighed and lowered my head, “Guys, I can explain” I said, they sat down, quietly waiting for my explanation, I sighed. Now I have to create a story to hide the truth that this is a Contract Marriage and I’m forced to marry him. I took a deep breath and prepared myself, I looked at them and noticed their curious stares. “Ok...We got back and he proposed to me and I accepted" I said in a breath, They looked at each other. “Nessie do we look like fools to you?” Beth said I shook my head.

“Guys, I’m not lying. We met in the mall, he apologized and I accepted his apology. He proposed to me later and I accepted” I said, I looked at them. The look on their faces screaming that We- are-not-taking-this-bullshit. “Are you happy?” Asked Zach, All of a sudden every single thing that happened in the past few days rushed back to me. Am I happy? I asked myself.

“I’m happy,” I said to Zach with a fake smile,

“Vennessa are you sure? DO you really wanna marry him,” Timothy asked,

I wanted to scream, No I don’t want to, but I couldn’t so I just smiled. “I can’t see my future without him,” I said lowering my head, I heard Morgan gasping “You’re so in love,” she said,

“I’m happy for you,” said Jack,

“Finally, we can go for a double date,” Rachel said,

Double date and Enzo, doesn’t fit in one sentence, he will never do that. Imagine him with us, it will be a disaster. He’s a bossy and very intimidating person. By just looking at him, people get frightened.

All this while, Aron was quiet and He didn’t even look at me, which was strange. I feel bad for lying to them about us, I don’t have an option. I can’t tell them the truth and put them in danger, Enzo can hurt them. I have to save them from him, I can’t have him blackmail me using my friends. I have to be careful.

*********

I was walking to my paul who was waiting for me in the parking lot, Beth came to me and grabbed my hand and pulled me with her to an empty classroom, “What the hell is wrong with you Nessa” she yelled at me,

“What?”

“Don’t try and act smart with me, you can lie to everyone but not to me. So, stop lying to me and Tell the truth”

“I’m not lying to you, I’m happy to marry him. He loves me, I love him there is nothing to lie about beth” I said, looking at her. It’s hard to lie to her, she will not believe so easily.

“V, please don’t lie to me, you can tell me whatever it is, I’m here okay, If you’re happy with him then I won’t interfere, but if I know that he has hurt you then I swear I will cut his balls off and make a tasty, tasty dish and make him eat it completely,” she said, I gasped and slapped her shoulder, she giggled. “I swear I will do it, I’m not bluffing” 

I hugged her, I’m lucky to have a friend like her. I can’t imagine her leaving me, I’m so sorry beth for hiding this from you, I’m sorry. 

We walked outside the room and I saw Aron walking outside, I called him. He heard me and stopped. “I’ll talk to you later,” I said to beth, “okay, see you later,” she said. I walked to Aron, he turned to me. “Why are you ignoring me?” I asked him, 

“I’m not ignoring you, Nessie,” he said, 

“Oh..really Aron, you weren’t ignoring me? Don’t lie to me” I said angrily,

He sighed, “I don’t want you to get hurt,”  

“Why will I get hurt,” I asked confused with his words,

“Because you don’t know who Lorenzo is....you don’t know what he is capable of. You don’t know what he did behind.....” He was cut off by someone from behind calling my name, we turned and saw Paul walking to us. “Vennessa, we need to go,” Paul said, I nodded and I noticed Paul looking at Aron for a second, both looking at each other like they are communicating through their eyes, paul broke the eye contact and walked ahead, I turned to Aron. “I don’t why you feel that I will get hurt by being with Enzo, but truth me, Aron, I’m happy with him please don’t worry about me. See you later” I said to him, he touched my cheek, “Take care of yourself V,” he said,

“I will”

*******

“Where are we going, Paul?” I asked,

“Mr. Francisco asked me to bring you to him”

My heart started beating furiously against my rib cage, what does he want from me now?. Paul stopped the car and opened the door for me, I stepped out. The area was deserted but a pathway leads into the woods. He took me to a cabin which was located in the center of the woods, he went inside and opened it, held it so that I could walk inside. This was scary, I was Chatting god’s name and following Paul. What if Enzo is calling me to torture me? I gulped at my thoughts. Paul stopped at the huge metal door, there was a panel at its right, he pressed something and the gate opened. It was guarded by so many bodyguards at the door standing opposite to each other, I followed Paul inside a cabin. There he was sitting on a chair, looking at me calmly. I walked to him, Paul left us alone in this cabin. He stood up and turned to the glass. He pressed a button and light shunned from the mirror.