The Turbulence?? (#1 in the Our Side of The Dice series)

1: The Betrothal

How am I supposed to feel okay if Christopher is going to pretend that marriage is not at stake? Will he not wonder why he has not seen my face ever since I left for the kitchen to get that jug of milkshake? Will Chris avoid the entire situation and refrain from telling me? Would he not at least tell me that all his mother said was a lie?

Suddenly, I get up from the couch. The action is so immediate that it sends Gifty's hands flying off my shoulders repellently.

"Thank you. I'll be fine, " I tell my daughter, who has an unfathomable expression on, but I have no time to decide what it is as I storm out of the lounge, enraged.

My pace doesn't slow down for a second until I'm right in front of the door of his room. What am I going to say? Outrightly confront him? Wait for him to open up to me? Or bring up the discussion in a modest way?

I bite my lip anxiously, and all of the words I've tried to formulate in my mind go down the drain of my esophagus. With nothing planned to say, I turn the doorknob open and walk into the room without giving my convoy of thoughts much deliberation.

Whatever the conversation would lead to, so be it. All I am interested in knowing is if Chris is indeed betrothed to someone.

I step in unannounced, and our eyes meet. Immediately, his eyebrows climb a few dozen rungs on the ladder of his face. He's too surprised to see me. Still, I return his attitude with my best fake smile.

"How are you feeling now?"

"W-what do you mean by that?" He stutters, fiddling his hands round a few hangers in his closet, picking no cloth in particular. He's certainly using it as a way to avoid my eyes.

"Your health, of course. Or is there perhaps something else that ails you?" I ask, blinking twice.

"N-none at all. My health is a lot better."

"But you don't sound well. Or is it because of your mother's presence?"

"Well, certainly not. I mean, there's always a feud between us, but nothing, in particular, happened that was enough to aggravate my health."

"Hmm. Is that so?" I press further, clenching my fists in pain. So the news of his betrothal was not disturbing enough to worsen his health?

So it meant nothing to him?

"Yes, it is, " He reaffirms it. His hands seem to stop roaming about his closet, but if I am not mistaken, his jaw and his left little finger twitched for a second.

"Very well then. I just wanted to see how you were doing, and since you are okay, I'll take my leave." I swallow hard, clenching my fists even harder with a sickening crunch.

As I turn to take my leave, I stroll, aspiring somewhere within that he will stop me from walking away through his words or actions. I want him to tell me everything his mother discussed with him and assure me that it is nothing and that we will be alright and remain a couple. But nothing of that sort happens.

As I close the door behind me, I can vividly feel the door to my peace of mind and happiness close harshly against the walls of my heart. Why did he lie to me? He never for once lied to me. Most times, I didn't even have to ask him to open up to me, but why was it so different this time? Is he waiting for me to ask him?

Or is he contented with the idea of leaving me for his betrothed lover? Why didn't he ever tell me about this?

My uncertainties are a myriad of questions from within, but I do my best to leave them unanswered with hopes that he'd tell them to me himself before the week comes to an end. For now, I'll stick to the presumption that he's taking his time to think about the entire situation because I am doing the same.