Chapter 12 HAPPY OR NOT?

What? I look at my mom, dumbstruck trying to know if she is saying the truth or playing a prank on me. But her serious face and her firm gaze on me tell me that she isn’t lying, instead of getting happy I ask with hesitation, “What about Cyril?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you go before seeing Cyril.” She assures me and feeling overjoyed I jump into her arms like a panda.

“Mom… Mom… You are the best…” I hug her tightly and then start shedding happy tears, when I pull away my mom is also crying, I wipe her tears and ask worriedly, “Are you still unhappy with this marriage?”

“No, Tess, my dear. I have never been unhappy with this marriage but the strange behaviour of this brother and sister, it just makes me worried about you dear, about your future. You know Tess, I and your father never had any luxury in our life but all we had together and still have is love and care for each other. I am afraid that their money and status will take away your happiness of being loved, Tess. We can’t fight them, you know your father well.” My mother says heavily, now this is a very big speech but I know that my mother is sincerely worried for me.

She doesn’t care about wealth and status instead she only cares for my happiness even if it’s in something cheap, all she cares about is what makes me truly happy.

I wonder if this is still my happiness or not? After Andrew missed the day with me and then my scholarship cancelling by Miss Swan.

How many things do I need to sacrifice more to finally achieve my dream to be with Andrew?

“Did Cyril know about it?” I ask my mom to distract her from worries and she shakes her head, “Go and tell him, I am going to bake a cake to celebrate my daughter’s happiness.” My mother kisses my forehead and then I climb the stairs with joy.

I enter Cyril’s room like a storm and he looks startled by my entry. “God, sis… What is wrong with you..?” He exclaims as his book gets dropped from his hand abruptly because of my sudden entry.

“Haha… Guess what I am going to say.” I laugh and ask excitedly.

“I Love you, Cyril, You are the best,” Cyril replies with a cheeky smile and I scoff, seriously.

“The date has been fixed…” I tell him grinning.

“Hell, no…” He says in disbelief and I wriggle my brows, “Guess the day…”

“Tomorrow… Tonight?” Cyril asks and I keep the suspense as I let him guess and didn’t answer.

“Tell me, sis, when…” He asks, frustrated and I grin, as I show him my fingers, “Three days?” Cyril exclaims and my smile widens, eyes twinkling with happiness. “Yes, three days,” I reveal finally and let him rest in peace.

“Sis, do you know what day is it?” Cyril asks, surprised.

“What?” I ask back, blankly as I start to count the days in my heart, Today is the 10th of February so after three days it would be…

I look at Cyril, he looks at me, and we both smirk, and then yell together.

Yeaaaaahhhhhhhhh

“It’s the Valentine's Day…” We both yell in unison and here comes my mother scolding from downstairs, “No dinner for both of you…” She yells and we laugh.

Hahaha

There is a pause when my mother's voice comes again, “And no cake for both of you.”

“Nooo…” I and Cyril shout together in disappointment.

Mother brings the cake a while later, while I and Cyril were completely immersed in our talk. Mom asks me to cut the cake like I am a small birthday girl, I grin and cut the cake. My mother very carefully gives a small portion to Cyril because of his sickness and my heart tightens at his misery.

Well, it’s my mistake that Cyril has gotten sick so who am I to complain about anything or say anything into this marriage. I should just accept my fate like this, isn’t this I really wanted in my life Andrew and his love but I wanted that love to come naturally not by force or because of my brother’s sickness.

I never knew that Miss Swan would be a lady using my brother’s illness for her benefit, I took her as a good and noble lady or maybe she is, I just misunderstand things but what exactly?

Cyril’s smile was huge and so as my mother, I go down and meet my father, he too looks calm and relaxed, If everyone is happy now so why can’t I?

I should also stay happy and focus on my love and my marriage life with Andrew.

****

“Je t'aime, Andrew.”

I practice saying in a French accent that means “I Love You, Andrew.” Yes, before anything begins I need to confess my love to him, first and then we will see the rest of how it goes.

One thing is for sure that this wedding is mostly getting placed by Miss Swan’s order and approval because all this time she is the one deciding for it. I don’t hear any decision made by him or any suggestion he would make.

Andrew looks estranged from this marriage maybe because Miss Swan has forced him, I guess. But why does Miss Swan really want me, a daughter of an employee to get married to her brother that is the owner of the company?

This question really bothers me a lot but who am I to question, I should just feel lucky and go for it, no?

Overthinking will only spoil my happy moments and I don’t want that.

I mark the date on the calendar of our wedding, I am so happy that I can’t sleep, I’m wide awake all night even when I know that tomorrow is not my wedding day, but after a few days, it would be.

But, I need some sleep, after all, I can’t look ugly on my wedding day.

I try to sleep and before closing my eyes, I mumble the first sentence of French that I have learned tonight, “Je t'aime, Andrew.” I giggle with shyness, will I be able to say it to Andrew? Would he be happy when he will hear my confession?

My mind keeps making images of our possible happiness together and still, I am lost in my happy dream of my future husband, Andrew.