ROSALINE
Harry? The guy from the bar during my rebellion period. I’d pretend that wasn’t less than a week ago, and honestly, I’d forgotten that I’d given him my contact. I shuffled amongst the sheets and sat up, leaning against the headrest, my lips curling into a genuine smile. “If it isn’t Harry Potter, I thought you were one of those people I’d never see again.”
“Unfortunately, no. I’m still here to bother you…” His voice trailed, and my thoughts drowned in the silence. We both knew why I was hesitant to talk.
He’d disappeared on that day, if my memories served me right. They often did. He muttered a statement about something coming up, after which he vanished into thin air, leaving me with my dearest husband and his tantrums.
Harry continued. “Something came up at work that day, and it was so urgent that I barely had the time to say a proper goodbye. I apologize for my rude behavior. I assure you, I’m not always like this.”
“Of course you’re not,” I said in a mocking tone. I didn’t get why he was explaining all of this to me, though. It changed nothing. “How are you-”
“And I couldn’t get a hold of you because you gave me an incomplete digit,” he cut in, gently explaining. “I tried a few other combinations for two hours, not to sound like a stalker, before your name finally popped up on the ninth try.”
“Oh…” I absolutely couldn’t make out what to say next; despite the silence, his anticipation for an answer was palpable, but my head was filled to the brim with images of a man I should not be thinking of.
It was at times like this I had difficulties pulling apart reality from my personal thoughts. Oh, please. What do I say to this?
“Miss Slytherin?”
I snickered, placing my hand over my mouth out of habit. Thinking about it now made me realize even the way I laughed was calculated. After being called out for laughing like a braying donkey at a family function, I only laughed for brief seconds, with my hand over my mouth, of course.
“If you keep calling me that, I’d have you expelled from Hogwarts, mundane,” I joked in return. For some reason, it didn’t feel appropriate. There was a tinge of unease that lingered somewhere at the back of my mind.
“So, am I forgiven?” Harry asked.
“Forgiven? You never offended me to begin with. If there’s anything, I think it should be me who should ask for forgiveness. I didn’t even thank you properly, you know? For helping me that day.”
“You weren’t a damsel in distress, Rosaline. You’d have handled it either way.”
Harry obviously said it to make me feel better. Even so, it was pleasing to have someone think I wasn’t a chore for once in my life. Warmth spread over my chest, and I hugged my knee with my left hand, clutching my phone tighter with my right. “Thank you,” I muttered. “That means a lot, Harry.”
“Oh, you’re welcome.” I didn’t know why I could picture him grinning just as hard as I was. Harry was becoming a friend, and that was something I haven’t had in a while. “So, I’d call you later? This isn’t even the ideal time to be calling a lady. I don’t… know what’s gotten over me.”
“Let me guess, you’re not always like that?”
“Yes, exactly!” He exclaimed, bursting into a joyous tone. “The next time we get to… spend time together, I’d make sure you see how gentlemanly I usually am.”
Next time? I highly doubted that, but I didn’t say. “I’m taking your word for it.”
“Thank you, Rosaline. I hope you have a good night’s rest,” He said sweetly. “Good night.”
“Good night, Harry.” I clicked the phone off and sank deeper into the sheets. No, I didn’t feel butterflies, but it was warmer and lighter, having to speak to someone new. Someone who seemed genuine for a change.
My phone buzzed in my hands again, and I swiped the screen up, receiving the message from my mother. My throat grew clogged, and my muscles were suddenly weaker. They were indeed things that one couldn’t just get over.
“I just wanted to check if you’re fine. Call me back when you get this. With love, Mom,” I read it aloud and sighed before clicking the phone off and setting it beside me.
I wasn’t ready for the discussion with her just yet, especially not tonight. Maybe another day.
It was tempting to just drape a sheet over my body and beckon to sleep, but a cleansing shower was very necessary on a day like this. I needed to scrub out every part of Gerald that I had glued to me.
*
Who knew mornings could be this scary? I’d been sitting by the mirror, trying to figure out the perfect way to get out of the house without bumping into Gerald. Thinking about what happened yesterday, it made my stomach churn with overwhelming anxiety, and it was almost impossible to move. I needed to see Ava today and tell her everything.
I sighed and picked up my purse. It was almost noon already, which meant he should be out by now or be in his room at the very least. It was a Saturday, and both options seemed very unlikely, but I might rot in the room if I didn’t make that decision. I sucked my teeth and pulled the doorknob, only for me to meet the biggest, no, nearly the biggest shock of my life.
Gerald was outside his room, too, his hands clutching the doorknob as he closed the door. What the hell was this coincidence? I gulped hard, pretending not to notice his presence.
“Heading out?” He asked, pausing me in my tracks. “I hope you can find your way home this time.”
Seriously, was this the same man I kissed yesterday? I folded my hands across my chest, scoffing. “Stalker much? If I can’t find my way, I guess I just need to look into the crowd and catch you watching from miles away, stalker.”
Gerald raised a brow, his lips quivering to protest. I walked away from where he was, my hair bouncing on my shoulders until Gerald’s voice hit my ears again. “I made pancakes. It was a miscalculation anyway, but I made too much.”
I stared at him, half-turned. “And?”
“And wasting food isn’t ideal. Think about all these dying dolphins. You know what they say? Wasting food is bad for climate change,” He snickered, leaning against the wall.
Really? “No one says that.”
“I know.”
I smirked, my brows pinching together in surprise. “Then, were you trying to be funny?”
“I-”
“Don’t do it. Stick to the mean stuff, and yeah, enjoy your pancakes, husband.” I turned away like my heart wasn’t thumping in my chest and my legs weren’t melted to jelly.
This side of him made me so curious, and I feared that because a lot of other emotions stemmed from curiosity. I didn’t want to make the same mistake I did the first time. Whatever that kiss was, it was fleeting.
I arrived at Ava’s house after about two hours of commuting. She opened the door with a wide grin and pulled me into one of those bear hugs. She wasn’t at the wedding, my wedding, and I understand. Even I, who got married, would never have thought marrying a person that fast was possible.
She ushered me in, her hands guiding my back as I settled on her couch, slouching like I had no bones left in me. Ava smiled mischievously. “You got that married woman glow about you? Girl, look at your face. You’re practically shining?”
“Really?” I scrunched my nose. “Did you practice that to say it to me? Glowing? Say something else, Ava. Marriage is hell!”
Ava hurried to the kitchen and came back with a glass of cold water. She looked genuinely worried, but was taking her time to ask questions. I was probably the messiest she’d seen. I sighed and threw my head back after drinking. “I hate it,” I spilled. “I hate what it feels like to be around them, Ava. It is hell, I tell you.”
“Tell me everything,” She inclined closer, throwing a pillow to my legs. “Are you okay?”
“Okay?” I released a shuddered breath before throwing my head back again in dejection. “I’m far from okay. Honestly, it’s all crap. From the proposal to the marriage, to the affection, I misread. It was all crap from the beginning. It’s a marriage contract,” I bit into the words with all the bitterness that raged inside of me. “It’s a contract, and the only reason he even looked to my side was because something is going on with the company and my parents.. they, they need his help.”
“What?!” Ava exclaimed. “I knew something was off about the marriage!”
“Really?”
“Yes, Rosa! It seems you’re the only one who’s been left in the dark because this union already had loopholes from the beginning. I mean, did you see the news? Everyone automatically thought it was an arranged marriage!”
“It is,” I conceded. “It is an arranged marriage. What I didn’t expect was for there to be a contract involved, and I can’t even break it off if I wanted to. I’m stuck, Ava.” My eyes welled with tears. “I can’t even be myself with these people.”
Ava snuggled closer, pulling my head to her shoulders as she patted my sides slowly. “I’m so sorry you had to experience that. Have you talked with your mom?”
I shook my head, feeling a sudden headache crawl up to me. I just couldn’t catch a break, could I? “I haven’t. I don’t think I want to anytime soon. It’s all so messed up right now.”
“I know,” Ava agreed. “I can’t possibly imagine how you must be feeling right now, but there’s one thing for sure. You’re loved and appreciated, my dear. Even if it gets confusing, it doesn’t change the fact that your parents care about you, and they never would have done any of those things if it wasn’t warranted.”
At the expense of my feelings? Yeah, right. I didn’t bother to protest as I already knew there was a lot of introspection that needed to be done. Ava’s next question caused my stomach to flip. “And the devil in question, does he treat you right?”
My brain screeched to a halt, and I was suddenly back to yesterday’s scene. Kissing in the rain like an excerpt from a romance book. My cheeks flushed, and I tried hard to even hide my expression. I couldn’t understand why my lips were adamant on smiling. I wasn’t sure I wanted Ava to know about it yet. That kiss was a mere mistake.
Like it was a paid actor, my phone vibrated, and I jumped to answer it, happy to tear away from her question. The message popped up.
‘Hi, Rosa. I didn’t want to pressure you yesterday, but I couldn’t wave it off today either. Would you like to grab coffee sometime? I’d pick you up. Yes, or yes?’
From Harry. Of course, I rolled my eyes and placed my phone face down. Ava threw me a questioning look. “Gerald?”
“No,” I rubbed my forehead. “Just this… really nice guy I met at a bar. He’s been persistent, and of course, he’s good company.”
Ava gasped, her brows shooting up. “You met him at a bar?! No, that’s not the issue. He’s a nice guy, and he’s good company?” She squinted, rhythmically tapping her lips with her index finger. “He just asked you out for coffee?”
“How do you know?!”
“It’s a guy,” She said matter of factly, rolling her eyes. “They always want ‘coffee.’ Tell me you said yes!”
“No, I didn’t…”
“Why?”
“Just because,” I shrugged. “I’m married and I don’t even have the time for-”
“You’re married on paper!” She urged. “And it’s a friendly date, you know? This is your chance to make new friends and do something different for yourself! Do you really want to wait around for Mr. Billionaire?”
Really, did I? Ava had a point. Maybe one coffee date wasn’t a bad idea.