Chapter 10

-          Graduation Day    -

Mum was back 2 days ago with my aunt. I had a cute little baby cousin, Benjamin. It was one of those days when I just hung out with my mum and didn’t think of anything else.

My wedding was going to be in 2 weeks and the preparations were already almost done. Mum had gotten me all kinds of stuff. Lots of jewelry and make up.

What surprised me most was the beautiful long white strapless dress that she got me for graduation. It was tight at the waist and all but it opened up a little as it became longer. She even got me sparkly white stilettos to match.

I wore the dress with a beautiful gold heart pendant. My aunt made my hair into big waves behind my back, and helped me put on light makeup. She made my eyes look bigger and prettier with just a touch of eyeliner and mascara. I put on light red lip gloss that tasted like cherries. I was tempted to just chew on my lip all day.

I did have a bad habit of chewing down on my lip when I was nervous anyway. When I was done I stood in front of the big mirror in my mother’s room and felt my lips turn up into a smile.

“You look beautiful Clare. Even more than that…don’t let those girls make you feel down. It’s all in the heart,” my aunt said as she smiled back at me.

My mother joined us after a while and looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe my cute little daughter has grown up to be such a beautiful lady. It’s all too soon…you graduating and getting married. I’m beginning to regret it…”

“Mum…It’s not like I’m disappearing or anything. I’ll be here.”

“You’re getting married,” she said.

“Come on, she needs to leave now. Someone’s out waiting for you, hun,” I spun around to see dad standing at the door with a smile on his face. “You look perfect.”

I hugged all three of them before leaving. I still have to study 3 more years and this ‘graduation party’ is just to congratulate the first years for passing. So it’s pretty much just for us first years. Parents are allowed to come a few hours later when everyone’s already there.

The whole plan is to get married 2 weeks later, take a break from all this for another 2 weeks then live like we always did. Except, this time Robin and I will be living together and everyone will know about our marriage.

Maya still bugs me about it, telling me almost every day that I’m going to have to go through a lot if I were to get married to Robin, but I’ve gotten used to it.

I walked outside and was welcomed by Robin’s warm arms around me. “Congrats for getting over this year safely,” he was trying to be funny but I just shook my head.

“You too, now let’s leave.”

He hesitated but let me go and I got into his car. He was wearing a black tux and his hair was combed back. He looked like a gentleman, a very beautiful one yet I could tell he wasn’t comfortable wearing it. I suppressed a laugh as he sighed.

“You too?”

“I’m sorry, but hey you look great.”

He smiled, but didn’t seem to agree with me. “And you look amazing.” He took my hand in his and slipped a shiny gold ring into my ring finger. “It’s ok to wear it now, right? I’ve been wanting to give it to you.”

I don’t know why but ever since the day of Maya’s birthday he’s been much nicer to me. As if he’d completely changed or something.

 
“Thank you,” was all I could say. I mean, it wasn’t like he was confessing his love to me.

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One week later…

“Clare!! Get up and get ready. We still haven’t picked out your wedding dress. It’s the only thing left to do,” mum pulled the covers off me and nudged me to get up. “CLARE!!”

 

“Yes, yes mum. I’m up.”

“Robin’s going to pick you up in half an hour. Get dressed and come downstairs for breakfast.”

I shook my head groggily and walked to the bathroom. Honestly, I felt sick and very sleepy. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and tied it up into a ponytail, and then I walked to my messed up closet.

Too many clothes, most of which I hadn’t even tried on yet. I could open a shop really. I grabbed a blue top and navy blue skinnies. I got into my new white flats, grabbed my phone and hurried to the kitchen. The smell of honey waffles filled my nostrils.

I grimaced. Usually I’d love eating them, but today I just felt sick. “I’m not hungry…”

Mum seemed to pick up on that and put a hand over my head. She frowned immediately. “Well, sorry to tell you Clare, but you have to eat whether you like it or not and then you are going to get some medicine to avoid getting sick,” she gave me a sharp look when I opened my mouth to say something, and that shut me up.

So I forced down the food and got my medicine and by then Robin was here. He sat with my mum while I went to wash my face and put on lip gloss.

“Where are your parents?” I heard mum ask him.

“They’re picking out dresses,” he said. For me, I’m guessing.

“And auntie…where is she mum?” I said as I walked in.

“She took Ben to shop for some clothes. She’ll catch up with us in a while. Shall we go now?” she asked. I sighed and nodded. If I could, I would have just slept throughout the day. I could already feel a headache creeping up.

“It’s ok if you don’t want to go today,” God, Robin would have saved me if not for my mum telling him that we had to go.

So we drove in Robin’s BMW to the bridal shop. When we got there my mum hurried to Brenda’s side while Robin and I stood awkwardly at the side. “Think it’s ok if we got them to leave? It will be embarrassing since I know what my mum will be doing,” I muttered.

I could feel Robin tense beside me, as if he hadn’t expected me to say that. “Well, I wouldn’t wanna see you getting tortured into a lot of dresses by my mum either.”

I smiled, and we both walked into the shop. Robin forced them to leave to the nearby coffee shop while we finished choosing a dress without their help. Apparently, they didn’t mind leaving us to ourselves.

We walked around the shop until the woman helping us chose a beautiful white sleeveless dress that had flowers ornated at the bottom. I liked it and although Robin protested on and on about how it wasn’t all that nice I decided to try it on.

He glared at the poor assistant for picking out this dress and I tried to suppress a laugh. “I’m wearing it…not you,” I said.

So, when I got it on and walked out to show it to Robin he wouldn’t look. “Come on, you’re not just here for nothing,” I sighed. He shrugged, but still wouldn’t look. “Help me choose. If you don’t like it I won’t take it, ok?”

He finally looked at me and then quickly turned away. I was disappointed for a while until he said I could take it. “You make it look pretty,” he muttered. I laughed. It was this simple to pick out a wedding dress without having our mothers getting me dresses after dresses to try on.

We got the dress and went to the coffee shop but they weren’t there. I was already tired as hell and I needed to go home to rest but of course when I called mum she told me to hang out with Robin until they’re ready to leave.

Where were they to begin with?

“I’ll take you home. You don’t have to stay,” Robin said. I shook my head. It would be rude to leave him here especially since he had stayed with me.

“Let’s get something to drink.”

We both sat in the car since my headache was worsening and I found myself falling asleep with the coffee in my hand. Robin took the coffee from me and pulled the seat into a sleeping position. I didn’t dare open my eyes as his cheek brushed mine.

It felt as if my temperature increased by another 10 degrees and I hoped he wouldn’t notice. He gently kissed my cheek and I could feel him staring at me with worry in his eyes. His warm hand held mine while his other hand ran through my hair until I slipped into oblivion…