Chapter 3: So Many Crazy Things

JASMINE

I slowly blinked awake, it felt as if my night was spent digging a drainage in my dream. My entire body hurt, and I experienced intense pain in my head. My eyes adjusted to the sunlight shining through the window and I rolled to the side, expecting to meet the familiar comfort of my pillow. But instead, I was blocked by someone. Surprised, I opened my eyes to find a masculine figure lying sexily next to me. 

A sudden headache struck me as I attempted to recall the events of the previous night. Pieces of memories started to emerge, and I couldn’t trust what I saw. I had done so many crazy things.

In a quick motion, I got off the bed and began picking up my scattered belongings. I hastily put on my skirt and top, my hands shaking slightly as I tried to process the situation. However, as I glanced around, I noticed that my pant was missing. 

I bent down to look for it, making an effort to be as silent as I could to avoid disturbing the stranger. But my efforts were in vain.

"Are you looking for something?" he asked, his tone husky and amused while he held up my red pant in his hand.

Shame washed over me as I snatched my it from him. Without thinking, I dug it into my back pocket and headed to the nightstand to grab my bag. I didn't even bother to arrange my messy hair.

As I made my way to the door, the stranger spoke up again. "Your money is in the bag," he said, his voice more sexier than last night.

But I didn't respond. I just left, banging the door behind me. 

Minutes later I arrived my house and as I opened the door Prisca greeted me with a “Good morning” and offered me a cup of coffee, her face serious. After taking a sip, I felt warmth radiate through me. Looking up at Prisca made it clear to me that I was about to face an extensive round of questioning.

I sighed and returned the mug to her. “Can you stop giving me that look?” When it came to my affairs, Prisca always took things seriously and I'm grateful to have her.

“I only visited to grab a few shots at the bar.” Prisca frowned slightly with one eyebrow raised. “A few shots?” she repeated, her tone showing doubt. “Jasmine, you smell strongly of alcohol, and your outfit is... ” She paused, her eyes scanning me up and down.

“Please stop sounding like an old woman, for god sake your 23 not 63. It was just a few shots.” I begged her, all was just for her to come out of mood of playing my mother.

Prisca's expression turned serious, her brow furrowed in concern. “It's not about the shots, Jasmine. It's about the stranger.”

“Shit! She knows, what do I tell her now?," Prisca's voice cut through my thoughts, her tone laced with worry. “Jasmine, is something wrong with you upstairs? Joe called me, saying a random stranger had left with you.”

Acting surprised I turned to Prisca, showing off as if my eyes are searching for answers. “Who is this stranger?”

Anger overwhelmed Prisca. “STOP THIS BULLSHIT AND GIVE ME ANSWERS?” she yelled, her voice resonating throughout the whole room. “I sped to the bar like a lunatic, only to discover you had left with him already, are you nuts!?”

Rubbing my face, I thought critically, trying to think of a suitable lie to cover my shame but at the moment nothing is coming up in my head and my face burned with shame, i covered it with my hands, falling onto the bed. Realization dawned on me, and I felt so embarrassed.

“I'm calling the manager to get the footage. We need to know who this stranger is, and then we'll report him to the station because he took advantage of your state.” She started scrolling through her phone, her fingers flying across the screen.

I quickly sat up, my heart racing. I grabbed Prisca's arm, stopping her from making the call. “Wait, Prisca. I remember something,” I said with my voice so calm.

“What is it?” she looked at me expectantly.

I took a deep breath. “I was the one who asked the stranger to take me home. And...I also asked him to have sex with me.”

Prisca's eyes went wide, and she shouted, “You did what?” Her voice echoed through the room, making me wince.

I quickly calmed Prisca down explaining, “please relax, i didn't know what came over me.” Just then, my phone began to ring.

Ignoring the call i attempted to process everything that happened when my phone began to ring again.

Upon checking my phone, i realized it is my father calling so I picked up. “You have 30 minutes to come to my house,” he states, his voice strong and commanding.

“But Dad, you...” I tried to protest, but he cuts me off.

“Your husband-to-be is in town,” he states, his words hitting me with striking me hard.

The connection dropped before I could say anything, leaving me with stunned silence as I looked blankly at my phone. The quick cut-off left me bewildered, considering if my father had made a mistake. Had he really just dropped a bombshell of that magnitude and then hung up?.

“Dad, you can't be serious!” I shouted into the empty line, not caring about anything else in that moment. How could he do this to me? My husband-to-be is in town? How was that even possible?

“what did pops say?,” Prisca's concerned voice cut through my thoughts, but I ignored her question, my mind already racing back to the past. I recalled the arranged marriage my father had always discussed when I was younger. The memory of those conversations made my stomach twist with anxiety. 

At the time, i thought it was a distant possibility, something that would never truly happen. Yet now, it seems that reality is closing in on me.

“Betrothment is outdated, and I will never accept it!.”