Chapter 18— Long Live

Diana’s POV

I waited for a while, hoping Ciara would come back out, so we could settle things, but she didn't. I stood up, went closer to her room and heard her best song playing softly from the Bluetooth speaker on her phone.

She was listening to her best song by Taylor Swift, titled LONG LIVE. It is a song about friendship where Taylor Swift celebrates the journey she shared with her band and fans, reflecting on memories, victories and the unbreakable bond they formed.

It's an anthem about cherishing moments with people who stood by you.

I knew instantly that she was hurt by what I just did.

"Ciara! Ciara!!"

She didn't respond. Instead, the volume of the music increased.

I tried to open the door, but she had locked it from inside. Ciara never locks her door from the inside.

"Ciara! I am just gonna sit right here until you come out" I yelled, knocking on the door.

I wasn't sure If she heard me due to the volume of the music she was playing. But my mind was made up, I was not leaving there until she came out.

I had an idea; I stood up, went over to the table where a jotter was, took a pen, tore a sheet and wrote the words I AM SORRY, on it boldly written in capital letters.

I slid it through the tiny opening at the foot of her door; I prayed and hoped that she would see it.

I waited till it was past two, and that was when I finally gave up. Besides, I had to wake up to go with Raphael to see some business partners at Dawn, I needed to catch some sleep.

As I stood up to move, the volume of the music went down, followed by the creaking sound of the doorknob.

She bowed her head in shame.

"I am sorry" we both blurted out at the same time.

We chuckled.

"Honestly, Diana, I think you were right,"

"Right about what?" I asked, looking confused.

"I shouldn't have assumed All was well between you, Marcel,-"

"No, no, Ciara, don't do that to yourself," I interrupted.

"I should have let you know my thoughts about him, I should have-"

"That's enough ciara, it wasn't your fault that my seven years relationship ended, neither was it your fault that I ended up falling in love with a cheat and a psychopath, for what it's worth, even if you had told me about what you think, I probably wouldn't have listened to you. No, I rephrase, I wouldn't listen to you because, at the time, I was madly in love with him; anything you would have said about him to me would have sounded like a betrayal."

Ciara heaved a sigh "But Diana-"

"Don't blame yourself, I was wrong to say what I said earlier about you not telling me about him, it wasn't your business, you did what a friend should, you stood by me, supported me, housed me" I paused "look around Ciara this is your house, you've been helping me from day one, I have barely done things for-"

"What are friends for, uhm." She smiled

I smiled back at her, walking closer to her.

"I am sorry I made you go listen to Taylor Swift," I teased, poking her in the stomach.

She grinned. "We both know Taylor Swift is my best artiste; that song just kinda went with the mood I was in at that moment."

"I see"

"Come on; I wasn't playing it because I was feeling bad or something", she scoffed.

I chuckled "I know you weren't."

"Oh, come on, you don't believe me?" I said

"I do believe you," I lied, laughing hysterically.

"I hate you, Diana", she said with a wide grin on her face.

"I love you, Ciara"

She began to pursue me around the living room; we continued like that for a while until it was 3am.

"Oh my gosh, Ciara, it's gonna be morning soon. I need to go to bed."

"Oh ýeah, you've got that meeting thing with the fine gentleman," Ciara said winking at me.

"Come on, Ciara, I don't know where you are getting this idea from, but I am sure this marriage is nothing but a contract marriage to him, so it is to me, too."

"Are you sure Diana?" She questioned folding her arms "I know for sure that there's something else in the gentleman's eyes and don't forget that-"

"Yes, yes, I know, I am the one who suggested the contract marriage," I inhaled sharply. "I know that I am being selfish and greedy, but..."

"I know Diana, you don't have to explain a thing to me. I am well aware of your situation, and I support your decision, but I also know a sparkle when I see them in someone's eyes."

"Hahaha," I feigned a laughter. "What do you mean by sparkle."

Ciara folded her arms and sat on the couch in the living room. "Well, you know that sparkle of excitement when you see someone that you just might like."

"Oh my gosh! Ciara!"

"Calm down; I am not saying you love him, at least not yet."

"What do you mean by not yet?"

She chuckled "You know, anything can happen within five years?"

"Nothing is going to happen, quit looking for the love that's not there" I laughed

"Okay! Okay, I give up but just know I will remind you about this day when you come back to me saying that you have fallen in love with him"

"Never," I yelled as I turned to leave.

"Okay, go catch some sleep now, we will talk in the morning." Ciara stood up from the couch and headed to her room door.

As she opened the door, she turned to say, "I am glad you are doing this; either way, I know you are doing this for revenge, but I will still advise that when it comes to Raphael, don't be too uptight."

"Whatever Ciara, goodnight." I chuckled

"Goodnight."

As I went into my room, Ciara's house was a two-bedroom apartment. We would have stayed in the same room, but she had a lot of stuff.

As I lay on my bed thinking about the introduction later today, I wondered if I should tell Ciara about the other reason why I agreed to marry him.

If I told her the reason, she would assume that it was because I was in love with him already.

Could this be possible?

Was I really in love with him?