Arranged: Betrothed

chapter 8

I turned my phone on after days. It had been two weeks since I got married. I didn't want to speak to anyone, especially anyone in my family. I knew Mary would be worried the most.

The phone vibrated and beeped like crazy for a few minutes.

'Hey, how's everything?'

'Why aren't you replying?'

'Zahara, I'm getting worried, please answer me ASAP.'

'If I don't hear from you in the next three days, I'm calling the police.'

A little more alert after the last message I checked the date. She sent it two days ago. I hesitated to call her. But I think it would calm her a little more if I did that, rather than text.

I clicked call and waited. After a few rings, I heard her answer.

"ZAHARA. WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

I moved the phone away from my ear and allowed her to yell as much as she wanted, until she calmed down.

"Hi."

"Are you serious, Zahara? You haven't replied since you got married and all you say is 'Hi'?" She shouted.

"I'm sorry. I was trying to avoid everyone, especially my family. They would've called and texted me like crazy. I just turned my phone on and it vibrated for about five minutes straight with notifications." I explained feeling a little guilty for not messaging her.

She sighed loudly, blowing her breath right into the microphone.

"How is everything?" She asked after a moment of silence.

I shrugged stupidly, knowing that she can't see me. "It's exactly what I thought it would be. Boring. I have to do chores, like I did at my own house."

"What's he like?" She asked curiously.

"I... I don't know. Some days, he's normal. Other days he... tries to get close to me. He's strict, it scares me a little bit."

"What do you mean close?"

"He tried tokissme." I mumbled quickly, feeling my cheeks warm as I remembered the last time.

"Woah. And then what? You say no and he stops?" She questioned.

"Yeah... He stops."

"Zahara, he can't be all that bad if he listens to you, you know? Have you spoken to him about University?"

I pursed my lips. "No... I know he'll say no. He wants me to be a housewife. I can tell. Plus, I don't know if he will react well to me going. I guess I'll have to- forget about it." I replied shakily.

"I really think you should talk to him. Also, you know results day is coming up soon. Like three days. Are you coming?" She asked excitedly.

"I'll have to ask. But I'll text you about it." I mumbled.

"I think you should talk to him. Maybe it was just your parents that are old fashioned, not him."

"Maybe." I repeated, not believing it.

We spoke for a little more time until she had to leave to go somewhere else.

How could I ask him?

♡°•●○___________________________○●•°♡

So here I was three days later watching him eat breakfast, trying to build up courage to ask him if I could go and collect my results.