Deadlock

XLII

I knew when my “in-laws” come to the mansion; something’s really going to happen. Grandma and Mrs. Van Garrette decided to organize a bridal shower for me. They managed to make the event possible in just one day. I wasn’t even told until this afternoon that there’s going to be a party for me. And then the Van Garrettes suddenly pulled me into a room and started grooming me. They obviously didn’t give me a chance to quarrel.

I descended in the grand stairs of the ball room. It wasn’t really like a ball; it was just a simple gathering. Most visitors though are women. Now, I don’t really know what a bridal shower is, but I think I’m going to be fine with this, as long as there’s no Rob. I scanned the whole place and I saw plenty of elegant ladies. They aged from 20-45 and I’m obviously the only teen there. But when I searched for more faces hoping that I might find someone I can be comfortable with while this whole thing is happening, I saw Nikki. I couldn't get anymore glad that she was there.

“I knew this young lady whose name is Nikki is your bestfriend Emily so I brought her here.” Grandma smiled to me. And I just love her for knowing exactly what to do, well except this event of course.

Nikki walked toward me and I just greeted her with a big smile. “Emily, I heard this is a bridal shower?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard too.”

“Are you saying that you’re really doing the marriage stuff?” Nikki asked worried.

“Nikki…” But before I could finish what I was about to say, grandma already pulled me to her and someone else is already speaking in front of everybody.

Nikki sat on my left and Mrs. Van Garrette on my right, grandma was next to Mrs. Van Garrette. I knew this is about me and the wedding and because of that, I didn’t actually pay the slightest attention to it. I’ve only been thinking again. It started to irritate me how for all this time, I’m still in the situation where I still think whether to get married or not. No, actually the real choices here are if I should follow grandpa’s commands or not. When Jake asked me to run away with him, I was only thinking of how the things would turn out for my grandpa. I wasn’t really considering of how I feel about it. And now, Nikki wants me to run away too.

“Emily, pay attention.” Mrs. Van Garrette whispered in my ear.

And I did. I saw a woman in the center in a chair opposite us opening a box, more like a gift opening session. So this is what they do in a bridal something huh? So she opened the nicely wrapped box and she took a nice kitchen stuff… wait a kitchen what?

“What’s that for?” I started asking for all I know this is an event for brides before the wedding but I didn’t know there are gift givings.

She looked at what I was looking before she answered me with, “Weren’t you listening Emily?” Ops, wrong turn. Nikki’s supposed to answer, not the mama Van Garrette. “That’s a kitchen tool kit…” She informed.

“No, not that, I mean why is she giving me gifts?” I asked as nicely as possible. I cannot offend her, she has the most possibility of ruining my life.

“We’re in a bridal shower sweetheart, guests are expected to bring small gifts.”

Oh right. So I’m supposed to be sitting here, pretending to appreciate their gifts of marriage. I seriously think like it’s a waste. Really. And when the kitchen-tool-kit-gift giving lady was done, someone expectedly of course replaced her. She sat there with her small box which was unsurprisingly elegantly wrapped and her ear long grin plastered on her face. She was pretty, and she was young. But she couldn't be any younger than 22 or something. She unwrapped the box and took a piece of a fabric inside. She held it for everybody to see and I heard the ladies chuckle.

"This is a black slip nightgown. This is made up of silk and is very comfortable.” She smiled at me, that sly smile. “It would be my honor young mistress if you’ll wear this on your first night with the young master.”

And everybody laughed. If I was potato red early this morning, I swear you can now cook an egg on my face. Its burning temperature is almost as hot as the core, not that I’ve been there but it’s actually how I imagined. I forced a smile. To be always polite can sometimes be tiring. But oh well, it’s what I’ve been thought since I was a young sweet girl.

The huge double doors suddenly opened and from there Rob Van Garrette entered the room with his charisma filling the whole place. I swear I saw that lady who gave the sexy black nightgown drool. And everyone else is delighted to see the young master of course. He was walking toward us. He moved to kiss his grandma, and then his mom. He stopped right in front of me. 

“Emily…” Mrs. Van Garrette called. I gave her a what-now look. “Is that how you greet your husband?”

I stood up and looked at Rob intently. Now what does she wanted me to do? While I am having a hard time figuring what I should do, I felt  all the pairs of eyes on us. Too much pressure, yeah?

“Hey Rob.” I uttered. They were still looking at me without moving. I gave up; I didn’t think I could win this battle. So I got to my feet and reached Rob’s face. Gosh, he’s towering over everyone. Good thing I wasn’t a midget or I’d look stupid. I kissed him in the cheek and before they could ask for more, I slumped back down to my seat. 

Nikki moved her seat while Rob replaced her. Grandma stood up and walked in front of the crowd before speaking, “It’s a pleasure that you all came to our Emily’s bridal shower. We, the Van Garrettes, are already very excited to have her in the family.” She glanced at me smiling. “Now this is where it all ends. We’re very sorry we can’t open all the gifts for today. There’s just plenty of them. But I say thank you to everyone. We can now all move to the dining hall.”

Everybody stood and they were preparing themselves for the next part of this event. I don’t see any reason to pay attention to them so I diverted it to the guy next to me. “What is the point of coming here, really?”

“To look at the gifts.” He smirked. “I heard they’re all expensive, I’m intrigued.” Oh please, everybody knows he doesn’t give a shit about fancy things, he has all of them… except maybe the nightgown.

He moved to where the lady once seated and the gift was rested but I managed to beat him to the chair and stopped him. I took the gift and hid it in my back which obviously made him more intrigued. He tried to get the gift out of me but I’m too good in keeping it away from him, though he has these long arms.

“Robert, Emily, aren’t you coming with us to the dining hall?” Grandma called. She must’ve seen how I was struggling against Rob so she helped me. 

“Really?” She asked worried. “Okay, I’ll just let you rest tonight. I don’t want you to get worse.” She told me.

“Thanks grandma, I’ll ask Nikki to accompany me to my room.”

I had Nikki on my side when we were getting out of that hall. I still had the thing that was supposed to be a gitft, but that’s the least thing I wanna hold right now. I quickly searched for my phone while Nikki went to my room ahead. Her mind was so occupied by something she didn't notice I wasn’t behind her anymore.

I dialed a very familiar number in my phone still thinking and hoping I’m doing the right thing.

“Hello…” Jake’s voice echoed from the other line.

“It’s me. Meet me at Grand Castle Park tomorrow at 8 in the morning.” I told him. He seemd too surprise to answer so I just hung up on him.

Tomorrow, I’m goona decide and I’m gonna tell Jake about it.

Third Person Point-Of-View

Rob did not trust Emily when she said she was sick. She knew Emily’s up to something, or rather she didn’t  want to join the gathering. But Rob was too curious, nothing stopped him from doing anything. He followed Emily until she was alone in a corridor busying herself with her phone.

He heard Emily said, “It’s me. Meet me at Grand Castle Park tomorrow at 8 in the morning.”

End Of Third Person Point-Of-View