MY PRETEND WIFE

Revelations

Maine was nervous as the house helper ushered her in the huge living room of Kris and Joyce's house. She settled herself in one of the plush sofas as she waited for her best friend to arrive. Joyce entered the room a few minutes later. Her hair was swept in a loose chignon. She was wearing a matching brown suit that hugged her curves in all the right places and her feet were enclosed in three inch heels. Maine couldn't help but marvel on Joyce's transformation since she got married to Kris two years ago. She has always been sort of a tomboy when they were young but she has since then grown into a sophisticated woman after her marriage to Kris.

Joyce took off her shoes as she reached the couch where Maine sat and tossed them across the room. She then plopped herself unceremoniously beside Maine and let out a sigh. "Those shoes are going to be the death of me." She complained. Maine couldn't help but smile at her friend. She was happy to know that in spite of the new and more sophisticated look that she carried, her friend was still the same old Joyce she knew since kindergarten. Joyce tucked her feet under her and faced Maine. "So, what did you want to talk about?" Joyce asked curiously.

Maine fiddled nervously with her skirt as she thought of a way to broach the subject to her friend without starting World War III. "RJ and I had a talk earlier today." she started to say.

"And?" Joyce prompted.

"He told me that his mother was thinking of turning their business over to him." Maine said.

Joyce's eyes lit up at the good news. "That's wonderful to hear." She said with a smile.

"There's one little problem though." Maine continued.

Joyce frowned. "What?"

"His mother wants him to get married first before she turns everything over to him." she explained.

Joyce's frown deepened. "You mean like an arranged marriage?"

"No, not really, I think he has the liberty to choose who he wants to marry as long as he gets married." Maine clarified. She was becoming a little fidgety as they were becoming too close to the topic that she wanted to avoid. It won't be long now before her best friend asks her the dreaded question.

"Who could he possibly marry? RJ has never stayed long enough with one girl in order to establish even a semblance of a relationship in the first place. He's one of the biggest playboys in town, for God's sake!" Joyce exclaimed.

Maine swallowed hard as she gazed at her friend. She could feel her face flushing red. How could she tell her that RJ asked her to marry him?

"Oh, he did ask someone already." Maine said in a quiet voice.

"Really?" Joyce asked, her eyes widening in surprise. "Who did he...?" Her voice trailed off as she saw Maine look away guiltily. "No." She said in a hushed tone. There was an alarmed look on her face, letting Maine know that her friend had figured it all out.

"Nicomaine, please tell me you didn't..." Joyce said as she grabbed hold of her friend's hand.

Maine looked down, unable to meet her friend in the eye. Her silence just confirmed Joyce's fears. "Oh my God! Please don't tell me that you already said yes!" Joyce yelled gripping Maine's arm tightly that it almost completely blocked out her blood circulation.

"Joyce, calm down" Maine winced as she rubbed her sore arm. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to ask for your advice before I make a decision."

"Nicomaine, I'm sure you already know what my advice is. Say no. He's bad news. You're just setting yourself up for heartbreak." Joyce tried to convince her friend.

Maine knew that her friend was right. It was madness to agree to such an arrangement. Marriage was a union between two people who are in love and not a one sided affair. But still, she thought to herself, she has never imagined herself with anyone other than RJ. The chances of her getting married to anybody else was slim since she has already given her heart to RJ a long time ago. It wouldn't be so bad, right?