Wedding Plan

Chapter 3: the wait

I wake up at 6 am like usual, except I can't go to the hospital. By 6.30 am I'm ready, but to do what? I sit on the couch looking with a blank expression at the window. I hadn't had any vacation since... well, I don't remember. I tend to take a week or two when the HR tell me I need to use my holiday, but after two days I go back to work doing voluntary work.

I bite my lips, starting to panic. I have absolutely nothing to do for at the best one month, at worst two. I can't contact Kit or Pha, can't even be myself and worst of all can't go to work. I'm going to die of boredom at this rate!

I stand up and walk in the room like a lion in a cage. What should I do? What do people do when they're home? I glance at the tv. Maybe I could try watching something? I don't even have a TV at my real apartment, maybe that's what I need. I heard that people can spend hours in front of it.

I sit and try it. After an eternity of changing channel, trying to focus on home shopping, then on a documentary I switch it off. All I can think of is patients I left behind, without warning them about my "holidays".

It's only 10 am... I start to walk in circle again, thinking. An idea suddenly strikes me. I take my laptop and Google "what to do at home?" Yeah I fallen that low. I click on one link who list ideas:

- Sleeping

- Reading

- Housework

- Watching a movie or series

- Cooking

- Inviting friends

- Taking a bath

- ...

Well the place is already neat and I can't invite anyone who knows I'm a boy. So I decide to go with cooking and reading. I go shopping; I have nothing in the fridge and nothing to read.

I went back home right after that, exhausted. I wasted so much time, trying to choose fruits and vegetables, then choosing a book. I had to walk with those damn heels and in a tight dress all morning because apparently my grandfather or his assistant judge that a woman can only wear that. Not a single pair of basket, jeans or jogging. This is torture! What area does he thinks we are in? I take off everything except my boxer. Luckily, that's the only man clothes they left me, in a drawer close with a key. Do they think someone is going to break in and go through my underwear?

My first try in making a dish is... disastrous. Everything is burnt, and I had to throw it. I don't cook, I only eat prepared meal, I'd rather spend my time doing something else. Kit is always scolding me saying a doctor should set the example. I almost miss his motherly side, but luckily he isn't here. If he was he would never stop making fun of me. if Pha or him ever heard of that they would get revenge for my constant teasing all these years.

I spend the rest of the day trying to cook other dish, but by the time it's 6 pm I surrender. I used all I bought and not a single thing was edible. I look at my phone wondering when the "assistant" will call. The sooner the date will be, the sooner I will go back to my life. Let's get engaged rapidly so we can broke of soon!

The second day is like the first one, boring. I decide to try to read. The line on the pages dance in front of me, the word can't stay in my mind, I just can't focus. My mind is filled with my work in the ER, the operations I was supposed to do...

I check the phone, still nothing.

The third day, I'm close to bang my head on the wall. I suffocate being trapped inside, surfing on internet, walking from the bedroom to the kitchen, waiting...

On Thursday I take a decision. This is enough; I can't go on like this. I wear the first thing my hand grabs. Still no news from anyone, I won't wait like a princess in her tower. I go in a mall and start buying clothes, like simple tee-shirt, jeans, jogging, and snickers. Every time I give the card given by Jack I grin. Since I can't use my account they gave me a credit card.

I even changed my outfit, no more dress; I'm in jogging and white sweat. I can barely hold all my bags. I take them to the car and search for a restaurant.

I choose a French one and park near. As I watch the front I discern a couple holding hands. I clenched my fist, looking at Mr Jaturapoom and his date. I resolutely go inside, and ask for a table behind them.

- Darling, I missed you so much!

I can imagine the girl glued to him like a leech. I greet my teeth hearing her sweet talk. I can't believe this. He's even worse than I thought. I feel bad for Tee. I know she's not real but still. I recall of the threat of my grandfather. If my job wasn't at stake I would have punch him the first day.

I'm a Vongviphan, and in this family we've learn to bring under control our temper. I rise and stand in front of the couple. I draw a smile on my lips.

- Love, I didn't know you were here! I said in a sweet tone.

He raises his piercing eyes on me. he seems surprised to see me like this, judging for the way he looks at me from head to toe. My style is different from last time, well I don't care I still have my wig; I'm looking like a girl in sportswear. I gather myself to hold his gaze without flinching.

- And who are you? Asked the girl clearly annoyed with my intrusion.

I bat my eyes, looking innocently.

- His fiancee of course. It's nice to see he has friends to chat with.

The girl jerks from her chair looking from him to me, a feeling of contentment overwhelmed me when I saw that.

- You're kidding; did you see your look in a mirror? Right Darling?

He doesn't move, looking bored. I swear I'm going to erase this look from his face one day. He's going to look properly at me and show me something else than impassibility.

- And for the record I'm not his friend I'm his lover. Right darling?

Her face is becoming redder by the minutes from the indifference her "lover" shows.

- It's true I'm engaged, he finally declares.

- You slut, how dare you!

I see her hand grabbing her glace of wine ready to throw it at me. I tap her hand in a reflex making the glass fall on my fiance's perfect suit, his shirt now red instead of white. The woman his panicking while Mr Jaturapoom face at last show an emotion, anger.

- Oh I'm sorry; I apologize barely holding a smile. Its best if I let you two settle this.

I quickly go away, once I close my car's door I let myself laugh recalling his face.

That night my phone gave its first sound since Sunday.

"Meet me at Roselyn restaurant Friday at 8"