Arranged Marriage

Chapter 10

Maya was sitting in the bakery doing the last of her homework when Josh arrived.
He had gotten a few texts about Maya but didn't read all.
He has also been busy and decided to let Maya be the one to tell him what is really going on.

"Okay what did you do?" Josh asked as he sat down next to Maya.
"I got a thousand and ten messages from Riley," Josh said then he saw shallow tears on Maya's face.

He decided to stop fooling around and decide to help her.
Or try to cheer her up.

"Are you okay?" Josh asked.
"The bullying has started. I knew it would happen. I just wished it would happen later," Maya said.

Josh pulled Maya close to him as he stroke her hair.
He didn't know what else to do but he couldn't watch her break down.

"People will always want to judge. There are people like that in the world. But it doesn't mean they know what is really going on. It's just gossip. Nothing is true," Josh said.
"I know," Maya said as she pulled herself away from Josh.
"I know. It just doesn't make it any easier," Maya said.
"I know. You just need a bit of time. That's all," Josh said.
"Why did you want to see me?" Maya asked.
"Well I thought that we could discuss a few things about the wedding. Without my parents of course. If you have the strength," Josh said.
"This will be the perfect distraction. I guess we have to start with a wedding date," Maya said.
"Yeah that's a good start. It will have to be after you graduated."
"What about 10 July?" Maya asked.
"Perfect," Josh said.

The two of them discussed a few other stuff including how their day has been.
It was more fun for Maya than torture.
She had a crush on Josh since she was thirteen and that crush never disappeared.
But she never knew if Josh felt the same.
And maybe he doesn't.
But she has to go on for whatever reason.
And she knows that she will have a better life with him than with anyone else.