Pandora's Box

5 - Terms and conditions apply

5 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

The week that I asked from Stephen passed by a blur. These past days, all I did was think, think and think. And now I've made my decision.

My first decision is to just let him do what he wants. After all, all things will come to an end and I'm sure that the issue will also be forgotten after a while. But last thursday, I decided to go to the park and there I saw families with their children running around and playing. On the swings, I saw a father pushing his daughter higher and higher in the air. Until now, I can still hear the child's laughter and squeals. On the side, the mother is sitting on a picnic cloth while making a sandwich for their daughter and when she saw them on the swings, I saw her face light up with love and happiness. I felt my heart squeeze in pain, knowing I'll never have that.

But that scene did not change my mind. The reason for my sudden change of heart is the lonely kid on the swings, just next to the little girl. He looked so sad and lonely, as he tried to push his swing upwards, just like what the father was doing to the daughter. When he finally gave up, he just sat there and watched the girl laugh with his father, longing clear in his innocent face. My heart literally broke into pieces. Some tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched the heart crushing scene. I really felt bad for the boy that when I got home, I started bawling and sobbing. I spent that afternoon in front of the television with a box of tissues on my side and a bottle of mustard on the other.

The next day, I felt a little better and that's when I made up my mind. I don't want to ever see my child with that face ever. If I felt so heart broken for a child I barely know, what would I feel if I ever saw my sunshine with that face? I don't think I can live with it knowing that I could have given my sunshine her father. So I texted Stephen and told him to meet me at my house at 8.

It's now 7:50. 10 minutes more before Stephen arrives. I read again the papers I have in my hand. I may agree to marry him but I still want to have control. So I made a contract that states that I will marry him under some conditions. When I felt satisfied that there are no errors on the document, I went to a mirror and looked at my reflection. I'm wearing a plain white shirt with shorts and my flip flops. My hair is in a messy bun and my face doesn't have any make up. Maybe I should put lipstick on? I think my lips looks a little pale. And maybe I should change my sh-

What am I doing? I will not get all dolled up because Stephen will come here! Oh god, what's happening to me?

The sound of a doorbell ringing brought me out of my thoughts. I looked at my reflection one more time. Who cares if I look like the wicked witch of the west? I walked towards the door and opened it. And there stood Stephen in a gray shirt that outlined his fit body and fitted black jeans that shows his strong legs. His hair looks a little damp and is sexily toussled. I fighted the urge to run my hands through it. Is it just me or did he get more handsome? Ugh. This is the hormones talking, I swear.

A throat clearing, brought me back to reality. I looked up and saw Stephen with a small smirk on his face. Shit. Caught in the act.

"Mind inviting me in, princess?" He said. I blushed before I scolded myself. Stop it!

I moved out of the way and he went in. I closed the door and I headed to the dining room.

"Have a seat. Would you like any refreshments? Juice? Coffee?" I said, the lessons about receiving guests that my mother drilled into me coming to the surface.

He looks amused by this and said with a shrug, "No. I'm fine."

He pulled out on of the chairs and sat on it. I pulled out the one oppsoite his and sat down.