MARIBELLA

“Maribella, I want you to meet the youngest from De Luca Family, Antonio,” Dad introduced a young awkward man, he is looking at me shyly while his hands on his pockets.

“Hey,” He awkwardly said. I just gave him a slight smile.

“He’s your fiancé, Mirabella. Be good to him.” Dad looked at me with widened eyes before he left the both of us. I just sighed heavily as I walked around and sat from random couches. Antonio also sat down beside me.

“I am very sorry, Maribella, my family pushed me into this...” Antonio sighed, he took glanced at me shyly.

“I feel sorry for the both of us,” I chuckled, “And it is neither your fault nor me.” I smiled at him.

“Thank you, Maribella, you are a good person.” He said as he gave me his genuine smile. I just laughed.

“We’re like 20-year-old kids who are still seeking out the world, and yet they were trying to pin us down from their dungeon to stop us,” I said deeply, which made him look at me.

“Now you are damn weird,” Both of us laughed because of my silliness.

“Well, just my opinion.” I shrugged as I looked around.

“What’s the worse thing that you did?” I asked Antonio, trying to get along with him. He scratched his forehead a bit as he looked at me.

“Break up with my girlfriend for this, I guess?”He answered as if he wasn’t even sure. “What about you?” He asked back, getting curious now. I chuckled as my lips formed into a smirk.

“Nothing yet, wanna do it with me?” I felt how nervous he was. I giggled and watched him to coughed. “What? I haven’t said anything yet. You're the weird one, I might say.” I jokingly said.

“I’m sorry for thinking inappropriate things in my head.” He honestly answered. I looked at him with so much amusement. I’ve never thought that he was this interesting young man.

“No worries, I need to accept that because we’re marrying each other soon.” I grinned at him as I gave him my corny winked that made him stopped from moving. I just shook my head while smiling. He’s cute.

I stood up, and I was about to go when I felt his hand on my wrist, which made me look at him again, still wearing my fake smile.

“When will I meet you again?” Antonio asked with amusement in his eyes, starting to be interested in me, I think.

“Soon, Antonio,” I answered as I left him alone.

I was looking at my ceiling with full of rage because of what my parents just did today. “Seriously, making me marry someone who I didn’t even know or friends with?” I sighed heavily, “Totally unfair!”

My whole life, I’m always following their orders around. They took everything from me, especially my freaking freedom. I didn’t even get the chance to know someone or love someone! I just want to get back at them for once, I wanted to rebel as much as I wanted but I can’t.

“What should I do? Should I run away?” I asked myself out of nowhere while I was still staring up at my ceiling, it was gorgeous, I guess the glowing stars at my ceiling were the only thing that I treasured enough to survive in my damn life.

I sighed heavily and did not even know how many times I have done that, I haven’t eaten anything because I’m always losing my appetite when I see my parents who still managed to smile at everyone, faking their own selves. I am so fucking disgusted by it.

I have no one beside me if ever I decided to run away, I will lose everything. Basically, I’m being trapped for a lifetime. What a shame for me, huh? I mean, yeah, I am a doomed princess who’s marrying a wrong prince that I don't even love, I think.

Antonio and I got along as I’ve expected because he was really a good man. He excelled in his studies, he really has this passion inside him, and I was genuinely happy for him. We became good friends, but neither of us didn’t fall for each other. We both knew that we’re only meant to be friends.

Not until I’ve heard my parents talking inside their study room. I accidentally overheard their conversation due to the other door was a bit opened.

“De Lucas are going down, Emilia! We need to call off the engagement.”I heard my Dad said, I suddenly remember Antonio. He’s my friend.

“Honey, please calm down. We’re not sure yet about that.” My Mom said, trying to calm my Dad, who was leaning against his office desk. He was probably stressed out.

I suddenly felt myself from smiling as my mind automatically formed a plan. In my life, I didn’t even try to fight back at them, but I was wrong. It was a great opportunity, to begin with, I need Antonio to make this work. I left my parents talking as I walked through the halls with a dubiously grinned on my face.

“Fuck! I did not even know that it would happen! I even asked both of them if what was going on, but they didn’t even let me help.” I looked at Antonio who felt devastated, he was covering his face full of ashamed in himself, “I’m sorry, Maribella.. but I think our engagement would be call off in any minute now.” His voice broke in disappointment.

“Remember what I’ve said the first time that we have met?” I asked him calmly. He looked at me full of confusion in his eyes as he slowly trying to remember our first conversation at that time.

“What do you want us to do then?” He asked with desperation, hoping to survive from a big crisis that he and his family were suffering from.

“Make me pregnant,” I answered, putting a fake smile on my face.