SOPHIA CASTILLO
"There goes the man who wants to marry you," Annabella jokes, staring at the man at the counter.
I rolled my eyes at her statement. She was referring to James, a coursemate of mine who has shown interest in me since we were both paired for a project.
"What?" She chuckled.
"He said you are the type of woman he would love to marry but he doesn't know that you are married," she remarked.
"It's not funny though. I would appreciate it if you do not say this in front of Adrian. He takes things like this very seriously," I told her.
"Why don't you just tell him that you are married so that he can back off? I mean you could save yourself any stress. A lot of guys want you but they don't know you are married and you are a wife to a billionaire," Annabella said and I heaved a sigh.
"That's the thing. I cannot tell them. I want to graduate as every other student and I do not want people having to stay away from me because they know me besides some men will know that I am married and still flirt, so that's it," I explained.
"At least they will know that they don't have hope and besides nobody is going to stay away from you because of that. Take me for example, I am still here although I know you are married," she pointed out.
"You are different. Adrian and I agreed and that's it. He is okay with it and so I am happy. I am just going to live like every college student until I graduate which is in a year and a half. I cannot wait to graduate," I told her.
"Your birthday is next week. How are you preparing for it and Adrian, how is he handling it?" Annabella asked.
"Well, I don't want a big gathering. Just a small gathering with friends and family and when I say friends, you because I do not have any other friend besides you and then my parents and my older sister, my husband and my grandfather inlaw and that's it," I told her.
"I see but do you think Adrian would agree to that? I mean it's your twenty-first and that's a very huge one and honestly, I wouldn't want you celebrating it in a small way," she said and I rolled my eyes at her.
"Says the girl who celebrated hers quietly."
She chuckled.
"Oh come on. That's me and you are you..."
"And that's the more reason it's just going to be a small gathering and I do not think Adrian will have an issue with it. He has always supported my ideas so I am sure he will support me in this one. It's going to be a small gathering and that's it," I told her.
"Okay. That's fine by me. How is your sister? How is she feeling?" She asked me.
"Sarah is doing fine. Better than I expected in a short time. I mean she felt at ease after her stupid ex and abuser were sentenced and now she has been trying to get over it. She has been trying to get involved with a lot of social activities although she apologizes to me all the time which I do not like she's doing fine," I explained.
"That's good to hear. It's not one of the best experiences so I am happy that she's fine," Annabella said.
"Hey."
I tilted my head to look at James whose voice I recognize immediately.
"Hey," I replied.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I am doing great," I replied, playing with my hair as I don't want to give him the attention that much. I have told him I am not interested but he doesn't want to back off. He keeps asking why but I am yet to tell him that I am married.
I want to because I love to brag about my husband but I couldn't because of my plans.
"I don't exist. I'm a chair," Annabella's, making James laugh.
"I saw you, Annabella. Hi," he said to her.
"Do not. Save that. You completely turned blind eyes towards me so do not greet me," she told him.
"I'm sorry about that," he said, pulling back a seat for himself to sit.
"What are you doing? Aren't you on duty?" I asked him.
"I closed already so I can sit here with you and get to know you more," he told me.
I stared at Annabella with a questioning look on my face. This is why I avoid the place, simply because of him.
"I see. But we are just about to leave," Annabella told him.
"Really?" He sounded confused. His brows creased as he stared at me and I felt bad. If Adrian know of this, I am sure he would have confronted him and that was why I haven't told him about the admirers in college because he can be very very jealous and he doesn't like me being close to other males which is why I always stay away from them.
"Why don't you go out on a date with me for once Sophia? I promise you that it will be worth it. I like you, a lot," he told me and I looked at my fingernails, suddenly finding them interesting.
"Please go on a date with me for once and if after that you have no interest, I will no longer bother you," I told him.
I took in a deep breath and sighed. Maybe I should tell him so he backs off. I cannot go on a date with him.
"I'm sorry but I can't," I told him.
"Why?" He asked.
"It is because I am a married woman," I informed him.
Annabella's lip parted slightly and a shocking expression formed on his face.
"You are kidding, aren't you?" He asked and I shook my head.
"No. I am not. I am a married woman and I know this is not necessary but I will have to show it to you so that you know that I am not kidding," I told him, bringing out my phone from my bag to show him pictures of Adrian's anemia.
"This... This isn't real, is it?" He asked.
"No. It is real," I told him before revealing my ring to him that I wore as necklaces and hid in my cloth.
"I am married and we will be a year old soon. Now you know. I am married," I told him.
"Wow. You are married and this man... He looked familiar," he said.
Of course, it was rare for someone to not recognize Adrian. One could easily recognize him because he was everywhere. He has contributed a lot to the country and is a top billionaire in the world too.
"I'm so sorry," he bowed his head.
"I didn't mean to offend you or make you angry. I am very sorry. If I knew you were married, I would have stayed away. I like you Sophia and I respect you a lot. Now that I know that you are married, I am going to back off but that doesn't mean I will stop being friends with you," he expatiate.
"I want to keep being friends with you. But if you do not mind me asking, why do you not put on your ring and let people know that you are married?" He asked.
"That's something personal to me but now that you know, can you please keep it a secret?" I asked him.
He stared at me with a questioning look on his face. I'm sure he wants to know why but I won't be able to tell him that and so I hope he doesn't ask me.
"Rest assured. Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone about it. Your secret is safe with me," he assured me.
"Thank you," I told him.
"Now that all is said and done, can we leave now?" Annabella said, getting up from where she was seated.
"Thanks so much, James," I told him, getting up from where I was seated to.
"Where are you going to?" He asked.
"Back to the dorm," I told him.
"Okay," he replied.
I smiled at him once more before walking away, feeling relieved that I'd cleared him.