The next day at school was a nightmare. People kept coming up to me, asking:

"You're engaged to Ren?"

"Can I get an invite to your engagement party? Can I get an invite to your wedding?"

"Have you guys been secretly dating? How long?"

I even got a few: "Slut, gold digger, whore."

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. The wind whistled with me as my voice continued to crack from my sudden outburst. Gorya pats my back as I lean onto the railing, exhausted from this day. "I should've skipped school today," I said.

She gives me my water bottle, and I accept it gratefully, taking a huge chug of it. "Did your mom force you to come?"

I shook my head, "Auntie Cel did. Mom was nowhere to be found." I closed the bottle with the cap and said, "She got a little mad at me for missing the assembly this morning. She told me not to let this affect me and hold my head high, I guess to motivate me." I sit on the pavement and rest my back on the railing, "I feel like I am alone."

"You have me," Gorya says, and I smile at her while bringing her into a hug. 

"And thank you for that. Are we still heading to Uncle Ga's later?"

"I won't ask what you and Ren talked about. But what I want to ask you is how are you feeling?"

I think about her question, about what happened in the last ten hours with Ren and my mom. I'm not okay. But I take a deep inhale and out before giving her a small smile. "It's wild, but I know that if you're with me, I'll be okay."

She gives me a reassuring smile back, and her phone rings. "Wait, someone's texting me." She pulls out a Zamzung X Fold3. My eyes widen in surprise, "You got the X Fold3?!" She looks at me and sighs, "Thyme bought this for me. He wanted me to have a new phone since mine kept breaking. And look."

She shows her screen, and all I see are incoming messages from Thyme with his emojis and texts saying, "Where are you? Answer me. Goryaaaaaaa." I burst out into laughter, and a few tears manage to escape. Gorya whines, "Stop, this is so annoying. I'm grateful for the phone, but it's such a hassle. He's always texting and calling; I can't even explore the features yet."

"Block him."

"What? I can't block the person who gave me this phone," she said as she texted him back. 

I shrug and stand up, helping her stand with me. I look towards the door that separates us from the rooftop to hell. Gorya asks, "Do you want to skip?

My eyes widened, "Gorya? Skipping school? No way."

She rolled her eyes, "What's your pick?"

I look back at the door, "No, tempting but, no. I can't escape the inevitable."

...

"I feel like I should wear motion-sickness glasses when I ride with you."

I close my door and scoff, "My driving feels fine to me." She follows me into the shop and says, "The driver isn't the passenger. They don't feel the same things."

I bow to her, "Ok, ma'am, I'll try to drive slowly for you." She laughs as she opens the door for us and Uncle Ga greets us, "Nova, it's been a while since you last visited."

Kaning walks in from the back room and comes to greet us, "Hey guys!" I hug her and say, "Hey, I missed you guys. I'm sorry, things have been crazy lately." 

Uncle Ga claps his hands and points at me, "You're an engaged woman." Kaning says, "Congratulations?" I sluggishly take a red rose in my hand and cut the stem short before handing it to Kaning. Uncle Ga sighs, "Rich people confuse me. People have been saying it's arranged. Didn't Ren just come back from France?"

I nodded, "Yes, it's arranged. I don't think they're hiding that fact. His father announced it during the welcome party."

Uncle Ga covers a side of his mouth and asks me in a hushed tone, "I heard his father is intense. What are they like?"

I chuckled, "Why are you so curious about learning about their family so much?"

He shrugs, "I'm in a gossipy mood." He walks to our work station and rests his elbows on the wooden table and rested his chin on top of his hands, "So. Tell me everything."

Gorya and Kaning both look at me expectantly, and I shake my head jokingly. I said, "His father is the chairman of Aira Medical Center. He is Thailand's biggest healthcare provider. Ren has a lot of pressure on his shoulders as his sole heir. They don't have the best relationship. Naiyana, his mom, is very nice to me."

"Go on..."

I walk away from the table to get a rag, and say, "That's all I'm going to tell you."

"That's all we get? I mean, what was he like when you first met him?", he asks me.

I paused and said, "He was decent, intimidating but, he seemed civil enough. I guess because we were there. Anyway, my mom doesn't tell me anything so, that's all I know."

Kaning asks, "You don't know the family you are engaged to?"

I look back at her and give her a sad expression, "I don't. I only know what's on the surface." Uncle Ga walks over to me, and gives me a comforting pat on the back, and says, "I wish you all the luck in the world darling." I send him a small smile, "I appreciate it Uncle Ga." Then, Gorya's phone rings. 

She groans and shows us it is none other than Thyme. Our spirit lifts as we surround her, and she says, "He's calling me again."

She lets the call go to voicemail, and I exclaim, "Why did you hang up?"

"He's unbearable." Me and Uncle Ga exchange knowing gazes while Kaning thinks for a minute before suggesting, "You two should go on a date together."

Gorya raises her phone, showing Thyme calling her again, and asks, "Me and him? How did you come up with that idea?"

She shrugs, "It's a good way to get to know each other. Plus, I think it would be good for you two to interact and talk more."

"Where would you suggest we go?"

"Me and Tesla are going to the zoo tomorrow. Wanna come?"

"Who's Tesla?" I ask, and she turns to me and says, "Oh, I didn't tell you? I met him on a dating app." She shows me a picture of him, where he's smiling with golden plated teeth, and an obscene shirt, worse than Thyme. Interesting. I look at Kaning's beauty and back at the picture. I try to mask my confused expression and nod, "Wow how long have you guys been together?" "We only started talking a week ago, and the zoo is our second date," she says as she smiles, looking at the picture. I cleared my throat and looked at Uncle Ga, who was masking his judgment. I covered my lips as Gorya groaned again showing her phone, "Ugh, he's calling AGAIN!"

Before she can do anything, I leaned over and pressed the accept button, and Uncle Ga and I giggled. She gasps and throws a dirty rag at my face.

"Gorya. Gorya?" Thyme says through the phone. Gorya sends me the deadliest glare I've ever seen and takes a breather before raising the phone to show her face. "What do you want?"

Kaning whispers, "Be nice."

"You aren't answering any of my texts or calls."

"It's because I'm at work. Ok, bye." Gorya says but, Thyme stops her, "Wait! Don't hang up." Kaning nudges her arm and says, "Tell him about the zoo." Gorya hesitates before asking, "Can I ask for a favor?"

Thyme's voice perks up, and he says, "What is it?"

"Do you-"

She pauses, "Do you want to come to the zoo with...me and Kaning, her boyfriend, and..." She looks at me, "-...Nova?", My eyes widen as I make a slicing motion with my hand at my neck–rejecting the idea. Gorya brings her hand up to stop me, as she waits for Thyme's response.

"What? Do you want to go on a date with your friends? I don't want to be the second wheel. Also, the zoo? Isn't that for children?" Thyme says through the phone.

Gorya rolls her eyes and says, "Never mind. I'm hanging up."

"Wait. Come on, you're the one asking me to go. I need at least an incentive."

Gorya looks at him questionably, "What kind of incentive?"

There was a pause before he said, "Tell me...Ah! Say, "Thyme is the most handsome, coolest guy I've ever met." I stifle a laugh as do Kaning and Gorya are dreading this moment.

"Come on, say it."

She takes a deep breath and musters to say, "Thyme is the most handsome and coolest guy I've ever met."

I give her a thumbs-up as she glares at me. However, Thyme doesn't stop there. "Thank you very much. Now, the last thing...I want you to say. Meow Meow."

I gasped, and Gorya says, "Hey, you're going overboard."

"Op, then I won't be going on that date with you."

She rolls her eyes and looks helplessly at us. Uncle Ga imitates the cat motion while mouthing, Meow, meow. I bend over to cover my mouth from laughing and ruining this moment. Gorya looks at the phone and gives a very strained, 

"Meow, meow."

Everyone laughs at her, and I clap for her.

She ignores everyone and asks, "All right that's enough I'm hanging up."

"Hold on, who's going to be there?" Thyme asks.

"Kaning, her boyfriend Tesla, Nova, and I will be there."

"Nova? Hey Ren, do you want to come?" My ears perk up at the sound of his name, and everyone looks at me.

"I'll take a raincheck. You guys have fun." I hear him say. Thyme says back, "Okay."

I felt a mixture of relief and disappointment surprisingly, that he wasn't planning on going. Gorya clears her throat and says, "I'll text you the details, bye,"

"Wai-", she hangs up before Thyme can finish his sentence. I sigh, "Now why did you tell him I was going?"

"You accepted the call. So this is payback."

I point at her with a flower as I narrowed my eyes, "You are one petty woman." She winks at me, but I complain, "No, seriously. What good would it be if I came with you guys? I'll be fifth-wheeling practically."

"Do you want me to ask Tesla to match you with someone?" Kaning asks me. 

"Oh, no need for that, I'll just hang with myself. It's not good for me to be seen with someone else that is not my...well fiancé."

"Come on, it'll be fine. I promise you won't feel like a fifth wheel," Gorya reasons, hooking her arm around my arm. I raise an eyebrow, "I doubt that."

"Just go with them. She already told Thyme you'd be there." Uncle Ga blurts out. I take a deep sigh and say, "No, guys, I don't want to spoil your fun. I'll just have a date by myself that day."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded, "I'm sure."

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I take it out, and mom is calling me. I show them my phone and point to the door, and Uncle Ga nods, indicating I was free to go. I walked out of the store, holding the door for an incoming customer. 

Once, I was outside I answer the call.

"Hey mom, I'm at the shop right now, sorry I wasn't able to answer," I said feeling awkward from our conversation the night before. Mom clears her throat, "That's fine, I just wanted to tell you P'Nai wanted us to have an impromptu meeting with P'Art."

I sighed as I kicked around the dirt with my shoe, "Is P'Ren going to be there?"

"She said his father is forcing him there or he threatened to take all of his cards," mom explained.

I chuckled, "Ok." I felt nervous with anticipation of the meeting and I paused to think about our conversation last night. "Hey, mom, about last night I'm-"

"We'll talk about it later Nova. Just come to the meeting at their house in 30 minutes. Ok?" Mom interrupted.

"Ok. Bye," she hangs up shortly after. I put my phone in my pocket as I watched people go about their lives in front of me. A grandma selling fruit, kids playing on the sidewalk, and couples walking into the flower shop. How I wished to be them. I sighed as I looked in both directions of the street to buy some fruit as a sort of greeting gift for the "in-laws".

...

My car slows to a stop at the driveway entrance. I sighed as I took off my seatbelt, sending my mom a quick text that I arrived. I look up to see my mom's car already parked ahead, and I took the bag of assorted fruits with me. My palms were sweating so much, that you could fill up an entire water bottle. Before I could raise my hand to knock on the door, the nice butler opened the door for me.

"Hi, I say, delivering a tensed smile. He bows to me and says, "Follow me, Ms. Nova, they're expecting you in Master Arthit's office."

"Oh ok," I said as I followed him through the house. As we walked, I asked, "What is your name by the way? I never got to ask, and I've seen you for so many years."

He looks back, "Kasem Chatree," He stops in front of two massive black doors and bows to me, "Please, would you like me to take the bag for you, Ms. Nova?"

I looked from the doors and hastily handed him the bag, "Thank you so much, Mr. Kasem. Here, take some if you'd like." He smiled, "Thank you. Now, would you like me to open the door for you, Ms. Nova?"

I faced the doors again, my throat feeling clogged up as I asked, "Is P'Ren there?"

"He is there along with your mother."

Great. I smoothed my hair and wiped my hands on my jeans. I looked at Kasem and nodded, "I'm ready." He goes to open both doors and the hinges make it so it opens dramatically slow, as if I am making a grand entrance. Everyone looks at me, except Ren, as Kasem announces, "Ms. Nova Sasithorn has arrived." 

I step into the silent room as Kasem closes the doors behind me. I glance around the room and see that it had dark, almost black walls, a built-in bookcase filled with various décor and books on shelves, and a big gray-white rug. The desk where the chairman sits was an authentic oak desk, with a modern white lamp to match on top and a mahogany, leather chair. There was a couch, facing the desk, its back towards the bookshelf, and two brown leather seats facing the desk. Ren sat on the left side, while the other remained vacant.

Aunt Nai walks towards me and hugs me, "Hi Darling." I send her a queasy smile, "Hi, Auntie Nai."

Uncle Art stood up from his seat and motioned to the vacant seat in front of him, "Please Nova, sit." I looked towards mom, who sat on the couch, still wearing her lab coat. She gave me a nod as Auntie Nai went to sit next to her and my feet led me towards the seat. I awkwardly sat in the chair, placing my hands on top of my thighs and not sparing a glance at Ren. Uncle Art takes his seat and folds his hands in front of him. He says, "So, last night was overwhelming for everyone. Especially for you and Ren." 

Ren rolls his eyes as Uncle Art continues, "I want to apologize to you, Nova and Preecha. I acted without thinking and brought in unwanted media attention. We should've talked to you guys about making this announcement-"

"That didn't need to happen," Ren interjects.

"Ren-" Auntie Nai began to say, but she stops her. Ren stood from his seat and asked, "How are you going to force an engagement we hadn't signed on the night after I returned?"

Uncle Art says, "Sit down Ren."

"No, because I personally think that this is a waste of time. What is the point of this meeting when all you're going to do is blame me as if it is my fault?" Ren argues. My heart started to beat faster as I watched him have this confrontation with his dad.

"It is."

I looked at Uncle Art as he takes out a stack of papers and slaps it down on his desk. "Read this," he said to Ren. Ren looks from his father's eyes, and towards the stack as he steps closer to retrieve one. Uncle Art takes the stack and passes me one, "Pass this one to your mother and your aunt." I take two and pass them to them. Uncle Art gives me one, and I read the headline:

Son of the Chairman of Aira Medical Center caught in a drunken fight at a club 

Renwarin Aira, Thailand's newest playboy?

Who is the son of the #1 medical center in Thailand? Man of the people or a ladies' man?

"Does that answer your question?" Uncle Art asks condescendingly. Ren doesn't respond but crinkles the papers in his hands, the more he reads the headlines. "I don't know what the fuck is going on with you Ren. But this–", he points firmly at an article. "Has got to stop."

Ren doesn't respond as Uncle Art continued, "It is one thing you left for France to follow Mira, it is another thing to act like a frat boy. Come on. You're an adult Ren. Start acting like one."

I bit my lip feeling so horrible for Ren as his father went on, "You come back to Thailand, and you do this shit. It is like a slap to my face Ren."

"You don't know anything that is going on with my life," Ren says in spite. Uncle Art nods and throws a picture from an envelope, "I know about Mira, I know that she is engaged to Dominique Shun."

I gasped as I looked towards the couch, mom and Auntie Nai looked equally as shocked. Ren shakes his head as he looks at his dad, "So, this was the plan? Do you use my breakup to pin me down? Typical."

"Quit it with the antics, Ren. You are a member of one of the most influential families in Thailand. You are lucky I paid these tabloids so, they won't release these damning articles," Uncle Art replies.

"Was it to protect me? Or was it only to protect yourself?"

Uncle Art pauses, "What?"

"You used my welcome party to make this engagement announcement for collateral damage," Ren said. He points to me and meets eye contact with me for the first time, before looking away as he says, "You involved Nova in this mess because you are selfish and would only think of yourself. Locking us into this engagement against our free will. We are the victims here so, don't!" 

Ren smacks the desk with his hand as he says, "Don't act like the victim." Uncle Art stands and raises his arms as he emphasizes, "Ren, you decided to act this way, I never forced-"

"Bullshit dad. You are upset that I want to find love, I want to find my happiness. I'm sorry your only son is a failure. Cause that's what I am right? A failure?" Ren points to himself.

He doesn't respond, and Ren chuckles, throwing the papers on the desk. 

He doesn't look at anyone as he leaves the room. Uncle Art slumps in his seat and takes his glasses off, rubbing his eyes, stressed. Auntie Nai sighs, "Art, you shouldn't have done that to him." Uncle Art covers his mouth, looking at the papers instead of responding to her. After no response, Aunt Nai leaves to find Ren.

Now, the room was so silent, that you could only hear the air-conditioning. I didn't make any sort of movement or say anything because I felt so uncomfortable and lost. Uncle Art crosses his arms as he says, "I'm sorry ladies, you had to see that." Mom speaks, "P'Art, maybe we should plan something about this...situation."

He nods, "No, we will carry out the one-year plan we discussed a few months ago." He looks toward me and sends a small smile, "I wanted to talk about it with both of you. Seeing Ren left, I'll just relay the message to him."

Uncle Art continues, "This engagement won't last over one year. We just want this to garner attention for the new Neurology/Neurosurgery Department of Aira Hospital. And the bargain we have with your family's end of the debt." I looked down at my fingers and asked, "You don't expect us to get married right?"

"No, we just need you for publicity," he said easily. I huff at this new reality.

"So, to avoid any speculation or controversy, I hope that you will act accordingly. It is just one year. You'll have to come with us for