The next day, as the man had previously stated, Altezza flew to Japan for a week, and he promised to return at most a day before the wedding. Of course, with his assistant, Duncan.
At first, the man's mother was about to get angry because she thought that at such a time, Altezza should stay at home, taking care of his health before the wedding. However, the man blamed his mother for disrupting his plans. Finally, the mother relented, but with the condition that Altezza must return as soon as possible. The man agreed with a nod.
Meanwhile, Adaline continued to work as usual and acted as if nothing had happened over the past weekend. Even when her mother asked her to take time off, Adaline refused. She thought she would be bored if she stayed at home all day. Besides, she wouldn't see Altezza at work either. So, she believed her mother's seclusion still continued.
"It's nice to be the boss's assistant," Tessa said as they were having dinner together. They chose to go to a cafe far from the office. The girl seemed to be paying attention to her phone, occasionally sliding her finger left and right on the screen.
Adaline was sure the girl was looking at her boyfriend's posts, who was now in Japan with Altezza. Or perhaps she was waiting for Duncan to give her news?
"Nice or not, Ta? Isn't Duncan often complaining about you too?" Adaline replied flatly, glancing at her own phone, which had been black all this time.
Would Altezza be happy to contact her? Adaline shook her head at the question that crossed her mind. Their relationship wasn't that intimate.
"Yeah, I know, but his complaints match the salary he gets. Plus, the bonus of trips abroad. If only my brain were as smart as Duncan's," she complained again, making Adaline smile.
It felt funny to watch other people's love stories.
Adaline often observes Duncan and Tessa's interactions. When they're intoxicated with love, when they argue, and when they make up. It's like watching a teenage romance drama.
As for her own love story? Can her relationship with Altezza even be called a love story? Adaline grimaced.
As an engaged couple, shouldn't they be in a passionate mood right now? Flirting with each other. Sending cheesy messages and lots of expressions of longing?
Or maybe just asking how each other is, if everything's okay? But for this strange relationship between Altezza and Adaline, that never happens.
It's indeed sad, but that's the reality of the situation.
Even knowing that the man had safely arrived in Japan, Adaline had to hear it from Tessa. Because the girl willingly told her without Adaline having to ask.
And now, seeing her only close friend at the company, Adaline felt troubled. Unsure whether she should talk about her wedding or not.
On one hand, she felt hesitant, on the other hand, she didn't want her friend to feel hurt because Adaline didn't tell her, or worse, make her angry if she found out from someone else someday.
"Tess..." She said hesitantly.
The girl shifted her gaze from her phone, which she had been holding onto. Deliberately flipping her phone roughly before focusing her attention on Adaline.
"There's something I want to tell you, but it's a secret," Adaline whispered softly. Tessa frowned with curiosity. "Please don't shout," she quietly pleaded. Tessa nodded in agreement. "Actually..." Now it was Adaline who lowered her head, unsure.
"What's up, Ada? Don't leave me hanging like this," Tessa pouted.
"I'm afraid you'll be mad at me and Duncan," Adaline answered still in a soft voice.
Tessa began to look at her suspiciously. Slowly her eyes widened, and her mouth opened wide. "You..." She pointed at Adaline. "Don't tell me you're cheating on me with Duncan behind my back," she snapped with restrained anger.
Adaline's eyes widened in shock at Tessa's accusation. She shook her head awkwardly, waving both hands in front of Tessa's face. "Oh my God, Tessa. What kind of thought is that?" she panicked. Tessa breathed a sigh of relief, but then her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Then why did you mention Duncan?" she asked sarcastically.
"It's because whatever I'm about to talk about, only Duncan knows in this office," Adaline whispered.
"Only Duncan?" She asked, probing. Adaline nodded. "What is it? Tell me, if you don't want to say it, I swear I won't be your friend anymore."
Adaline bit her lip, squeezing her hands together. "Um... It's... um..." She was truly terrified and nervous facing Tessa's gaze.
"Adaline! Don't beat around the bush!" she ordered sharply.
Adaline looked up, looking at Tessa. "I'm getting married!" Adaline blurted out in one breath. Tessa was stunned.
"What?!" She exclaimed loudly, causing people nearby to turn their heads. The girl cupped her hands and silently apologized. "Say it again! I didn't mishear, did I? You're getting married?" she asked, shaking Adaline's arms. Adaline answered her friend's question with a nod.
"I'm the one with a boyfriend, why are you, the single one, getting married?" The girl sighed sadly. Adaline looked back at Tessa with a guilty expression.
"How could this happen? When? Where? With whom? Do I know this guy?" She fired off questions one after another. "When did you start dating? Why wasn't I informed? Don't you consider me your friend?" She continued with a fiery tone, her face showing more disappointment.
Adaline glanced around, hoping no one knew them and heard their conversation here. The girl lowered her head. Her voice sounded soft as she answered. "I wanted to tell you this for a long time, but I was embarrassed. I'm sorry..."
Tessa still stared at her sharply. She leaned back against the chair's backrest. Folding her arms in front of her chest without taking her eyes off Adaline. "Okay, fine. I forgive you. But answer my questions. When are you getting married?"
"This Sunday," Adaline's answer made Tessa sit up straight again.
"What?! So soon? Adaline, you're really tough on me. How could you do all this to me? Are you planning to get married secretly?
"But wait-wait.." she squinted at Adaline. "You're not pregnant, are you?"
"For God's sake, Tessa. No." Adaline said firmly before her face turned red. "I'm still a virgin." She whispered very softly.
Tessa leaned back again. "Okay then. So why are you telling me now? Wedding preparations usually take months. But why are you telling me now? Less than a week before the wedding?"
"This is all sudden, Tess. I swear. I never expected it to happen this quickly. And everything is arranged by the groom's family."
"But what's the reason everything is so sudden like this? Is he forcing you to marry? Do you have debts? How much? Don't let yourself be forced into marriage if you don't love your future husband.
"Even those who marry for love often falter along the way, let alone if they marry without love," the girl protested.
Forced into marriage? Having debts? A fiancé she doesn't love? All of Tessa's accusatory questions had a 'Yes' answer. And it made Adaline wonder if her friend had a sixth sense.
"Hello?! Don't daydream at a critical moment like this," she snorted.
"I'm not being forced into marriage," Adaline lied. But maybe the timing was deliberately sped up. Her engagement just happened last Saturday."
Once again, Tessa was taken aback. "What? Seriously?" She asked again, answered by Adaline's nod. "Who's the groom? And what's his relationship with Duncan?"
"That... My future husband is... he..." Adaline twisted her fingers hesitantly. "Duncan's boss..." She whispered softly.
Tessa squinted and sharpened her ears. The girl in front of her was speaking too softly. "Adaline, speak louder. I can't hear what you're saying. Who's your future husband?"
"Duncan's boss," Adaline answered a level louder than before, but still audible to Tessa.
"What?!" Once again, Tessa exclaimed, making others turn to look at her. And once again, she apologized. "You're really something, Ada! Are you kidding? Not funny at all."
"I'm not kidding, Tessa. You can ask Duncan about it. He was there when we got engaged," Adaline squeaked in fear.
"So... when he said he had work-related matters with his boss last weekend, he was actually escorting his boss to your house?" Adaline nodded. "He became your witness for the proposal?" Adaline nodded again. "Damn..." Tessa grumbled angrily. "You two really did me dirty." Tessa fanned her face with her hand. She drank her water in one gulp and then looked back at Adaline. "Since when? Since when have you two been involved?"
"That..."
"Was it when we had lunch at the cafe that day that you were already together?" She asked, once again answered with a nod. "No wonder Duncan suddenly asked to have lunch together. He never did that before. What's even weirder, he came with the boss. So you were the reason." She said somewhat cynically, her gaze accusing Adaline.
Then suddenly the girl widened her eyes and slapped her forehead quite hard, making Adaline wince from the sound.
"Did you two fight that day?" She asked in a softer voice. "I remember what I talked about that day so clearly." Adaline shook her head in response, and Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at her with her angry eyes. "Then that weekend, you weren't at home either. Did you go with him?" Adaline nodded again.
"But we didn't just go as a pair." Adaline said before Tessa could accuse her again. "I stayed at Sir Antony's family home."
"What?! So you've already been introduced to his entire extended family?" Adaline nodded. "Wow, you're something else, Ada. Your relationship really went under the radar, next thing you know, you're already acquainted with each other's families and now you're getting married.
"Are you sure you're not pregnant?"
"Oh my God, Tessa. No! Our relationship isn't like that!" She said irritably.
"In that case, explain! Because none of this makes sense to me. Okay fine if the issue is passionate love to the point where you can't wait to get married. But what I see is, you and him don't seem like your typical love-struck couple," she said honestly.
Adaline twisted her fingers, torn between telling Tessa everything or staying silent. But she needed someone she trusted to share with. Someone who could help her when Adaline needed it later.
Finally, Adaline decided. "So... at first..." And she recounted the entire story of the beginning of Adaline and Altezza's relationship. About the money lent by the man. About the amount she had to pay back. And the contract she signed.
Tessa's first reaction was disbelief. Then she shook her head. "I swear, I never thought all that existed in the real world.
"I thought it was only in novels or TV dramas. But now, this is really happening in front of me. My own friend...
"Oh my God. Adaline... Are you sure everything will be okay?"
Adaline could only shake her head doubtfully. "I'm not sure myself. Joanna will definitely be very angry if she finds out I signed a contract and will even get married now."
"But where is that guy now? Why isn't he here when you need his help?"
Adaline shrugged. "I don't know either. He's on a job in Rome. And so far, he hasn't contacted me. It's hard to reach him, so I'm having a hard time informing him about my wedding."
Both Adaline and Tessa sighed deeply, leaning their backs on the chair's backrest weakly.
"I can only pray for the best for you. Hopefully, this will be your first and last marriage. I hope your marriage ends happily." She said sincerely. Adaline only agreed silently in her heart.