The day had finally arrived as it had been dubbed among Ethan's family. The sun shone brightly in the sky, illuminating the house with a warm glow. Ethan felt a mix of anxiety and reluctance as he prepared for the arrival of Meredith and her family.
His parents had spent weeks planning this meeting , envisioning a future where their son will marry the girl they had chosen for him. Ethan however felt , trapped in a situation that didn't resonate with his desires.
As the doorbell rang, a wave of apprehension washed over him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. With a forced smile, he walked down the hall to greet the guests. The moment he opened the door, he was met with the sight of Meredith, a girl he barely knew but who was supposed to be his future wife.
Her family stood behind he, exchanging polite smiles with Ethan's parents. The atmosphere was thick with formality, and Ethan could sense the weight of expectation pressing down on him.
After the initial introductions, the two families exchanged pleasantries, engaging in small talks.The air was filled with laughter, but Ethan felt like an outsider looking in. Soon, the cook announced that lunch was ready, and the families gathered around the table, plates piled high with an array of dishes. Conversations flowed but Ethan found it hard to engage.
While eating, Ethan stole a few glances at Meredith and thought, " she is beautiful but I'm not interested in her. I only want my Kai ." Once the meal was concluded , Ethan's father leaned in, a knowing smile on his face . " Ethan, why don't you take Meredith out for a talk. It would be a good opportunity for you both to know each other plus show her her room as she would be here for some time." Ethan's eyes almost gorched out as he wasn't informed that she would be staying. He felt trapped in a web of obligation , but he nodded in compliance, not wanting to disappoint his father.
As they stepped out to the balcony, the tension was palpable. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over everything, but it did little to stop the tension and awkwardness between them. Both stood in silence for a moment, unsure of how to break the ice. Finally, Ethan took a deep breath and decided to introduce himself. " Hi, my name is Ethan. What's yours?" he asked trying to sound casual despite the churning in his stomach.
" Hi, I'm Meredith," she replied smiling . Ethan decided to push through his discomfort and ask her a few questions concerning her interests and hobbies. They talked about movies, music's and their favourite books discovering some common ground along the way.
As the conversation flowed, Ethan felt a flicker of curiosity . He couldn't help but ask the question that he had be gnawing at since their introduction. " Why do you want to marry me?" the question hung on the air, and for a moment, Meredith seemed taken aback. Then she responded," I've always been waiting for you, I've looked forward to this moment for so long." Ethan felt a weight of skepticism wash over him, her words seemed too rehearsed to be true.
Despite his feelings, they continued to chat, loosing track of time as laughter filled the air. He thought within himself that she wasn't as bad as he thought she would be. He was starting to like her like a friend. They shared stories, finding solace in the fact that they had a lot in common . Hours slipped by and before they knew it, it was approaching midnight.
Unbeknownst to them that Kai, Ethan's boyfriend had been lurking nearby, planning his usual late night visit to Ethan's room to see Ethan. He caught sight of Meredith and Ethan laughing together , a surge of jealousy coursed through him. The sight of Ethan bonding with her ignited a fierce protectiveness within him. Kai felt a knot of anger tightening in his chest, the thought of Ethan potentially falling for Meredith sent him into a spiral of insecurity.
As the clock struck midnight, Ethan and Meredith finally retreated in doors, their laughter echoing in the stillness of the night. Kai, still simmering with jealousy, watched them with narrowed eyes, feeling a sense of dread wash over him. He couldn't shake the fear that this new girl might come between him and Ethan.