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I nod, my cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Yes, and I promise, it meant nothing. It was just a silly game. I didn't expect it to blow up like this."
Kyle sighs, his frustration easing. "Alright, I understand. It was just a game. But you have to admit, it's led to all of this."
I nod again, feeling a mix of relief and regret. "I know, Kyle. I wish I could turn back time and undo it all. But now we have to deal with the mess our parents have made."
We both let out a collective sigh. And then, an idea comes to me, a crazy one, and I can't help but blurt it out.
"What if," I begin hesitantly, "what if we get married, but only on paper? Just to get our parents off our backs."
Kyle's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Married on paper? Are you out of your mind, Jewel? Where did that suggestion come from?"
I quickly try to explain myself. "No, listen. It's not like a real marriage. We just sign the papers, make it official, and then we can both go on living our lives the way we want. Our parentswill be satisfied, and we won't have to deal with this pressure anymore."
Kyle looks at me, clearly skeptical. "Jewel, that's a crazy idea. Marriage is a huge commitment, even if it's just on paper. It's not something to be taken lightly."
I nod, acknowledging the truth in his words. "I know, Kyle. But like I already said, this isn't a real marriage. We won't have to live together or anything like that. It's just a way to appease our parents, to buy us some time to figure out what we really want."
Kyle leans back, rubbing his temples as if he's trying to process the idea. "It's risky, Jewel. What if our parents find out it's not real? What if they start pressuring us even more, to have kids?"
I reach out and place my hand on his, trying to convey my desperation. "Kyle, it's the only way I can think of to get our lives back. We can set some ground rules, and make sure we're on the same page. It's a crazy plan, I know, but it might just work."
He sighs, clearly torn. "I need some time to think about it, Jewel. This isn't a decision to be made lightly."
I squeeze his hand, grateful that he's even considering it. "Of course, Kyle. Take all the time you need. But remember, we're in this together. We can support each other through this mess."
As I leave Kyle's house, I can't help but wonder if my crazy idea will work. But one thing's for sure; I'm not going to let our parents control our lives any longer. We have to find a way out of this, even if it means taking a wild leap of faith into a fake marriage.
After leaving Kyle's house, I can't shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingers in my mind. The proposal I've made to Kyle is unconventional, even borderline crazy, but it's the only idea I could come up with to escape the suffocating pressure from my parents.
As I step into my bedroom, I know I need to talk to someone I can trust, someone who will understand my desperation.
I pick up my phone and dial Jasmine's number. She answers on the second ring, her voice filled with concern. "Jewel, are you okay? What happened at Kyle's?"
I take a deep breath before launching into the details of my conversation with Kyle, including my wild proposal.
"Jas, you won't believe what I suggested to Kyle. I told him that we should get married, but only on paper, just to get our parents off our backs."
There's a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and I can almost hear Jasmine's incredulous expression. "You what? Jewel, have you lost your mind?"
I wince at her reaction, but I know that I need to defend my idea. "I know it sounds insane, Jas, but it's the only way I could think of to break free from this nightmare. I'm desperate. I have no money; I’m beginning to lose my mind."
Jasmine lets out a heavy sigh. "Jewel, I know you’re desperate. But this, this is...it's just not a real solution. What if your parents find out? What if things get even messier? Have you thought about it?"
I plead with her; my voice filled with urgency. "Please, Jas, you have to understand. It's a last resort. I'm begging you not to tell the others about this, Daisy and Lilian must not know about this, okay? They won't understand, so please don’t tell them about it."
Reluctantly, Jasmine concedes, "Alright, I won't tell anyone. But promise me you'll think this through carefully. Marriage, even on paper, is a huge step."
I assure her, "I will, Jas. I just couldn't think of any other way out of this."
As we wrap up our conversation, I'm left with a sense of unease. My best friend thinks I've gone off the deep end, and I can'tentirely blame her. This proposal is unconventional at best and could lead to more complications if it goes wrong.
However, my thoughts are quickly interrupted as my bedroom door opens, and my mother enters. She looks at me with a mixture of concern and determination. "Jewel, we need to talk."
I sigh inwardly, knowing that this conversation will likely be another attempt to convince me that their demands are for my own good. Still, I brace myself for what she has to say.
My mother takes a seat at the edge of my bed and starts, “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” I reply with a sigh, looking away.
