Me: No mom that's not it.

Mom: That's not it, is it? Where are you two from?

Silence ! From us anyway, because the more a word that came out, the more the sound of her voice increased.

Mom: I asked you a question. Where are you coming from?

Silence again and heads down.

Mom: Naomi! When you got out of here, didn't you tell me you were going to Kylie's?

Me: Yes Mom.

Mom: And why is his mom calling me at 2 a.m. to find out if you're here? Eh ? I went to the party, I come home at 1:30 a.m. I know that the child has already come home. Since when do you do things like that ah Naomi?

Chantal (mum's little sister who came to spend the weekend in Belgium): Hummm! What still makes you scream in the night like that?

Mom: It's not the child here, huh! She already goes out at night to come back in the morning. Kylie is that what you do? are you training my daughter?

Chantal: Ahhh really? It's past 4 a.m., how are you screaming like that.

Mom: Yes I will scream. The whole neighborhood will know you're already sleeping.

My mother and her legendary chatter. Kylie was completely overwhelmed. She, who thought my mother was super cool, saw another facet of her personality: talkativeness. As if the fact that people knew that I had gone out to return in the morning was going to shatter my life. In short, my mother called Kylie's parents to tell her that we had returned and did not fail to chat on the phone again.

Arrived at Kylie an hour later, the young lady was in the kitchen. That was his thing. Receive people. So on each birthday, Kylie always received people at her house if we had to go out afterwards. The look she started wanting to give me, I understood that it was only necessary to anticipate.

Me: Sorry honey but Nelson dragged me out because of your gift. Happy birthday!

With the money that Nelson had given me, which was not at all negligible, I had bought him a perfume. One of her favorite perfumes and that she just didn't have in stock.

Kylie: Ohhhh thank you very much. What is a perfume? hehe

Me: Well what do I do?

Kylie: There is even something to do. I told you that this time I was mainly ordering. This is the chicken that we just put on the fire there. Emmanuel comes with the drinks later. But you started telling me something last time about your guy's brother.

Me: Oh! When I said he was cute? blah!

Kylie: So what? How did you say he was hot there? Hmmm!

Me: Yeah he's cute but he's not impressive either. Besides, he's a detestable person.

Kylie: Who do you think you're talking to here?

Me: How so?

Kylie: You are hiding something from me.

Me: Let's go to your room.

Kylie knew everything about me. A weight like the one I had on my heart I couldn't keep to myself. I told everything in detail to Kylie who was very attentive to my little story. At the very limit I did not see any emotion arise and I began to be afraid that she would judge me.

Kylie: Naomi you often know how to put yourself in situations huh! First your marriage story with Nelson which came out of I don't know where. And now you're falling for the little brother.

Naomi: Weee Kylie!

Kylie: What? it's normal that you cheat on Nelson. Do you think God was stupid when he said that the basis of marriage must be love? You know very well that you don't like Nelson. Even physically there he doesn't tell you much.

Naomi: But I will learn to love it

Kylie: Do you have to? Why are you pretending it's the debt? It's not because a guy betrayed you that you will resign yourself like this. Anyway, you're going to marry Nelson and you can't cheat on him with his brother. With someone else but not with him. It's too dangerous.

Naomi: I know that. I decided to avoid her until the wedding.

Kylie: I hope for you that he too took the same resolution.

Naomi: How?

Kylie: Because if it's like I think he's addicted to you like you are to him, your so-called resolve isn't going to hold.

Naomi: I'm not addicted to him and neither is he.

I wasn't quite sure what I was saying. Otherwise how to explain that I was always like a dog in heat in the presence of Tony? But that wasn't going to stop me from carrying out my plan. No more Tony until the dowry and then until the wedding.

* A few days later

It was Thursday, more precisely 3 p.m. Since Monday I was immersed in my revisions. My end-of-semester exams were starting next week. And given that the dowry was this weekend, I had to maximize on the front bushing.

Nelson no longer returned on Tuesday as agreed. There had been a complication there and he was supposed to be back tomorrow. I was a little sulky because I thought it was a bit neat with the date of the dowry and especially because I wanted to show him (or make him believe) that I missed him.

Kylie was right. I didn't like Nelson and obviously I didn't miss him. He could have spent a month in China and that wouldn't have bothered me. But with everything that happened to me, I really thought it was better to marry someone you feel more respect and friendship for than love. Why ? Because men are born bastards.

If you put your heart into a relationship, you will spend your life in pain. But where Kylie was also right was that maybe I was going to be a cheating wife. I didn't like this very much because that wasn't the way I was, and if I really wanted to give Nelson the respect he deserved, I shouldn't cheat on him. So I had decided to live a life without love, free from grief and betrayal and sometimes I wondered if it was the right choice. But anyway, it was too much to back down. If I decided to leave Nelson now, I would probably create World War III at home. One thing is sure my father would never forgive him.

I was a little unhooked from my revisions because I was thinking about the life I was about to live and suddenly my phone started ringing. An unknown number. Certainly Nelson. Since Tuesday, we had not spoken to each other.

* On the phone

Me: Hello?

Tony: Hello Naomi.

Tony? Why was he calling me?

Me: Tony? What's the matter ?

Tony: I wanted to see you, to discuss.

Me: Yes, I'm listening.

Tony: In person Naomi.

Me: Why? I do not understand.

Tony: Please Naomi. Can you come home?

I knew in my heart that it was not a good idea but I had accepted anyway. I convinced myself that Tony only wanted to talk. Certainly because of everything that had already happened, he wanted to apologize and that we start over on new bases. But deep down I was scared and I knew that if Tony gave me the green light, I was going to fall right back into his arms. Despite those six days I had managed to avoid him, I hadn't stopped thinking about him. His voice, the way he called me Naomi, his kisses, the way he had made love to me the last time. Every time I thought about it, I shivered as if he was next to me and caressing me. This man really had a very strong hold on me.

Despite everything I knew about his effect on me, I still got up to get ready. The saddest thing is that I was looking for an outfit as if I had a date with my guy. Myself there huh! This time though I had opted for jeans pants. Who knows ? Maybe that would calm Tony down and keep him from touching me.

I was almost ready when my mother came to pick me up.

Mom: Naomi are you going out? I wanted you to help me put on the varnish forgiveness. You know when I put this on alone it looks like nothing.

Me: Weee Mom you're annoying too. Couldn't you call me from there?

Mom: I knew then that you were going out. Where are you even going?

Me: Nelson's.

Mom: I thought Nelson traveled?

Me: Uh yes! But I have to see his brother.

Mum: Then put the varnish on me first before leaving, no.

She had already made her flattering eyes there. Plus if I refused, she was going to give me a lecture on how she always sacrifices herself for me but when she asks me for something I always refuse. Sorry, I didn't want the mother's chatter today.

Mom: Tell me how are you?

Me: Yeah, why?

Mom: Are you sure what you're about to do? you can still change your mind eh my daughter.

Me: How is it mom?

Mom: I mean if you're not happy, if you don't want to marry Nelson you can still quit. I want you to do what...

Dad: What are you talking about?

Mom had jumped like a little schoolgirl who had just been surprised by the most severe supervisor of the school. She was almost shaking.

Mom: No no no I'm not saying she shouldn't marry Nelson. I just wanted to be sure...

Dad: Sure what? Pay attention, do you understand? Don't you dare put bad ideas in my daughter's head.

Mom: Yes! Excuse me.

My mother was terrified. It looked like she was in front of her executioner. His reaction surprised me a lot as well as that of dad for that matter. Why was he getting so angry? Mom hadn't tried to talk me out of it. Dad really took this wedding too seriously. It seemed like a matter of life or death.

Luckily I was done with Mom's nail polish. I could get away from this bad climate.

Me: Uh Dad I'm coming. I'm going to see Nelson's brother.

Dad: Ok my daughter.

He answered me gently, but his gaze was still directed towards Mom. He was so tough. In any case, I was sure of one thing, my father was not violent.

Fifteen minutes later, I was outside Nelson's. In a few seconds I would see Tony again. My stomach was in knots. I was suddenly stressed. I already regretted having agreed to come. But what an idea! What was going through my head? You see the danger, you take your feet with the shoes to kiss it.

Tony was on the phone, apparently with his girlfriend as he had just said "I miss you too". A sentence that I obviously did not like to hear. My case was getting really worrying. Since he hadn't seen me yet, I wanted to turn around and go home. But too late.

Tony: Naomi wait! he whispered. Listen Emmy I have to leave you. Talk to you later.

He hung up immediately. I didn't want to be there anymore. I really had made the wrong decision. A decision I already regretted.

Tony: You were leaving?

I do. I think I shouldn't have.

Tony: And why did you come then?

Me, I do not know.

Tony: Please don't go.

Me : why ?

Tony: Because I need you to stay?

Me: You can't talk like that Tony. You can't say things like that.

Tony: I know but that's the way it is.

I sat on the couch like a scared innocent little girl. He couldn't stop looking at me. I didn't want to meet his gaze. He came to sit across from me on the table. He was so close to me that my hands were shaking. As if realizing it, he took my hands in his. Which didn't really help matters because I was shaking even more at his touch.

Tony: I want you to know that this situation does not appeal to me at all. I have never, ever in my life done that. I never imagined making love to my brother's girlfriend.

Me: So why did you do it?

Tony: I don't know Naomi. You make me one of these effects. But why ? Why you had to be my brother's bride.

I was also wondering the same question. Why hadn't I met him before? Why did I have to get engaged to her brother who I didn't even love? Tony within days was questioning all my life choices. And yet it was all stupid. Tony had someone in his life too. And then for my own reputation, I still couldn't leave Nelson for his brother.

Tony: I can't stop thinking about you since Friday. I had promised myself to stay away from you but I really wanted to see you before Nelson came home.

Me: Do you realize what you're saying?

Tony: Yes. Nelson doesn't have to know what's going on.

Me: And you think this story will last until when?

Tony: I don't know Naomi but I just need to see you, touch you

Me: Don't come near me

I didn't even mean what I was saying. And then he himself apparently had no intention of complying and began to kiss me. He did it so tenderly that I felt like I was everything to him.

Tony: I didn't know that such sweet...

Me: Huh?

Tony: You are a drug Naomi. I have never loved being with someone as much as I love being with you.

Me: So what am I going to say?

He got up from the table and came to sit on the sofa next to me. He just gently pulled me towards him and took me in his arms. All we wanted was to be in each other's arms. Lying on top of him, I received his tender and innocent caresses. Sometimes he kissed me on the forehead. No one was talking, we were just savoring the moment. A moment that was even more dangerous than the two of us making love. This moment indeed proved that it was no longer just a sex story.

Tony: Why are you marrying Nelson Naomi?

Me: Sorry? why this question ?

Tony: You don't like it so why do you like it?

Me: Where did you get that from?

Tony: I see it that's all. In your eyes and on your body when I touch you. Why are you marrying her?

Me: No, but who do you take me for? For a huntress who only wants your brother's money?

Tony: No that's not what I have...

Me: You don't know anything about me. And if you think you can read me because you made love to me. I love Nelson (liar) and anyway the reasons...

He silenced me with a kiss. A kiss so languorous that I still couldn't say no immediately. I had to take advantage of his lips a little. But as I let myself go, I realized that I was just proving what Tony was saying. And since it was out of the question for me that I agree with him, I tried to push him away. However, at that very moment, I heard a voice:

Nelson: Tony I have a surprise for you.

Tony who didn't want to come away from my mouth seconds ago pushed me away as if I was the one who got him to kiss me.

Me: (whispering) You knew he was coming and you called me?

Tony: No I didn't know anything.

Nelson had come home earlier than expected And he was probably not going to understand why I was at his house.....

Nelson: Tony?

Tony: Yes I am in the second living room.

Nelson: Look who I bring to you.

A tall, thin woman was behind Nelson. She wore a long graft that almost touched her buttocks. She was dressed in such an alluring outfit that I wondered if Nelson had brought a prostitute home.

Nelson: Naomi? What are you doing here ?

Me: I I...

Tony: Sorry big brother but we can't tell you anything. Know that we are just preparing something for you for the wedding.

Nelson: Really? A suprise ?

Tony: You'll see.

And now we had to prepare a surprise for Nelson for the wedding. But without that story, I don't know what I would have said to Nelson. Me bad liar that I am, I was already terrified. Nelson had believed Tony's story without a doubt, but Emmy, his girlfriend, was giving me a rather odd look.

Nelson: Ah Emmy, this is Naomi my wife.

Emmy: I suspected that. Really happy to meet you. You are even more beautiful than Nelson described you.

Hum! What was this atalakou? I didn't find him really sincere. Besides, there was something about her that annoyed me. Anyway, I understood why Nelson had said that their mother would have a heart attack. Everything about her was extravagant. Even his way of speaking. But what could Tony like about her? She was so superficial. While I was fucking someone else's girlfriend, part of my mind told me I was jealous. And to speak objectively she didn't look like a prostitute but with her breasts practically out and her jeans too tight and as if a dog had got mad at them, she was not far from it.

Nelson: Good thing you're here Naomi. We're all going to eat together at mom's. We get dressed and we go.

Nelson walked to his bedroom and Tony accompanied his girlfriend to the bedroom where we had made love not too long ago. I preferred to think of this bedroom that way. The idea that this girl had to sleep on this bed with him sickened me. With her style she had to sleep with really seductive outfits.

Five minutes later, Tony returned to the living room.

Tony: How are you? he said quietly.

Me: yes it's fine.

Tony: Look I didn't mean to pretend you were a diamond hunter. I can't imagine that about you Naomi.

Me: Do you really think this is the place and time to talk about this?

Tony: No, but I want you to know.

Emmy: Honey can you come help me please?

Obviously Tony went to find her like a little doggie. I didn't even want to be there. Now I had to eat with them. I can imagine how she will behave in front of their mother. Hum! Casually the girl there annoyed me for nothing. She hadn't done anything to me. Other than her weird “stay away from my man” look, she had been nice. It really was no use at all. She was brother-in-law's girlfriend. What an idea to be jealous of her.

Nelson really took a long time to wash his face. Him too ! Had he rolled in the mud. I had never seen a guy as manic as him. Besides, I hadn't even planned to take a long time here. To make him hurry, I decided to go and jostle him in his room. Nelson's and Tony's room ran parallel. And to get to Nelson's I had to walk past Tony's bedroom door. I was already frustrated enough as it was.

Tony had his bedroom door open and when I walked through, I saw Madame sitting on top of him kissing him fiercely. Tony saw me pass and our eyes met. My stomach knotted, I felt my nerves freeze (Naomi how did you feel that?), rage seized me. I was going to take revenge.

I walked into Nelson's room but he was in the bathroom, on the phone.

* On the phone

Nelson: Look I see things are getting worse between them. And I am forced to think of an irreversible solution. Yes. Yes I'm sure. We'll have to get rid of Pa...

I had arrived in the bathroom. As soon as he saw me he stopped talking and gave me a brief look that was both surprised and furious. That look didn't last more than five seconds. Then he resumed the serious and loving look that I knew from him.

Nelson: Yes hello. I was saying that we will have to get rid of the Palmeraies. I'll let you talk later. Honey how are you?

Me: Uh yes. And you? what have you been doing since?

Nelson: Sorry work.

Me: Listen you just did almost a week of ion. That we let you enjoy your family a little. Hurry up, it's already 7 p.m.

10 minutes later Nelson was ready. Tony and Emmy too. The asshole didn't dare look at me after what I had just seen. But I promised myself revenge. So during the whole trip in the car, it was a burst of laughter there, my love and my heart here. I even made friends with Emmy. I wasn't going to stop there. I sat behind Nelson who was in the passenger seat while Tony drove. To spice things up, I proceeded to pat Nelson on the neck. I wasn't even seated properly but I didn't care. I must have enraged Tony. Good for me, Nelson loved public displays of love. So he was playing the game perfectly. It was so perfect that when they arrived in front of the gate my future mother-in-law, Nelson himself delivered the coup de grace to Tony.

Nelson: Oh honey, I almost forgot. I promised you a present so I brought you this.

A silver chain with a pendant with a large stone. I don't know what stone it was but it was beautiful!

Nelson: You can open the stone, look, and put a picture inside.

Me: Oh it's so beautiful darling, I love it.

Nelson: I want you to put the picture of our future baby in it.

Me: Thank you sweetheart. It's really too much

Nelson: Nothing is too good for you.

I gave my back to Tony, but I wanted to see the rage on his face so badly that I turned to him.

Me: Tony you see how much your brother spoils me? How could I not be crazy about him?

Tony: Yes my brother is really a romantic.

Stuck in the heart. It was true what he said but it was obvious that he was not happy. So much so that he pretended to have to make a phone call. Either way, I was happy. I had managed to annoy him and in addition I got away with a superb necklace.

Nelson's mother was waiting for us in the living room. A beautiful and radiant woman. From what my mother had told me about her, she was a strong woman. Considered her husband's right arm, she was involved in family affairs. On the other hand, I found it very erased. Maybe with the death of her husband, she had decided to enjoy life and rest. At times she reminded me of my mother. Probably because of his gentleness towards me. I was convinced of one thing, I had a beautiful mother who loved me. Although sometimes I thought I saw pity towards me in his eyes. I must have misinterpreted his gaze.

I had been very attentive during this meal. The mother-in-law was giving almost all of her attention to Tony and also to me. As I had expected, she didn't really want to feel Emmy who hadn't even had the decency to cover her breasts for her first time with her boyfriend's mother. His attitude towards Nelson was quite ambiguous. She barely spoke to him.

Didn't really look him in the eye. If it hadn't been her son, and if I hadn't been convinced that it was impossible, I would have said that she was afraid of Nelson. This thought made me smile. Nelson was a lamb, so adorable. Besides, I couldn't understand why she wasn't closer to him than to Tony. Okay, he was adorable too, but hey…

For dessert there was a chocolate vanilla ice cream and a cake. The mother suggested that we continue to the veranda. She had a very well maintained garden. I think she must have spent whole hours there. As I returned to the living room to retrieve Nelson's glass, Emmy followed me.

Emmy: how are you, Naomi?

Me: Yeah, why?

Emmy: Because I wonder how you manage to play the girl in love when you're teasing Tony.

Me: Sorry?

Emmy: I know Tony my dear. He looks at you as if you were the moon. You're going to stop hovering around my boyfriend, otherwise I'll tell everything to your husband's love.

Me: Tell what?

Mother-in-law: What are you girls doing in it?

I didn't like what Emmy had just done at all. How did she know there was something between me and Tony. We were certainly not discreet. I had to stop that and get that idea out of his head immediately....

TO BE CONTINUED.....