"That's just barbaric."
"It's archaic actually." I corrected my best friend, Marie. "But yeah, it's an outdated idea." I had just explained the situation I was just thrown into.
"I mean, I know your family is old fashioned, but an arranged marriage. I thought that went out centuries ago." She seemed outraged on my behalf. It was sweet. "Do you even know what he is going to be like, Sera?"
"Them," I corrected once again.
"Them?" She asked incredulously. "Are you serious? They not only promised to one man, which most people would find crazy, but more than one?"
"I'm promised to three." I answered her leaning back in my chair with my tea in my hand. "The saving grace, to me, is that they waited until the relationships that everyone was in failed."
"But you have a life and a career are they going to be able to accommodate you in this relationship? Are they even going to try? When do you get stuck with these guys? Do you have to move? Do they know each other or is this four strangers thrown into this weird ass relationship-"
"Marie you need to slow down. I don't know almost all of what you just asked. I haven't met these men and I won't until Wednesday. They all work together so yes they know each other but other than that and what they do, I don't know a damn thing." I dropped my head in defeat against the counter in my kitchen.
"What do they do?" Marie asked as she put her hand on her baby bump, another reason I tried to keep her calm.
"They are pro-wrestlers, so the second that I see them I'll know who they are, the fan that I am, but how they got in this situation, I don't know." I raised my head enough to see Marie's worried eyes. "I'm scared Marie, and you know me. I think I can take on the world."
"And that alone makes me want to hide you in my house until everyone realizes that this is so stupid." Marie put her hand on my arm. "But I also know that you will make the most of the situation you have been thrown into. Its sink or swim here and I know that you swim better than anyone else."
"I know that. I just need to think about this. If you need me-"
"I'll come get you. I know where you are when you think." Marie cut me off and slid my keys to me from down the counter.
The drive to my shop and work room went by in a blur. I didn't see my surroundings as I walked into the store front all the way to the back where I instantly started to work on a project, even though I wouldn't be paying attention to it. I had really just come in to think.
I did idle things while I thought about my situation. I had just broken up with my boyfriend of two years when this bombshell had been dropped on me. Apparently my family had promised me to a total of three men. I don't know how all four families had agreed that it was a good idea to put four of their children together in a relationship, but they had.
I was the only girl in the situation so apparently the families at least knew that there would be a woman or they really didn't care. I didn't know how I truly felt about what I got thrown into. I was still numb from my break up. I had walked into my apartment and found my boyfriend in our bed with another woman. I immediately broke up with him and kicked them out. I slept on the couch that night and the next day I burned my bedding and mattress. Then went out and got new things. I spent the rest of the day sanitizing my house of his presence when my Father showed up and dropped my new situation in my lap.
I thought about what I was told two days ago and it was something that my parents would truly do. They wanted to control me anyway they could. They didn't approve of my career. They didn't approve of where I was living. The didn't approve of any man I dated but the last one had cheated on me. Upon hearing that my dad offered to shoot him, but I jokingly told him I'd rather do it myself. So they couldn't do anything to keep me from moving out or making my career choice and having it be successful, but they found one way to control me.
There are certain times I'm okay with being controlled. In the bedroom by my partner is great. When a person is really worried and gives me a great argument about why they want me to do something is fine. And yes if you caught on to that comment I am into the Dom/Sub lifestyle but I have yet to have a true Dom, all the men I've dated were too immature or just assholes that I wouldn't trust with much other than my heart because that can be fixed by the next guy.
Thinking about my situation it certainly was strange, but then again so am I and I have no other option. Like Marie said it was a sink or swim situation and I love to swim. But they could damn sure come find me in three days, on Wednesday, because I'm not closing the store for them.