Chapter 1 Happy Birthday

• Selina's POV :
• I never agreed to get married to a man I don't have an idea of. I never agreed to my parents wishes, but in the next few hours, I saw myself in a white wedding dress, still with my sneakers on.
• An impromptu wedding.
• This man I heard is supposed to get married to my sister, and definitely not me. I could remember hours ago, my sister was having that conversation with my parents about the man she was to get married to, but what why is it now me on the Isle.
• Few hours ago.
• "He is a nice guy from a nice background, Nala, and I promise you, you will like him." I could hear my mother Jasmine conversing with Nala. I peeped to watch and listen to what they were saying, instead of cleaning the house as I was expected to.
• Nala had her leg on the other, looking like someone who might burst in tears soon. "Why should I be the one to marry him? What about Selina? She is also old enough to get married. Why me? What offense did I commit?"
• "Selina is..." Father wanted to say something, but Nala cut him off before he could.
• "She is what? She is over eighteen already. Why can't she get married? Why do I have to be the one to pay for your debts?"
• I heard my mother sigh, and quickly I moved away.
• I heard Nala is getting married to pay off my family's debts. She doesn't know the person she is getting married to, and I do felt pity for her.
• Turning to peep again, I saw her standing right in front of me, glaring hard at me.
• "You were eavesdropping. Who do you think you are?" She scowled angrily at me.
• "I am so sorry. I shouldn't have."
• "Is that an attempt to make fun of me? Oh!" She exclaimed, "I will be getting married to a strange man, while you do nothing, but peep around like a dirty rat. You sick girl!" She snapped at me.
• "Sorry." I apologized again. Of course she doesn't like me, I don't know why. My parents also treat me badly, I also don't know why it is so. Crazy right?
• But they are still my family, and every affair in the family should matter to me too.
• "If you are truly sorry, then run along. You are not needed here, because the more I see you, the more I get angry so much that I could kill you. Scram!!" She yelled angrily, and quickly, I ran away before she could actually lay out her anger on me.
• I ran to the kitchen to continue what I was doing - cleaning.
• I was busy cleaning when I heard my phone ring silently in my pocket. I picked it up, and the next sound I heard was vociferous.
• "Happy birthday Selina!!" I quickly took the phone away from my ear.
• It's my birthday?
• Putting it back, the many voices I heard brought out a smile on my face.
• "Happy birthday, sweetheart."
• They were my friends. Three of them - Paula, Erica and Lilian.
• They are the only friends I have, who always got my back, and besides, I maybe have forgotten it's my birthday today. They are always the ones to remind me and greet me.
• My parents? They have no clue. I even doubt they remember the month or year I was born.
• Everyday had been a normal day for me.
• My twentieth birthday.
• I really am twenty today.
• "Thanks guys."
• "So, tonight? Don't tell me we are not celebrating this time."
• I sighed deeply. Of course I wish to celebrate my birthday with my friends, but I can't. I have a lot of chores to do. I might also get tired when I am done with my chores. No time to think about a celebration.
• I don't think I have the time to celebrate today.
• "Guys, I am not..."
• "You can't say no this time." I heard Lilian's voice. "We are at the front of your house already." Erica added.
• Wait, what?!
• I looked out the window to see them standing by the gate, waiting for me to come out.
• "Seriously guys. You know my mom would never agree to this. She would lock me up."
• "She won't." I heard Lilian say again. "We got your back babe."
• I took away the cleaning brush, rushed out of the house to meet them, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
• "Guys, I have got a lot of work to do today,"
• "Common, it's your birthday." The girls moved closer to me and hugged me. "Happy birthday sweetheart."
• "Thanks guys." I smiled at them, as they withdrew.
• "We will explain to the woman of the house." I could hear Paula mumble while applying lipstick to her lips.
• I raised my brows. "Paula, you have enough red on your lips."
• "My crush lives in this street. I have to make a good impression for him to like me. I have to look classy enough for him."
• Lilian hissed. "Sick."
• "Common guys. We have a lot of explanations to do with her mom." The three went with me into the house.
• Getting into the house, I saw Nala standing by the kitchen window, glaring at me as if I had done something so terrible that my head could go with it. Infact her glare got me terrified, almost wondering what I did wrong.
• I didn't steal anything, right?
• I quickly quickened my pace to go meet my friends.
• They did convinced mom, but it did took time before she could agree.
• "But it is her birthday, ma'am." Erica explained to her.
• I thought she would be surprised to hear what she said, but her expression disappointed me. So disappointed.
• Her facial expression was still the same - gloomy.
• "She hasn't done all her chores and besides, birthdays are for kids. Who does birthdays at this time of age, my dear? You just said she will be twenty today, and here, you wish to take her home to celebrate her birthday as if she is a kid."
• "But ma'am. A girl's twentieth birthday should be an unforgettable experience for her." Lilian disagreed.
• Mom frowned.
• "But shouldn't that be the eighteenth birthday?"
• "But you never celebrated her eighteenth birthday." Paula replied in a mumble, thinking no one would hear what she said, but I heard and smiled.
• "Ma'am, if you are afraid she will be alone all by herself, then don't worry too much. We are her friends, we will take care of her." Erica assured, but it doesn't look as if she was yet convinced.
• "She needs to do all the work. She hasn't even done anything properly."
• "We will help her."