Living with the seven badboys

　　Ezra’s Point Of View.

　　“ARE you really sure about this?”

　　My attention was focused on Kiana when she asked me that question. I can tell how concerned she is just by looking at her face right now. I let out a deep sigh and nodded.

　　“Yes,” I answered, determined and with no hesitation.

　　She crossed her arms and heaved a worried sigh. “It’s not like I can stop you from escaping–”

　　I felt like my ears grew bigger and my eyes widened. Like a flash, I covered her mouth before she even continued what she was going to expose.

　　“Can you please lower your voice, Kiana? They might hear us!” I hushed her and darted her a warning glare.

　　We are here inside my room. Kiana asked permission from her parents to let her sleep here in our house for tonight. We’re talking about a concrete plan for how I can escape later. Because tomorrow is the day that I’m going to get married, and there’s no way my parents will call the wedding off, so I have to run away before that happens. No matter what, I can’t let that wedding proceed. I can’t let them have satisfaction.

　　Kiana and I fell silent as soon as the door opened and Mom entered my room.

　　“Ezra, are you ready for tomorrow?” Mom asked me in a jubilant tone.

　　I just nodded in response. Although in my heart, I intend to answer the opposite. I feel disappointed and bad for Mom at the same time. I feel bad because I can see the glitters in her eyes as if she’s been waiting for me to get married. I feel disappointed because I can’t believe they can put my life in line for the sake of their company. I’m not their puppy. I’m their daughter.

　　I’m sorry, Mom, but I can’t and I don’t want to go on with the marriage that I never approved of in the first place.

　　It has only been a month when my parents declared our engagement without asking for my approval. Now, Mom wants me to marry him as soon as possible? What does she think marriage is? A game? A business deal?

　　“That’s good to know. Get rest now, my dear. Tomorrow will be the greatest day of your life!” She smiled at me before finally leaving my room.

　　Greatest day, my foot.

　　“Your parents are really serious about that wedding, huh?” Kiana, who was sitting beside me, whispered while she’s eating the snacks I hid earlier. “So, what’s your plan now?”

　　“I’ll wait until midnight to assure that they are sound asleep. Then, that’s the right time to leave.”

　　“I’m trying to weigh the possibilities, Ezra. What if… What if you failed to execute your plan?”

　　I was a little taken aback. She’s right, I didn’t think of that. What if I failed to carry out my plan? What will I do, then? What will happen to me? For the rest of my life, I will be tied to a man I don’t love. I gasped for air as I clenched my fists. Only by imagining it will happen in the near future suffocates me. It will be the cause of my death.

　　“Just trust me with this, Kiana. I know I’ll succeed,” I said boldly.

　　“Let’s say you succeed in escaping, so where will you go?”

　　“I’m not yet sure… I have my own car and enough money to rent an apartment or maybe I can stay at a hotel,” I replied, uncertain.

　　“Duh! The hotels here are way far from our city, and I bet your parents will do everything to find you, Ezra. You know how important you are for their business.”

　　“Yes, I know, but I will not let that happen. If I need to leave the country as soon as I get out of this house, even if it’s risky, I’ll do it. If they are willing to do everything to seek for me, then I’ll do the same thing to get away.”

　　I was fed up by the fact that nothing else mattered to my parents but their company. Kiana sighed with a sound. I know she’s stressed as well because of what is happening to my life, but I’m glad she’s by my side because I no longer know from whom else I will draw strength to fight for my rights to choose what I think is best for myself.

　　She approached me and caressed the back of my palm to somehow ease my mood. I smiled at her so she would be less worried.

　　“Whatever happens, I will always support you, Ezra. I’m rooting for you.”

　　“You’re the best, Kiana!”

　　***

　　IT’S NOW 12:30 AM at midnight. My parents, the maids, and the guards are now sleeping tight. Good thing my parents go to bed early. Kiana is with me at the moment. She hasn’t slept yet because she wants to make sure I can escape from this house with no worries or conflicts.

　　After I finished preparing my baggage, we slowly left the room. Every step we took was careful, nor did we make any noise because the bodyguards at the front gate might hear us in no time.

　　When we got down the stairs, we went through the backyard. The two of us decided to go to the nearest and easiest route, which is the exit at the backyard, because there were no bodyguards there at this time. When Kiana and I got outside, I hurried to bid my farewell to her.

　　“Thank you for helping me, Kiana. I owe you a lot.” I smiled at her.

　　“Take care of yourself. Call or text me, okay? Keep me posted. I will miss you, Ezra,” she reminded me despite getting emotional. I hugged her tightly.

　　“I will miss you, too…”

　　After a few minutes of deafening silence in the middle of the solemn night and embracing one another, we both loosen our grip on the hug.

　　“I have to go now. Goodbye, Kiana.”

　　“Goodbye, Ezra!” she said, crying while waving as I turned my back to walk away.

　　I don’t want to go but I have to. I don’t want regrets to fill inside me in the end because I didn’t turn down this marriage. I’m aware of the possibilities that the Tan family may delay or pull out their investment in our company, but I can’t sacrifice my lifetime to this arranged marriage that I’ve been against since the beginning.

　　I put my belongings in the car compartment and started driving off. I don’t know where I’m going but maybe it’s better to go to a hotel only for tonight.

　　Two hours of driving yet I still haven’t found a single hotel. Like Kiana said, hotels and buildings are too far from our city because we’re in the rural side. It’s hard to grope.

　　I parked my car for a while when it rained heavily out of nowhere. It was dark so I couldn’t see very well where I was going.

　　Over time, the downpour of rain only intensified. I can’t find a place to stay in until now. I peeked at my cellphone when I heard it ring suddenly.

　　“Hello?” I answered Kiana’s call.

　　“Are you okay? Where are you? The rain is heavy, Ezra!” she shouted over the line.

　　“Don’t worry, Kiana. I’m fine. Although I haven’t found a place to stay yet.”

　　“But it's raining cats and dogs! I’m afraid something bad will happen to you on the road.”

　　“The rain will stop soon. So please, stop creating loud noises! They might wake up!” I hissed.

　　“Fine. Then find a hotel or a place you can stay in as soon as possible, Ezra. It’s dark outside and you’re driving. Because of the heavy rain, something might happen to you, so be careful.”

　　“Don’t tell me what to do, Kiana. I know what I’m doing. I’ll call you later, bye!” I said before I ended the call and turned off my phone.

　　I’ve been driving for almost four hours already but I couldn’t find any hotels or apartments in this area. I had no idea where I was either. All I knew was that I was far away from home and from the city. I swore every bad word I knew when my car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.

　　“Shit!” I cussed. “Of all times, why now?!”