Cassieopeia Odette.
UCLA Drake Stadium
May 2nd, 2021
6:45pm
"Alumnus, please take your tassels..." she waits a second for us to prepare "Bring it to the other side. Open yourself to a new chapter of life. Congratulations class of 2021, you did it"
We all collectively flip our tassels before throwing our caps in the air
"AHHHHH" Jelly runs to me and jumps on me
"AHHHH" I squeal with her while jumping up and down
"We graduated" she states
"We graduated" I say, trying to come to terms with such a thing
"We're freeee" Jelly dances around with me in a circle
June 27, 2021
"Dee," my parents barge into my apartment with loads of paperwork
"Who gave y'all a key" I lift my head from the couch and watch as they walk around the house like they're doin an inspection
"How's your month off been?" my mom kisses my forehead and hands me a paper plate covered in tinfoil
"Ooohhhh," I sit up and uncover the food- Mmmmm, mac&cheese, barbecue ribs, jambalaya, meatballs, potato salad, green beans, and collard greens sit piled on the plate
"A whole week of food" I smile at my mom and put the plate on the coffee table. "You the best, thank you momma" I get up and kiss her cheek
"You're welcome, luv. That wasn't a bribe, by the way. I genuinely made the food for you but your dad and I need to talk to you" She fixes my hair and kisses my forehead
"Don't give me no bad news. I rebuke" I toss my hands up and wave her away
"It's not bad news tho, it's good" she sits on the couch as my dad walks back in the room from exploring my apartment
"Hey princess" he kisses my forehead and sits across from me
"Hi daddy," I smile and go back under my blanket "So what's the news?"
"Well obviously you just graduated college right?" mom looks at me, waiting for a response
"Right" I nod
"So, you're an adult now and you know you're going to have to take over the family businesses since you're the only child and that takes a lot of time and effort" she speaks
"Yea, I know. But I still have a year of leisure before I actually start working and everything. Y'all said I could take a gap year before I got to work. Y'all want me to work now?" I sit up and stretch "I can get to work now, if that's what y'all really want or need"
"No, no, no" my dad shakes his head "You can still have that year... Jez?" he looks to my mom for support
"What?" I ask, now suddenly interested and some what anxious
"You had a month off to lay around and eat potato chips but now..." mom looks at dad
"Now you have eleven months to..." dad glances at mom
"Can y'all just spit it out?" I sigh and roll my eyes
"You're getting married" my mother blurts out.
I feel my cheeks turn hot and prickly and something tickles at the back of my neck hairs
"What?"
"You're getting married in eleven months" dad repeats
YOU ARE READING
Him and I
RomanceCassiopeia is a twenty-one year old, freshly graduated college student, trying to find her position in the world. When her parents inform her of an arranged marriage and no ultimatum but to get married and take over the family business she's pressed...
