darling ┆ ✓

english version

disclaimer: author doesn't promote
teenagers force to marry someone
during arrangements. take note that
this is only written in fiction.

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"i sense your fear." the young man started with a deep, low tone voice that sends shiver down her skin. his hair is curly, dirty blonde and quite messy but it suits him because of his handsome face. looks as if one of those product models that're being advertised around mall. his eyes were hidden by the dark shade of glasses his currently wearing— to the point she can't clearly see his eyes. his nose is cute yet pointy, his lips is just right thick and it seems like naturally doing a pout.

the young girl tries to calm herself down, but her heart can't stop thumping fast from being nervous or yet scared. he goes closer to where she is, the only thing she could do is to press herself more as she sat still on the floor. he then stop a few meters away in front of her.

"don't worry, i'm harmless." he added, voice now soft yet stays rough. he slowly open his palm, she curiously look at it with questioning look. she wonder what he is trying to tell her. he hesitantly ask her, "can i.. touch your hand?"

she gulp her stuck saliva and shakingly reach for his large hand. the young man's arms was rested on the wheelchair's hand rest, his hands hang loose. he then felt her fingers; her hand land on to his. he slowly close his palm to hold her soft and delicate hand.

she was still nervous; feeling uneasy towards him. then suddenly, it all vanished like bubbles when he showed her a sweet smile, his dimples being visible. she lets him intertwine both of their fingers together. next thing is she offer her other hand which he gladly accepted it. "great, you're no longer tense."

"y-you.. y'will be my partner forever." finally, he heard the girl he'll be marrying spoke. the young girl's voice was soft like her milky skin and it sounds like a soothing, wonderful music instrument that you would love to hear everyday. her hair is straight and long that reaches her hips, colored in chestnut with a shining so-called-halo on top of it due to a sign of a healthy hair. her eyes look beautiful, it's like the color of emerald— her lashes are long and curvy. let's not forget to appreciate her round nose and cherry lips that looks tasty. the young man sigh heavily, he then let go of her hand which put her in dismay. she doesn't even know why that saddens her but she shrug that thought off.

"i'm sorry, valerie." he said with a hint of guilt. that cause valerie's eyes to widen, she suddenly feel guilty from whatever she said  to fharrel— he is three years older than her. it must be that their parents wanted them to get married, even though they haven't agreed to it yet— heck this is their first time meeting.

"n-no, i think you're a good person fharrel, and i will marry you whether it's an arranged marriage or not." she bit her lower lip and look down to her feet after saying those embarrassing words. the young man was left speechless after hearing that. she felt her cheeks turning warm, its shade was like a color of new roses. she doesn't know where did she get those words, it just came out of her pretty mouth. hopefully she doesn't regret it later.

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valerie was only eighteen when she gotten an arrange marriage with a total stranger. it was early because her parents cannot wait for too long for them to see her wearing a bridal gown, so is the young man's parents seeing their son being a groom. valerie and him got married without a problem or issue. but of course, let's not forget the honeymoon. both of their parents were hoping that they'll make a child in that night, but above expectations, they didn't. instead they only have a decent conversation; having a lot of talk to one another for them to get to know better. the parents were dismayed, but they understood the married couple's decision.

during their conversation, her groom told her why, how, and what was the reason he became blind. fharrel said that his mother had been very sick and she wasn't aware she was pregnant, she continuously took strong medicine and let the vitamins get injected in her at the hospital. valerie's turn to tell her story, she is a virgin. that's why she was very anxious during the time they first met at fharrel's place, both their parents was discussing about their marriage in the living that time. that's not all, it was also their first time in their life having a first kiss. it brings them a different kind of feeling, their heart beats won't stop that time during the altar with the pastor.

"darling." valerie called to the young man who were facing the window, his hands are tucked in his each of his pockets. her voice surrounds the living room, voice was soft and lovely— only the two of them are living in the house that their parents built for them. he turn his head around to face where the voice came from, he smiled causing his dimples to show in his cheeks. she saw it; melting her heart. she approached him with a hug. fharrel returning the hug; combing the young woman's long hair. she leans on her husband's hard chest and listen to his heart beat. "you look like you're having deep thoughts, you okay?"

fharrel grins because his loving wife is worried for him. "yes, don't worry. the weather today is bright as your lovely face and i never thought you'll call me darling one day." he said to her question. his voice sending shivers to her skin as usual. he totally knows how to make valerie's heart flutter. she rose her head to look at his overflowing handsome face. he wasn't wearing the glasses so she saw his bluish, smoking eyes— it really tells how good his genes are. late for valerie to notice her eye tearing up, she sniff and pulls away from the embrace to wipe off the tears on her cheeks. she doesn't want to let her husband know this, but it seems he already did due to his worried face. "hey, what's wrong? is it because i'm blind? darling, i can take surgery if you want-"

"no, no." valerie stopped his sentence, she cups both of his cheeks and rain him kisses on both cheeks, going to his forehead, nose, and lastly, his lips. she saw his eyes were watery as hers, he grabs her hands. it was soft and hot. he then connect their forehead together; both of them cries quietly. the morning was beautiful, but it's not enough for them to be happy. valerie understand why fharrel doesn't like his eyesight fixed, there's a possibility it'll fail and it might worsen. she feels very hurt because of her husband struggling in his entire life with his disability. while fharrel was truly grateful that his wife fully accept him. "please fharrel, don't say that. i accept you, i want you.. and i love you."

"i'm sorry." he kissed the back of valerie's hand, squeezing it and try to remove her tears next as she helps him. "sorry darling," he added. valerie hugs him, on her heels since he is indeed tall, letting him sob weakly to her shoulder. it really made her feel more heavy, but she's still thankful that fharrel has feelings and the lord gave her husband an ability to scan and verify whatever he touches and feel. "valerie, i just wish i can see your face, not in my imaginations."

"stop that. just be thankful you're here with me, and don't you love me?"

"i do."

"say it."

"i love you, darling.. i love you that it hurts i-"

"hush.. i love you too, darling."

valerie pulls away and look at fharrel again, she saw him smiling, making her smile aswell. she took a closer look and see his eyes being red from crying too much just like hers. valerie approach his lips to hers, feeling their lips crash together gently. fharrel kissed back, leading them to have a passionate kiss. it was smoking, giving them a unique feeling that feels like their heart was about to pop out of their chest. he felt the heat of his wife's skin; he started to travel his hand around her small body. he then heard her let out a soft moan, it was like a sound of an angel calling for him desperately. "valerie, damn.. i think i'm hard."

the called young woman giggles from that, fharrel felt his cheeks getting hot, the heat reaching his neck, ears, and his whole face. he too also giggles with a mix of nervousness. valerie then felt her husband's harden bulge pressed on her stomach. it seems like he is carrying something huge in there and the thought of taking it inside of her made her scared, and kind of.. slightly excited. "let's make love, fharrel. you ready?"

"don't ask like that, it sounds like you're some kind of a player. heck, i sense you're excited as well, valerie."

"heh, ah— don't just carry me without my permission!"

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created&finished: june 11, 2020
revised&republished: june 16, 2022
translated2english: aug 13, 2022
© veintage