The following day, Shiro woke up at dawn. She was supposed to report back to work after a short break.
As usual, she first went to the frog's kingdom for refreshments. Often, she took quite a considerable amount of time preparing. After showering, she took a white towel and wiped herself clean. Then she proceeded to the mirror where she keenly looked at herself as she applied make-up.
She confirmed and made her iconic hairstyle spread well on her cute head. She then applied make-up on her face, leaving a shiny face.
Dressing up was another task. It took quite some time for her to dress. She chose a blue dress, white rubber shoes and a silver necklace. She then dressed up in an appealing way.
After spending more than an hour preparing, she quickly made her way to the kitchen. She warmed the breakfast and took it to the table.
Meanwhile, Mark was still in bed. He was not going to work that particular day.
Shiro took her breakfast in a hurry. She then took a step, climbed on the bed and kissed him on the cheek, uttering sweet, romantic words.
Goodbye love, see you later" she bid him farewell as she rushed, as she was almost late for work.
Shiro, having her phone in her left hand and a purse in her right hand, walked quickly through the main door.
After a few meters walking distance, he boarded a motorcycle to work.
At the main gate, Shiro signed in. She was the last person as all her colleagues had already reported.
Shiro went ahead to his office, sat on the chair and began her normal duty. There was quite a long queue waiting for her service.
As an experienced and dedicated service woman, she quickly used little time possible to handle the case before her.
Everyone loved her so much. She had extraordinary characters that made people around her extend her heart.
At around noon, Shiro had finished all the pending assignments. She sat to rest a bit. But her mind was too preoccupied. She seemed to be disturbed.
Shiro's colleague from another department from the same institution came to look for her. She had literally missed her. Shiro's absence had made her heart grow fonder.
The colleague, Jessy, found her sitting in her office, putting her head in her right hand. She obviously knew that Shiro must have something disturbing her.
"Good afternoon Shiro", Jessy greeted her.
"Am fine, Jessy" she responded.
"How was your holiday? ""I hope you enjoyed it" Jessy said as she made her way to a chair next to Shiro.
"It was really fine, thank you" Shiro answered.
"Welcome" Jessy said.
Jessy was a professional councilor and knew very well her friend needed her services. She had to inquire if at all something bad was happening in Shiro's life.
"You seem disturbed. What might be troubling you, my friend?"
At first, Shiro was not willing to discuss it with his friend. She had some doubts whether it at all would be fair enough to offer genuine advice. But on insisting, she broke down into tears before later opening her mouth to speak.
"My love affair is really troubling me a lot," she explained as she wiped out tears from her face using a white handkerchief.
"How? "Be free and explain to me, I will help you," Jessy insisted.
"Do you know Mark, the man currently dating me?" Shiro asked.
"Probably I might know him. "Is he the one who often escorts you to work on a motorcycle?" Jessy inquired.
Shiro nodded her head in agreement. Tears were becoming too much for her to handle. It rolled down her cheeks like an over flooding river. It took Jessy quite a long time to calm her down.
"The man is really limiting my freedom. I can't even have my own time. We are always together and every place I go, he follows me. I lack my privacy as a woman. Currently, we are staying together and can't go to his place", Shiro lamented.
"Take it easy Shiro" Jessy commented.
" Currently, he is forcing me into marriage plans. For sure, I am not comfortable with the marriage thing... "As you know, I am just dating for fun and nothing attached," Shiro added.
"Have you ever tried to talk to him, explaining to him about your future plans?" Jessy asked.
"Yes, I even turned down his marriage proposal a few days back. He is just too obsessed to let me go," she said.
"Don't cry, I have a solution for you. ""Do you agree to keep it confidential?" Jessy asked.
Jessy went on advising her on the best way to move forward. According to her, it would be wise for Shiro to move out of that particular house and rent somewhere where Mark could not trace her.
Jessy advised her to reconsider the marriage letter, though she warned her that it was not for the faint-hearted.
Shiro saw the advice as very promising. She made up her mind to risk and make her way out. But what troubled her much was how she would escape without household items. Starting life afresh was the hardest thing ever, but that was what could bring her peace. It was the best option.
Shiro appreciated Jessy for a genuine piece of advice. At least she felt like offloading a burden she had endured for a long time. A burden of embarrassment, limited freedom and consistent marriage pressure.
Shiro had found a solution. She was now happy again.
Her two friends parted ways at around two o'clock, as they resumed work.
Shiro completed her task by 4 o'clock in the evening and headed home.
It was a rainy day, so she struggled with her umbrella as she walked to the bus stage. She boarded a bus where she was dropped a few meters away from her house. She walked slowly and knocked at the door. Mark opened the door and enthusiastically hugged her, welcoming her back to the house.