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<\/p>\nWhen Ella\u2019s boyfriend, Ian, plans a romantic getaway to Santorini, she takes the hint that a proposal is on its way. But when the couple gets to their destination, they are surprised with the arrival of Ian\u2019s best friend, Mark. Will Ella get her dream getaway, or will it end in a disaster?<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve never been the girl who had a timeline on her dating life. I\u2019d been with Ian for two years and I knew that we were heading in the marriage direction, but still, time wasn\u2019t an issue for me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But then, for the past six months, Ian had been dropping hints about an \u201cunforgettable surprise\u201d he had planned for our summer trip to Santorini.<\/p>\n
Every time I pressed for details, my boyfriend would just flash a mysterious smile and say, \u201cYou\u2019ll see, Ella. Just you wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Ian wasn\u2019t one to plan surprises properly. He seemed to have let the cat out of the bag easily. There were moments when he would casually browse engagement rings online, leaving the tabs open for me to find.<\/p>\n
On one occasion, when we were having a quiet night in, he even asked me what my dream wedding looked like.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to try and picture what you see when you think about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Naturally, excitement got the better of me. Was this really it? Was Ian finally going to propose to me?<\/p>\n
The weeks passed and before I knew it, we were packing for our trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe that we\u2019re finally doing this!\u201d Ian exclaimed, as he went into his closet and pulled out more clothes to pack.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just can\u2019t wait for the beach and the cocktails,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n
As our plane touched down, I felt a surge of anticipation.<\/p>\n
I knew that Ian was planning something and just looking at the sun setting over the Aegean Sea, casting a glow on the whitewashed buildings, this was the perfect place.<\/p>\n
It would be a perfect proposal.<\/p>\n
Little did I know, this trip would turn into a whirlwind of emotions and unexpected revelations about my relationship.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis place is everything I thought it would be and more,\u201d Ian said, as we strolled hand in hand along the cobbled streets.<\/p>\n
And it was. Everything was magical.<\/p>\n
Until the next morning. Ian and I were just getting ready to go down to the hotel\u2019s breakfast, when his phone buzzed with a message. I was starving and just wanted to feed myself, but I watched as my boyfriend\u2019s face lit up as he read the message.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d I asked, picking up my sunscreen to take along with us.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess what!\u201d he exclaimed excitedly. \u201cMark\u2019s in Santorini too! He had some last-minute changes to his work trip and decided to come here because he knew that we\u2019re on vacation! Isn\u2019t this just great?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour best friend wants to crash our vacation?\u201d I asked, genuinely surprised. \u201cThat\u2019s great!\u201d<\/p>\n
And at first, I thought that it was. When Ian and I first started dating, Mark was the first person that he introduced me to. So, I knew him well. And I knew how close they were, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah! Isn\u2019t it awesome that he\u2019ll get to share this place with us? We\u2019ll be able to hang out, too,\u201d he said, already texting Mark back, probably giving him the hotel\u2019s details.<\/p>\n
I smiled as I put my shoes on. I was happy that Mark was here. It was easy to get along with Mark and I knew how much he meant to Ian.<\/p>\n
I figured that it wouldn\u2019t be such a bad idea to have him here. Ian could do all the water activities with him because that was one thing my phobia wouldn\u2019t allow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll still get to have our alone time,\u201d Ian promised. \u201cDon\u2019t you worry about that, Ella.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Mark arrived at our hotel, we were both thrilled to see him. Ian ordered room service and bottles of champagne to celebrate him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll explore the island together,\u201d Ian said.<\/p>\n
It was heartwarming to see the two friends reunited, laughing and sharing stories.<\/p>\n
Until it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
As the hours passed, I began to feel like a third wheel in my relationship. Ian and Mark were wrapped up in their own world, reminiscing about old times and planning new adventures.<\/p>\n
I tried to join in, but their inside jokes and shared experiences over the years often left me out of the loop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is exhausting,\u201d I mumbled to myself as I stood on the balcony of our hotel room, hearing Ian and Mark giggle like teenagers.<\/p>\n
The next few days were a blur of Ian and Mark\u2019s bromance adventures.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean it\u2019s become a buddy trip?\u201d my friend, Rae, asked on the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIan and Mark have been at it nonstop. It\u2019s all about them. They went scuba diving, explored hidden caves, and gone on tours. All without me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing now?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaiting for a massage,\u201d I replied. \u201cI figured that I may as well entertain myself. This isn\u2019t how I thought my romantic getaway would turn out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTalk to Ian, babe,\u201d Rae said. \u201cTell him how you feel. He\u2019s probably just overly excited to see Mark, that he has completely lost control of what\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded to myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d I said, agreeing. \u201cI\u2019ll have my massage and calm my nerves and then go find Ian.\u201d<\/p>\n
But I couldn\u2019t find Ian or Mark anywhere, although, I knew that Ian would show up eventually because we had dinner reservations for just the two of us that evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cI promised you, Ella,\u201d Ian said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have time for just the two of us, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
I dressed up, hoping for this time alone with my boyfriend. If this trip was supposed to be about us, and us forging a new path forward together, then we needed to spend time alone.<\/p>\n
But as we were about to leave, Mark showed up at our door.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, boy,\u201d I muttered under my breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, guys!\u201d he exclaimed excitedly, pushing his way into our room. \u201cI just heard that there\u2019s an amazing beach party happening tonight. I really want to check it out. You have to come!\u201d<\/p>\n
My boyfriend\u2019s eyes sparkled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds awesome! Come on, Ella, let\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cIan, we have dinner reservations. But maybe you should go if you really want to. It\u2019s fine. I\u2019ll catch up with you later.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Ian wouldn\u2019t hear of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Ella, it will be fun, babe!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll meet you later,\u201d I said firmly.<\/p>\n
As I watched them high-fiving each other and planning their night out, something inside me snapped. This was supposed to be our special trip, a milestone in our relationship.<\/p>\n
Instead, I felt invisible.<\/p>\n
I ordered room service and sat on the large bed.<\/p>\n
This is going to be my life, isn\u2019t it?\u201d I said to the empty room.<\/p>\n
And I could see it. Being married to Ian meant that Mark would be around at every corner. He would be there at our wedding, right next to Ian. He would probably come on the honeymoon.<\/p>\n
And what if we had kids? Would Mark also be in the delivery room?<\/p>\n
No. I needed to put a stop to the nonsense.<\/p>\n
The next morning, while they were out on another adventure, I approached the hotel manager with a plan. I explained my situation and, with a little persuasion, convinced him to help me with my unconventional revenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t say that I\u2019ve ever been a part of something like this before, ma\u2019am,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Later, when Ian and Mark returned to the hotel, they were met with a staff member.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been upgraded,\u201d they were told. \u201cWe\u2019ve moved your belongings to a different room. Please, follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure that they thought that we were moving into a bigger suite, one where the three of us could be together.<\/p>\n
But, no. That wasn\u2019t what I had planned.<\/p>\n
When they entered the room, it was transformed into a honeymoon suite. Rose petals were scattered everywhere, candles flickered, and a bottle of champagne chilled on the table. At the middle of the bed, was the small velvet box I had found in Ian\u2019s suitcase.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s all this?\u201d Mark asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wanted a proposal, Ian? Mark is clearly the most important person to you here. So, you guys can make it official.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d they said in unison.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t do this, Ian. It may seem absurd because we\u2019re just on vacation, but this feels like how the rest of our lives are going to be. And I\u2019m not signing up for this. I\u2019ve booked the next flight back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ian tried to reason with me, but I knew that it was over. Something in me had snapped and I just didn\u2019t want to do this anymore.<\/p>\n
From a proposal to a breakup, Santorini was as unexpected as it came.<\/p>\n
What would you have done?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When Ella\u2019s boyfriend, Ian, plans a romantic getaway to Santorini, she takes the hint that a proposal is on its way. But when the couple gets to… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n