Chapter 5

I tried to escape the kiss that was happening between me and Sean by taking a step back. I stared at Sean with a glare.

“Do you think you can treat me as you please? Who do you think you are? You don’t even know how to respect a woman; I hate you, Sean!” I said that in one fell swoop, and I turned to leave Sean, who was calling out to me.

I tried not to care and ran to the sidewalk across the street and stopped a taxi. Sean tried to chase me, but it was too late; the taxi I was in soon passed by. I took the time to cry in the taxi. I felt like something inside me was tarnished. I wasn’t done lamenting my fate of being rejected by my crush, and now I was meeting a man who seemed to be able to treat me as he pleased.

“Miss, where are you going?” The taxi driver’s question distracted me from my sadness and anger for a moment. I mentioned the address of a cafe owned by my close friend, Eden.

When I got there, I took a seat in the corner with a sofa and called Caroline. I wanted to talk to her about this.

Eden came and asked for my order, but he realized my unpleasant situation.

“Hey, Ana, you can tell me anything.” Eden was so considerate, and although it wasn’t uncommon for me to confide in him, I often felt bad about sharing all my problems with him.

I was just about to start my story, but Caroline had just arrived at my table.

“Oh, goodness, Ana, what’s wrong? You don’t look well.” Caroline assessed me as she sat on the chair across from me next to Eden. I nodded.

“You might be surprised to hear this news, but I have nowhere else to go with this burden.” I paused and looked at Caroline and Eden in turn.

“My mother has been planning my engagement to a man. The guy’s family were good friends of my mom and dad back in Thailand. Yesterday was supposed to be a decision dinner and wedding date, but I ran off to Logos for fun.”

I stopped talking and looked back at Eden and Caroline.

Caroline, who I was sure would be shocked by this news, looked at me with bulging eyes.

“Are you serious, Ana? Oh, my gosh, so the guy who came to the studio is your future fiancé? Is he rich? Famous? An artist or-“

“Oh, Carry, really? I’m sad and angry right now. Does it matter?” I looked at Caroline with annoyance mixed with sadness. Caroline chuckled and then apologized; I rolled my eyes at her half-seriously.

“Then, what about now? Do you approve of the marriage?” Eden’s question made me unable to answer the man with any answer. I was at a loss.

“I haven’t decided yet, but it feels like I want to reject this marriage. On the other hand, I don’t want to make my mother disappointed. I don’t want to argue with her too often.”

I admit that my relationship with my mother in the past few months has been filled with many arguments about my career in the entertainment industry. I’m an only child and a girl, and my mom has always been overprotective of me, but I understand that.

“You want me to help you talk to your mom? Maybe I can make her not rush into a decision about it.” Caroline was like a breath of fresh air to me. I looked at her with a smile full of emotion and gratitude.

“Come on, Ana, you need to be more realistic. How long are you going to avoid marriage? Then what about Phillip, are you guys really-“Eden hung up his sentence when he saw me shaking my head with a sadness face.

Eden and Caroline exhaled loudly at the same time, and it did not escape me, who was feeling increasingly burdened by the problem I was facing. We were silent for a moment, each with our thoughts.

“So, what now? Should I reject it?” I broke the silence between the three of us; Caroline exhaled loudly again.

“Think about it. If you need time, I’ll organize your schedule so you can have time to think things over.” Caroline looked at me with her gentle and understanding gaze, accompanied by her smile, which always made me feel lucky to have a cousin like her.

“Oh, Carrie, you’re the best. I promise I’ll take care of this problem as soon as possible. Thanks to both of you.” I looked at Eden and Caroline alternately with a smile and a sense of relief inside me. At least I have a place to share this burden.

**

Sean was sitting in my house’s living room when I entered through the main door. I was surprised but continued to enter. Closing the door, I stepped deeper and stopped near one of the sofas. He was looking at me with a gaze capable of stirring my soul.

“We need to talk, Ana.” Sean started the conversation. He straightened up, and I exhaled loudly. His neutrals, the color of liquid honey, had a magical power that I could not resist.

“Alright, but not here. You can choose the place.” I surrendered to Sean’s wishes. The man smiled with a happy hue. Sean stood up from his seat and approached me, and we walked out of my house together to his car, which he parked near my mother’s car.

Sean opened the car door for me. I was about to get into the car, but Sean held my arm, and I turned to him.

“Sorry for the kiss, but don’t expect me to regret it.” The apology was so contradictory, but I managed to make my face burn.

“Really? Do you treat all your female dates like this? If so, maybe that could be the reason I reject this engagement.” I stared at Sean with the intention of challenging him. Still, he instantly wrapped one arm around my waist and eliminated the distance between us.

I could inhale the refreshing, minty scent of his breath. Because of this intimacy, my heart was beating more than usual.

“You’re the only woman I’m going to treat, especially Ariana, the one and only. Now, get into my car before I want to taste your lips again here.”

Sean turned to stare at my lips with his sensual gaze. I immediately turned away and obeyed his command because I didn’t want him to kiss me again suddenly. Still, somehow, that kiss was very difficult for me to forget.

“I must be crazy. Something’s wrong with my brain.” I muttered and then gently fingered my lips with my fingertips as if to make sure that the traces of Sean’s lips were still there.