For the umpteenth time, Nelica held her breath once again. Her heart was even pounding expeditiously inside her chest. Because Jesus! Why does he have to say that? That's just so.. Blundering on her part. Making her feel so torturously abashed lengthily. And worst! Her diffident eyes can't even look him straight in the eyes for God's sake! And it was all because of him! The brute!
She glared at him when she saw him slowly.. And suddenly smiled at her mischievously. Oh those thin, sensual and pinkish lips of him. She wanted to cut off those! Damn! "W-What the hell's your problem? S-Someone might hear you."
He smiled mischievously even more. "I don't think so. I said those words too softly, Venz. You want me to say those words again to prove to you how softly it really was? Hmm?"
She ought to bite her lower lip in and clenched the hem of her dress in major embarrassment. The nerve of this guy! Why does he loves torturing her intentionally? He's so.. Bloody annoying! Argh!
"So? What do you think, Venz?" He teased again.
Now she really can't help but to look away. "N-No thanks. Swallow those words instead."
She heard him chuckle boyishly in amusement. "The problem is.. I just can't swallow those words, Venz. But I can swallow my pride always when it comes to you, Venz. Just like what I always did before.."
Instantly, he gulped secretly on what he said. Why does he have to say that anyway? To make her remember their sweet memories back then? But unfortunately, it wasn't the good one she remembered suddenly, but the bad one. How he cheated on her despite all the love she gave to him back then. Yes, she admits she hid that secret from him before, that she was about to get married so she stowed away and was not poor at all, but she was about to tell him that on that day because she doesn't want to hide a secret from him anymore. But she didn't cheat. She loved him so dearly and honestly before. Yet he doesn't even know how to reciprocate that feeling to her. But.. She can't help but to think that what if.. They're being honest to each other back then about their secrets.. about that marriage. Were they able to end up together instead? She really wanted to smile at the thought. But when she realised how cheater he was back then, she immediately bit her teeth in irritation.
"What's with the long silence, Venz? Reminiscing our sweet memories before?" He teased again so she looked at him irritably.
"Okay rule number one, Francis. Don't. Talk. About. Our Past. I don't want to hear anything about it. And worse, someone might hear it here and much worse, my parents might hear you. I don't want them to know about our past six years ago. You understand?"
He smiled. "Her parents are still not here, Venz.. And your servants are--"
"Shut up, Francis. Just.. Just do as I say. You understand?" She stressfully cut off his sentence.
Francis stared at her face for a moment, making her feel a little bit of discomfort once more. But she remained on her foot and stared back at him fiercely. Then after a moment, she saw him slowly twist his very sensual lips upward to one side, giving her the most awkward feeling in history. Because as far as she can remember, when he did that, there's something that's running in the deepest part of his mischievous mind for sure. And that, mischievousness.. Is something she certainly couldn't easily bear. And she was nervously waiting for that to happen.
"Alright, Venz. I completely understand," he said with an amused smile plastering his lips. Then he added with the same sweet and amused smile, "Now do you have another rule to add? Rule number two perhaps?"
She narrowed her eyes at him and looked away while crossing her arms. She's thinking of another rule to add.
Then it hit her. "Actually, yes. I have a second rule to add for you too."
He smiled even more that reached his absolutely gorgeous set of grey eyes. "Okay, Venz.. Let me hear it then."
"The second rule, Francis, is.. You will go back to London tomorrow."
And that sentence.. Made Francis' smile abruptly fade away. So she eventually and nervously continued, "B-Because I.. I don't want to see your face ever again. I don't even want to do anything with you anymore. So let's stop this nonsense of getting to know each other set up because we both know that we're only faking it. And that, this won't end up to be something our parents wanted for us sooner. D-Do you get me, Francis?"
For the second time around, he stared at her face again for a moment. His eyes were unreadable. His emotions were even undecipherable. But one thing she clearly saw on his reaction earlier when his smile immediately faded away.. He doesn't like her second rule for him. Then she gulped when she saw him, breathed deeply and finally spoke up..
"Sorry, Venz.. But I don't."
She gulped secretly again at his answer. Then her eyes flickered when she saw sudden seriousness filled in those gorgeous set of grey eyes.
"W-What do you mean you don't?"
"I just don't. End of explanation."
She gasped. "But, Francis, I already stated my reasons and--"
"And I'm not agreeing to that."
Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
He breathed deeply again and calmly slid both his hands on his slacks' pocket. Then he looked at her eyes seriously again and said, "I'm sorry, Venz.. But I'll only agree to that, if and only if.. You will finally tell me the reason why I saw anger in your eyes for me, instead of guilt."
She suddenly felt suffocated. God, was that a blackmail? He's really so.. Annoying! Geez! By that, she narrowed her eyes at him angrily and clenched her small fists.
"Fine! If you don't want to go back to London tomorrow, then I'll leave this house this instant!" She angrily said and marched towards the door. But when she was about to open it, she softly heard him say..
"Actually, Venz.. If you have rules.. I have mine too. And that's only one rule for you."
So she gritted her teeth more angrily this time and choosed to neglect what he just said. But when she attempted to twitch the doorknob once more, he spoke up calmly again.
"If I were you, I'd listen first before walking out from that damn door and might regret something in the end."
God! Francis was really getting into her nerves! So shivering tmin total irritation and anger, she angrily faced him with clenching fists. "Fine! What's that, one rule of yours for me then!" She snapped out but suddenly swallowed her saliva frighteningly when she saw him walk towards her calmly and slowly until he reached her.
Then she held her breath again when he suddenly leaned his both palms to her both sides and slowly levelled his utterly gorgeous handsome face to her and said..
"And there is only one rule for you, Venz..
Marry me."