I REALLY LIKE YOU ESMERALDA...

"I love you, Esmeralda," Elias said which surprises Esmeralda. She never thought this would be his answer to her.

"What!"Esmeralda said in surprise with her mouth agape after hearing what Elias said.

"Yes I really love you a lot" he paused and took her hand in his...." but I was really afraid to say it because I know you don't feel the same way and I also was really afraid that you will break our friendship the moment I confess to you and will only apologies to me because you really don't want to hurt me" he continues

"But after dad spoke to me earlier and told me about the arranged marriage, I was really happy and that's why I decided to tell you the truth about my feelings so that you know if you agree to marry me I will love and cherish you for all my life because I really love you, Esmeralda," Elias said to Esmeralda how he honestly feels about her.

After listening to what Elias said, she really didn't know what else to say next. Like what? She means is he serious he likes her all along and didn't say it so that she won't break their friendship.

And he is right though because if she had known he has feelings for her like he said then, she would have broken their friendship. After all, she really won't want to hurt him since she sincerely doesn't feel the same way he does.

And seriously she really wished he had said this to her earlier and confessed his feelings to her, she would have told him how she doesn't feel the same way he does and will also have distanced herself from him. And Ahh! Today would have never come and she won't be sitting here talking about an arranged marriage between them with him that she is being forced to even though it doesn't seem like it.

Elias continues after seeing that Esmeralda was in deep thought after hearing what he said "Yes… this is how I feel about you Esmeralda and I want you to know if you agree to this marriage, you won't regret it because the foundation for a-"

Esmeralda cuts him in the middle and continues what he was saying, "The foundation for a great relationship is a solid friendship and we have it plus tax, that's why I will agree to this arrangement because I know dad will really be happy if I do and won't be disappointed with me and also because I trust you Elias and have a lot of faith in our friendship. And I hope you won't disappoint me and I will also try my very best to make this relationship work. She said to him looking straight into his hazel eyes.

Smiling while still holding her hand and looking straight into her dark onyx eyes as well he said, "I prom…'' he paused when the waiter brought their order, "thank you." he smiles and thanked him.

"Enjoy your meal…" was the waiter's reply

Elias is about to continue what he was about to say to me before the waiter brought our order but I already know what exactly he wanted to say but still want to hear it from his mouth. And oh! God… bestie's words of Elias pretending to be a saint in front of other people and the fact that he is hiding his true colors on the inside is really affecting me now because I am thinking what he is about to say is not really sincere.

"I promise you will never regret this not ever," Elias said to her after listening to what she said.

Just like she thought it was an assurance he was going to give but she really hope he is sincere with his words.

"I hope you are telling the truth and you are sincere with your words…"

"I really am!"

"I hope so!"

"I love you and will prove that to you Esmeralda since you decide to give this relationship a chance and marry me."

And yeah just like that she decided to give this relationship a chance and try since the foundation for a great relationship is a solid friendship and they both have that plus she also decides to trust Elias's words and promises.

She has just killed two birds with one stone, she will give herself a first chance in love and will make her father extremely happy at the same time. All she hopes is that it's all worth it and this will work out because this is her life setting into a new world a journey for a lifetime

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"What did you just say, Sis? seriously."

Linda said surprised after what Esmeralda told her about how her discussion with Elias went at White Cuisine about the arranged marriage.

"Yes, I decided to give this relationship a try besties, since Elias was sincere with me about his feelings, and Dad will also be really happy to hear the fact that I agree to give it a try."

"well you are right about that one and I also hope I was wrong about him and he is really sincere as you said he was while telling you about his feelings and all that you know?" Linda said while pointing the berry she has in her hand at Esmeralda.

"Ok… now eat that and stop pointing it at me or it will fall," Esmeralda said while taking a strawberry for herself from the fruit plate that was kept in front of them on the table smiling at her.

"So how are my girls doing?" they both turned around in their Dad's direction after hearing Mr. Fernandez's voice.

"Dad, you are back?" Linda was the first to answer and ran to hug hiaske a little girl and Esmeralda giggled at her behavior.

"Of course I am, since both you and your sister ran away and left me alone in the office." their Dad said jokingly while putting on an angry face.

"And the both of you should expect a half month salary since I heard from Chloe that both of you never come back again whenever you both go out for lunch in that favorite restaurant of yours and what's that its name again… oh yes White Cuisine and hah you guys don't even know how to invite this father of yours not even once." Mr. Fernandez said to them in one breath with an angry face.

"Oh! No, no Dad please don't do that you see tomorrow yes we both will drag you to White Cuisine no matter how busy you are yes…"

"Isn't that right Sis?" Linda who was the first to retaliate against Mr. Fernandez after hearing what he said asked after all she is the spender here not Esmeralda, ha ha ha since she always changes her wardrobe every month. And she was the first to retaliate because their monthly allowance was stopped the day they started working in E & F.

"Yes! Yes! Linda is right we will both drag you to join us when we are going to White Cuisine tomorrow no MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE." Esmeralda replied and emphasizes her last words to sound convincing to Mr. Fernandez.

"You see Dad we are dragging you to White Cuisine tomorrow to have lunch sooo…" she said and elongate her last word waiting for Mr. Fernandez's reply.

"...Sooo…I agree and no deduction will happen only when you both do what you say and the two of you will only get me to change my mind when you both keep your promise. he said.

Linda and Esmeralda looked at each other and shouted "PROMISE WE BOTH WILL TAKE YOU TO WHITE CUISINTOMORROW MR. FERNANDEZ" while smiling at their Dad.

Mr. Fernandez smiles back at them and said, "Now these are my girls..."

"Yeah, After all, you got your way and also got to hear what you want to," Linda said and the three of them both laugh out loud

Ha ha ha ha ha…