His Consent

"What did you two talk for so long?" Vance's mother asked when she saw the two walk into the living. Only the mothers and Eloise were present. The fathers and the brothers had occupied another room.

"A lot of things." Vance said giving the girl next to him a glance.

"Let me call them," Eloise said. After a while everyone was in the living room. Nicole's father broke the silence. "So, what do you two think?"

Just when Nicolette started to comprehend if she should smile or look at Vance, Vance had already given everyone a bright smile saying "No objection of course!"

"Yes! That's great!" Nereo gave Vance a fist bump. The two guys were close friends. Nereo was a year younger than Vance but the two hit it off well since highschool. Whenever the two older friends met, their sons, Vance and Nereo would tag along.

"Nicolette, what's your answer?" Vance asked her.

She gave him a subtle look that said did you have to ask me? You know I would say yes. She only smiled revealing that she was happy with the arrangement. He would no after going home anyway. But did he have to be so passionate with the way he said yes? It would make the family disappointed later on.

After the important discussion which elaborated till setting the wedding date, Nicolette chatted with Eloise while observing Vance from time to time. He was sitting with Jean and Nereo. She was feeling off with the way he acted just then. But she decided not to give it much thought.

After having lunch together as a small celebration for the good news of the future couple, the Cales bid goodbye to the Perrins.

As they were about to leave, Vance turned back and walked towards Nicolette. "Nicolette, I need your phone number."

"Wow your slow bro," Jean commented but Vance ignored him.

Nicolette had a gut feeling that things were not going to end well. He was not awkward with her anymore.

As he came closer, she asked him im a low voice, "Are you not afraid they are going to tease you later on?" Wasn't that what he said in her room?

He looked up into her eyes, "I can call you, can't I?"

She spelled out her phone number and after two seconds her phone rang in a melodious ringtone.

"Save me." He smiled. Save you? Save my number. Will it hurt his mouth? She just did not like that what he was doing was making everyone hopeful. Forget about her family, it would disappoint his as equally.

An hour after they left Nicolette finally found her peace.

A week went by but still there was no news of the wedding being off. They were going to be engaged in three more weeks. What was Vance doing? I had never called her nor did he text her.

She thought for sometime before she called him. It was evening and she was coming back home after work. There was a park within little distance from her place of work. She went to the park and she was taking a stroll. She sat down on a bench with her phone to her ear.

It rang two times and someone answered. "Hi." She greeted.

"Nicolette! Didn't think you would call me first."

"Hmm. Are you busy?"

"Nope. Not at all. You want to go on a date?" Her face contorted with anger.

"Be serious. I need to speak with you in person."

"Alright, alright. Where are you?"

"The park on street 8.. It's near Abel Games."

"Got it. I might take 20-25 minutes to get there. Is that okay?"

"Yes. See you soon." She said and hung up.

On the other side, though Vance hated the idea of the arranged marriage, Nicolette seemed much more sensible than what he imagined. Since two years he was casual dating but he never crossed the line. He was, in all honesty searching for his perfect other half. He would date for a fourth months or break up within the same week. And he intended on continuing the same.

On the brighter side, Nicolette did not want this marriage either. She said she wanted time for herself. And she also said that she would just see where things go if he wanted the marriage. So she did not have a love interest yet, just like him. Wouldn't it be perfect then?

In the evening traffic he burnt his energy on how to put his thoughts in front of Nicolette. He hoped she would be understanding enough, but a part of him was scared of things turning out bad.

Once Vance reached the park she mentioned, he parked his car and stepped out. The evening sun was bright red but not scorching. The cool breeze of the winter put the park in a more peaceful pace.

He walked around in search of her while still working on gus wordings.

"Hey!" Nicolette called out to him once she saw him.

Hey. This little lady, Vance thought. He had such a beautiful name. After walking closer to the bench she was sitting on, he sat down beside her. "Don't hey me. I have a beautiful and nice name." He said. He was used to people praising him, his looks and his name.

"Yeah. So did you tell your parents?"

There was silence between them. After a while he said, "I didn't. I don't intend to say no anymore."

Nicole's eyes widened. She looked at him while shaking her head in wonder. "What gives?" Nicolette's tone changed as she questioned. He felt baffled as she almost snapped at him. Did he intend to try where this marriage goes like her? If she knew things would be like this she would have behave better with him. Was she too demanding when she asked him to come and meet her? She wanted to talk. So she should have asked his convenient location. A small discomfort probed her heart. If only she had the slightest inkling, she would have acted more servile with him.

"Let's just get married. My parents are not exactly pressing me for marriage but they might start soon. As for you, you want to do this because your family would be happy, so it should be okay. And you can have all the time to yourself. I won't demand anything from you. And coming to my life, I am dating Clara right now. We can separate whenever one of us wants.

"At least we would have tried what our families want. Nereo would probably try to kill me though, when the time comes. Heh.. And seeing that everyone is happy, I don't want to disrupt it. Just don't tell anyone that we are not sincere about the marriage." He finished.