Opposite expectations

"I like you!"

"I don't like you."

Both I and Andrew declare at the same time.

We stared at each other in complete silence, and I could hear the whisper of a bird in the background.

"Huh!" I mumble, swallowing my saliva hard.

"Can I say something?" He asked, and I nodded my head. "Go ahead, Andrew." I utter, giving him a reassuring smile.

"I like you," Andrew uttered, and he sounded sincere. "I have always admired you from afar ever since the very first day that I saw you at a business party," Andrew added.

Well! I didn't see that coming.

"I... I'm utterly speechless." I stutter because I don't know what else to say.

"I saw you being confident in yourself. You are more confident in your body than other Ladies that I have met." He explains.

"And what do those imply?" I question, slightly arching my brows.

"I'm trying to say that they are other young ladies who are skinny and yet are still not confident of their body," Andrew said.

"Woah! Your words are kind." I utter, smiling at him. "But I'm no longer ready for marriage," I added.

"Your first statement says a lot." Andrew teased.

He has a nice voice, and he doesn't stare at me with a lustful gaze.

"I'm glad that you understand me." I appreciated it.

"But your parents have proclaimed that you are searching for a suitor." Andrew declared.

"They are right about that. But I suddenly had a change of mind last night." I utter.

He slightly arched his brows. "Why the sudden change of mind?" Andrew asked.

"I decided to plan something nice for my future." I sincerely replied.

"That's nice to hear. Do you mind if we take a walk around your parent's mansion?" Andrew suggested.

"That would be nice." I said, agreeing with Andrew.

He rose from his seat, and then he extended his hands towards me. "Shall we?" He suggested.

I took his hands in mine, assisting myself to rise from the couch.

"I just want to make something clear, Andrew. I don't want you to continue getting your hopes high about me." I declare.

"That hurts." He proclaims, placing his hands on his chest.

"I'm sorry!" I apologize, winking at him.

Andrew chuckled, as we both made our way toward the compound fountain.

"But you might have a change of heart." Andrew's stated, but I shake my head sideways. "I don't think that's going to be possible. Besides, I still don't know what I want to do in the future, so...."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Ashley. It's your life, and I respect your decision." He mumbles, cutting me off from my statement.

There's something about Andrew that always reminds me of Mister white night. "Are you sure that you haven't been stalking me for a longer time?" I interrogate because it's strange that he's giving me kind advice.

"Not that long. I have only been admiring you for four years now." Andrew declared.

I open my eyes wide, staring at him in complete surprise.

"Holy shit. You must be kidding me right?" I exclaim.

"Hahaha! I'm not kidding." Andrew said laughing.

"Woah! Why haven't you approached me since four years ago?" I questioned.

"I'm shy." He sincerely replied.

"You don't sound shy, Mister Andrew. And besides, if I have met someone like you, then I might have been married to you a long time ago." I wink.

"Woah! Why didn't I think about that?" He said jokingly. "I just admire you from afar, but up till this very instant I still admire you, and not love you." He explains.

"I'm aware of that Andrew. But I hope you should continue admiring me from afar because it's too late." I said sadly. "By the way, what do you do for a living?" I asked because it seems that we have been talking about me, that I forget to ask about him.

"I'm a businessman. A CEO of a fashion company." He said, explaining himself.

"Which means you must be super rich." I winked.

"Yes I am, but being rich isn't everything." He utter.

"And being broke like me isn't everything." I jokingly said.

Both I and Andrew spent the entire morning together, and truth be told Andrew is a nice guy, but I just see him as a friend. We had both exchanged numbers together and promised each other that we are going to keep in touch with each other.

I figured out that Andrew isn't looking for a pattern for now, but instead, he is looking for a friend.

It was already some minutes past one o clock pm.

I want to make sure that I tell my parents about my plan, so I made my way straight to their room.

"How is Andrew?" My Mom asked with a smile on her face.

"He's nicer than Brian, and he's cute," I replied sincerely.

"So does this mean that we should start arranging a marriage preparation for the both of you?" My Dad butt in.

I chuckled. "That's the problem. I have changed my mind about the marriage thing." I declare.

"Honey! Sorry but I'm lost with your words" My Mom uttered, flustering her eyelashes a few times.

"I'm trying to say that I no longer have any intention of getting married." I declare sincerely.

"Did Andrew say something unpleasant to you?" My parents both asked in concern.

"He didn't. I had planned on telling you ever since this morning." I explain.

"But getting married has been your dream. Why are you changing your dream all of a sudden?" My Mom asked, raising her brows.

"I want to do something nice for myself," I utter while smiling.

I was expecting my parents to be smiling, or at least support my intention, but I got the opposite of my expectations.

"Ashley! You are going to get married. That's the best thing and the right thing for you to do." My Dad declares.

"But I don't want it anymore. I decided to at least start my own business. Perhaps a fashion..."

"YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED!" My Mom yelled, with an authoritative voice.