Deal With It

Both of their parents glanced at Chance and Alyssum was very stunned by their parents' deal. Alyssum knew that her mother would give an idea to Mrs. Park by marriage arrangement.  

But all of a sudden, she heard Chance whining to her mother like a toddler. Her eyes rolled internally when seeing him like this. 

"Mom! Why are you conceding with— Argh!" Chance stopped his words and crossed his arms.

He couldn't say anything knowing that he would get in trouble. He sighed in annoyance and leaned his back on the backrest of the chair. He looked at his brothers, who were just shrugging. 

Then, her mother patted his thigh and lightly squeezed it until it felt the pain around it. He hissed in pain and strove to remove her hand away from his thigh. He glimpsed at his mother and saw a sinister smile. 

'I'm in trouble…' Chance thought to himself.

Alyssum, on the other hand, watched his best friend all along to see his reaction and she didn't like it. He was annoyed by the agreement and it felt like he didn't want that to happen. 

She looked away, nibbling her bottom lip and striving to halt her tears. She was being emotional just because of his reaction. And now, she didn't know what to withstand from his response. 

For her, it's not a case for them to get married in the future— they were best friends for so long and it was a chance for them to fall in love. Also, it's just an agreement and it can break anytime soon. 

But in this case, Chance wouldn't buy it and for him, it was an absurd decision for their parents to predict the future. 

As it said… 

It was just an agreement.

Since Alyssum felt disappointed, she will make fun of him. And so, her lips curled into an unnerving smirk before her eyes gazed at her mother, who was signing her to uttered words. 

Then, she leaned closer, placing her elbow at the table, and clasped her hands together before saying, 

"Why don't we pursue that deal… Mom and Mrs. Park. I mean we have been best friends for so long…"

Then, she gazed at Chance, who was staring at her with his brow furrowed and cocking his head on the side, confused about what his best friend was talking about, "...right, Chance?" She continued. 

Chance stood and walked in Alyssum's direction which stunned the rest of the people in the dining room. Alyssum's mother was amused by what she was witnessing. 

Her mother looked at Mrs. Park, who was smiling at her, nodded as if she was delighted by his son's actions. 

He sat beside her, leaned closer to her, and asked, "what are you talking about? Why are you agreeing with them?" 

She took a glimpse at her best friend and smiled. "If you aren't going to agree with them. You'll get in trouble."

"And why? I don't care if I get in trouble. But conceding to the arrangement, are you nuts?" 

Alyssum glared at him and rolled her eyes. Then, she whispered, "I'm not, Chance. You just don't like me, that's why you aren't agreeing with them." 

 "Wha— what are you saying? I don't like you?" 

She just heaved a deep sigh and pushed him away. Then, she crossed her legs as if she was a fine woman in front of Chance's parents and also hers. She glimpsed at her mother, who was very impressed by her daughter as her father chuckled at how witty she was. 

At a young age, her parents perceive her competence from everything and when it comes to Chance, knowing that their daughter had a huge crush on him. They inferred that she will never relinquish this arrangement. 

"Just tell her what you want to say." Her mother said. 

She just responded with a nod and smiled at her mother. 

Mrs. Park, on the other hand, was very amused by Alyssum's manner. In the first place, she liked her ever since she laid her feet in their territory. Her witty mind and sassy manner. 

"What do you want to say, Aly?" Mrs. Park asked. 

She giggled and glanced at Chance, who was shaking his head, striving to stop her. Her eyes rolled internally, thinking that he was differing her decision. 

'You made me do this, Chance. Now deal with it.' 

"I agree from that agreement, Mrs. Park. I will do it in the future." She said without withdrawing her gaze at Chance. 

"What?!" Chance exclaimed which made her stunned. 

"I said… I agree with the agreement. Are you deaf?" She asked while laughing. 

Chance stuck his tongue into his inner cheeks and glared at her. "I'm not deaf, Alyssum." 

"Then why are you asking it again if you are not deaf?" Alyssum implored as she crossed her arms. 

"Alyssum… Can we talk?" Chance calmly asked but inside, he was boiling in anger. 

"No… what I said is what I know I want and that's final." 

He slammed his hand on the table and abruptly, he reached for her wrist and clasped it around. Then, he pulled him closer to his direction as they walked away, leaving their parents and his brothers in the dining room. 

"Your son is a feisty one." Mrs. Byrne said. 

Mrs. Park smirked as she grabbed her wine and took a sip before answering Mrs. Byrne, "It's my son…" 

Christian, on the other hand, glanced at those two, who were fleeing in the dining room, worried about Alyssum. He just sighed and grabbed his mocktail. 

"Don't worry too much, Christian," Caine said when he noticed his worries. 

"You know Chance. Those two will have a huge fight. You know that." He replied. 

"Aly can handle his stubbornness so don't worry about them and besides, you don't like Alyssum for you to worry that much." 

"Well, she is like a little sister to me. So if something might happen to her, I'll take action." 

Caine snickered and shook his head before grabbing his wine and stood. He placed his right hand on his brother's shoulder. But before he left, he leaned closer to Christian's right ear and whispered, 

"Now… I doubt that you see her as a sister." 

Christian glanced at him and asked, "what do you mean?" 

He just leaned away, patted his shoulder, and left on the dining room, ignoring his mother's voice, calling him.