Forever Together

- 25 -

Lorenzo's POV

It had been days since I saw Emily anywhere. I am not like worried about her, but it's just that I miss seeing her somewhere. I have never told her about how I felt about her, and I thought of confessing my love. One morning, before meeting up with Benno I went over to Emily's house. It was Oliviya who opened the door.

"Lorenzo, good morning."

"Good morning, Miss. Oliviya."

"Come in," I followed her to the hall.

"Can I talk to you and Thomas?"

"Yeah," she said with a serious look on her face. "Thomas is upstairs, I'll go call him." Saying this Oliviya climbed upstairs and after a minute or two, she came back followed by Thomas.

"Hey, Lorenzo. How are you doing?"

"Hi Thomas, I am fine. I wanted to talk to you both."

"Go ahead," Thomas said as he sat on a couch opposite me.

"I would like to... I mean... I love your daughter, Emily. Seriously."I don't know why but I just let it out. Oliviya was standing there with her mouth a little open. After a minute, Thomas broke the awkward silence, "Lorenzo, she's our one and only child and we'll need to think about it."

"Yeah sure," I said as I got up to leave. I looked at them with an awkward smile and left. As I came back home at noon with Benno, I saw my dad on the balcony. He was looking so furious. As I walked past him inside he came to me and said he gotta ask me something. It was about what happened in the morning. Thomas had called dad as soon as I left and told him about everything.

"How could you do it, Lorenzo? I and Thomas have been best friends for years." Dad's voice rung over my head. I saw mom standing near the table, disappointed in me.

"Emily must be a friend or a sister to you!!!! Never dare to see her like that!! I hope I made it clear." Saying this, dad went off outwards. I despondently went to my room and shut it. After hours, when I opened my room, mom came in."Lorenzo, are you alright?"

"Mom, I love her so much. It's hard for me to forget her. I mean I can't."

"It's alright. Stop thinking about her, and gradually you will move on."

Eventually, I got over her, well that's not the reality. I didn't move on, I just put her aside at least for my mom. She was not at all interested in me loving Emily. Days passed and I saw Emily in different places, but I just ignored her.

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Emily's POV

I noticed Lorenzo at various places but I felt like being ignored by him. And I didn't care at all.

The day he visited my parents, they asked me if I had any feelings for him, and I refused it. After all, he was a street rat or fighter, and I wouldn't like to be with someone like him.

Days passed and one day my dad came up to my room.

"Emily,"

I turned to him. "Dad?"

"We must talk."

"Sure," I said.

"About your wedding."

"Wedding?" I was a little bit shocked to hear that.

"I don't want a No from your side, because it's already discussed and you said you'll be fine with the guy we find for you."

To my unfortunate, I had already promised my dad and mom that they can fix my wedding with whichever guy they liked. It's not like I gave total control of my marital life to my parents. I know they will only choose what's good for me.

"Uhhh.... Yeah, go on with the wedding, dad. I guess the guy you had found is good for me." I said with somewhat a smile.

"It's none other than, Lorenzo."

My smile faded away by dad's words.

"What? That guy is a street fighter! Dad... you cannot do this."

"It's fixed Emily, he's not that bad at all. After all, he's the son of Jackson O'Brien. Jackson and I already talked about it."

"Is this marriage related to your business?"

"No, it's not. He is Jackson's son, and he is a good match for you."

I stomped off angrily. I never wanted to marry him.

He is handsome and rich, and after all, he showed the courage to propose to me in front of my parents, but still... I won't like him. He is an irresponsible guy.

Later, I went to visit my friend Brielle. I narrated the whole incident to her. After I was done talking I saw her with a wide-open mouth.

"Emily! You don't like Lorenzo?"

"Come on, who would love a street fighter like him?" I asked annoyingly.

"Every girl in this town is drooling over him, and he wants to marry you, while you want to turn him down. So pathetic, Em." She continued,

"Wake up Em, he is so handsome, and also he is everyone's dream guy. And up to my knowledge, he has never fallen in love before. Come on, you both are meant to be together. Stop keeping him away from you. Just think about it."

I thought for a while.

"I'll be right back. I am thirsty. You want water?" She asked walking over to the kitchen.

"No," I said thoughtfully.

As she went to the kitchen, I thought of what she said.

What if he's not bad at all? Maybe my parents' choice could not be that bad at all.

"Brielle, I should hurry. I am a little busy. See you later." I shouted as I grabbed my jacket.

"Ok, bye Em,"

As I drove back home, I saw mom and dad on the balcony.

As soon as I walked inside, mom spoke "Honey, we are sorry to drag you into this marriage."

"If you are not interested in this marriage, then I'll inform Jackson." Dad continued.

"No, it's alright. You don't need to cancel the proposal. I am okay with it"

"You sure?" Dad asked and I smiled at him. He smiled back.