Mr & Mrs Fake

Chapter Eight

Jade

"Mom, please—I'm begging you—be on your best behavior today. Please don't embarrass me," I plead, my voice laced with a mix of desperation and anxiety as we pull up to the grand entrance of Theo's family home. It's not just any house; it's a sprawling mini-mansion, the kind you see in movies and wonder who could live there.
My mom, Maylene, raises an eyebrow, clearly amused by my worry. "Oh, Jade, when have I ever embarrassed you?" she asks with mock indignation, then quickly cuts me off before I can respond. "Don't answer that."
From the backseat, my dad, always the voice of reason, leans forward slightly. "Maylene, just listen to the girl for once. This is exactly why she never invites us anywhere anymore," he says, sending me a sympathetic glance.
I sigh, feeling the tension in my shoulders as I tighten my ponytail and flip my braids over my shoulders. "How do I look? Do I look okay?" I ask, turning to my mom, needing just a shred of reassurance before stepping into what feels like the most nerve-wracking day of my life.
My parents exchange a look that makes me even more anxious. "What? Mama, answer me! How do I look?" I demand, smoothing out the fabric of my pencil skirt. I went for a semi-formal look—something that strikes a balance between sophistication and simplicity. A sleek black pencil skirt, a soft blush blouse that compliments my skin tone, and a pair of heels that are just high enough to boost my confidence.
"You look beautiful, Jade. Absolutely stunning," my mom finally says, her voice softer as she offers a reassuring smile. "But why are you so nervous?"
I ignore her question, the knot in my stomach tightening as I lead them to the front door.
Today is the day. Theo's family gathering. The day we're going to announce our engagement to our families. Nervous doesn't even begin to cover what I'm feeling right now. My hands are clammy, my heart is racing, and I swear I'm sweating buckets. And now, standing in front of this grand house, I feel like the pressure is on me to make a flawless impression. The door swings open, and we're greeted by a well-dressed woman who beams at us.
"Miss Jackson? We've been waiting for you. Please, come in," she says, ushering us inside with a warm smile.
"Everyone is in the backyard. Just take this hallway all the way down, turn left, and go straight through the doors," she instructs, her tone polite but firm.
As we begin walking, my mom whispers, "Who is this friend again?"
"Just a friend, Ma," I reply quickly, trying to keep the nerves from seeping into my voice. "Can you focus on holding the platters instead of being nosy?" I wince when she gives me a playful thump on the ear. "Ow! Excuse me," I grumbled, rubbing the spot as I pushed open the doors to the backyard.
"Just set them here," I point them to an empty table next to the other food and drinks, my eyes scanning the crowd anxiously for Theo. I spot him near the gazebo and give a small wave.
"Who is that boy?" my dad asks, eyeing Theo suspiciously.
I roll my eyes. "Why don't you guys go mingle and have some drinks or whatever it is that old people do while I set up?" I suggest, trying to hide my nerves behind a teasing smile.
"Oh, now we're old? Harold, get your daughter," my mom says with mock offense, walking away with my dad in tow.
"Need some help?" Theo asks, appearing at my side.
"Sure," I reply, smiling as we begin unwrapping the platters together. His presence is comforting, even though my heart is still racing.
"I'm not gonna lie," Theo says, his voice low so only I can hear, "I'm a little surprised you showed up today."
"Why?" I ask, genuinely curious.
He shrugs, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "I guess I figured you'd get cold feet and flake. Not that I would've blamed you if you did. I almost did myself."
I look at him in surprise. "Really?"
Theo nods, his smile widening. "But I'm glad I didn't. And I'm really glad you're here," he says, gently moving my braids off my shoulders. The simple gesture sends a flutter of excitement through my stomach.
"I'm glad I'm here too," I admit, my voice soft.
"Oh, I almost forgot—I have a surprise for you," he says suddenly, grabbing my hand and pulling me off to the side.
"What is it?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.
Theo pulls a small velvet box from his pocket, and my heart skips a beat. My eyes widen as I realize what it is. "You got an engagement ring?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I mean, well, duh," he says with a grin. "I figured I'd do the proposal here, in front of everyone. You wanna see it?"
I nod, breathless as he opens the box. The sight of the yellow diamond ring inside takes my breath away. It's stunning—simple yet elegant, with a unique charm that suits my personality perfectly. And it's in my favorite color. I can't help but smile, touched that he remembered something so personal.
"You like it?" Theo asks, his eyes searching mine.
"Like it? I love it! It's amazing," I say, unable to tear my eyes away from the ring.
"Come on, let me introduce you to my parents," Theo says, taking my hand.
"Wait, I'm not ready," I say, pulling back slightly, suddenly feeling the weight of what's about to happen.
"Girl, you better get ready. We're about to announce an engagement. It's gonna happen eventually. If you're nervous, don't be. They'll love you. My parents are really down to earth," Theo says, his tone reassuring.
"Okay. Okay, I'm ready," I say, taking a deep breath. I quickly pull on my skirt and reapply my lip gloss, needing that extra boost of confidence. Theo leads me over to his parents, and I feel the nerves kick up again.
"Eomeoni, Abeoji, this is Jade. Jade, this is my mother and my father," Theo introduces us, his voice full of pride.
"I remember you," his mother says warmly, pulling me into a hug. "How lovely to see you again, dear."
"It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Choi," I say, returning the hug, trying not to let my nerves show.
"Oh, don't sound so formal. Just call me Ae-Cha," she says with a smile.
I nod, repeating the name in my head so I don't mess up the pronunciation. "Nice to meet you, Jade. I'm Min-Jun," Theo's dad says, giving me a firm handshake. "Theo, where's your brother?"
"Probably terrorizing the sachon," Theo replies with a laugh.
As I look around, I catch sight of my mom watching me and Theo closely. My eyes drop to our intertwined hands, and I almost pull away until I remember the charade we're supposed to be keeping up. My mom narrows her eyes and starts walking toward us, and I send mental waves in her direction, begging her to be on her best behavior.
"Jade, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" she asks when she reaches us.
"Oh. Theo, this is my mom, Maylene. Mom, this is Theo. And these are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Choi," I make the introductions quickly, hoping to avoid any awkwardness.
"Nice to meet you all," my mom says, giving them a warm smile. Then she leans in closer to me and whispers, "I'm gonna go find your father. He'll be interested to see this."
"Theo, why don't you introduce Jade to the rest of the family? We'll be ready to eat soon," his mom suggests.
"I can do that later, Mom. We have more pressing matters right now," Theo says, giving his parents a knowing wink.
Theo grabs a glass of wine and steps onto the gazebo in the middle of the courtyard. My heart starts to race, and I feel a wave of nausea wash over me. There's no way he's about to propose right now. I feel like I'm going to be sick—maybe it's a good thing I haven't eaten yet, or my lunch would definitely be on the floor.
"I'd like to make a toast. Everyone, gather around, please," Theo commands the attention of the audience. My parents come to stand beside me as the crowd falls silent.
Theo launches into his toast, and I find myself tuning out, lost in my own thoughts, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. I barely notice the faces around the party, all eyes focused on Theo, waiting for his next words.
"Jade! Jade!" my mother hisses, shaking me out of my daze.
"What?!" I whisper back, startled.
"Go up there!" she urges, nodding toward Theo, who has his hand out, beckoning me forward.
"Go!" she says more forcefully, giving me a gentle shove.
I walk up to Theo slowly, every step feeling like it's happening in slow motion. "Loosen up. Don't be nervous," he whispers as I reach him, his voice steady and reassuring. He wraps his arm around my waist, and suddenly, everything else fades away.