Ex's to Lovers

Chapter 37

In Which Alfred Gives A Passionate Speech About Marriage

"I want to know if you're serious about marrying my brother!"

Alfred froze. Marrying? Who said anything about him marrying Ivan? He'd just been playing around with the rumours and suddenly they were getting married? Alfred was blown away by Ivan's revenge, but couldn't deny it was a good revenge. Alfred was essentially trapped. If he said he was serious about Ivan, Alfred was pretty sure Ivan's sisters might actually hold him to it, even though he was only 18.

On the other hand, if he said he wasn't serious- Alfred had a sudden vision of Ivan's sisters tossing dirt on top of his body in a shallow grave while Mathew, Arthur and Gilbert looked on and sobbed. Alfred began to sweat, feeling his face heat up with the stress. If he answered the wrong way, he might actually die then and there. Since Alfred's brain didn't perform well under pressure, he gave up thinking about it and tried to avoid a direct answer. 

"Well," Alfred said, somewhat timidly, "I haven't actually proposed yet..."

He trailed off, not looked at either of the sister's faces. Katyusha seemed taken aback, and Alfred wondered if it was just his imagination, or if her voice really was sharper as she pressed.

"Why not?"

Alfred jerked his head up to look at her, feeling like there really was something wrong with Ivan's family. Even without the fact that Ivan and Alfred weren't actually in love or dating, Alfred could name several reason he wouldn't have proposed yet. He started with the most obvious one.

"We're still in high school!" Alfred defended, feeling exasperated.

Why would they even think a high school student would already be ready to propose? Alfred got a bad feeling as he remembered that the woman who had asked him that was the same one his brother had a crush on. Alfred suddenly felt uncomfortable. There was no way Mathew would propose to someone without introducing them to his family, right? Alfred felt even more uncomfortable as he remembered that Arthur and him had both already met all of Ivan's family, including Katyusha, several times before. 

But still! His brother hadn't even told Alfred they were dating! And he was two years younger, even if his brother was of age now! But Mathew was the sensitive type, and since he thought Alfred d was having drama with his "Ex" Ivan, Mathew might have not said anything so as not to stress Alfred out... And maybe he'd already told Arthur his intentions and gotten his blessings... Alfred really wasn't talking to Arthur much these days, still feeling hurt by his accusation. And hadn't Mathew left before Alfred could ask any questions?

Alfred was getting a really bad feeling about the situation, which was probably why he responded a little too passionately.

"And where would a high school student get a ring, or take care of someone properly, especially if he doesn't have a job? Besides, he's still young and maybe he's just confused , and then what happens if-"

Alfred suddenly realized it wouldn't be a very good idea to say to his brothers supposed fiancée that Mathew might fall in love with some one else and feel trapped by their engagement, and faltered. A moment later, Alfred also remembered this was supposed to be about him, not Mathew, and finished awkwardly, without looking at either of Ivan's sisters.

"-And anyways , he probably wouldn't say yes either."