Our Arranged Love Story Point 5

Chapter 2.5

Luffy ended the call and his smile fell when he heard the impatient call coming from his dad's room.

"Luffy, hurry up. It's an emergency!"

His frown deepened as he cast his eyes heavenwards. He has well had it with his dad's so-called 'emergencies.'

He marched at a snail's pace to the source of his misery to further get on his dad's nerves and when he got there, Dragon was well tucked under his bed sheets, seated as comfortable as can be.

"What took you so long?"

"What is it this time?"

Dragon stretched his back muscles and sinked more in his pillow before pointing a device next to the TV.

"Hand me the remote."

Luffy scowled and tossed it but instead of it smacking him in the face, Dragon caught it with ease. He watched his son join him in bed at the foot, resting his head in his arms and staring at him as if looks could kill but he paid him no mind and was set on finding a decent movie that would hopefully hold his interest.

"What's with the attitude? Did I disturb you from something?"

"I was talking to someone on the phone."

"At this time? Who?"

"Nami."

"I see."

'Shishishishi'

"What's so funny?"

"She said that she liked me."

"And let me guess: You like her too?"

"Yeah."

"That's not front page news, son." Dragon yawned and placed the remote at his side after finding something that looked reasonable.

"...Hey, dad?"

"What?"

"Nami said that she draws maps. I wonder why Genzo didn't mention that."

Dragon shrugged. "Who knows." Then he smirked. "She's kind of famous."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really."

"What else do you know?"

Dragon gave his son a death stare. All he wanted to do right now was to watch a damn movie.

"Son. I'm not the best person to ask. You have her number, right?" He happened to see the secret exchange. Genzo's wife had always been a sneaky woman.

"Yeah. I do."

"Well give her a call tomorrow and ask her yourself. How does that sound? Sounds good?"

"Yeah. I'll do that."

"Good. Now shut the hell up! I'm trying to watch a programme here." He turned up the volume blocking out further disturbances and relaxed. He will never understand up to this day how he helped bring such a chatter-box son into the world.

Luffy sweat-dropped and turned to see that his dad had chosen some action movie of some sort. He took his phone out his pocket and added Nami's name to to her number and he stared at the four letters on the screen with an evident smile on his face.

He wanted tomorrow to come as soon as possible.

A knock came at the door and Nami unlocked it and saw her mom standing in the doorway waving at her with a big smile.

"Hi."

She frowned and went over to collapse into bed hugging one of her small pillows, back turned away from her.

"Why are you still awake, mom?"

"No reason," Bellemere said closing the door and was at the side of the bed, the very place her daughter laid.

"Can I join?"

"No. The last thing I want is my bed smelling like old cigarettes... Hey!"

It was too late. Bellemere already made herself at home and Nami stared with annoyance at her uninvited guest. Suddenly her mom pulled at her nose not too gently and tugged at it.

"Ow!"

"Did you just call me 'old', young lady?"

"No. I don't know what you're talking about. Let go!"

Bellemere sighed and lowered her eye lids as she looked back at her daughter then surrounded her with her arms and hugged her close. Nami snuggled against her.

"My little girl..."

"I'm not little anymore, mom. I'm engaged."

Bellemere laughed, combed her little girl's hair through her fingers and gave her a long, closed eyed kiss to the forehead.

"Ready to leave us already, huh kiddo?"

"..." Nami remained silent.

"I have a confession to make. I may have handed Luffy your number tonight."

"I know. He called."

"Wow. That was fast! ... Are you mad?"

"I should be but I'm not. We ended up talking for hours. And mom?"

"What is it sweetheart?"

"I really like him," Nami said with wide eyes looking at her mom as if she herself could not even believe her own words.

Her mom laughed again and gave her a reassuring pat on the head.

"That's only the first step. When you're finally a wife, I hope that you're ready for the work ahead. It's not always easy."

"You're right... Mind giving me some pointers? My desire is to be a good partner for Luffy and since you've had years of experience, it's only natural to learn from the best."

Nami had a smug of a smile gracing her lips and Bellemere's head ticked at the sneaky jab at her age.

"Real funny, Nami. Maybe the thought of you leaving soon doesn't seem so bad after all."

"You mean that?" There was a trace of worry in her voice and Bellemere's features softened.

"No. I didn't mean that. We both will miss you like crazy. I'll miss coming up here just to bug you and I'll miss our little talks and all our time together. You're my little girl." Her voice cracked as she spoke and she wiped away at her daughter's tears and held her close again.

"I love you, mom. And dad too. I love you both so much."

"We love you too, sweetheart."

"Even if I'm married and have to leave home, I'll visit- I'll visit as much as I can. I promise." Nami's arms were now clinging around her mother. All the memories thus far were coming back to her all at once. Reality was finally sinking in.

"Thank you so much for taking care of me."