The Engagement | COMPLETED

TEN.

Warning: Offensive language.

ALEX.

"Someone had an awesome weekend," Vanessa nudged me with her elbow, excitement in her voice. "The pictures of Nathan kissing you are floating all over the internet!"

I slammed my pencil case onto the table, which made her jump a little. "Don't talk to me about that emotionless apathetic person," I spat out. "And we didn't kiss, let me get that clear. In case you didn't see, I gave him a piece of my mind too."

"Woah, who ruffled your feathers mister? Calm down," she raised both hands in the air.

The entire university was talking about our date last week. Rumors were flying everywhere and fucking hell were they irritating. I could still hear them whispering and gossiping behind me, as if I was transparent.

It's disgusting, two guys kissing. They will burn in hell.
He was so popular! Turns out he's one of those fags. Such a shame.
Omg, they're so cute! I wanna have a gay friend now, should I make friends with him?
You think he's just in it for the money?
Didn't know that shit face is so cheap.

Hello, I'm right here you idiots.

"Aww, you know you want to kiss him. The way you looked at him changed slightly over the last few months. Admit it," Vanessa said playfully.

"Sorry to break it to you but there is no way that I am going to be with him after the contract is over. I will hold my ground and say that all this is bullshit." I told her off, aggravated by the whole situation.

"I was wrong to think that maybe we could go beyond our time limit. So wrong by thinking that he would be able to let me into his world. I don't even know why I started to feel attraction for him in the first place." I cried out in frustration.

"What's gotten into you?" Her eyebrows perking up in surprise. "Care to share the details? You hardly get this mad."

I spent the next ten minutes venting out my frustrations, with Vanessa nodding her head every now and then.

"Just let it go, you'll only have a few more months with him anyways. Luckily, you're not deeply invested in this yet."

"Yeah, lucky me. How about you try living with him for a few months and tell me how it goes?" I scoffed.

"It's you he wants, not me," she lowered her voice down to a whisper as the lecturer walks in.

I waved her off and turned to face the big screen that was coming down. Pretty sure I won't be able to focus on the lesson now.

NATHAN.

"Hey!" I rubbed the back of my head, face all crunched up from the impact. Aunty May sure packs a punch.

"You deserved that! The both of you have been acting weird the whole week! If I didn't ask Alex what the hell was going on, I wouldn't be able to knock some sense into you," she scolded.

"I didn't know what I was saying!" I cried out in defense.

"Yeah, just like you in every situation that requires human interaction. Even I find you unbelievable at times." She shook her head in disappointment.

"Honey, you have to remember that currently he's bounded legally to stay with you and he hates it. You're the one that came up with the stupid contract. No need to keep reminding him about it." She continued to give me a run-down, arms crossed.

I rubbed the temples of my head. "I know, but you know me. I'm not good at this. I wasn't exactly thinking when I blurted out those words."

"Then use your brain and think for once," she shot back before sighing. "You just need to open up your heart to him," she answered, her tone a little more gentle now.

My lips pressed into a line, my thumbs finding each other. "You know it's difficult for me," I answered quietly. The nails on my fingers suddenly seem a lot more interesting.

"You know he's not like that," she coaxed.

"What if he decides to leave me in the end?" I paused, my past racing through my mind. "If he thinks I'm too much?" my voice brittle.

She placed her hand on mine, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand.

"That boy has been able to put with your weird antics for quite some time. If he wanted to leave, he would have. I don't think the reason he's still here is because of the stupid contract." I looked up at Aunty May. She gave me a motherly smile, something I never got from the biological one.

"My hunches tell me, he's here because of you. That kid likes you and you like him too." She then folded her arms. "I mean, if you can talk to me, I don't see why you can't talk to Alex."

I looked down, my feet starting to shift back and forth. I may have been sweeping this feeling under the rug for a little too long, but she was right.

I liked Alex. And that scared me.

It may have been simple curiosity in the beginning, but not now. I was attracted to this kid and I didn't know how to deal with it.

In the end, the walls that I built up pushed him away.

"Ouch!" I was snapped out of my thoughts by Aunty May flicking my forehead. "Will you stop inflicting pain on me Aunty May?"

"You need to stop with your negative thoughts and go get him back. Like I said, he likes you. I'm sure you'll be fine," Aunty May encouraged.

"But what do I do? I have no idea." I have never felt this much loss in my life. Not even when I first started out my company and we were having problems getting it together.

Not even when I was separated from her.

"Talk to him. You both lack communication, mainly because of you." She poked a finger at my chest. "Learn to be a little vulnerable, you're too tough for anyone's liking."

She gave me a pat on the shoulder before turning back to the oven to check on her roast. I slouched over the island and watched her work.

Vulnerable. That word was basically non-existent in my dictionary for as long as I've lived. How does one let down his guard? Is it possible for me to share that part of myself with him?

I took a deep breath out. Self-doubt can really kill a person.

"Aunty May?" I called out and she turned back to look at me.

"Teach me how to talk to Alex. I don't want to mess up again."

She smiled. "There's my boy."

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(1122 words)

A/N: Move your ass and get your man back Nathan! 

You know, how you look over what you write and keep on editing it just because it doesn't sit well with you? This is how I feel when editing this part. I had to edit it so many times before I was satisfied. 

How was this chapter for you? What did you think of the interaction between Aunty May and Nathan? Keep the comments coming because I loved reading them! 

See you in the next part!