The Price of being Pretentious

Chapter Sixteen: Fiancé

I took a deep breath. I eyed him, studying his actions. He gives the impression of a man like he was happily engaged. Didn't we just go separate ways in a sad mode? Like the traces of that sadness were already gone with the wind. Maybe he moved on like me. It might be she already met the girl and fell in love with her.

'Hey.' I said as I displayed a smile.

'Can I talk to you?' Scot asked.

My brows furrowed. 'About what?'

He sighed. 'I guess you didn't know yet.'

I tilted my head, staring at his hazel brown eyes.

'What is this thing that I didn't know yet?' I inquired as I crossed my arms.

'What are you doing here, Scot? Aren't you engaged with someone already? Stop bothering, London.' Paris said in a fearsome voice as he headed to our table.

'Paris, stop that.' I chided.

'What do you want from London?' He asked once more.

'Paris.' Venice called out, holding his shoulder. She shook her head mouthing the words "Don't".

It puzzled me that it made Paris look mad.

'Everyone! I will make an announcement!' Scot called out everyone's attention.

The students shouted a cheer for Scot. Still, I was confused and curious about Scot's announcement.

'I, Scot Richards is now engaged–' He paused, then looked at me. Some girls were unhappy to hear it. '–to London Mojan!'

Everyone cheered and congratulated Scot, while I gasped for air in shock. I stood there frozen and having a hard time breathing. It seems like there was a heavy metal buried in my heart. I glanced at Paris with his head down, clenching his fist. He glanced up at me with a rueful expression.

I turned around wanting to run away from that awful place. As took a step, I heard Venice calling everyone's attention.

'I want to make an announcement, as well.' Venice said, raising a hand.

Everyone turned down their voices waiting for her to speak.

'Paris and I were officially dating.' She said as she clings to Paris's arms.

And with that, I ran away from the crowd. I ran at top speed with my heart beating like an enormous drum. I could hear nothing, but it's sound. I could feel nothing, but a tight grip on my chest.

How did things turn out like this?

My knees were shaking that I fell on the hard ground. I stood up trembling when someone helped me to get up. I glanced up, then saw Scot's sad face. He didn't say a thing. He simply took my hand. He hung it on the back of his neck and shoulders, then wrapped his other hand on my waist. He clicked his tongue as he saw my knees bled. I silently cried every time I took a step. He was careful to support me as we walked towards the infirmary.

At last, after sending lots of guys to this place now I am the one being guided here. He let me sit on a white bed. He turned his heel and fished something inside the medicine cabinet. He kneeled in front of me with my knees on his eye level.

'Ow!' I shouted as I felt the sting the moment Scot sanitized the wound.

'Sorry. Just bear with it. This won't take long enough.' He said, then he gently blew on it.

He took a band-aid to cover it.

'So,' he began, 'Which of the two announcements you didn't like the most that made you run away like that?' He asked as he placed the band-aid.

'Scot I–'

'Don't say it. It hurts even more when I hear it from you.' He said between the laughs. 'Did I caused you too much pain that you decided to move on?' He asked once more as he opened another band-aid for the other knee.

I nodded. 'It was so painful that I want to stay numb all my life. But when I found love again the hurt was washed away like it was nothing.'

'I'm glad, London. It was also my fault. If only I chose you first then the unknown fiancé, which was also you, it wouldn't end up like this. I'm sorry.' He said as he looked down.

'If only we knew that we were engaged, then it would be easy.'

He shook his head, then glanced up. 'London, that's not it. If you fell for him when you met, then it would be the same even if we know that we are engaged. It would be harder.' He said as he finally positioned the band-aid on the other wound.

He's right. He stood up and sat beside me on the white bed.

'I guess what I felt for you was something that was bound to have an end. I just can't marry you, Scot. But my dad–' I shook my head in dismay. 'Surely, he won't let me break off on this engagement.'

He held my shoulders, looking at me with concern. 'Why? Did they force you to be engaged?'

I nodded. 'Yeah, they just want to use me to merge with your company. Since you are the heir of your family's business. Believe me, Scot, my dad is a wicked man. He would do everything for his gain.'

He sighed, looking at the window. 'I will try talking to my parents about this. But I can't promise you that they would agree with me. Next month, we were going to meet to talk about the engagement with our parents.'

I nodded. 'My dad reminded me about it.'

'I'm sorry to drag you into this. I don't want to force someone to marry me, but my parents insisted. I didn't expect that it would be this complicated.' He shook his head.

'It's not your fault. If only our parents don't shove us something that we don't want to have.'

'So much with the "if's". Do you have a plan?'

I shook my head to say "I don't". 'I only want them to consider my opinion about things, Scot. The will to decide for me. Ears to listen to my pleadings and consider them. These things never happened in my life.'

'It hurts to hear that you are now in love with someone else. But remember what I told you before that I can't or won't forgive myself if the day will come that I will give you nothing but tears. And if being engaged or married to me will make you unhappy, then I won't be happy as well. I want to be with you so badly, but before that, I am still your friend. So don't worry. I will do what I can. Hang in there.' He stood at the bed as he sighed.

'Thank you, Scot. I can't thank you enough.' I said as I shrugged, then I stood from the bed.

He smiled. 'Anything for you. I'm doing this because I love you so no need to thank me. Okay?'

I smiled back. 'Still thanks.'

'You're making me feel guilty in causing you the misery of being engaged to someone you don't like.'

I laughed at him. 'I'll just give you a free hug. Since you don't want me "thank you".' I said, then I opened my arms.

He shook his head, then accepted the hug.

Then the door suddenly swung open, revealing Paris. I hurriedly pulled away from the hug.

'Paris?!' I shouted to my surprise.

He stormed inside the infirmary, clenching his fist and his jaw tightened. His bay blue eyes were darker than ever.

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Hello TPOBP Reader/s

I hope you liked this update...

Hihihihi...

Will Scot take heed of London's warnings?

What do you think will happen after Paris discovered the two at the infirmary?

What do you think of Scot? Kind and selfless? Or another pretentious character?

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-JuMBA