That was perhaps the most serious he had been in his life. There are few of such times. He watched Nicolette's face all through the talk. She was listening but was she really getting what he was trying to say, that he did not know. She went mute for sometime before she spoke.
"Everyone is so happy because you made them so hopeful." She said. Her heart had accused him since the day they met.
"You did not even have the face to say no. Why are you even talking?"
Once Vance said that, he looked away from her. Why the hell was he so sharp-tongued? He shouldn't have said that.
Nicolette felt rather hurt looking at the disdain in his eyes. But she did not back out from saying, "You acted like you were the happiest and you asked for my number in front of everyone. If you fidgeted or if you had shown some discomfort when we were asked, they would have understood!"
Vance did not want to continue talking about this because of his guilt from the previous sentence. But he still spoke carelessly another time. "Right. You want to be the angel while I should be the devil that opposes what everyone wants."
Seeing that she did not say anything, going against his heart he spoke, again, "What? You don't like the Truth?"
Nicolette has always been a servile person but now she was arguing with this person already? She decided not to drag things. "Perhaps. Let us talk about the important things. So you want a marriage in name?"
"What do you mean I want? You are in this too."
"I never wanted a fake marriage. I just did not want any marriage itself." She wanted to stay alone. She had a big bunch of friends, colleagues and her loving family. But just another person called husband would mean that she can't control her life as she owns it.
"No difference, and Nicolette, stop fighting with me." Vance said. He was already feeling suffocated enough with this average looking girl.
Nicolette had tough time comprehending everything from the beginning and now it was getting even more difficult. So she thought it was better to talk to him as little as possible. So she just nodded.
But did this guy really not see the difference between being in a namesake relationship, a marriage at that and not being married? Logically speaking, it would be the same. In fact, there would be subtle differences like her parents being at ease and she would not have to go through the trouble of giving excuses in order to not date the guys who would ask her out. If she told them she was married, then her friendship or work relationship with them would be as good as before. She wanted to see that as an advantage of what he just put forth. But it somehow felt like a big step to take.
"So you're okay with this, right?"
She nodded again.
"Just say yes."
She pursed her lips before giving him a unpleasing look. "Yes."
Hearing her strained voice he could not help but take a deep breath. "So, what else?"
She did not respond.
He probed once more. "Nicolette. Is there anything else?" He said in a softer tone.
She looked at him and turned her face away. "Nothing. Thanks for coming. You can go."
She seemed upset and Vance did not know how to coax her. "I'll drop you." He offered.
"Thank you but I wish to stay here for a little longer," she said diverting her attention to the phone that has been in her hand since she had called him.
She's dismissing me? Vance thought. "Did your work not end yet?"
"It ended," she said without looking at him. He glances at the time on her phone and stood up. "It's been an hour almost. It's 6:30. What will you do staying here? It'll get colder."
See. This is what she hated. It seemed like she'd have to explain all of her little actions from now on.
"I will go home after you leave." Huh? This is exactly what he meant when he thought she had a strong personality. He just offered to send her home and she said she would leave after him. This little lady. He rolled his eyes though she wasn't seeing his face.
"Should I wait? I will wait until you want to go home."
"After you go."
He sighed and stayed beside her. "Are you upset?
"Why? Isn't this the most intelligent and convenient thing?"
She put her phone aside. "It really is. But I don't.. Yes! It's deceiving everyone. Especially the parents. Mine and your's. I feel uncomfortable." Vance thought the way she exclaimed the yes was rather cute, as though she just found a treasure. But the treasure was words to counter him and her uneasiness with the circumstances.
"I don't have an answer for that. But everyone is happy. That's more important, don't you think?"
She sighed and then smiled at him and seeing that she was not upset anymore Vance's spirit was lifted as well.
"Finally! Shall I drop you, Miss Nicolette."
"Hm. Thank you. But it would take you an hour extra to go back after dropping me."
"Let's have something on the way then."
"I'll call home and tell them to prepare an extra meal." At first she thought she'd only be lying to her parents about this whole marriage thing. But now she felt like she was receiving another person, Vance.
"First invitation. How can I refuse?"
"Okay." She said and as the two started walking to his car, she fished out her phone to call home.
"Hello mom. Vance is coming home with me." She looked at his back. If he hadn't called her ugly the other day, she would be sure to compliment for the charm of this suave man walking talk in front of her.
When he heard his name for the first time from her mouth he thought it was nice. No further description but just nice.
"Yeah, I'm with him."
"No. Not any date. We are at the park near office."
"He was not busy. I asked."
As she spoke behind him, he suddenly turned and noticed that she had a decent height. She reached his chin. He took the phone away from her.
"Hello aunty!"
"What are you doing?" Nicolette said dumbly.
"Yeah."
"Um, you know what? I asked her if she wanted to go on a date. But she said no."
"Yeah... Okay," he gave her a side glance.
"In half an hour or so."
"Yeah, we'll be safe." He cut the call and returned her phone.