24 Sacrificing the friendship of Matthew and Renae (1/2)
Auntie Tiana called for the chauffeur to pick them up outside Auntie Ann's house. The chauffeur arrived in a few minutes time and the two of them got inside a black Jaguar XF. On the way back to their house, Auntie Tiana asked Min an important question. ”Do you really want to marry Matthew?”
Min's response was immediate. It was as if she predicted that her mother would ask her that question. And well of course, her answer would be a yes. ”Alright then,” her mother said.
Meanwhile, Matthew drove over to Renae's house. She had no idea he was coming over, he didn't inform her. A knock on the door caused Renae to jumped up from where she was at and ran to see who was at the door. ”Hey, what are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming over,” Renae said to Matthew.
”I'm sorry I didn't tell you, could we go on a drive?”
”Sure,” Renae agreed though she really didn't want to go out. Yet, she didn't want to reject him as she could tell that he was already disappointed about something.
They walked towards the car. After they both buckled their seat belts, Matthew drove them to a park. The same park that they always went to during their childhood. They walked towards the swings and sat down. Matthew started talking, it was obvious he needed someone to talk to.
”First, sorry I didn't tell you that I'll, so called, hang out with you today in advance because I, myself didn't know that I'd come over to your house. Secondly, do you mind if I talk to you about everything I need to say?”
”Let it all out, I'll be here listening.”
”I thought that today would be a day I won't see Min, but I was wrong. She was at my house with my mother and I saw them when I came home. My mother told me that she had planned an arranged marriage for me and Min. I don't get why I must marry her! Shouldn't it be my decision to choose who I would marry?”
Renae didn't know how to reply him or what to say, she was shocked that he was to marry Min. But she kept calm and comforted Matthew by patting him on his back.
”No matter what happens I'll always be here for you to talk to, to hang out with you and obviously I'll always be your friend,” Renae said frankly. These words came from her heart and not just because she wanted to comfort Matthew.
After hearing Renae's words, Matthew was touched. Renae gave Matthew a warm friendly hug to feel much better. The hug lasted for about 30 seconds before Renae backed away. Little did they know, Kaiden was walking to the library nearby and saw them hugging. He was turning green with envy, unconsciously frowning. After all, the girl he liked was hugging his best friend. He just told himself that they are just hugging as friends, and nothing more. He forced himself to move forward and pretend that scene he saw never happened. He walked away quietly so that they wouldn't notice him.
Since his parents were the ones who put him in his current state and planned out the arranged marriage, he decided to boycott them. When his mother called him out for dinner, he'd pretend she wasn't there and take the food on the table to his room to eat.
Other than ignoring his parents, Matthew also wanted to show that he has feelings for Renae. He decided to stay in his angry, annoyed mood to get Renae to be close to him, hoping to become more than just friends. Renae being close to him would also stop his foul mood from hurting others.
On the way to school, Matthew asked Renae, ”Could you stay by my side today? To stop my horrible mood from affecting others? I know I'm asking a lot from you and I'm sorry about that...”
”Of course! That's what friends are for, to be here for one another, right? And stop apologising, you didn't do anything wrong,” she said with a smile.
”Thanks for being here for me...”