[117] b
“How can Darren choose the woman we match him with? He also has a choice, but don’t worry, Mom and Dad, Darren will introduce Chloe to you soon!” Darren emphasized to his parents, who nodded, listening to what their son said. The question from Darren’s parents left him a little confused because he couldn’t possibly accept the arranged marriage set up by his family.
“Mama just wants you to get married soon, Darren,” his mother said, patting her son’s shoulder. “Don’t overthink about the arranged marriage Mama mentioned earlier.”
Darren nodded quietly, smiling to assure his mother that there was nothing to worry about. However, his thoughts were completely different. Darren’s mind was in turmoil, torn between following his parents’ wishes or quickly introducing Chloe’s story to them.
After a moment of silence, Darren decided to hurry back to work and bid farewell to his parents. He also wanted to discuss this matter with Chloe later.
“Well then, I’ll go to work now, Pa, Ma!” Darren said as he kissed both of his parents’ hands.
“Remember, don’t forget to bring Chloe here and introduce her to us!” Darren’s mother reiterated. Meanwhile, he nodded quietly without uttering a word.
***
Before heading to the office, Darren told Chloe to meet at a restaurant near where they both worked. He did this because he wanted to discuss what his parents had discussed earlier in the morning. On the other hand, Darren didn’t want to be forced into an arranged marriage, as he had already chosen Chloe to be his future wife. However, along the way, Darren needed clarification. He couldn’t push Chloe to meet his parents shortly if she wasn’t ready. Moreover, Chloe was a strong and hard-to-understand woman.
Nevertheless, Darren understood why Chloe was so stubborn. Her past wasn’t easy.
Finally, Darren reached into the flat object in his pocket and scrolled through Chloe’s name to send her a message.
“Hey, I’m heading to my place. Can I drop you off at the cafe? Let’s have breakfast first. What do you want?”
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Darren anxiously waited for Chloe’s response, worrying she might reject his offer this morning. Chloe always brought her car when going to the cafe. It was rare for her to accept a helping hand in the form of a ride.
But Darren didn’t let it bother him. He chose to wait for Chloe in front of her house so she couldn’t refuse his offer this morning.
Tring!
“Okay, I’ll wait for you at home.”
Seeing Chloe’s message, Darren’s face broke into a faint smile. He didn’t need to return to her house because he had been waiting for Chloe in front of her house all along. Quickly, he replied to Chloe’s message.
“I’m already outside!”
Send.
Chloe, getting herself ready as neatly as possible, was startled when she read Darren’s reply. She couldn’t believe that he had come to her house so quickly.
“Is this guy crazy? How could he come to my house this fast?” Chloe muttered to herself. Meanwhile, she had just finished preparing herself in front of the mirror and had yet to prepare breakfast.
Even though he knew Tia would have prepared what he liked: whole wheat bread with buttercream filling and a glass of low-fat milk.
He had to hurry so that nothing was left behind, and Darren didn’t wait long before he ensured nothing was left behind.
Darren was still waiting for Chloe’s arrival in his car, hoping she would come as soon as possible because he wanted to take his girlfriend out for breakfast first. He knew that Chloe probably wouldn’t have breakfast since he had arrived earlier.
After a while, Chloe finally emerged from behind the door of her house, locking it before walking towards Darren’s car.
“Am I too early to pick you up?” Darren asked Chloe. Meanwhile, he quickly sat beside Darren and let out a slow sigh.
“Of course, you’re very early. You know that you came after I finished getting ready! And you didn’t even wait for my answer!” Chloe replied, gasping for breath after reaching Darren in the car.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to pick you up so abruptly like this!” Darren said, chuckling as he saw the annoyed expression on the face of the woman he loved. Meanwhile, Chloe fixed her hair in the car’s mirror.
“It’s okay! But why did you suddenly ask me to go together? It’s not like you,” Chloe said, raising the question to Darren.
Several times Darren had invited her to go together, but it always ended with Chloe refusing. Not because she didn’t want to but because she knew it could be troublesome for the former doctor who cared for her. She didn’t want to be a burden to Darren.
“I just want us to go together,” Darren explained to Chloe. Seeing Chloe’s current demeanor, he couldn’t impose his will on her. It was what made him confused as well.
“Oh really? What made you suddenly want us to have breakfast together? Aren’t you afraid of being late if you have to drop me off first?” Chloe asked Darren, shaking her head.
“Of course not! Now we must find a place to eat because you probably haven’t had breakfast yet!” Darren told Chloe.
“Oh! No need to go through all that trouble. I can have breakfast on my own. Luckily, Tia prepared a packed meal for me! If we have breakfast together, it will only slow you down from getting to the hospital, Darren!” Chloe retorted to Darren, who ignored the woman’s complaints. He chose to drive the car toward a restaurant instead.
Once they arrived at the restaurant, Chloe and Darren sat at a strategically located table near the entrance and exit. It would make it easier for them to leave after eating, as they had to pay first before ordering.
Chloe felt a little puzzled by Darren’s behavior. Unlike usual, he never asked her to go to their respective activities together. The Darren she knew was the type of person who would never be late when going to the hospital to attend to his patients.
Darren raised his hand to call the waiter and order food before quickly heading to the cashier to pay.
Darren was puzzled. Where should he start talking about this with Chloe? His parents were pressing to introduce Chloe to them, and Darren was worried that she would refuse and give reasons that would disappoint him.
“Why are you just silent?” Chloe asked again, confused by Darren’s behavior. Usually, he would stay quiet whenever Leonel was around them.
“Oh no, I’m just confused about which menu we should order right now,” Darren made an excuse.
“In that case, let me choose,” Chloe said, taking over the order menu from Darren’s hand, who shifted his gaze towards her.
After ordering all the food they wanted, Darren returned from the cashier and found his seat facing Chloe. He took a deep breath. It was the beginning of expressing his intentions to bring Chloe here.
“I want to ask you something,” Darren said, taking a slow breath. It was the start of opening up about his intentions in bringing Chloe here.
“What do you want to ask? Is there something you’re hiding? Be honest, Darren. I’m listening,” Chloe replied with a thin smile.
“Are you serious about this relationship with me? Considering that my parents are eager to meet you,” Darren said to Chloe, who widened her eyes.
“Are you joking?” Chloe repeated the question.
“No! I’m serious. I just wanted to ask about your seriousness regarding our relationship, especially with Leonel’s presence, which also makes me feel uneasy,” Darren confessed honestly to Chloe.
“I’m serious about this relationship, and it has nothing to do with Leonel!” Chloe countered Darren at that moment.
“Then, when will we meet my parents?” Darren asked again.
Chloe fell silent.
“They want to meet you, Darren.”
There was a momentary pause before Darren sighed deeply.
“Or… are you not serious about me?”