Unexpected

5 | Better than Nutella on a Bad Day

"Wow, you're really humble aren't you?" I commented sarcastically and let out a chuckle. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't I just sit beside a pretty girl?" he asked.

"No," I said with a smirk. "Besides, I'd like to be alone."

He prentended to be frustrated and said, "Come on! I'm even better than nutella on a bad day."

"Oh really?" I asked.

"Sure," he said and got a handkerchief. "Here, I even brought you a handkerchief."

"Thanks but I'm fine," I said. "I'm done crying."

"Still doesn't remove the fact that your face is so sticky already and you actually need to wash it," he joked.

I rolled my eyes at him and took it.

We were quiet for a while which was being kind of a habit of ours. I rocked the swing as I held on to his handkerchief. He was sort of a nice guy, I realized. I noticed couples holding hands and walking around the park and it made my heart ache. I'm never going to experience falling in love because my mother already decided for me. And as much as I wanted to rebel against her, even if I cut all my hair, have tattoos and start drinking, it still wouldn't change her mind.

"What are you thinking about?" Nate brought me out of my daze.

"I'm thinking about what my mom told me," I confessed. I cringed internally because I was afraid he already knew about the upcoming engagement.

"Oh. I didn't really understand what was going on earlier just that you're getting married. But some of the things she said were harsh," he said.

"Yeah," I said. Guess he didn't know about the engagement yet.

"So, who are you marrying?" he asked while moving his eyebrows up and down it looked ridiculous.

I stared at him and tears were threatening to fall again. "I--"

A voice cut me off before I could even tell Nate and I thanked all the Gods that could possibly exist.

"Nathaniel and Winter, we have to talk to both of you," Aunt Sandra said.

I gulped and took in a deep breath. Good thing Aunt Sandra came in, I wasn't prepared to tell him and I wasn't prepared to accept it yet.

"Why?" Nate asked his mom. "Winter needs some air."

"Just... just come with me to Winter's room okay?" Aunt Sandra said exasperatedly. It looked like she was too tired to argue with us so Nate and I just obeyed and trudged after her.

As we entered the room, I saw my mom sitting on the chair which was occupied by Nate before and her eyes looked puffy and red. I guess Aunt Sandra gave her a lecture on parenting again. She did go beyond the limit and her words still stung me.

Nate's dad was also there, standing at the corner and looking uncomfortable. Whenever I hear Aunt Sandra yelling at my mom, I know that Nate's dad preferred to stay out of it and now he's in the same room with them and us. It must really be awkward for him because he didn't like to dwell on things like that.

"So, we are here because we want to discuss something with you kids," Aunt Sandra started.

Oh no. Here it comes.

"Winter is already aware of this agreement so we're telling you," Aunt Sandra continued. "We've had an agreement that you, Nate, will be engaged to Winter."

Nate's shock and anger was painted on his face. He seemed to calculate the things that were happening around him because his eyes moved back and forth from my mom, Aunt Sandra and his dad.