Love, Marriage, Love

Proposals

Past

Tia entered the hallway of the school and Trey came in front of her with a smile that made her cold morning warm. "Hey" she said showing her perfectly white pearly teeth.

"Hello, Good Morning" he said giving her a peck on the cheeks. She was startled because she wasnt expecting this from him. "What was that for?" She asked looking at all the questionable faces staring at them.

"Just like that" he said putting his arms around her waist and walking towards the class.

He was looking at her all smiling and blushing throughout the day. When it was finally time to go home he started walking with her.

"Your car is parked there Trey." She said pointing his car.

"I know. Today I am coming to your home" he declared.

"Ok, stop being weird and spill" she said while walking in the driveway.

"Nothing. I wanted to thank you for saving me yesterday."

"What yesterday?" She said knowing the answer

"You know the thing with my uncle" he stuttered

"What uncle? I dont know what you are talking about. I just met your Grandma, had some coconut cream pie and came home. I would like to keep it that way" she smiled giving him a reassuring look

He smiled and then they both walked in silence.

"What did you tell your driver? Wont he say something to your grandma if you didnt come home after school

"No, I told him, I will be back in 10 minutes"

"And he agreed?"

"Yeah, he drove me home from the hospital when I was born. He knows me since then. Every doctors appointment, every classes, every event, he drives me around. He is like my father to me"

"Hm. If you dont mind me asking, where are your parents?"

"You can ask, they are in Boston. They are lawyers. Both of them. The house we live in is our ancestral home. My Grandpa was a lawyer too. He built the company from scratch. Then when my father grew up he looked up to my Grandpa and became a lawyer too. He met my mom in the law school. They got married and settled in Boston. After sometime I was born, they didnt have anyone to take care of me so when I was born here they asked my Grandparents to take care of me. First it was only for weekdays. On weekends Frank would drive me to Boston to be with them. My dad would play with me and we would go out for dinners and beaches and parks. Eventually they became more busy and weekend trips became summer and winter vacations where I would play in their office and hang out around their interns and staffs. Once I drew in one of the case files. All important papers were filled with crayons. My dad got real upset with me. After that it was only their apartment with a babysitter. I got bored sitting all day in that apartment. I cried to go to Grandma and Grandpa. Then it was them visiting here on holidays but it was never more than a week. Later they took turns. Now its just Christmas holidays. Every year they would come around Christmas with lots of presents to show their "love" to me and they will be here till New Year and return on 2nd January morning." He said tears slowly filling up his eyes. There was a sadness in his vioce that made her feed bad for him.

"Do you like being here with your Grandma and Grandpa?" She asked letting out a warming smile.

"Yeah, I mean they are great. Grandma teaches me to cook all her recipes. Grandpa teaches me how to play golf and chess. We have a basketball court in our backyard. I dont really have much choice, do I? Moreover Grandpa is just making up for his lost time with his son."

"Oh so its a family thing?" She joked

"No, I would never abandon my kid. Even if it means to quit being a lawyer and being a stay at home dad"

"You dont sound very excited to be a lawyer."

"Yeah, its just because its my family business. If it was upto me I would just open a bakery and make all my Grandma's recipe"

"Wow do you know how to cook?" She asked with a excitement in her voice

"How did you like the pie you ate yesterday?" Trey asked with a smirk

"Oh, it was delicious, the filling just melting in my mouth." She was describing still licking her finger and kissing it and thats when she saw him smiling

"Wait, did you make it??"

"Yes, I did. I always make pies for my Grandparents."

"Wow, you should open a bakery. No need to become a lawyer. Go to culinary school"

"Haha.. I wish I could. I am born into the Trent Family. I have to live up to their expectations."

"Hm. And here I am dreaming of becoming a lawyer without a penny in my pocket."

"Hey, dont worry, any college will be lucky to have you. They will give you scholarship and take you."

"You are quite confident. What if they dont?"

"Then I will tell Grandpa to sponsor your tuition."

"Uh,huh why would he do that exactly?"

"Well another lawyer in the family, just like my mom" he said smiling

Tia couldnt believe what Trey just said she was looking at Trey dumbstuck.

"I like you Tia, I will love you and spend all my life with you. I just have this ring pop now but when I am capable enough to buy you a real ring, I will still want to put it in your finger and make you mine forever. Thats a promise. I have been given false promises my whole life so I will never break my promise. Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked giving the ring pop candy he had with him. As much as Tia liked his proposal she didnt want to accept it.

"You are confused Trey. You are just overwhelmed with what happened yesterday. When you grow up its ok to have crushes but making promise for whole life is bigger so how about lets take a breather. May be in a couple of years we can see what happens and decide later"

"You can take as much as time you want couple of years, couple of decades, I dont care. My feelings for you didnt start yesterday, it started the day I saw tears in your eyes. The very first day we met. I liked you and was scared that you would like me too and then you will leave me so I was being rude to you. The minute I saw tears in your beautiful brown eyes, I just couldnt bear to see it. You are the first person I ever apologised to. You are the first person who came to my home. You are the first person who calmed me with your touch. I have haphephobia. The fear of being touched but your touch just gave me a sense of love and care. My feelings are never gonna change for you."