Chapter 2 - The Plan
1987 Words
Chapter 2: The Plan
Alouette was left dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe what her mother just said. Is she giving her a chance to break the arranged marriage or is it a challenge?
Ringing…
Ringing…
“Hello?”
“Lou, I’m outside. Is the doorbell not working? I’ve pushed the button twice.”
She opened the door and there appears Elise, holding her phone on her ear.
“Oh, there you are! Hola!” Elise greeted with hand gestures. Alouette smiled, weakly.
“Hi.” She greeted back. Elise looked at her, eyes narrowing.
“You’re weirder than earlier on the phone.”
She sighed loudly, “I talked with mom.” Elise hummed.
“That’s odd... You never get into an argument with Mrs. Keva. Is everything okay with her?” Elise asked. She rolled her eyes, “No, and I’m not in the mood to talk about it.”
“Okay, Lou, I understand that you totally need Japanese food right now.” Elise laughed lightly, mocking her. She laughed back, “Crazy!”
They walked towards Elise’s Audi car. It is covered in black, matte black to be precise.
“So where do you want to go?” Elise asked, starting the engine. Alouette snapped her fingers as she suggests a place to eat.
“You know the famous restaurant around the city? I heard they serve Japanese food there.”
“Oh, you meant La Reserve?” Alouette nodded. “Yes, I’ve gone there once.”
“Perfect! Let’s go there!” She expressed, happily. She is so happy she’ll be eating Japanese food. Apparently, it is what she eats when either stressed or sad.
“While on the way, you can tell me what happened, Lou.”
She starts, with the continuous sighing, “Okay, here’s the whole situation. Mom talked to me earlier this morning just right after I woke up.” Elise nodded in acknowledgement. “She wanted me to marry her friend’s nephew. The famous multi-billionaire, Cato Caesar’s, nephew. On top of that, it has to be in two months.”
And that is, ladies and gentlemen, what made Elise stop the car. It shocked her so much, she unconsciously stepped on the gas break.
“Are you serious right now?” She asked, as if in doubt. Alouette shook her head.
“I wish I was. And that is exactly how I reacted to mom, Elise. I was so shocked.” They continued their conversation as Elise restarts the engine.
“Well, when’s the wedding?” Alouette glared at her. She grinned at her reaction, “Sorry, I do not know what to say. I’m totally speechless here.”
“What should I do? I don’t want to marry a person I haven’t met yet.” She said, in disgust.
“It must be hard on her, too.” Elise commented.
“How? She’s the one who initiated it.”
“She knew that you’ll disagree. Strongly disagree. Plus, she will never do anything that she knows will hurt you. There could be a reason.”
“Whatever reason it is, mom should realize that I can actually decide for myself.”
“But Mrs. Keva really is something, you must admit. She never fails to amaze me.” Elise mentioned.
Sighing once again, Alouette agreed, “Indeed. As always, she never asks for my own opinion in every matter that I should be taking care of.”
“You should tell her that, Lou. I’m sure she’ll understand.” Elise smiled, supporting her.
“Oh! She did, Elise. She did hear me out.” She said in reply, laughing sarcastically.
“That’s fantastic! What did she say?”
“After I spilled my guts to her? She challenged me to introduce to her a man that can be the reason why she should break off the arranged marriage. Mom thought that it is how it works.”
Elise laughed in amusement.
“It’s not funny!” Alouette said, pouting.
“How could that be not funny? She did hear you out, giving you exactly what you wanted.”
“Well, it’s not supposed to be like that!”
“She really is your mom, Lou. So witty. Like you.”
She rolled her eyes, “Mom said that to me the exact moment you rang the doorbell. She totally did that on purpose. I couldn’t react, dude! She left me dumbfounded.” Elise couldn’t stop laughing.
“I agree on that. Having the last say meant that you won. Imagine Mrs. Keva dancing, thinking that your argument is invalid. It inflates ego.”
After a few seconds, they’ve arrived at their destination; La Reserve. They went in and picked the seats near the balcony, wanted to have fresh air. The server went to them and asked for their orders, providing information that it will take 10 minutes to be served. They politely acknowledged.
“Okay, I need your help.” Alouette said, in all seriousness. Elise looked right at her and smiled, eyes twinkling.
“What?”
“Are you thinking exactly what I am thinking?” Elise asked, smiling widely.
“I don’t get it.” She replied, puzzled.
“Let’s get you a boyfriend!” Elise exclaimed in excitement.
“What a great friend you are, Elise.” Alouette responded, in a sarcastic way.
“Dude! Your mom just challenged you. It meant that it’s either you find a boyfriend, or you’ll get married in two months.”
She sighed, in deep thinking, “I’m not interested in dating, Elise.”
“That is why you’re going to pretend.” She explains further.
“I don’t think that would work. It’s going be hard to fool mom. You know how keen she gets.”
“Do you want to get married in two months?”
“Argh! No!”
“Then you’ll have to work on your acting skills.”
“I am a Director, not an actress.”
“Exactly, you should know how it works.”
“Is there any other way?”
“With how strong-willed Mrs. Keva is, none.”
“Fudge!”
“If we can find you a pretend boyfriend and succeed, you can cut off the whole facade a week after the date of your arranged marriage. No harm done for that, I believe.”
“Alright. We’ll go along with that plan.” Alouette replied as she finally agrees on Elise’s idea. They abruptly end their conversation as a man serves them their order. Mushroom Soup with lots of crusty bread and Tantan Ramen with Maki Sushi. He left them with a curtsy bow.
“Our only problem would be the man you’ll be teaming up with.”
“How about your guy friends?”
“Lou, I’m not entrusting you to any of my friends. They’re wolves.” Elise commented. She’s never allowing her to be with any of those guys.
“What do you mean?”
“They are my friends, so I perfectly know their way with girls. We must find someone in your league. Is there anyone courting you?”
“Yeah, I guess?” She replied, blushing. There’s plenty of guys courting her. Especially now that she is a successful Director s***h Producer.
“Scratch that. Anyone among your suitors that piqued your interests?”
“I don’t want to give false hope, Elise.”
“Right. Sorry.” Elise said, apologetically.
“How about Keane?”
Elise looked at her in horror and possibly, disgust.
“I cannot believe you even thought of that. I’m not going to let you borrow my boyfriend.”
“Dude, chill out, I’m talking about his friends.”
Elise coughed in embarrassment, “I don’t think he’ll agree. Considering how overprotective he is of you.”
“Well, he might know someone. There must be a guy that can help me.”
As if on cue, Keane arrives at their table, on all his glory.
“Hey, Eli!” He sweetly greeted as he kissed Elise on the cheek and hugged Alouette, “Lou.”
“What’s up?” She greeted back.
“What are you doing here?” Elise asked, confused.
“Did you forget that I’m a Chef?” He smiled, amused. Alouette looked at the two of them, happy for their relationship. They have been together for five years now and that would take a lot of patience and understanding. She has been a witness to their love story, respects them both and treats them as her own sibling. She secretly feels jealous of them whenever they’re together and she’s third-wheeling but keeps the thought to herself.
“But I did not know that you work here. I have gone here once and never saw you before.” Elise defended.
“So how did you know we’re here?” Alouette asked, stopping whatever may happen.
“One of the ladies inside kept talking about an actress. She described how she looks, even her outfit, and that’s how I knew it.” Keane explained, as if to prove innocence.
“I told you! You’re really popular, Elise.” Alouette teased.
“The guys talked about you as well, Alouette. The man who served the orders on this table kept on stealing glances.”
“How did you know that?” Elise asked, arms crossed.
“I was watching.” Keane said, sternly.
“You’re doing that again.” Elise protested. Alouette blinked, surprised at the sudden change of air.
“I can’t allow flirting and they are slacking off.” Keane replied.
“How else can we find a boyfriend for Alouette if you keep on threatening guys who likes her?” Elise exclaimed, a little annoyed.
“That is what I was about to ask, Elise. Why were you talking about guys? And what do you mean boyfriend for Lou?”
“We need a man who can be my boyfriend for 2 months.” Alouette explained. Keane blinked in surprise.
“I thought you’re not interested in dating someone?” Keane asked.
“Not until today.” She replied.
The girls explained the situation, Keva’s challenge, and their “amazing” plan.
“That totally works, I agree.” Keane commented.
“Right?” Elise said, proud.
“Let’s just hope that love doesn’t bloom, though. Because that would be the real challenge.” Keane said.
“We’re still missing the guy, Keane. Let’s not talk about love when there’s no one yet.” Alouette replied.
“I know someone who can help. He’s my cousin, his name is Axl.”
“But babe, isn’t he overseas right now?” Elise asked. Keane nodded.
“Yeah. He’s coming back tonight, though.” He answered.
“How come I don’t know him? I’ve known you guys since forever.” Alouette asked, curious. Elise smiled, widely.
“You’ll definitely like him, Lou. He’s a total gentleman, exactly your type.” Elise said, adding some winks to it.
Oh, really?
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- Writer
