ENTANGLED MARRIAGE

CHAPTER FIVE: GETTING MARRIED AT ALL COST

I got dressed and got into my car to go on a date as planned with Jason. I was curious to know what my mom had intended to tell me, but she was not ready to tell me definitely.

I entered the restaurant and did not find Jason. I looked around, perplexed. I then took my seat and tried calling him. On making that attempt, he opened the door of the restaurant. He was as handsome as ever. I watched him dreamingly.

"Hi, Miss Alexa, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I had a meeting to attend."

"It's okay, I just got here a few minutes ago."

He called the waiter and ordered some food.

"You look stunning."

"You don't look bad either," I replied.

"So, I'd love you to come to my mom's birthday and wedding anniversary."

"Hmm... I would love to come."

"My mum wants to know you."

"Urm... Jason, you do know we are not in a relationship, so why would you want to

Introduce me to your parents?"

"Alexa, Please do not misunderstand my intention. As I had said before,I have no interest in you at the moment. I just want to make my mom happy, so I need to introduce you to my mom, especially. There's no string attached anyway," he said simply.

I was touched by his words, but I gathered my emotions immediately.

"I'm not also interested in you, just doing this for my mom also."

"That's good to know."

"So... your brother came to see me at my office."

"What did he do?"

"Just claimed to come and check on me."

"He's a flirt. So don't mind him. He's always like that."

"I'm not oblivious to that."

"So, I'll be leaving soon."

"I have an appointment too, so I will be leaving soon," I said flatly

After some minutes of discussing, he told me he would be dropping me. We bade each other goodbye.

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Jason's POV

I went to a bar with my two friends. It was very rare for me to go, but I just had to tonight.

"So... what's she like?" Rufus asked.

"What kind of question is that?" Harry answered, taking a gulp of wine.

I chuckled. "Funny question."

"So, are you planning on getting married to her?" Rufus asked.

"I'm not interested in her. So why would I rush myself into marrying her?"

"So, you don't have any feelings for her?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"You both are very silly! I said I am not planning on getting married to her, then how the heck do you think I'm interested in her?" I said with mixed feelings.

"I'm telling you, there's no way you would both pretend forever without eventually falling in love"Rufus said chuckling.. awkwardly.

"That's a fact" Harry added. He was drunk are of course, he was saying gibberish.

"That would never happen. This isn't a romance movie" I said with a sneer.

Of course, it can never happen. I'm just doing this for my mom's sake..

"Let's wait and see" Rufus said, gulping the glass of brandy.

"It's preventable" I said sternly.

"Okayyy. If you say so."Harry said raising his hands in succumb.

"You both know I don't seem to have interest in any lady since my last relationship and I don't plan on doing so" I dismissed.

"Cheers to Jason falling in love" Rufus said sarcastically, raising his glass of brandy.

I scoffed and watched them cling their glass together .

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"So..let me get this straight. He isn't interested in a stunning lady like you" Barbara said with a scoff and folded her arms.

Why the f**k did I tell her about it? I blamed myself. Now she would talk about it for hours. Gosh!

I shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes.

"Why should I care? I have no interest in him either."

"If you have no interest, why did u tell me about it then?" She c****d a brow as her lips twisted into a mocking smile.

"Now I regret telling you. Also, FYI, I'm doing this to please my mom for the main time." I said.

She sighed, obviously getting tired of me.

"Jason Anderson is the hottest guy I've ever seen. How could you be so_" she held her chest dramatically, with a tone of sarcasm. "So..... Non-challant "

"What's the big deal Barbara? He and I are on the same sides.... satisfyingly our moms. So what in the world do you want me to do about it?" I almost yelled. Tired of Barbara's nagging.

"Win him over or seduce him" She said slyly.

"You are a bad friend "I said less_serious, pointing my finger at her. "Don't indulge me.. okayy. I'm not interested in that nonsense"

"Stop playing innocent. He is__"

"Barbara, please" I said, a bit exasperated.

"Okay... okay," She raised her hands slightly in surrender. "I won't pester you about it "

"Better, let's talk about something else"

"Okay...so I was invited to Jace's mom party on Saturday" She squealed.

"I was also invited"

"By?"

"Jason"

"Oh... it's gonna be lit. I'm gonna get my dress tailored by My Creative And Spectacular Fashion designer" she said stressing out the words dramatically.

I laughed "Barbara Smith...___ I love you"

I looked at her with a smile.

"I love you more than you can ever imagine" She said and hugged me tightly till I was nearly suffocated by her embrace.

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JASON'S POV

I was at my apartment, working on My laptop when my mom called me over to the mansion. I dressed up and went to my parent's mansion.

"Hey, son" My mom greeted, waking down the stairs.

"Hey mom." I said, giving her A hug and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Cómo Estás (How are you?)"

"Estoy bien (I'm fine)."

My Maternal Grandmother is an Espanol and my mom taught I and my siblings Spanish.... Although just a few.

"So, why did you call?"

"Well, I and to your dad want to have a word with you and Jace. So just settle down and let's expect Jace"

"Ohh okay." I said and sat on the couch.

"So how are the arrangements?."

" The event planner is taking care of the arrangements"

"Ohh....I see" I said.

Then.... immediately, Jace entered the room.

"Ohh, hey kid brother" He said giggling.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

I crossed my arms and scoffed.

"You are so pathetic!" I said.

"I'm not like you, huh bro. I'm not a loser," Jace said with a provocative smile.

"Whatever," I said.

"Oh, stop it, you two!" A voice was heard from the stairs. It was a feminine voice.

I looked to see, and it was... Jennifer!!

"Jennifer!!!" Jace and I exclaimed.

"Why are you both surprised to see me?" she said with a smile.

"Mum... why didn't you say she was here?" Jace asked.

"Oops. Don't you miss me?" Jennifer said, pouting.

"We don't!" Jace and I said in unison.

She frowned her cheeks dramatically. "How cruel of you both!"

"Hey... don't be like that to your sister " Mum said.

"Yes, Your elder sister" Jennifer said. She stressed the word "elder" with a scoff as she went.

"You don't need to remind us about that," I said in dismissal.

"You both are so annoying," Jennifer said dramatically.

"When did you come back?" Jace asked out of the blue.

"Since you guys didn't miss me, why would you care to know?"

"Mom... why didn't you inform us that she was around?" I asked.

"I wouldn't have come," Jace snorted.

"I don't know what your problem is with your sister. Why can't you just welcome her at least? She came back a week ago, and I just wanted to give you both a shocker. But is this how you react?" my mom said with a hint of annoyance.

"Don't be mad at us, Mom... It's okay. We would learn to manage her annoying attitude," Jace said, putting his arm on Mrs. Anderson's shoulder.

"And how am I annoying?" Jennifer retorted.

"Do we really need to explain?" I said, raising my eyebrows.

"Does Dad even want to have a word with us, or you just made it up?" Jace asked.

The large living room door creaked and opened. It was my dad. The house help ran to him and collected his briefcase.

"Dad!" Jennifer screamed excitedly and ran to him.

"Hey, Jenny," he replied back, giving her a hug.

"How was your day, Dad?" Jace and I asked in unison.

"It was great, son... I'm glad you came," he said with a smile.

I smiled back and resumed back on my phone.

The cook prepared dinner, and we all sat at the dining.

"So, are you guys glad to see your elder sister? It's been over two years now."

"No, I don't miss her" I replied as with a deep frown.

"Same here"

"Really?" He exclaimed.

"Yeah, we don't" Jace answered.

He cleared his throat "So_ I called you both for an important discussion"

"Yes... It's really important"Jenifer said, smirking mischievously at me.

"You both need to get married" Dad said.

The word "marriage" dropped like a bomb amidst us.

There was a deafening silence in the room.

Everyone exchanging glances.

Then without hesitation I and Jace exclaimed loudly. "What!"

"Yes...I and your mum are getting old . Besides you are all old enough to_" He got interrupted.

"Dad, you are not old. You can't rush us into marriage like it's nothing " Jace retorted.

"Of course I can. I'll deprive you of all my properties."

"We aren't lazy. We won't be wretched without you. We have a business of our own. So, don't think we'll suffer without the inheritance "

"I'm going to make it difficult for you " He said.

" Hey dad, you are talking like a villain " Jenifer said with furrowed eyebrows.

"It's our life and you can plan our lives like it's some book. We'll get married when we want to" Jace said with an exasperated face.

"This is sounding somewhat awkward and ridiculous. You called us to say all this bullshit. This is weird. Are you my dad?" I said

"Do you expect me to wait till you are forty years iof age?" My dad said with a little bit of sarcasm

"You're being ridiculous. It can't be that long" I said.

"Jenifer here, is older than us then why are you being quiet and facing just us" Jace said, annoyed

"She has a fiance. You both are just fooling around" My Dad said.

"Jennifer is also fooling around " I said, banging my hands on the table.

"You don't need this dad" Jenifer said.

Now, she was not on dad's side anymore.. seeing the ridiculous drama.

My mom who was silent throughout the whole time eventually said. "I am dying, you fools.

I have cervical cancer." A drop of tears rushed uncontrollably through her eyes.

"What the_" Jenifer exclaimed with fear, dropping her fork , which she was eating with.

"Mom_this is a joke right? That's a big fat lie "

He chuckled as tears rolled out of his eyes. He tried composing himself.

"It's the truth guys. I just have few months to live and it can be sudden. And I have just one wish. MARRIAGE. I HAVE few moments with guys and I don't want to be sad before I die. I want to be happy. I want to witness my children's weddings. I don't want to be left out of it all. " She said letting all her emotions out.

I was terrified , dreaded and I Wished I could disappear. I felt like I could go back in time and be prepared for what I just heard.

My heart sank . This was the last thing I ever wanted to hear. DEATH. A DOOR TO THE UNKNOWN, SWUNG WIDE OPEN.

"Mom, since when.." I tried gathering my emotions.

"Why didn't you tell us soon?" Jenifer said sobbing uncontrollably..

"I didn't want to worry you. But, I eventually realized that this would be the perfect time to tell you" She said , sniffing as droplets of water ran through her face, making her whole face, swelled up.

"Is there cure? You won't die right?" Jace asked.

"This is Cancer not Typhoidal sickness. There's no cure except for a miracle." My dad said, down casted.

"So_you knew" Jenifer said, amidst tears.

"Why the f**k did you keep quiet about it all this while?" Jace said with rage.

"Hey, don't be mad at your dad. I asked him to be quiet. So, chilll. Don't blame him" My mom said said with red, puffy eyes.

"Nevertheless _" I was interrupted.

Yeah, this wasn't a Time to argue.

"Mom, I don't want to lose you " Jenifer said sniffing as she never stopped sobbing profusely..

Jace, who couldn't control his emotions anymore, stood up abruptly and went to the balcony.

The atmosphere was filled with deafening silence once again, Jenifer sobbing broke the silence. This time, her tears made me not able to get myself together. I had to leave too. I went straight up to the balcony... Meeting Jace with bloodshot eyes.

I sighed and cleared my throat, trying very hard to not cry but I couldn't. I sobbed.

"What are we going to do?" I said , heaving a sigh of worry.

"Get married" Jenifer said, abruptly at our back.

"Do you think it's easy as you imagine. Marriage is a lifetime. It's a huge decision to make" I said.

"I know you're a loser with a cold heart. At least, Jace isn't like you" She said bluntly with disgust and faced Jace with expectant eyes . "You have a girlfriend right?"

"Even though I do. Do you expect me to go to her and be like "would you marry me?" That's somewhat ridiculous. I ain't ready for a lifetime relationship. Besides, I'm a loner like Jason " Jace said flatly.

"Oh, damn you losers. I don't care how you're both gonna do it. You gat to get married. At least one of us most."

My mom appeared behind us with puffy eyes

"Urm, Jason I thought you were going on dates with Alexa Leonard " My mom said calmly.

Oh why Alexa now!

"Alexa?" Jace said astonished.

"Didn't he tell you? Why are you acting so surprised?" Jennifer snorted.

"I thought you were just fooling around with her. Dates? . C'mon man, I was thinking of her as my option " Jace said.

"You can have her" I said without enthusiasm. Thank goodness!

"No, Jason has been going out with her. So, Jason, invite her to the party " My mom said, pleading..

"Okay mom" I said silently.

Jace scoffed "Well, if you ask me, he doesn't deserve a sweet girl like her. He's a cold-hearted jerk ever since his last relationship" Jace said slyly.

"That's no one's business. Just go get your asses out and get married" Jennifer snapped.

"You're not left out" Mom said.

"What! I and Eric broke up ages ago."

" Then go get a new boyfriend" Jace said, harshly

Jennifer stomped her feet and walked out.

"You'll learn to love her Jason" Mom said.

"I hope so" I said

"I hope not" I said in my thoughts.

My mom hitted my shoulder slightly and excused herself.

"She'll never love you though" Jace said.

"If you can convince Mom, I ain't interested in her anyways. You can have her" I said coldly.

"Mom wouldn't agree and besides you have Sydney. She's been spamming me messages because of you. She loves you" Jace said the "love" word wryly.

"I don't care." I said and made an exit.

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