He is Enchanted

Yes, I Liked Him

The distance from his office to Palm peace mall takes about fifteen minutes; if Ethan is lucky and doesn't get stuck in traffic.

So Ethan told his friends that he might not be able to come, but he'd try his best to go.

Maybe they could meet later this afternoon after Ethan got home from work, but that would be discussed later when they met.

He has a meeting today at 2 pm with his father's most loyal client, so, like it or not, Ethan had to be in his office before 2 pm.

If there weren't a meeting, Ethan would probably be allowed to go home earlier and play with his friends. Of course, after doing all the work.

Because it will pile up tomorrow, and Ethan hated seeing his work pile up, usually the more he's work is, the more lazy Ethan will be.

In the end, a miracle happened when Ethan managed to do all his work at precisely eleven o'clock. He went to his father's room and reported everything before finally he was allowed to leave and would return precisely at half-past two.

After getting permission, Ethan immediately walked out of his father's room with happy steps. He couldn't wait to meet his old friends. As far as Ethan lived, he could never find anyone to replace his friends.

Even when Hunter and Emma decided to move out of town, even Ethan, who had continued his master's degree abroad, no matter how far they were, they would take the time to go home to his friends.

Hunter and Emma were already at the mall, while Judith and Vivian would follow. Duke was still making sure the cafe could go in his absence while Isaac, Dante, and Soren were heading to the mall.

Ethan meets Soren in front of the elevator in the parking lot. They immediately joked without thinking about the people in the elevator, especially the sound of Ethan's laughter echoing in the elevator.

Ethan and Soren were out on the second floor, Hunter and Emma were at the bookstore; the two nerds hadn't changed since the first time they met Ethan.

Arriving at the bookstore, Ethan immediately hugged Emma. He had considered Emma like his twin and compared to the others. He and Emma had been friends long ago, back in high school.

Finally, at twelve o'clock, all nine of them had gathered, and they decided to eat at a Japanese restaurant which was an excellent place to take pictures, of course, this was Emma, Judith, and Vivian's idea. For the guys, they will choose a location with an excellent signal to play games.

Many things have happened in Ethan's life, but one thing that amazed Ethan his friends was how they remained the same.

Even though humans are changing quickly, right? Like water that will follow its container.

After lunch, they decided to walk around the mall while occasionally exchanging stories and joking.

"So you're getting married next year, huh, Emma?"

Emma nodded her head, and her shoulder-length hair swayed as well. "I'm a little worried, actually," she said in a weak voice.

"Worried about what?" Dante asked; even Isaac turned around because he was interested in their conversation.

"I'm afraid to disappoint on the wedding day or later when we are married."

Ethan just looked at his best friend with a serious look. Then suddenly he remembered Liana, her smiling face when Miles hugged her.

A feeling of guilt gnawed at Ethan. He felt bad for himself and instead kept quiet.

Should he tell his parents that he can't continue this arranged marriage with Liana? Doesn't it seem like a wise choice because it turns out that Ethan can't like her as a lover?

Don't get Ethan Wrong. She's a great person, and she's fun. She is an excellent friend to Ethan. She is the best friend to her sister Odette.

It's just, Ethan wasn't sure, but he felt that he was lying to Liana, and this certainly wasn't a good sign.

What if he carried all these feelings to the wedding? This won't be nice.

Then about Romans.

Ethan pursed his lips.

While it may seem that Ethan can't continue this arranged married because of that old man, he isn't. His feelings of admiration for Roman don't interfere with the way he feels about Liana.

Ethan just felt that he couldn't love Liana completely because Ethan didn't feel a bond with Liana.

Human hearts are complicated. Ethan wishes he was born as an animal because it seems that it is easier to be an animal than a human in finding a partner.

But one thing occurred to him, can he still meet Roman if this arranged married is cancelled?

Ethan tilted his head up, actually accidentally because Vivian and Judith said they wanted to stop by a shop for a bit. But his eyes caught someone he recognized. That person was standing in a gift shop three shops away from the one Vivan and Judith were referring to.

It's Roman!

No, he didn't see it wrong. It was Roman, standing inside a gift shop, in a black suit that he still wore neatly.

Ethan widened his eyes. He stepped back, then hit Soren, who was walking behind him. Fortunately, Soren was much taller than Ethan, so Soren could easily hold Ethan while maintaining his position.

Suddenly all his friends looked confused at Ethan.

"Don't force us to do an exorcism here, Ethan, my God," Emma said as everyone laughed.

But Ethan shook his head.

"There, there is Liana's father."

All of his friends knew about Liana, and the eight people became confused while looking around in all directions, trying to guess from the sea of people that Ethan meant.

Ethan turned around, and then he saw a cafe right across from the souvenir shop where Roman was looking.

"Let's go there," said Ethan as he stepped impatiently into the cafe, his friends following like ducklings following their mother.

Arriving there, Ethan immediately said that he would order a Macchiato because he had ordered coffee at Duke's cafe this morning.

After that, Ethan chose a spot by the window, and luckily he could see what Roman was doing in the shop.

"He's in one of those gift shops, wearing a black suit."

No one gave a hint, but all of his friends immediately looked in the direction Ethan was pointing.

"Really?" asked Dante in disbelief.

Ethan thoughtfully nodded his head. "His name is Roman Pearson."

Ethan then turned his gaze back to Roman, who was now staring at a shelf, I don't know what was on the shelf, but Ethan knew that Roman was very interested in whatever things on the shelf might be.

"He looks scary, Ethan."

"That's right, and he's scary, Dante, just like what I told you, isn't it?"

"We see it from afar, but I feel intimidated when I have to face someone who has an aura as strong as him. How about you, Ethan? You even went to dinner with him, didn't you?"

Ethan nodded his head. "That aura makes you forget to breathe, Hunter, and he has that kind of mysterious aura."

"But I don't know if anyone has an opinion like this, but He's kinda hot."

Innocently, Ethan nodded his head before Judith even finished her sentence.

"He's amazing," said Ethan without taking his eyes off Roman, who was now moving to the next shelf.

"He looks so strong, and he still looks strong after a long day at the zoo. He has twins who are about five years old, and he is still strong enough to hold both of them together. The muscles on his body were also still impressive. I can't imagine how he looked when we were our age. He must be very charming."

Judith didn't ask Ethan the way Dante and Hunter did. But Ethan's answer made the eight people look at each other and look suspiciously at Ethan.

Without talking to each other, they agreed to make sure before they could conclude.

"What kind of person is he, Ethan?"

"He's an annoying person, he's nosy, and I'm always the target of his annoyance."

"You know Mr. Pearson's birthday?"

"March 5th."

"What about Liana's birthday?"

Ethan shook his head.

"Where is his office?"

"St James Isaf number ten. Come to think of it, and his office is close to this mall, yes, it's only natural that he can come here during recess. His office breaks from twelve to half-past two in the afternoon. It's so annoying!"

"If Liana works, where is Ethan?"

"He mentioned a place once, but I forgot."

"You know her favorite color? Or her favorite food?"

"He once told me that he can eat anything but sweets. His favorite color is black."

"What about Liana's favorite food and color?"

Ethan frowned. Ethan couldn't think, then he turned his gaze to his friends.

"Why do you ask so many unimportant things? How can I remember Liana's favorite food or color at a time like this?"

Ethan looked confusedly at his eight friends, who instead smiled mischievously.

"Why?" asked Ethan curtly.

Duke, sitting in front of Ethan, leaned towards Ethan, making Ethan look at his one friend.

"You like Mr. Pearson, huh?"

Ethan was surprised. "No, how could I like that annoying old man."

Ethan was unlucky today to be caught off guard by his best friend.