Chapter 1

j e a n

2014

I am in the middle of my class in Biology, waiting for the time to pass. As much as this is my favorite subject, as I would like to be a doctor someday, having this as my last class for the day is really tiring that it makes you want to just watch the clock instead. The teacher is teaching about Genetics and how it works from one generation to another and all those things. I am already familiar with this because I spend some of my free time self studying at home.

Many years have passed and Matt and I are still great friends. We're close like brothers and sisters that we almost forgot and didn't mind the fact that we are to be married someday. It just feels like, arranged or not, we'll be able to meet there one day because that is how fate works. As much as we act as friends, we actually hardly act intimate towards one another. We are comfortable hugging each other for sure but that is just as friends but does not have meaning to it.

Finally, the bell rang and I quickly fixed my stuff into my bag and ran out into the hallway. I see Matt waiting there for me and I smiled at him. I gave him a tight hug and asked, "Where's Keith?"

"H-he had to do something, he said we could go ahead on our own." He said acting a little nervous.

"Are you okay? What's wrong? You can tell me anything remember?" I asked him, noticing the change in his behavior.

"It's nothing." He said and tried to laugh it off, "Hey, why don't we walk home. I already texted our driver."

I sighed, "Guess that gives me no choice," we walked out of the school together and the majority of the walk is so silent that it gets me a little uncomfortable to be honest because we are not usually like this.

"All right, I know something is bothering you so why don't you just go ahead and te—" I said but he cut me off,

"You wanna go out tonight?" He asked, looking into my eyes and I could see how nervous he is.

"Sure, we always hang out anyway. Geez, why so nervous?" I asked with a laugh,

"Ugh, not as friends Jean. I'm asking you out on a date, dumbass." He blurted out. I looked at him shocked.

"You know you don't have to do this right? I mean, I am going to be your wife someday." I said with a small chuckle.

"I know but I'm not asking you because I have to but because I want to. I don't want to marry you in the future because our parents asked us to but because I actually like you," he said, "now you made me say it out loud. I hate you now."

I stared at him shocked. He actually likes me. My lips formed a smile. Maybe I was unconsciously waiting for this moment. For years I was right beside him knowing where it would lead to but I didn't think of what will happen on the way. This is happening much better than I thought. It feels like there was this added spice on this one-way journey of ours and I couldn't be happier.

"Well about time that you ask me out. Sure let's go out." I said smiling at him and held his hand. He smiled back at me. "Is that why Keith is not here?"

"Yep, I asked him to give us some privacy. He knows how much I wanted to ask you this for a while now you know, I'm just too much of a chicken to do so. I'm not sure why though, I'm Matteo Moretti. As if you're something special, pfft." He said rolling his eyes teasingly,

I glared at him, "Well then, go out on your own tonight," I said walking faster to be ahead of him. He laughed and took my hand and pulled me back.

"I'm kidding, okay?"

We finally arrived at my house and we stopped right in front of our gate. He pulled the hair on my face and put it behind my ear. "Dress pretty for me okay?" He said with a wink teasingly. I rolled my eyes and went inside my house and shouted goodbye to him. I walked straight into our front door with a smile plastered on my face, still shocked that he asked me out. My eyes widened, suddenly realizing that I did not ask where we are going. I hardly know what am I going to dress for. I pulled out my phone and sent him a text. He eventually replied, "secret ;)".

I rolled my eyes and opened my closet and look for something that is just casual but pretty enough to wear on a date. I found a black floral dress with a ribbon on its collar and plan to tie it with some black ankle strap sandals with 2-inch heels. I am not very tall. I'm just five feet flat, I was hoping I could be taller but now that I'm 17, maybe this is as high as I can get.

I rested on my bed for an hour and then went ahead to go to the shower. I slathered on some shampoo on my hair and then proceeded to wash my body with some soap. After that, I did a simple makeup. Just a nice dewy foundation and some concealer alongside brown neutral eyeshadow for my eyes and a nice coral nude lipstick. I also added some highlight and blush to add some color to my cheeks. I put on some nice earrings and a necklace with a small diamond pendant on it. The necklace was Matt's first gift to me when I met him when I was five. I remember being so disappointed by how small it is. Now that I'm all grown up, it is actually one of my favorites. I was done doing my makeup after an hour and I checked the time and it is already 7 pm. I quickly put on my dress and my shoes, grabbed a small black purse, and inserted my necessities. After I am done, I heard a knock on my door.

"Yes?" I asked,

"Ms. Jean, Mr. Mateo is waiting for you in the living room." I heard, Tina, our maid, said through the door.

"Alright, I'll come right out."

I opened the door to my room and she greeted me with a bow. I smiled at her, "I told you all that you don't have to do that around me. Tell Mom, I'll be out with Matt, okay?" I asked her kindly.

I walked straight into the living room and Matt is there sitting on the couch scrolling some things on his phone. He heard the clacking of my heels against the wooden stairs and looked at me. His eyes landed on me and I can see him having him being breathless which made me chuckle a little bit. He walked towards me with his hands in his pocket. He is wearing a casual coat and pants matched with brown suede shoes.

"We've been friends for years and this is the first time I see you dressed up without a formal occasion. I never knew you could do it on your own," he remarked,

"How dare you? How can you not know I actually enjoy making myself look nice?" I said rolling my eyes,

"You look pretty." He said and held my hand. "Let's go?"

I nodded and we both walked out of our home and his car is parked right in front of our gate. Matt opened the door of the passenger seat for me and I hopped in. He started the engine and started driving. The rest of the night was great, we had dinner at a nice restaurant and talked about stuff. It's not the same compared to our usual hangouts. It is different. It has something else and that makes me happy. When I thought things will not be intimate with us, he decided for us to go further. We were not stuck somewhere. After all, we've already had this ongoing chemistry between us, what difference does it make?

It was already around 10, gladly it's a Friday so we don't have school tomorrow. It is okay to stay up late. We are walking around the park and enjoying the chilly evening. Matt removed his coat and placed it over my shoulders. "You must be cold," he said. I muttered a thank you to him.

"It's late already," I said.

"Yep, 10:45 to be exact," he said looking at his watch.

"I don't want to go home yet," I said pouting my lips.

"You could stay at my place for the night,"

My eyes widened, shocked at his suggestion. "Hey, we're only on our first date. It's a little too fast don't you think?"

He lightly smacked my head at my statement, "Not like that stupid. I mean we could hang out and play videogames like we always do. We always do that. Can't believe you're too excited to have me," he scoffed

"Ow, way to impress the girl on the first date. And I am definitely not excited to go on that route with you!" I exclaimed and then whispered under my breath, "knowing how small you are how could anyone be excited?"

"What did you just say?"

I laughed and ran straight to his parked car by the street. We drove straight to his home and while on the ride I texted my Mom that I will be staying with Matt for the night. She was always fine with us hanging out no matter how late it is because she trusts Matt enough to know that he respects me. We went straight to his room and turned on his PS4. We spent hours playing the game and before we know it, it's already 2 AM. We got tired of playing for a while and just sat on the floor.

"Jean, I have something to tell you," Matt said in a serious tone.

"Yeah, yeah. I know you love me," I joked

"No, not that. I'm serious." He said,

"Fine what is it?"

"After high school, I have to move back  to Italy with my Father,"

"You mean that scary Father of yours? Does that mean you won't come back here?" I asked worryingly,

"I will be back but it will take longer. It might take 5 years or more." He explained,

"Why do you have to go? Why can't you just stay here?"

"I'll be the heir to everything that the Moretti's own. I'll be the Don of our Mafia. Father will be taking me there to train and teach me how to be a leader," he stated, "I'm telling you this because I hope that you would wait for me."

I looked at him with sadness in my eyes. Wow, 5 years without him and maybe even more. I know despite that long time, we'll be together again anyway. We just have to be patient. It will take time but we just have to be patient. Our fate is not unfortunate. What matters in fate is the finish line and that finish line has already been decided for us when I was born, literally.

"Of course I would. When you come back here, I will be right at the airport waiting for you. Just call me from time to time okay? You know how I easily worry about you know how much of a baby you are," I said sadly with a small chuckle.

He cupped my cheek and gave me a small smile. "Are you sure you really want to be mine? If you don't have to marry me someday, will you still be willing to be mine?"

"Of course I do."

He pulled out a small box from his coat and opened it. It's a rose gold ring with a small diamond in the middle that has two smaller diamonds beside it. I looked at him wide-eyed, "What's that?"

He sighed and rolled his eyes, "You should really stop assuming for something too advanced. You've been doing that all day! It's a promise ring, dummy. I want it to be something for you to remember me by while I'm away. Even if I take too long or even a decade, know that I will come back eventually, okay? You were born to be mine after all."

I smiled, nodded, and held out my hand, and slid the promise ring on my ring finger. He looked into my eyes and then into my lips. He slowly leaned closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. His lips were soft and all I felt was bliss. He is the one manipulating the kiss. His hands moved down to my waist and traveled down grazing my thigh giving it a light squeeze. I moaned softly as our lips collided with one another. He slightly pulled away, both of us are panting and out of breath. "Will it be okay with you?" he asked.

I looked at him, hesitantly, slightly nervous. "If you don't want to, we can stop right n—" he said but I cut him off, "No, it's okay. I'm ready."

He looked into my eyes to make sure I am certain of what I just said. He started carrying me, his hands carrying me from my thighs. I continued smashing my lips against his. Just the taste of it is so addicting and it only makes me want more. He gently set me down on his bed. He's staring at my face, observing each detail carefully. He removed the hairs that are all over my face and muttered under his breath, "You're so beautiful."

He untied the ribbon on my collar and slowly unzipped my dress, exposing each inch of my skin every second. He planted kisses on my lips, my cheeks, going down to my neck. He removed his shirt, showing his bare chest. I eyed his body, digesting every little detail. He pushed me unto the bed. We looked into each other's eyes and he smiled, "I can't do this."

I looked at him confused, "What? Why?"

"I don't want to go to jail," he answered

"Huh?"

"You deserve respect, love. We can do it when that ring on your finger is actually the one for a wedding. I can wait for that. You only deserve the best. I do not want you because of your body. I want you because of you. We can do that when it's the right time," He said and gave me a peck on the cheek.