Chapter 5

Patricia's POV

It's monday morning again and it's also a tiring day for me. I felt so weak and drained. I didn't want to stay inside the house for a long time so I didn't bother to have breakfast and left immediately.

I went straight to a café near the school, I will stay here since it’s too early. I ordered my favorite coffee and a slice of blue berry cheese cake, this will be my girlfriend.

I consoled myself by stalking the Velasquez online and social media never failed me. How ironic that their family is so private but some people can even get access and information about them. It's also true that there's so many girls simping over Callum Velasquez. His pictures is all over online and it's crazy! I also checked their company background. I found out that they still had a lot of business. They owned a large and extensive farm and several hotels. Wow!

While Callum is currently managing the Velasquez Industries and soon, Mr. Velasquez will transfer to him his position. They're really rich. I almost got a headache from the things I found out about them. I just stopped before I went crazy.

I left there and went to school and it was a quick afternoon for me. I was even able to get a perfect score on our quizzes and even praised by my professors.

Until the time I dreaded came.

When I got home, I immediately chose proper and more decent clothes from my closet. After I took a bath, I dressed in a nude strapless knee-length refined frock paired with black sandals. It shows off my shoulders and legs, my whiteness also rises even more. I started to blow dry my hair and after that, I just put light make up on my face.

My waist-length hair became just below the shoulder because I curled the ends of it. I also wear earrings and necklace and lastly, my minimalist bag.

I stared intently at my reflection in the mirror. I really looked good. My cheek bones are even more highlighted now. My lips are red and my hair is pretty. I took my bag before leaving the room. I caught up my parents who were both dressed and my brother who was seriously sitting on the sofa.

Without a word, I immediately went straight to our car and Jordan and I sat next to each other in the back seat. My brother was silent so I was worried. Usually he compliments me when he sees me dressed but not today. I'm sure he knows where we're going.

"So, you were getting married soon..."

"Jordan..." I tapped his shoulder but he didn't look at me.

"Why do you even need to do this? Obviously, you're not yet ready. You don't even know the guy you will marry" he laughed lightly.

"It's my choice-"

"Our parent's choice" he corrected. "They forced you-"

"Of course not, Jordan" I prompt.

"What's happening?" mommy's voice made us stop.

"Nothing, mom..."

Jordan looked away with frown face. He looks mad and I understand because he's been so protective to me. He ignored me the whole trip.

The car stopped and parked in front of an expensive restaurant. My grip on the string of my bag tightened as I got out of the car, and the moment we entered the entrance of the restaurant, my chest throbbed rapidly and I seemed to be deafened by its force. My hands were pale and shaking. I'm so nervous.

Our parents were in the front while Jordan and I were behind. I looked around and realized that almost everyone who eats here is rich. Almost everyone was wearing classy clothes. I was busy looking around when I heard someone call our name.

"The Clemente's!"

I looked at a woman who looked to be in her mid 50's, she approached me smiling. She looks beautiful in an elegant dress. I know her. I've seen her pictures before and I can say that she's really pretty in her age. It's no other than Veronica Velasquez, my future Mother in Law.

"Our table is in this way"

She went first and led us to the long table and I almost had a heart attack there. I just saw Mr. Velasquez sitting at the end of the table while there are three men wearing tuxedos who are also sitting on his right side. I got more nervous so I hid myself behind Jordan.

Mrs. Velasquez is smiling and let us seated. Daddy sit at the other end of the table while I, mommy and Jordan were on his left. We are facing the Velasquez. My knees were shaking because of nervousness, especially when I felt their intense gaze on me.

"You really have a beautiful daughter, Alondra" I met Mrs. Velasquez’s eyes. "It's nice to meet you, Patricia. You're more than pretty in person" she smiled and extended her hand.

I felt the softness of her hand when I accepted it. I smiled sweetly at her even at Mr. Velasquez even though I’m nervous. I cannot express that I am not comfortable in their presence though.

"And this is our sons. This is Ramon," he pointed to the man at the end, he smiled at me. "And this guy beside him is Isaac and in front of you is Callum, your future husband,"

I managed to look at the man in front of me despite my awkwardness. He was already looking at me when I turned to face him. When I got a better look at his face, my heart started to beat quickly. He was emotionless and leaning forward on the chair.

"Introduce yourself to your fiancé, Callum" Mrs. Velasquez said intently.

The reaction of what they say is my fiancé has not changed. He seems so stubborn.

"I'm Callum Teo Velasquez" he extend his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you"

He said 'Nice to meet you' but he didn't even manage to smile at me. Is he that nice?

"Patricia Ylona Clemente. Nice to meet you" I greeted back and tried to smile.

I touched his hand and it was very soft. There seemed to be electricity flowing through our hands as we touched each other's. I did everything I could to keep my hand from shaking and not to reveal that I was tense in his presence because it was true. Good thing that I was a good pretender.

I was the first to get back my hand because I no longer wanted the attention they were giving me. Almost all of them was looking at us. My brother, Jordan, has been frowning since we arrived here. He didn't like what was happening.

We started eating and I just wanted to be quiet the whole time but they kept asking questions. Even mommy would ask Callum something and he would answer it with a smile. It is obvious that it is forced.

"Is it okay for you to get married next month, Patricia?"

I pursed my lips before looking at Mrs. Velasquez. "If that's a better day, it's okay with me,"

"How about you, Callum?"

"The sooner the better for us to get married" he said while looking at me straight.

Huh? He prefers to further up our marriage but he doesn't seem happy? Another great pretender.

"So, I heard that you were an achiever, Patricia. You participated in beauty pageants and you'll go to med school this school year. Such a talent. We made the right decision in choosing you. I'm hoping that you and Callum go out often so you can get to know each other better,"

I just smiled at the praises of the Velasquez couple. They continued eating while the topic was still our wedding until it went about business. I breathed a sigh of relief because of that but I still noticed that Callum's two brothers were staring at me for a long time, including Callum himself as if he had already judged me by his gaze.

"Uhm, excuse me, I'm just going to the comfort room,"

They all looked at me. I slowly stood up and even I turned my back, I could still feel Callum's gaze. He's been staring since I arrived and I feel like he was making me feel trembled by his stares. In his dreams! Even though I know my family has great needs from them, I will not be afraid of him.

When I entered the rest room, I kept staring at myself in the mirror. I can finally breathe properly now.

"Keep fierce, Patricia!"

I almost slapped myself for being confused. I also retouched a few times before deciding to go out, but as soon as I turned the door, there was a man standing there.

"Oh my god!" I held my chest in shock.

The shameless Callum was standing in front of me. He smirked at my reaction. Is he following me?

"W-What are you doing here?"

"I was just checking if you're still breathing"

"Excuse me?" I raised a brows. "What did you say?!"

"Kidding" he laughed a bit. "Nice act, by the way"

My forehead creased. My suspicions were correct, he’s full of fakedness! If only I had known that his behavior was really like this, I wouldn’t have agreed!

"You were so pretty especially when you're angry. Nice acting that you also want the wedding to happen," his face became serious. "I know that you're just as forced as I am and I hope it will not be difficult for the two of us" he said while looking straight into my eyes.

His expression suddenly changed but it seemed that what he was saying was true. And he really need to say this to me? So my suspicion is true that he was just forced like me? I felt sorry for him for a moment.

"Let's continue to pretend until we get married. It's really nice meeting you," he's still emotionless before turning his back and walking back to our table.

I grabbed my chest when it suddenly pounded fast. Did he also just admitted that he's not interested in me? Well, I think we can both get along.