Chapter 7

Serena Cesantio "This is really good.. I never knew that this place existed in New York." I said as I munched my pizza. "I can eat this pizza everyday for the rest of my life." He said and I chuckled. I looked up to the sky and sighed. "I miss sitting down like this while eating pizza." "Me too. Been so busy with work and I rarely spend time with my family since they're all busy." Darren said and I couldn't agree more. "I know this might sound rude but I notice that Caleb doesn't really like me." He said and I chuckled. "Ignore him, he's weird." "Weird but you like him right?" I turned to him and he smirked. "I am not." "Serena, I'm not dumb." "Hey! I never say that you're dumb and besides I don't like him." I said and I ate my pizza again. "Do you even like this idea? The marriage thing?" Darren asked right to the core and I turned to him. "Actually no. I agreed with my parents because I don't want to disappointed them again." I sighed. "To be honest, I don't like it either but after meeting you.. you're quite fun and okay to be with." He said and I looked at him narrowing my eyes. "Okay? I'm fantastic, Darren." "Well, you're quite the girl that every guy will kill each other just to get you." "Nah.. they only want my body. For them, having sex with me is their goal." I said. "Not blaming them because you're hot and.. If I'm single, I think you will turn me on." He said and my eyes widen. I turned to him raising my eyebrows. "You have a girlfriend?" "If you're interested in me.. sorry but yes I have a girlfriend." I laughed when he said that. "Nah.. you're the kind of guy that I will friendzone anyway. So.. why do you agree to see me? Your brother has a girlfriend and you can say the same." I said and I drank my coke. "Well.. she's Korean-American. My parents don't like her very much because she's half asian which I don't see as a big problem." He sighed and I patted his back. "Where is she now?" "She's studying in London now." "Don't worry about this arranged marriage thing, you're safe." I said and he chuckled. "Well.. I guess you're friendzoning me now." "I'm agreeing to this.. you know.." I looked at the ground blankly. "If you're not sure that Caleb likes you or not, he likes you. Sometimes men are dicks, Serena." "I don't really believe in love again, Darren. He made me that way and it's hard for me to open up to someone." "Well.. you can use me. I mean.. My girlfriend knows that my parents are arranging this thing but she trusts me so.. you can use me as your shield for a while." I smiled at him but I shook my head. "I'm not that kind of person, Darren." "I know but I'm willing to help." He said and I laughed. "Still a no." "Well.. it's his loss." "Yeah it is." I said and after that we walked all the way to the Brooklyn bridge talking. Darren is a really good guy but I don't feel anything special besides I think we will be good friends starting from now. He dropped me home and I bid my goodbyes to him. I walked inside my house and my eyes widened to see Caleb sitting in the living room giving me a cold look. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Well.. I just want to let you know that you and I will go to Ghana in 2 days for volunteer to build schools." He said and my eyes widened. "What? I didn't sign up for-" "I did." "What?! You didn't even ask me for permission? I won't go!" I bursted angrily and I walked towards the stairs but he stopped me. "You don't want to help them?" He asked and I pushed his hand away from me. "If I want to help, I will go by myself but not with you. Don't you just get the idea that I don't even want to be in the same place with you, let alone breath the same air, Caleb." I bursted my heart out not caring if there's my parents and my brother at home. "Don't be selfish, I don't want to be in your circle as you." I added and he was speechless. He can't find words to say to me. "I heard about arranged marriage." "And? You care? Don't give me shit that you're regretting and not liking the idea." I hissed. "Right.. I was the one who hurted you." He admitted. "You know that right so just get out from my house and let's just don't see each other." I said pointing towards the door. "Darren has a girlfriend." He stated but I already knew that. "I don't really care if he has a girlfriend or not but I quite like him. He appreciates me and I'm going to marry him." I said seriously and his face changed. I took a really deep breath. "It's been 2 years, Caleb. Let's just this pass by, you were the one who wanted that but now you're the one who walk back again." I said. "I don't know why." He stated. "To be honest.. it's better for me to have a thousand one night stand than be with you. You hurted me that much until I don't want to see you again." I said truthfully and I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "It's always been you.. it's always belong to you, Serena." He said and I shook my head. "Look at yourself in the mirror, Caleb. Look how pathetic you are begging. It's the best for you to just walk away and find someone else." I said and I felt the pain in my heart rising up again. Without me knowing tears came out from my eyes and I wiped it quickly because I don't want to look weak in front of him. "Fine, I won't appear in front of you again. I won't get in your way, I won't talk to you again. I will disappear from your life, I will try my best." He said, making me quite shocked to hear his statement. "Good, because you should know your place."