The Best Friend's Contract

Julia, my mother, has always been an understanding woman. Ever since I was young, she was my role model-by far, the one and only. I still remember how she used to dress whenever she goes to the office, in her dark red stilettos. She was absolutely an inspiration for

someone like me to grow up and appreciate the qualities of dressing, nicely.

Up till now, she has never failed to impress me. She didn't even prove me wrong and she's almost in her fifties yet she would know how to 'rock' it.

"You're right and I don't blame you," I grab onto her hands, "Aidan and I are just very busy with our careers and I'm more than happy that you understand. It's just... at times, I'm not able to fully dedicate myself in planning my own wedding-I know that this would only happen once in a lifetime but sometimes, my work just comes first." I add, honestly.

She sighs, deeply. "You're really determined and I can't disagree how much your career would always come first in your daily life but Kenna, no matter how busy or how hard it is to try and just set aside, your family and your future husband will always come first. Your work is very important and I respect that but... don't forget how you get to be where you are," She replies.

"I know," I mutter under my breath.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Kenna, where are my clothes?" Aidan appears near the door, surprising us both. My eyes wander down to the droplets of water on his bare skin, making me mentally curse for having an attractive best friend who would soon be my husband for a year, "Uh, I'm sorry." He adds as he sees my mother, chuckling before exiting the room.

I take my time to eye down his body, seeing him standing there with only his towel covering the lower part of his body-leaving me cross my arms, "How does it feel like to walk around my apartment with only a towel wrapped around your waist?" I ask, handing him his shirt as I pass next to him, leaving the room.

Without further ado, I am already making my way back into my room. Once I'm done choosing casual clothes to wear for today such as a long-sleeved grey cotton shirt and black skinny jeans, pairing them up with a skin-coloured flats, I instantly make my way towards the bathroom to take a quick but proper shower.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I was never born with perfect skin as soon as I hit puberty but I was grateful at how much I've made myself to appear better. There would be a couple of flaws here and there from my past acne experience but I'm happy at my own skin's improvement-making me stare back at the smooth, mostly-cleared skin.

Once I'm done applying a thin amount of makeup onto my face, I quickly change into the chosen clothes; leaving the room with my hair in a ponytail and my handbag in my hand. My eyes wander to Aidan who is standing in office attire, talking to his mother before turning to look at me, eyeing down my outfit.

"I thought... you were late?" I ask, confusingly.

"I forwarded the meeting. It would just be a discussion with my employees and I had given them a worthy excuse which is to plan my wedding," He replies, "I'll head to the office around three, after lunch." He adds, clearing his throat as I eye Diana, who remains where she is.

"Great," I breathe out. My lips are curving up into a smile, not realising how fake it is. This whole wedding is not even supposed to come in between both of our careers but due to his mother's request, he had no choice but to agree.

Apparently, Gerald had drove both my mother and Diana to my apartment and is currently waiting for them near Aidan's car which was parked right in front. I make my way with Aidan towards his car, entering it before letting out a deep sigh before looking out at the window.

"I know. You don't have to say it," He says as soon as he has entered the car before starting the engine, "That's what she's good in. Trying to alter my life into something better as if my life is not any better than my brother's but I don't blame her... she wants the best for her son. I'm just annoyed by her actions on trying to make me agree," He breathes out, driving forward.

"I'm not trying to be rude," I turn to look at him-his right hand on the steering wheel while his left hand is currently on his lap, from the moderate traffic in front of us. "I know how she is. I've known her ever since I was a kid and you've never stopped complaining about how much she wants the best for you. I understand because every single mother would want that,"

He chuckles yet it sounded insincere, "Sure, every mother would want that but I don't see it as an excuse for her to make the decisions in my life such as forcing me to get married or else,"

"Exactly! She has the right to make your life better but she's only making it worse because she's not trying to alter your life... she's living your life for you. Aidan, you're an adult and you are old enough to make the decisions on your own without others to decide for you. You can think it through and all you have to do is be honest with her," I reply.

"What makes you think she'll understand?" He glances at my direction before looking down at the road again, pressing harder onto the gas pedal as soon as the traffic has cleared up. "I'm not her favourite child. It's as if that everything I do is wrong," He clenches his jaw. "Aidan...don't say that," I mutter as I look away, not knowing other things to say.

Neither of us said anything and the rest of the ride was accompanied with silence until we arrived at the New York Public Library, stopping near the entrance. My eyebrows furrow as I look around if we're gust stopping for a short amount of time but as soon as I see him turning off

the

engine and unbuckling his

seatbelt, I am left questioning

myself.

We both step out of the car, turning to see Gerald has parked the car behind Aidan's and both my mother and Diana has stepped out-making their way towards the entrance.

"At least I got to choose the venue," He says as his lips curve up into a small smile, leaving me turn to look at the public library again.

From what I heard, wedding ceremonies at the New York Public Library are quite expensive, starting from the range price of fifty thousand dollars but the ceremonies here are held with a lot of beauty... no doubt, would manage to attract people in getting married here. "What do you mean?" I ask.

Having my wedding here is quite a dream come true. Honestly, the public library was in my lists of venues to get married at a list I made when I was just a teenager. The only person who knows about the list is Aidan because he has always been the one who knows everything about me... my darkest secrets and my deepest regrets.

"I don't know if your mind have changed but from what I knew and remembered, you wanted to get married here. If you wouldn't be able to achieve it in the future with your other half... I might as well, have our wedding here. At least, you'll experience it." He says.

"You're kidding," I am left gaping

before turning to look at him, seeing

him laughing as he shakes his head-leaving me quickly making my way towards him and pull him in for a hug. Our bodies collide with the amount of comforting warmth radiating as he wraps his arms around my body, "I can't believe you

remembered about my stupid list," I

mutter.

"It was not a stupid list," He chuckles. "Your expectations were high. I mean, a wedding held in Maldives or even Bali? I couldn't put that into consideration because no way would we travel that far for our wedding. Good enough you had the public library in your list," He adds. I pull away, smiling up at him.

"You're the best one-year-future-hubby ever," I whisper and he starts to laugh again, revealing his perfectly straight teeth-making me stare at him in awe at the beauty he holds. Something I should've noticed years ago but only now would I come to a realisation of his own features that has managed to attract different women.

"Let me own that title," He pretends to flip his hair.

With a wide smile plastered on my face, I begin to pull him towards the entrance of the public library-our fingers entwined.