Chapter 84: Chapter 84

JUNE

“Geez, why do I feel like something good happened?” Mark wrinkled his nose when I entered his car.

“Because it did," I said as I tossed my bag to the back of the car and turned to face him, barely keeping the smile off my face.

He's putting on orange cotton shorts, which he paired off with a black polo. He didn't rub any gel on his hair; rather, he left it natural.

“So, what happened?” He placed his hands on the steering wheel. “And while you are at it, can you tell me why you sent me back last night with just a few words?”

Though his face was neutral, I could tell he was not happy about the call I gave him last night.

“Come on, I'm sorry,” I pouted and made baby faces. “I was just carried away. That was why. Don't be angry with me, okay?” I made to touch him but recalled the diamond weighing my finger down.

I kept my left hand hidden, not ready for him to see it until I broke the news to him. I want him to be stunned enough to gape at me when he finally sees it.

“And you think a mere apology will work?” He pursed his lips, looking like he was not ready to accept my apologies. “But let's leave that for now. So, what happened last night? What did Kristin do?” He asked in a serious tone.

“Can't you guess?” I grinned.

“I'm not good at that, and you know it, June. Can you tell me what happened?” He tapped his fingers on the wheel with his entire focus on me.

“Come on, Mark. This won't be fun if you don't at least guess. You are no fun,” I whined like a kid, trying to get him to at least play my game.

“But I'm not good at that,” he stubbornly folded his arms. “Why not put both of us out of the misery by telling what it is? I can tell it's something good since you are smiling,” he tried to coax me with those words, winking at the end of it.

“Do you think you can bribe me with that wink?”

Even as I asked the question, I was already aware that I'd been bribed. It's as easy as that. I'm too impatient to continue with the teasing.

“He proposed!” I yelled out.

“What?!” Mark gaped at me, looking like one who was frozen in time.

“He proposed to me,” I couldn't help smiling as I recalled everything that happened last night, the way he treated me like I was the only woman in the entire world.

I can't believe my uncle, who was unattainable months ago, suddenly became mine.

“That's impossible! Didn't you… I thought—”

“What the hell are you saying? The ring is proof enough,” I showed him my ring, still smiling like a fool. The diamond glittered, sparkling more than the glints in my eyes.

“Proof?” He took my left hand in his, and gently turned it, looking at my hand as if it's alien.

“Yep.”

“Well, that's good,” he gently placed my hand on my thighs and turned to start the car.

“That's all?” I frowned, trying to understand why he's acting so… Strange.

“Is there anything else you want me to add?” he asked but kept his face on the road as if he was afraid of looking at me.

“Won't you add anything else? Like, ask how he proposed ?” I tried to get him to know that just saying those words made me feel like he was not happy for me. But I know that's not true.

Mark is always after my happiness. He's not the type of friend who won't be happy when I am. He's always ready to make me feel fulfilled.

“Congratulations, June. I'm glad Kristin finally got his head together. Had he not snagged you up, you would have been taken by another man.” He winked at me before he focused once more on the road.

Oddly enough, I felt like he was pretending. I can tell just how forced those words sounded.

“Aren't you happy? Did I do anything to piss you off?”

“Me?” He turned to look at me. “Why will you think I'm not happy?”

“Because you don't look happy, Mark. You make it feel like I did something I shouldn't have done, and I don't know what that is.”

“No, you didn't do anything to anger me, June,” he smiled, this time it looked genuine. “Come on, baby. This best friend of yours is so happy that I don't know just how to express it.”

“Well, we can celebrate by having ice cream! What a wonderful way to pass the day!” I clapped my hands in glee.

“No, we are not skipping classes. Only God knows the words of advice my father is currently stacking for me,” he chuckled. “I can't afford to miss any class.”

“And I'm not planning on it. Kristin won't be so understanding if I end up with a bad grade.”

“So, it's settled. We are going to have ice cream after class!”

“Yay!”

****

The day went by in a blur, and before long, we were heading over to the only ice cream shop on campus.

Mark parked his car before he led me to the table by the door.

“I will be right back with your ice cream, my lady,” he winked at me before he went over to get the ice cream, while I sat to wait for him.

I placed my bag on the table and made to bring my phone out, to check if I got a text from my boyfriend when I heard the murmurs.

First, it was the girls sitting at a table next to mine. But gradually, the others started murmuring. Some pointed at me, while others snickered.

What the hell is going on?

I discreetly glanced down to check on my clothes, to make sure they hadn't changed overnight.

Sure, I'm still putting on the peach sun dress I wore this morning. There was nothing out of the ordinary, yet those girls continued to murmur as they looked at me...