The Better Part of Me

CHAPTER 3: I AM GETTING TO KNOW HIM

"Hey." it's Xavier. The rest of our families is drinking I do not know where. I do not really care. I am right now standing near the balcony to see the view outside. Enjoying the serenity of the night sky. I can see a few stars and the crescent moon, along with the spotlight from the stadium. 

"Hey, Xavier." 

"Well... I actually don't know what to say, or do, but we're supposed to get to know each other right? So, let's do this the original way. 20 Questions." 

"Okay. You can start asking me first." I don't know what to ask him yet. I feel a bit awkward, well, not a bit, a lot, actually. 

"How old are you?" 

"I am 22. Hmm... What's your favorite thing to do?" 

"Easy, sleep, and eat." I did not expect that answer from him. He doesn't seem like that type of person, I thought he was going to say something like working, or negotiating. I giggle a bit. "What about you, Jess?" The way my name rolled from his tongue is different. When mom and dad say my name, it's full of authority and uneasiness. When he says my name, I do not know why, but it's full of 'feelings' like patience and affection, it feels kinda warm. Or maybe it's just a feeling. Or maybe that's just who he is... I don't want to think too much, I still don't know him that well to assume things. 

"I like singing in the shower and watching movies. What's your favorite color ?" 

"I like the color Spruce and Aegean. What's yours?" 

"Oookay... I don't know what colors are those. I like blue and gold." 

"Aegean is a  shade of blue too. When you were in school, what's your favorite subject?" 

"I like English and History. What about you?" I notice that he has a heart-warming smile. When he smiles, he doesn't look like the youngest billionaire in the world, he just looks like a normal guy. His smile seems sincere. 

"I like English too, I also like chemistry. What's your favorite fast-food restaurant?"

"McDonald's of course and Taco Bell."

"Same." We laugh a little. "Jess, how do you feel about this marriage arrangement?" 

"Which version of answer do you want?" I feel hesitant. I am not sure how I should answer the question. I don't want to say anything wrong that might ruin my father's reputation, I don't want to say anything that might offense anyone. 

"How many versions do you have?" he asks looking at me with a frown on his face. 

"2. The dad version and the personal version." 

"Can I hear the dad version first?" 

"Well, family should help each other. Marrying you, will bring benefit to both our companies, well your father's company not yours." 

"That sounds very business-like. What about the personal version?" 

"No offense, Xavier. You've been nothing but nice to me ever since you come here, but I'm just not ready. I'm only 22, just graduated, never have a boyfriend and my parents are so excited to hand me over to you. They won't even let me find a job, they won't let me work anywhere, they just want me to focus on how to be a good wife. I do want to be a good wife someday and build a happy family with my husband who I love. I mean, we don't know each other, Xavier. We don't know each other's habits or anything. I know you because I searched you on google. And now they want us to build a happy marriage life together." Then I realize that I just spilled all of it to him. Why am I so stupid. "Please don't tell my parents." 

"It's okay. I feel the same way. Both of our parents, pretty much the same but different at the same time. I do know that they both think that money is the most important thing in the world. Even though it's not. Money won't bring you happiness. You won't take your money to your grave. This is not exactly what I imagine too if we're talking about marriage. But, if we're going to be tied up together under the same oath for a long time, at least we can make it better for us." 

"How? What do you have in mind?" 

"Let's take it slow, step by step. Let's be friends first. Don't make each other suffer in this marriage, help each other. Then, as time goes, let's see where we're heading. I know for certain that with the time we will spend together, there will be tons of memories. And I also know that some memories, good memories, stay with us forever. So, I hope that along with the time, we can build good memories together, side by side."  I am in awe. I admire him. His thoughts are so deep, and it's astonishing. He's also very... initiative and he's very mature. Guys like him, no, men like him are often very difficult to find. And for someone who's stuck in an arranged marriage, I'm glad that I can find a silver lining, that I'm not stuck with a jerk who'll hate me from the very beginning and will torture me throughout the marriage, I am glad that at least I can see that in this marriage, he can be my sort of guide. 

"Thank you, Xavier. At least with your 'positive' mindset, you are making this a little bit easier for me. I hope I can make this easier for you too."