My heart was beating so loud that I could hear it!!!

Wait!!! Even Dexter could hear it!!

“Beep Beeeeeep”

No! it was my phone ringing with Stacie’s name flashed on the screen.

 I jumped off from Dexter's lap and lunged towards the phone.

 “Hi Stacie”

 “Yeah I have to share something with you.”

 “See you by noon then.”

 “Miss you too.”

 I disconnected the phone and shifted my attention to Dexter who seemed to be wondering on the other end of the talks.

 “Is this all distracting thing planned?” he mocked suspicion.

 “What kind of distracting?” I bit my lower lip trying to show him my most innocent eyes.

 “Escaping the kiss.” he now held both my wrists tightly in his hands, pinning me to the bed and tickled me by moving his nose around my neck and teasing me altogether.

 He was ready to plant me another kiss on my lips so he loosened his grip giving me the right opportunity to push him back.

 “Yes you are right. You need to get an approval before the kiss.” I said as I sat straight on the bed giving head rest to myself at the bed post.

 “I guess I am already approved off by your parents.” he passed a confident smirk

 “Really, very confident huh but sorry there's another level to it. You need to be liked by my best friends too without which I guess I cannot continue with you.” I started playing with my nails showing my atitude.

 “So that says incase they do not like me, you wont marry me?” he asked like a small kid disbelieving in the new discovery.

 "Well this is true at a point.” I said with another casual grin, “but the ring still remains with me.”

 “So I keep the kiss with me.” he stole the kiss, not the usual one just a peck and winked at me waving goodbye.

 “Gotta be good with Stacie and Cairo.” I warned him teasingly as he was about to leave.

 “Pearly” he called from the door of my room.

 “Yes” I asked looking at his handsome face in awe.

 “Peaarrly”

 “Yes”

 Peaaaarrrly”

“Yes Deren”

 “Can I ask you one more question?”

 “WHHHAT” I asked with my lost up patience.

 He snickered close to me, very close, blowing his breath on my neck and then “Why do girls wear such sexy nightsuits?” he murmured in my ears.

His seductive voice and naughty words made the hair in my body prickle.

“You” I threw my pillow at him making him sprint down the stairs and blushed internally.

 Me to dexter: perved observance

 I texted him immediately.

 Dexter: only at you. Love to love you.

 I again felt the same guilt of not loving him back but I do like him. I wish I fall for him soon which I know is not possible.

 I entered the college to find my heart being further ripped as Joshan was back and was flirting with Sandra and her group of friends.

Why the hell does it feel so bad????

 I myself am committed to someone else. Why the f##king does this hurt me so much???

 “Hey Pearly” I heard my name called in chorus by two feminine voices.

 “Hi Stacie, hi Cairo” I hugged them one after another.

 “After a long time.” Stacie hugged me again.

 “Yeah missed you too.” I pressed Stacie's hand. She was looking very touched. She had some hidden emotions in her face.

 “Hi Pearly” Joshan came hugging me from behind and started fiddling, playing with locks of my hair.

“When did you return?” I asked him. All I wanted to do was simply sit and stare at him. I missed him so much.

'Pearly for heaven's sake!!!! you are engaged!!!!. I gave a side glance to the ring I was wearing. Everything else seems to disappear when he is with me!

 “Right now. I came directly to he college. I wanted to give you a surprise.” he continued playing with my hair strands encircling them with his fingers.

 “Why weren't you replying my calls?” Joshan asked.

 “What is it that you so urgently wanted to share?” Cairo interrupted.

 “Share. I was told she wanted your approval” Dexter pulled me into his hug seperating me from Joshan and pecked me on my cheeks.

I felt conscious and guilty out of a sudden but why!!!!

 “What the heck is this?” Stacie asked shocked.

 “Hi I am Dexter.” he shook hands with Stacie and Cairo and just as he was about to shake hands with Joshan, Sandra bumped into him.

“Joshan see this, excuse us.” and she took him away from us showing some pictures in her mobile and laughing cheesily with him.

 Dexter was busy talking to Stacie and Cairo, throwing glances at me. I could feel his gaze.

 “Hey Pearly you never told Dexter is this interesting?” Stacie called excitedly.

 “Beware he's got wizcraft to impress people.” I shouted back. My eyes still locked on intimacy between Sandra and Joshan 

 “Are we missing out something?” Cairo asked cocking an eyebrow, trying to dig out something.

 “Yes.... .” Dexter extended his hand for me to hold.

 “First let me ask one big question to you two.” Dexter asked looking confidently at Stacie and Cairo.

 “What?” the duo asked in unison again.

 “Friends?” Dexter extended his hand for a shake.

 They screamed in excitement and shook hands.

 “After what you did for us about the case. You never had to ask for friendship. It was always our obligation.” Stacie added with a pained expression.

 “No this is going on the wrong track... Pearly Help.” Dexter looked at me, “ I want you to like me for what I am and not what I did for you guys. No obligations please.” a little uneasiness in his voice.

His verdict gained a lot of respect for him by me.

 “Wait wait. Let me make it clear with you guys. We two. I mean me and Dexter ..... Actually he proposed me and I said ......yes” I showed the ring lifting my hand.

“ooooowwwwwwwwwwwww......AAAAAwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww” both of them squealed loudly attracting most of the college including Joshan and Deren.

 “We are so happy for you.” Stacie hugged me.

 “My god he is so cute.” Cairo said hugging Dexter now, petite frame of body hardly reaching his grip.

 My eyes resting on Joshan who was nicely clutched by Sandra who was smiling gushly.

 Dexter pulled me to press my back on his chest as he started tracing small invisible kisses on my neck. “I just took permission from your parents about the marriage next month. Only if you are okay with it.” he spoke in a hushed tone that only I could hear.

 I was really getting unnerved with the entire thing. Joshan hugging Sandra sticking his eyes on me questioningly, Stacie and Cairo blabbering about how cute Dexter is and Dexter getting too close asking for marriage next month.

“Is it okay with you Pearly?” he repeated the question. This time more seriously.

I could have denied completely, asked him to wait another couple of years till I finish my college or something but Joshan in close proximity of Sandra, her gawking at him and flirting continuosly was making it worst for me. I cannot take all this so I simply nodded.

 “So I take it as an agreement from your side. You don’t mind.” He said surprised and happy about it.

 “Yes” I murmured.

 “Yipeee” he threw his fist in the air, happier than ever, his eyes widened twice its size with the joy he felt.

 “Stacie.. Cairo.... Do I have your approval?” Dexter shouted asking their attention.

 “Approval?” Stacie asked shocked.

 “We are getting married next month and your friend says it’s possible only after I get both of yours approval. Only if you two like me.” Dexter said now inviting full on attention of Joshan who stood there agape with shock.

 I was now reading between Joshan and Dexter's expression. Joshan was more confused and shocked but he looked pained too. May be a sudden disclosure is having that effect on him.

 On the other hand Dexter is smiling with both his face and his heart. I have never seen him that happy before. He is going well with Stacie and Cairo too but he is stealing glances on me, just a smile from me and he shifts his eyes somewhere else only to look at me later.

 Joshan took a step towards me with lots of questions to be asked to me. I know him quite well to judge what he'd do next.

 “Pearly. Congratulations. But marriage!!!!! my god. All the boys in Texas have turned into gays or what that you are planning to get married to a lad from Florida?” Deren came hugging me.

 I could feel the discomfort in Dexter's eyes as Deren hugged me.

 I stepped behind to maintain a distance fro him and said, “Not gays but the ones I know are Players and marrying a player—NAAAAH I sang playfully.

 “I would have changed for you.” Deren added.

 “Too late baby. I am taken.” I showed him the ring on my finger, tapping on his cheeks.

 “Saved” Deren rested his hands on his heart mockingly.

 Joshans expressions were unreadable. I stepped towards him

 “Josh...”

 “I'll catch you later. You'll have to explain.” he said in a teary tone and left.

 “Pearly. Sweetheart. Do you wanna stay with your friends or you are dropping me to the airport?” Dexter asked.

 “Airport?” I yelled asked.

 “Yeah I have to go.” he said not happy to admit the fact that he was leaving.

 “But Dexter we have hardly met.” Cairo said flirtily shooting her eyes at him seductively.

“Oh I am so sorry about it. But you see I am getting married and I need to spoil my darling wife with all the riches of the world. For that I need to work and for work I need to go back to Florida. I'll definately catch you girls soon.” Dexter politely answered Cairo gaining few more brownie points from her.

 Stacie was missing all the while and now she came with Deren. They were extremely close and she was laughing so carefree with him. Some of his humorous jokes I guess.

 “We deserve a treat from you Dexter.” Stacie started hitting on him playing with the collar of his shirt.

 Dexter like gentleman pulled both her hands away from him and said “I have couple of hours for the flight. Why don't you guys join in at the nearby diner with us and then I can leave for the airport. Wanna come Pearly?”

I was chatting with Cairo as she was blabbering about how much she liked Dexter and why marriage was so sudden at that too at such a young age.”

“Whatever. I am in for it.” I waved my hand moved by Cairo's words. Marriage next month was indeed too quick a decision taken and now backing up....

 I texted Dexter

Me: wanna spend some time alone with you after the diner.

 Dexter: I would delay my flight if you want.

 Me: Thanks.

 He winked at me. Though we were standing only at a distance with him talking to guys of my group, Joshan missing and me listening to Stacie and Cairo's all the this and thats of us as couples.

“Even I need to share something with you girls.” Stacie thrilled like never before.

“Vow! What surprise do you have Stacie?” Cairo asked.

My eyes were scanning the premises for Joshan. I know I am engaged. This is wrong but he was upset and he needs his best friend.

 “Stop eye shagging Dexter Pearly.” Cairo yelled, making me conscious and guilt blown.

“What do you have for us?” I snapped at Stacie diverting attention towards her.

 “Well...” Stacie said shyly and took us into a group hug, “Deren just proposed me.”

 “What!!!!!!” Stacie yelled and I was awestruck as if I had choked the bone of the chicken.

I coughed to take into realisation of the every word spoken by her.

 Stacie continued, “he asked me out and I said I need time...the last time that I had an affair .....” she stammered.

 “Do you know he's a playboy, a friend of Joshan, famous Player group of our highschool?” Cairo attacked her with series of ifs and whats.

“I know. I remember it all. But he sounded serious. That look in his eyes.” Stacie got lost in her reverie.

“It’s a trap Stacie. Don't fall for it.” Cairo gasped suddenly with fear not wanting the repeat of last time.

“Chill Cairo. I never said yes. I only asked for time.” Stacie clarified.

 “Time. You will wait for the time when Deren will come like Dexter and propose directly for marriage. Darn he is not Dexter. Don’t be stupid.” Cairo spat not least happy about the two as couples.

“Hearing a lot of my name.” a manly voice cleared his throat and came towards us....