.

Later that night, Khalil came by and took out Liz for a walk and I believe they cleared whatever was bothering the two of them. Because when he dropped her by, she was as happy as I remember seeing her for the first time.

She sat in my room, talked for hours what they had in their minds, and agreed that they both have feelings for each other and that they'll take it slow. But it was Liz, she was a sucker with her emotions, and when you give her a person that's gonna accept her feelings no matter what, she will never leave their side, like mine.

They were immediately inseparable, although the fights were a constant thing, flirting was now more obvious. Liz used to tell me how many times he was being flirty to get close to her, but she always fought it, and now in a span of 4 days, she's already deeply attached to him.

She is happy, I am happy. No jealousy, Faye.

While things were getting smooth for the both of them, the tension between me and Toni rose to astronomical level. I knew I was getting too close to him, that whenever he left my side, I'd be thinking when am I going to see him next.

Toni calls me every night before bed and we sometimes talk for hours, but today he had something to tell that didn't let me sleep most of the night.

"You are telling me, I have to go with you guys?" I gasped.

"Yes, obviously. I'm not going without you." He replied on speaker phone, as I check my closet nervously.

"They are your family, Toni. I have never even seen Khalil's parents in photographs, and now I have to go with you to tomorrow's family lunch party?"

"They are nice people Faye Mable Doneza, they will like you." he said soundly agitated, I know that because he calls my full name whenever he's frustrated.

"Toni King Rezonick, I have nothing fancy to wear for tomorrow's party." I replied fiercely. "What do I do?" and whined about it.

"We'll get you a dress first thing in the morning tomorrow." he replied, "Now, get some sleep, don't worry and you'll be fine."

I was far from fine. I was gonna meet a rich household of honorable status, and I had nothing to drees fancily to at least match their mannerisms. It was Liz's stupid idea, she wanted to know more about his family and now I'm dragged into it.

"Bet your ass, this is as horrible for me as for you." Liz said, barging into my room, making me flinch.

I thought she was pretty carefree since her almost boyfriend promised of getting her a dress. But she surely is pretty hesitant about it too.

Because its obviously not only about the dress, Faye.

The next morning, Toni took me to the mall to find myself a dress to wear for lunch. While I didn't let him pay this time, he made sure to buy me matching pair of heels while I was at the counter without my knowledge and begged me to wear those as well.

"You're gonna spoil me." I bickered to him.

"So let me." he says pursing his lips funnily.

The next thing we know, Liz and I were trying on our dresses and making the boys judge our looks.

"You seem pretty stoked about going to meet your boyfriend's parents." I said, zipping her dress.

"What makes you say that? I'm literally sweating rivers." she replied, adjusting her neckline.

"You are dangerously calm."

"First of all, don't call him my boyfriend its not official." she said, snapping her fingers. "Secondly, I am pretending to be calm, seems to work on you." she shrugs.

"Well, at least you're not going uninvited."

She turned looking at me, "Didn't Toni ask you to accompany him?"

"He did, I meant their family doesn't know about me."

"They will when you go, Faye." she said, comfortingly.

"It better be a pleasant day." I said smiling cheerfully, not wanting to burden my emotions on her.

"It will be." she said hugging me tightly. "Now let's show them boys, what we got."

We assumed it would be more elegant to dress formally than fancily, so we went with formal dresses, mine being a black midi sundress with pin-thin straps, a knee-high slit along the sides and with a dainty self-tie string on the waist. Liz's dress was also a coffee colored midi jersey dress with a high side slit and asymmetric gathering that beautifully highlighted her curves. While mine was sleeveless, her was long sleeved, upto her wrist.

When we stepped out roughly in just our dresses without makeup or heels on, the men were genuinely flattered. Khalil and Toni couldn't really hide their gasps as we walked out. My eyes were pinned to Toni, while he checks out every minute detail of my dress clinging to my body, forming a smirk on his face, which ran shivers through my body.

His eyes scroll back to mine and he raises his eyebrows, tilting his head and giving a gesture of mocked surprise. I roll my eyes, while a shy smile appeared on my face.

We had another few hours until we headed to his Family house, so the men left to get dressed while we did our skin care, makeup and dressing sessions in those hours.

After we were ready, Amara arrived with a shining limo at the front of my house. "Y'all the rides here!" she excitedly announces before walking in the house like a barbie doll. "And I took your men, did a little magic and they're looking fine as wine." she said, gesturing at the limo outside as me and Liz stand there in awe, admiring the sleek white limo at our curb.

Khalil and Toni got down the limo from either sides. As obvious it might sound, my eyes hit Toni's gaze at the same time and I couldn't stop devouring his look. He wore a black suit, unbuttoned till his muscular chest, with a fancy pushed back hairdo on his wavy hair, while a few strands lay astray on his temple.

I felt my heart prancing to a higher speed and I left a sigh of amusement, as he walked nearer.

"Hey, gorgeous." He winks in a split second and my heart flutters, as he raises his hand to take mine.

"Someone's looking fine today." I chuckled, taking his hand when he gives it a squeeze and I warm up by his closure and touch.

The touch of hand, which started to mean a sign of comfort for us.

We sat in the limo, while everyone's arguing on what song to be played, I look nervously towards Liz, who sat evidently anxious and uncomfortable. I gave her a reassuring smile while she passed a little nod, and I feel a stroke on my hand which is still intertwined with Toni's.

"You feeling okay?" he whispers when I turn to his direction.

"Pretty stoked." I said, zipping my lips together as his inspecting gaze never leaves mine. "Actually I'm freaking out." I said, letting out a sigh.

Honestly it was an obnoxious situation to feel freaked because of the excitement and fear at the same time. Toni had told me earlier, that it was a rare family occasion where everyone assembled for either dinner or lunch, and being it a rare thing- everyone appeared fancy and filthy rich. I didn't really know how big of a get-together this was, but any amount of people would make me anxious anyway.

"I'll be right here by your side, Mable. Nothing to worry about." he said, quickly pecking my temple as I feel a bit secure by his side.

Khalil's parents were obviously extraordinary with the structuring of their home and displaying their richness through quality service. Their house was twice bigger than Toni's and he explained that when their family was whole they had lived here all together, until all fell apart, leaving Khalil's parents the only residents of this family house.

We were chaperoned to the inside of the house, as we crossed the massive door entering the corridors as big as streets, and guided to living room area, where supposedly Mrs Abraham was seated.

When her eyes landed on us, she removed her reading glasses, smiling widely and stood with her arms wide open to hug her son. She eventually hugged the three of them, while personally coming to greet us as we stood by the door. Khalil introduced Liz to his mom- who was already familiar to her, and eventually Toni stepped closer to me again.

"And who is this gracious young lady you brought, Toni?" Mrs Abraham asked Toni, looking at me gracefully as I beamed a polite smile.

"She is Faye Doneza, my best friend." he said, looking at me and my smile surprisingly fades looking at his sparkling brown eyes.

"Welcome Faye, you have such a lovely name." she greeted me with a hug and I was already loosening up. "You can call me Jenna."

She's a tall courteous woman, middle-aged but youthfully beautiful and a rakish choice of clothing. Her light brown hair tied in a hairdo similar as my messy bun. Seeing her I could already see the familiarity of Khalil's and his mother's features.

A big chandelier lighted up the entire room with the perfect tone of shade. It was an enormous house, I couldn't stop staring at the details they managed to maintain for every single corner of the house.

"Your father went out to the backyard, he shall return soon, until then we can chat a little." said she, to her son, as we all sat on the leather sofa sets.

"Mom, how do you like our new friends?" asked Khalil curiously, looking at Liz with amusement.

"Better than the previous ones, honey." she giggled, as we all smiled.

"Aunt Jenna, I am hungry!" groaned Amara with her hand on her tummy, as Jenna chuckled.

The wide doors of the castle-type house open again with a creak, and everyone knew food was to be soon served.

"Now, he might seem really intimidating at first but he'll just be cool. With you all, at least." Toni whispers in my ear, and a frown settles on my face.

"Good afternoon my loves." greeted Mr Abraham, followed by a hefty laugh. "Glad you all visited. Let's not make them wait any longer, take them to the dining room." he commanded and the servants obeyed.

He is a tall, middle-aged man, with black hair and a few strands of grey hair hanging by his forehead. He dressed in basics, yet stylish. He introduced himself as Adam Abraham, however insisted us on calling him Adam.

Without much conversation, everyone walked to the dining room as soothing slow songs at low volume played in the halls while Jenna showed all the artifacts and paintings from their ancestors hanging in the corridors.

It was then, I felt the knot tighten in my stomach as my anxiety came riveting back to me. On the table, while the servants were placing silverwares in front of us, Adam introduced himself again and Khalil introduced me and Liz. I sat at the farthest seat from Adam, and Toni sat across me. Liz beside me would nudge me every other minute to bring me back to earth whenever I'd zone out.

"Toni, tell me how did you manage to get a girl to lunch today?" said Adam politely smiling at me before shifting his gaze to Toni.

"Must be my luck, sir." he replied, straightening his back.

"Faye is it right, my dear?" he asked me and I replied with a yes. "May I say you are looking stunning tonight and I'm glad you and your gorgeous friend Liza, decided to join us today."

"The pleasure is all ours, honestly." I replied, as I blushed.

"Liza dear, why don't you tell us more about yourself." insisted Jenna, as Liz grabbed my hand in hers and began talking, while I caressed her hand to comfort her.

The food was served and the atmosphere started to lighten up and everyone enjoy the food whilst talking and making jokes occasionally to keep the moment going. I felt at ease now, making short comments in between to stay indulged. My eyes would sweep to Toni once in a while but he was just enjoying his food without a word, never lifting his head up for once.

"How's work going Toni?" asked Jenna, and all fell silent, even the clattering of spoons to the plates faded away.

He lifted his head, swallowing his morsel and nodded his head. "Quiet good."

"Is it so?" asked Adam abruptly, "Doesn't seem like it." he chuckles mockingly.

"We can surely discuss that later." he shrugged.

"Yes, now why would I want to embarrass you in front of a lady- you ditched your work for." Adam said, looking down at his food, as Toni's jaw clenches while he involuntarily played with his fork.

"Dad, no work talk during food please." Khalil interrupted, obscuring Toni from his father's gaze.

"I just wanted to make sure he sincerely worked and not fool around with random girls." He bickered, hearing which my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, and my eyes find Toni's.

Toni's gaze lands mine for a nanosecond before he slams his fork to the table, and abruptly stands up from the table seething as rage burns in his eyes.

He shifts his face to Adam, unclenching his jaw. "Do not say a word about her. Ever again." He hissed at him, veins on his neck popping from the tone of his voice, when tears start brimming in my eyes.

He hits his plate with force, tossing the plate to the floor with a loud clatter as it breaks into pieces and he leaves the table at once. Everything falls silent, but my heart. It thudded against my chest and possibly with the silence everyone could hear it.

Liz's hand reaches for mine, and instantly a teardrop rolls down my cheek, as my breath heightens. With the blurry view, I lift my head to Khalil who understood my silent plead and nodded his head.

"Upstairs to the left." he whispered, which echoed through the silence.

In a second, I rise from the chair and leave the dining hall without a word or a look. I didn't know what hurt me more, the comment or the way he treated Toni. I sniff away my tears, going the direction I was told until I reached a room with heavy metal door decorations, which was slightly open.

Walking in the huge room, I spot Toni by the large window nook. My steps approaching startles him first but he realises my presence and almost guiltily walks to me.

"Mable, I'm so sorry-" before he could apologise and before I would breakdown in front of him, I ran into his chest, wrapping my hands around his neck and pull him closer, as a sigh of pain goes out my system.

"I'm sorry he treated you like that." I mumbled in his collar, when his hands embraced my waist squishing me to his body.

"I'm used to that." he whispers in my ear, gently rubbing my back. "You okay?"

"I don't know, I just don't wanna go back in there again." His warm steady breath hits my shoulder and I feel my heart relaxing, as I laid my head on his shoulder now turning my gaze to him when he turns his head, bringing our faces a centimetre apart from each other.

"I think I like you disastrously, Faye Doneza." he whispers, his breath landing on my lips. "You are not just a random girl. I am not fooling around with you." my eyes soften and I feel his eyes on my lips.

I slowly step out of his embrace, as unwanted desires arise at the tip of my throat with his extreme proximity and compelling scent.

"I know." I whispered.
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The chemistry b/w the both is what keeps me going. I love these two, do you? Let me know in comments, and drop your golden votes.