Everything happened so fast, like a race car passing a street. Just like that, I became someone else’s fiancé.

“Elyse!”

As I was looking around the café, a high pitched voice called my name.

There I saw my friend who was waving her hands in the air, trying to catch my attention as if she still haven’t caught it yet by her loud voice.

I immediately went to her direction while being embarrassed because it’s not just me that caught her attention, almost everyone in the room looked at her.

“Didn’t I told you that you shouldn’t shout? Your voice is too loud, dummy!” I scolded her as soon as I got close to her. She just chuckled and made a peace sign on her right hand.

“Right, sorry Mom” She mumbled as I was taking a seat at the opposite of her.

“Why did you want to hang out all of a sudden?” I asked immediately after making myself comfortable at my seat. But she seemed troubled when I asked her.

“What is it?” I frowned when I sensed that something is definitely going on. Our eyes met but she immediately avoided my eyes.

“The thing is..”

I knew it. Without any question, it’s definitely about Khalil.

“Did he contact you again about my whereabouts?” I asked coldly. But she didn’t need to answer it because of how she flinched when I asked directly.

“E-Elyse..” She stuttered unconsciously trying to explain, but she could only blurt my name out.

I sighed. He’s being so desperate to find me for the past two years of our divorce. Can’t he just let me go? I’m seriously getting tired of it.

“Did you finally told him?” I asked bluntly while looking at her seriously. She immediately panicked then waved her hands.

“No! I didn’t! Why would I tell him—“

“Then tell him.” I immediately said, cutting her sentence.

“W-What?” She asked unbelievably.

“Tell him i’ll meet him. He probably knows where I am, he’s Khalil after all, so tell him to meet me” I avoided Rica’s gaze and looked at the window instead.

“Elyse..” She called my name worriedly. I smiled bitterly as I was looking at the window then I took a deep breath and finally met her gaze.

“I’ll be fine, Rica. I just can’t let him bother you any longer. I need to end this once and for all.” I gently said to her so she can be at ease.

“Are you sure you’ll be fine?” She asked as she looked down, avoiding my eyes.

“If you’re so worried about me, you can just go with me.” I chuckled trying to break the gloomy atmosphere. She looked at me and nodded.

“Okay! I’ll go with you.” She immediately stated while nodding continously. I smiled at cuteness then sneakily took her latte.

“Hey!” She shouted as I drank it.

We chatted the whole afternoon and ate for dinner after that. It was a nice day, until the day passed.

When I finished my work at the afternoon, I received a call from Rica.

“Hey! Did you missed me? We just met yesterday!” I teased her after answering her call.

“Elyse..” She called my name worriedly.

“Are you okay?” I immediately asked as I frowned.

“I-I’m fine, It’s just..”

“What?” I asked again and frowned even more. Did she do something?

“Khalil, he’s here”

I stopped from my tracks. He’s already here? He’s fast. I didn’t know that he’s this desperate.

How funny.

Before, he was so desperate to get rid of me, now that he did, he’s desperate to talk to meet me again.

“I’m coming” I said coldly then ended the call.

I guess this is the only way to get rid of him.

Which I should’ve done even before I met him.

I went to the location that Rica sent me. I didn’t feel nervous at all when coming here, but when i’m finally here, everything that happened started replaying in my head as I saw him sitting with Rica.

And as our eyes met, I started to get more nervous. I hate the look in his eyes, the longing and loneliness in it makes me feel mad.

My nervousness disappeared, I became numb, I felt nothing anymore.

“Andrea”

Nothing at all.

Elysandrea Seanne, a unique name it is, quite wonderful, but no one knew it, except for her.

A name given by her mother, a name she swear she’ll never use. Hiding it by the name Elyse. Quite similar, but never close.

“Elyse!” Elyse turned to her mother when she suddenly called her name.

“Yes, mother?” She answered calmly as she continued cutting through the steak in her plate elegantly to avoid her mother’s eyes.

“Are you okay? You looked a little pale” She asked worriedly as she stared at her intently. She ignored it and ate the steak she just cutted into pieces.

“I’m fine, mother” Elyse answered again calmly. But on the inside, she wasn’t at all. She was quite troubled to know that she already has a fiancè that’s completely a stranger to her.

“Do you want to cancel the engagement? You’ve done everything we’ve told you since, i’m not going to force you to do it if you don’t want to since marriage is a serious thing.” Her mother said worriedly as she held Elyse’s hands tightly.

She was always an understanding woman since birth, she always did everything she was told to. She knows that her parents probably just wanted me to have someone in my life, since i’ve never been with someone else after Azein, my ex-boyfriend.

I’m almost 24, I already have a stable job in our company, the orphans i’ve taken care of and the charities I always do is enough for me to live the best life.

But i’m not going to lie and say that having someone like Azein who always supported me, and always went with me through all of that is something I don’t want to have again. I don’t think anyone can replace him.

“Elyse, you can cancel it anytime, I just want you to give it a try. But if you really don’t want to, i’ll talk to them immediately—“

“Mom.” Elyse suddenly said cutting her as i’m turning to her direction. “I’ll give it a try.” She smiled warmly so she can calm down. And she did, she immediately smiled back at me.

It was one of the smile I adored, seeing her happy, seeing my father happy and seeing him smile like this is the best view i’ve ever seen.

But I have to move on, I have to look forward and try again. Maybe i’ll finally find someone who will stay with me permanently.

I have to try.

On the other hand, the man named Khalil stared at the report his secratry gave him. A record of her fiancè’s profile.

He doesn’t really care about her, he just wanted to know who will he marry. Though it’s not official, he still needed a wife to completely have the family business, so it’s quite fine.

He just didn’t liked the idea of being forced to be engaged to someone completely stranger to him.

The reports shows the controversies and achievements she had and one of her controversies caught his attention. She had a boyfriend who passed away when she turned 19, and based on the documents about her personal information, he’s the only boyfriend she had. Nothing more was reported about her ex-boyfriend other than that.

It’s good to know that she’s not a slut. She’s quite loyal. Though she’s probably a spoiled brat who only got her position because she’s their daughter. Well, I don’t really care. She can do whatever she does.

Khalil snapped from being lost in his thoughts when his phone rang. He immediately answered it when he saw that the caller was her mother.

“Mom? What is it?” Khalil immediately said as soon as he answered the call.

“It’s about your fiancè. She will visit you tomorrow, treat her well. Goodnight”

“Wait, Mom—“ He was immediately cut off when her mother ended the call. He sighed out of frustration. Visit me? What is she up to? Does she want us to get to know each other?

He frowned at the thought of it. I think she’s misunderstanding it. I don’t intend to have any intimate relationship with her neither to anyone.

I don’t intend on falling to anyone.

...

The day has passed and it’s already late in the afternoon, Elyse just got off her car outside the Herdioz Coorporation while Khalil who just finished his meeting, is now on his way back to Herdioz Coorporation, his family’s company. He doesn’t know when will her so-called fiancè will come, but he doesn’t really give a damn about it. He’s not interested at all. He just feel like he’s going to meet a client.

As Elyse went inside the coorporation, she felt a little nervous, and it definitely affected her steadiness as she almost fell and tripped on her own, but she was saved by someone who immediately helped her. As she looked up at the man who saved her, she gasped.

“Axel?”

“E-Elyse?” The man stuttered as he realized it was someone he knows. Elyse immediately stood steadily and straightened her clothes.

“Sorry for being so clumsy.” She stated as she smiled at the man whose name is Alex.

“It’s fine, why are you here?” Alex asked while smiling back at Elyse. He couldn’t help to stare at her as he felt overwhelmed seeing her again looking so beautiful in her office suit.

“Uhm, i’m here to meet—“

“Alex?”

Elyse and Alex turned to the man who suddenly called Alex. Alex immediately smiled brightly so Elyse got a little confused since she doesn’t know the man who called him.

But she got more confused when the man who called Alex stared at her so intensely. She stared back at him and fought against his stare who looked so cold. But they were immediately interrupted by Alex.

“Do you know her?” Alex asked to the man who still stared at Elyse.

“Yes.” The man answered which made Elyse frown. He knows me?

“Looks like Elyse doesn’t know you though..” Alex stated confusely looking back and forth to the both of us.

“Excuse me, but do I know you from somewhere?” Elyse asked politely. But the man suddenly frowned hearing her question.

“You don’t know me?” He asked suspectedly, believing that Elyse is probably faking not knowing him.

Elyse frowned trying to remember if she met him before, but she remembered nothing at all. Seeing this reaction from her, it made it clear that she wasn’t faking it. The man was quite stunned.

“I’m sorry but I don’t think I do” Elyse said politely. She got quite guilty not knowing someone who knows her.

She’s so polite. The man thought never expecting it from her.

“When did you know her?” Alex asked at the man. Alex was confused since he always knew that this man wasn’t interested in anyone, not even a woman.

“She’s my fiancè”

“She’s my fiancè”

Alex and Elyse were speechless hearing it coming from him so bluntly. Elyse was stunned for a moment after realizing what is happening.

“Oh, so you’re Khalil?” Elyse asked innocently, trying to avoid the awkward silence.

“W-What? Fiancè?! What?!” Alex gasped hysterically, making Elyse and Khalil turn to him.

“Uhm, yeah. I was going to tell you that i’m going to meet my fiancè, but..” Elyse tried to explain to calm Alex down because almost everyone at the lobby has their attention onto them.

“You’re seriously going to meet me, not knowing what I look like?” Khalil asked while frowning. He couldn’t believe that she didn’t even knew him, and the fact that she probably won’t know his existance if they weren’t engaged got into his nerves.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t have the time to get to know you beforehand, since I had some business.” Elyse apologized politely. It kind of pissed Khalil seeing how unbothered and profesional she is in front of him. Like she really just a client of his.

“Y-You’re engaged, Elyse?” Alex asked worriedly, which caught Khalil’s attention.

“U-Uh, yeah..” Elyse answered awkwardly. Khalil immediately turned to Alex then glared at him.

“How did you know her?” Khalil interogated while glaring intensely at Alex. This made Alex quite confused.

“We went to the same college.” Alex answered firmly while also looking at Khalil intensely, like he was observing something from him.

“What’s your relationship with her?” Khalil interogated once again. This made Alex frown.

Is he suspecting that Elyse flirt around? This thought made Alex furious, knowing what Elyse’s real personality he couldn’t help but glar at Khalil then turned to Elyse.

“Hey Elyse.”

“Yes?” Elyse immediately responsed since Alex looked so serious.

“Is this some kind of a contractual marriage?” Alex asked seriously.

“Y-Yes..” Elyse responded while looking away.

“Cancel it.”

Elyse immediately looked at Alex with wide eyes. While Khalil immediately frowned and glared at Alex.

“What are you doing, Alex?” Khalil asked while gritting his teeth. Khalil never seen Alex this serious, and it’s because of Elyse.

“Bro, you don’t deserve her.” Alex said seriously then sighed. This made Khalil frown from confusion. He doesn’t deserve her? He’s really hearing this from a womanizer? Khalil turned to Elyse who looks confused.

“What do you mean, Alex?” Elyse asked Alex seriously. Hearing that come from Alex made her actually think of cancelling it.

Alex smirked and went to Elyse then wrapped his arms around her shoulder. Elyse didn’t flinch and wasn’t bothered by it since he always does this since. But it didn’t looked good on Khalil’s perspective. Seeing how she didn’t even react to a womanizer like Alex made him overthink things again, like maybe she’s been touched too many times that she doesn’t even care anymore if anyone touch her.

“He doesn’t deserve someone like you. You’re probably here to get to know him, but look at how he looks at you judgely not even knowing who you really are. He doesn’t deserve someone so good like you, Elyse” Alex bluntly said despite Khalil hearing it. Khalil didn’t like a bit of it.

“What the hell, Alex” Khalil coldly said while giving Alex a deadly glare. Why is he being so protective of her? Did he like her before?

“What? I know what you’re thinking just the way you ask questions and your expressions. I can even tell that you’re suspecting her right now of being a slut just because she didn’t budge when I wrapped my arms around her.” Alex shrugged. This made Khalil more pissed. Is he seriously saying that in front of her..

Khalil stopped when he saw how unaffected Elyse is by what Alex said about him. Like she’s so used to it. Does she not care that I thought she’s a slut?

“That’s okay.”

Khalil was stunned when she smiled at him knowing what he’s thinking by Alex. Khalil was so confused by her words. Did she just say that it’s okay that I think of her like that?

“Come one, Elyse. You’re always so understanding. When will I see you finally slap someone because of the things they say and think about you?” Alex pouted while patting Elyse’s head, Elyse chuckled at what he said.

“I’m used to it though.” Elyse said while also pouting. Khalil was speechlesss, he was so out of place seeing them talk so casually but he’s still confused about what Elyse said.

“It’s okay even if I say that you really are slut?” Khalil said out of nowhere which caught Elyse and Alex’s attention.

“Hey! You bastard—“

“Of course not.” Elyse immediately said, cutting out Alex who really got pissed by what Khalil said. “It’s fine that you think that I am though, since you don’t know me and you’re probably forced into this engagement so you’re quite mad at me. But saying that i’m an actual slut despite of not doing anything inappropriate is something I won’t allow. You don’t know anything about me, and even if you do, you still know nothing about me completely.” Elyse seriously said while making an eye contact with Khalil. Which made Khalil stunned once again since no woman has ever looked at him so seriously in the eye except for his mother.

“I’m cancelling the engagement.” Elyse added which made Alex and Khalil more stunned.

“W-What?” Khalil wasn’t expecting it.

“You really will?!” Alex shouted, quite speechless.

Elyse smiled then bowed to Khalil making them more stunned than they already are.

“I’m sorry for taking your time. Nice to meet you, Mr. Herdioz.” Elyse apologized formally. Khalil froze as he couldn’t expect everything happening so fast.

Elyse then turned to Alex and gave him a bright smile, It was really breath taking.

“Let’s catch up at our free time, Brother Al, it’s nice meeting you again.”

“Y-Yes, right. It’s also nice meeting you again, Ely.” Alex smiled back as he patted Elyse’s head again. After that, Elyse left leaving Alex and Khalil speechless.

“The hell just happened..” Alex mumbled out of nowhere. He turned to Khalil who’s still looking at the entrance where Elyse left. Alex smirked then wrapped his arms to Khalil’s shoulder.

“Stunned, eh?” Alex smirked, teasing Khalil even more.

“Shut up.” Khalil shoved Alex away then walked at the elevator. Khalil was lost in his thoughts. His mind was all over the place.

Will I not meet her again? Is that really it? Khalil frowned. That’s really rude of me, she’s so different, and that pisses me off. How can someone be so understanding? I was supposed to marry someone like her?

Alex was right. I really don’t deserve her.

Khalil smirked.

Do I really though?