The Best Friend's Contract

"Do you want to run?" I ask.

Her eyes meet mine, "No. Forget I said that," She replies and the elevator doors open, revealing the amount of crowd in the ballroom. My eyes wander to Kenna again, wanting to make sure that she's feeling alright as she takes a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. "Let's do this." She adds, confidently.

We step out of the elevator and we're immediately greeted with my brother, Alain. Both of his brown eyes are staring directly into mine as he sees my hand gripping onto Kenna's, causing him to smirk as he takes a sip of his wine. "Not very punctual to a family gathering," He says.

Alain is the oldest and also mother's favourite child because he has a better commitment, a wife and a daughter to actually prove himself just how much he's not a waste of time. He had gotten married a year before he graduated and found out Harley was pregnant right after his graduation day... what a life worth living, described by mother.

He's not much older than me, only a couple of years but he had gotten married way younger than my current age which is why mother has been talking about it over and over again. It's tiring to my ears and also to my mind, trying to process the same words for the past few months without having the right to stop her or even prove her how much I commit to my work and my life without even needing a wife or a child, yet.

"Hi, Kenna." He greets her with a hug. Just because Kenna's my best friend, it means she's also close to my other family members including my brother, my sister-in-law and my sister, Mia. Especially when she is the only child in her family, she didn't get the chance to feel the whole sibling arguments and fights.

"Hey, Alain." She replies.

"You look stunning. I'm glad you could make it," He continues to speak, "Knowing you have a busy schedule... I'm sure Aidan forced you to be here because he just can't live without you. You know that right?" He raises an eyebrow, taking another sip of his wine. "Thank you and yes, I've known that for years. Don't worry, Alain because tonight, I willingly came. Aidan didn't force me into anything." She replies as she turns to look at me which leaves me to look down at her, too before smiling slightly. "Where's Ava and Harley?" I ask, eyes wandering around to the amount of people here before looking back at Alain.

Ava is their beautiful five-year-old daughter and also my one and only niece. Ava and I are very close because ever since she was born, I couldn't keep myself away from her. Her closet are mostly filled with the clothes or shoes I bought when she was only a newborn and even though, Harley told me to stop buying Ava clothes until she is at a age where she grows slower, Alain, my brother didn't stop me from doing so... he said just buy her everything if I can.

I glance at Alain who's busy texting on his phone and I realise how much he's a workaholic just like Kenna... they can be twins, at times. "You're working at an annual family gathering with both mother and father, not even a few feet apart from us. You're breaking the family rule," I pretend to gasp as he empties his glass of wine before making his way towards the crowd.

"Your family is huge, I don't even remember the people here." Kenna says as she frowns before sighing, deeply.

"I don't even know them either," I reply and she laughs, catching mother's attention as her eyes meet mine, causing me to look away immediately. As I clench my jaw, "Mother alert. She saw me and she's going to interrogate me. So, how should I start announcing about us?" I ask, looking down at Kenna who turns to look at my mother who is currently approaching.

"Wait... I have an idea," She mutters.

"It better be good, Kenna. She's getting closer and I don't think she's going to stop even if someone screams bloody murder behind her," I start to glance up at my mother's direction again, seeing her getting closer and closer with every step she takes. "Oh, shit... she's

I am cut by Kenna as she cups onto my face before pulling me down to kiss me on the lips, silencing me immediately. My eyes widen for a couple of seconds but they remain close once I realise I'm kissing my best friend in sync, following the rhythm of her lips moving against mine without showing any signs of stopping soon.

Slowly, my hands are going up to grip onto her waist as I pull her closer. Her soft lips are moving in a slow pace yet it's enough to show someone how we belong to each other just by the simple kiss. Even though it's nothing near passionate... it's passionate enough in someone's eyes for them to misunderstand.

I break the kiss, our lips are inches apart as I slowly open my eyes to see her eyes are still closing from the kiss which causes me to clench my jaw-eyeing her lips. My heart begins to beat fast as her blue eyes meet mine; leaving me completely breathless at the sudden gesture, which I assume ... a part of her idea.

Just as I'm about to lean in for more, my mother's voice interrupted me. My eyes widen at the sight of her looking at us in surprise as her mouth is gaping at our previous kiss, leaving me feeling a slight headache from the kiss, "Uh... mother?" I speak.

"I knew it!" She exclaims which catches everyone's attention before eyeing Kenna's left hand on my shoulder before her eyes widening again, "Oh my god, Aidan!" She walks towards me as she pulls Kenna in for a bone-crushing hug, making Kenna look at me as she winks.

My lips curve up into a smile at her idea, making me realise just how cheeky and perfect it turned out to work. No explanation needed.

Mother finally let go of Kenna before turning towards me, "You should've told me you've always loved Kenna. It would've been easier for me to just meet her parents and go straight ahead plan the wedding without troubling myself with all those unnecessary dates!" She says as she pulls me in for a hug, "Why have you been keeping it a secret?" She asks.

"What secret?" I ask as she pulls away.

"That you and Kenna are together!" She replies and everyone in the room begin to utter whisper. My eyes wander to look at Mia who is currently looking at me, confusingly. "When did he propose? How did he propose? Please, don't tell me that the proposal was shitty." She asks, Kenna who starts to laugh while others chuckle.

"After you threatened me, mother. I couldn't marry anyone else because I started to realise just how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Kenna. You made me realise that," I answer instead of Kenna as she smiles beside me, "I can't love anyone else but her," I

add.

"So, you've been keeping your relationship a secret? For how long?" She continues to ask which leaves me blank before turning to look at Kenna who masks a smile, completely nailing this whole act. "I'm sorry because if I have known, I wouldn't have asked you to go on those terrible dates." She frowns.

"We weren't dating," Kenna replies,

"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"Actually, I've always liked him but we were friends and I didn't want to ruin our friendship. Then, when he proposed... I realised just how much he feels the same way, She answers without a single doubt appearing on her face or from the sound of her voice which leaves me turning towards my mother again.

Harley, grins widely at Kenna as she pulls her in for a hug. "Congratulations! You two have always been great for each other... but too clueless, probably. Come on, you have to tell me the details and when I said details, I want to know everything." She says and begin to walk away towards Alain and Mia who seems, too surprised.

Mother turns towards me, "I'm glad it's her."

"Were you secretly expecting me to bring Kenna?" I ask and she chuckles before nodding her head, leaving me clearing my throat-not liking the fact that they actually like about this a little bit too much, especially mother.

"I've always wanted you to end up with Kenna, Aidan. You two have been inseparable ever since you started kindergarten and I can't help but notice how much you two were really made for each other... I can't deny that and now, you two are engaged, I know that I wasn't wrong." She replies, "And, I have just the perfect date for your wedding."

My eyes widen at the word 'wedding' before raising an eyebrow, "Wait a second, what? What do you mean, wedding?" I quickly ask.

"How about next month?" She asks without even answering my question which leaves me completely blank and utterly speechless, not knowing what to say.

"No. I think that's too early," I mutter.

"Don't be silly. You guys have known

each other for two decades and I don't think you two need to wait any longer. Just tie the knot, Aidan..

stop looking for excuses. You

found the one and she has always been in front of you the whole time, why wait?" She pulls me in for a hug again, "I'm really happy for you and I can't wait to help you two plan!"

My eyes meet Kenna's as she talks to Harley and Mia before running my index finger across my neck as a sign that 'we're dead' which causes her smile to drop immediately.