Author's Note: Okay, here it is…uh uh, an unexpected turn of events…

Disclaimers Applied!!!

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Deceive Me Not

Chapter 10: Even if You're the Last Man on Earth

She tried to shift in her sleep but when she bumped into his warm body, she was suddenly wide awake.

Pan opened her eyes only to see his handsome face near hers. He was still asleep and she was almost hypnotized with the peace and serenity of his face. It's a wonder how she managed to control herself from leaning over and planting her lips on his closed eyes.

He looked as though he couldn't be more than twenty-five years old, but she knew better. He held a high position in Capsule Corporation, which he was too secretive to tell her, and knew he must have been older than that.

She was about to reach for him, brush a few of his purple locks away from his face when he opened his eyes and flashed her a boyish smile. "Good morning," he breathed softly…and the spell was suddenly broken.

Her eyes widened in panic as she sat up suddenly, covering her naked body with the blanket. "Oh God! We didn't…um, didn't we –"

His chuckle cut her off as he, too, sat up to face her, not bothering to hide his chest. "Slow down, sweetheart. Why don't you calm down for a start?"

But Pan, being Pan (meaning she tried to defy everything he say), continued to panic. "Why are you so calm? You're supposed to regret – wait a minute, do you remember what happened last night?"

The moment the question was out of her mouth, she immediately regretted it.

Of course, the moron wouldn't remember it! He was so drunk last night, she wondered if he knew he was pouring love words from his mouth.

And if he didn't remember, that question would eventually lead Trunks to ask questions as to what had happened…and then he would know everything.

She was such a terrible liar.

On the contrary, he would still ask questions even if she kept her mouth closed. OH no!

Trunks blinked at her in confusion. Why wouldn't he remember? "Of course, I do, Pan. That was such a stupid question."

He was more surprised when she moaned, not realizing what the sound reminded Trunks of. "That's not fair! You shouldn't have remembered it. You were drunk, Trunks. You should have one hell of a hangover and not remember a thing that happened."

Trunks blinked at her again and she looked at him in exasperation. Maybe instead of having a hangover, he just got a little bit stupid, what with blinking at her all the time?

"Well, I'm not so drunk last night, I guess," he said and his eyes widened as realization dawned. "Wait a minute you don't want me to remember what happened?" he asked and cut her off when she opened her mouth to answer. "Are you regretting what happened?"

Pan furiously shook her head. Who could possibly regret what happened during the best night of her life? It was like her breaking point. When he told her he fell in love with her, it was the only time she entertained the idea that she might actually be in love with this man.

In her past relationships, she was so afraid of commitment that she would give as little of herself as possible, and therefore the reason why she hadn't fallen in love – until now. Trunks had been different. She had always known it would only be temporary, thus, she gave her all to this relationship, whatever you might want to call it. And the task of seducing him posed as a challenge to her, she spent lots of time thinking how she would attack.

And she had always loved challenges.

When he entered her last night, she sobbed his name and realized that this whole fiasco had gotten her in this trouble.

She had fallen in love with Trunks.

And she didn't even know his last name. Now, this is really bad.

"No, no, I'm not regretting –" then paused when she realized she didn't have any idea what to say, she buried her face on his chest, "I had hoped it was all a dream."

Trunks face fell, taking it the wrong way, but even that didn't stop him from putting an arm around her, "Well, at least you didn't think it was a horrible nightmare," he muttered.

Pan suddenly looked up at him and sighed, defeated. "Oh, come on now, don't joke about this. I'm confused enough as it is."

"Well, what are you confused about?" he asked, confusion written all over his face.

She looked at him incredulously and fought the urge to sigh in exasperation. "This!" she said and waved her arms around in annoyance. "I never meant any of these to happen at all. And it happened still!"

Oh God, she was so confused!

Last night was a romantic dream come true. He made love to her three times, and Trunks, she gladly found out, was so passionate in everything. With every touch, with every kiss, he made her burn and want for more.

And yet, it wasn't just sex. It was more than that. The emotions they felt said it was more than that.

That was what made it confusing.

It was too good to be regretted and yet, she knew it shouldn't have happened.

Trunks shrugged. "Well, just for the record, I didn't say all those things to you just to get you to sleep with me. All of that are real, Pan. I've really fallen in love with you."

Pan's jaw dropped open. Oh, no no. NO! She wasn't hearing these things. She was just hallucinating. Because if he really were saying this, then she would just be more confused than ever – and where will that lead her? "Trunks –"

"You know what," he muttered, interrupting what she had to say, "I want to marry you. Really. If you'll have me, that is. I don't have the ring yet, but I want you to consider this as a marriage proposal."

Pan blinked at him.

But did not say anything.

Trunks cleared his throat and looked at her nervously. He shouldn't have harshly proposed to her. What if she suddenly decline and began avoiding him?

Now, that was bad.

He groaned. Because, guess what? He remembered that this same Pan, had told him a few weeks ago, that she hated commitment.

Oh no! He ruined it all.

"Pan, please say something," he said in a tone that made her think he was almost begging.

And so, she said the only logical thing that came to her mind, "You're proposing to me?"

Ohhhkkkaaayyy. That was very helpful considering she just stated – no, asked the obvious.

"Err, yeah," he said, then rushed on, "Look, I know that you don't want commitment but I think it's not that bad, considering I'm willing to try it even if I never had a serious girlfriend before. So, I think we can make this work, right?"

"Trunks –"

"I also know you're engaged to m-er, Mr. Briefs, but you haven't met the man," he said and she wondered why he blushed, "and I really think you're better off with me than him –"

"Trunks –"

"-no, please listen to me, Panny. I really want to marry you. Please marry me, Pan."

His heart broke when she burst out laughing. And he knew his heart would never be whole again.

He was wrong.

"I was about to say 'yes', Trunks," she said, smiling brightly at him.

"What?"

She chuckled. "I was about to accept the proposal, but you won't let me say a thing," she said and pinched his cheeks.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was the solid proof of how confused she had become.

She knew she was supposed to be afraid of commitment. Hell, it was her nature. And yet she said yes when Trunks proposed to her – even without a ring!

"Hey!" he said in protest, then, "Are you sure?"

She looked at him darkly. "Well, if you don't want –"

He cut her off with a kiss that meant to rob her breath and her thoughts away.

When they broke apart a few minutes later, he was smiling ridiculously at her. "We're going to have one hell of a marriage."

Rycah was walking towards the elevator when she spotted someone familiar to her. She approached the sitting girl, and "Ms. Son?"

Pan looked up from the book she was reading and broke into a big smile. "Hi, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Ms. Son. And you, what are you doing here again?" she inquired politely.

Pan shrugged nonchalantly, "Oh, I was just waiting for someone," she said casually.

Rycah nodded knowingly. "Ah. Always waiting, huh? By the way, Mr. Briefs is in his office right now. Would you like to go see him since you missed him the last time?"

Pan looked thoughtful. "I don't know…" she began as her mind began to wander.

After that fateful morning yesterday, Trunks spent the whole day with her, and just this morning, he had managed to get out of her apartment and go to work (of course, with her persuading him) but not before Pan promised him she'd have lunch with him. That was why she ended back in Capsule Corporation's lobby, waiting for her fiancé, which, as of this moment, was still out of sight.

Of course, she hadn't thought that the blasted man would make her wait when he knew for a fact that she hated waiting.

Rycah nodded in understanding. "Well, if you really are waiting for an important person, you might miss him if you come with me. Alright, Ms. Son, I'll just be going now and let you be."

Pan nodded and followed with her gaze the retreating secretary. She so badly wanted to meet the man her parents had managed to get her engaged to.

But Trunks –

Oh, blast!

She stood up and followed Rycah. And when she caught up with her, "You know what, if my boyfriend had the gall to make me wait, then he should wait for me, too, ne?" she asked and smiled brightly at Rycah.

Rycah chuckled. "You know what, Ms. Son. You have a point. A very good point, indeed!"

Trunks suppressed a groan as his grip on the telephone tightened. "Yes, yes. Of course, sugar, I'm not too busy for you."

He paused to listen to the person on the other line. "Okay, but can you please hurry?" he said then glanced at his watch. Oh great, he was late again. Why does this thing always happen to him? "Bra, sugar, just come here. I'm late for my date, you know."

A few seconds more and he hung up the phone, annoyed.

Just expect his sister to be in her worst timing.

A minute passed by when the phone rang again.

He sighed as he picked it up and snapped. "What?"

Rycah cringed at the tone of his voice. She never realized her boss was in such a bad mood. Maybe Ms. Son and him meeting was not a very good idea at the moment. "Uh, Mr. Briefs, Ms. –"

"Just send her in," he said and hung up from the other line.

Rycah sighed then blushed when she saw Pan looking curiously at her. "He told me to send you in."

Pan nodded, still looking at her curiously. "And?"

Rycah cleared her throat. "Well, just be careful on what you say and do. I didn't know he's in a bad mood today."

At this, Pan stood up. "Well, if that's the case, I'll just come back –"

But Rycah grabbed her arm. "Oh no, Miss. Please don't. He's already expecting you and if you don't come in, I'll, well, I'll be in big trouble."

Pan appeared to be thinking, and then, "Okay. But is he always this nice?"

Rycah blushed. "Er, no, Ma'am. He's seldom pissed off, but it can get really scary."

Pan rolled her eyes. "Okay," she said and opened the door.

She closed the door softly behind her, then looked around. The room was empty. Which was weird when Mr. Briefs was supposed to be here, expecting her.

She was about to call out when she heard a voice, a very familiar voice, apparently from a small room within his office.

"Sit down, sugar, let me just get these –" he stopped in his tracks when he entered the room just as she turned around and came face to face with –

Trunks.

Her fiancé.

The man she's supposed to be meeting at the lobby of this building.

Betrayal and deception sank into her at once and she knew it showed on her face because he nervously approached her, clearing his throat on the process. "Uh, Pan –"

But Pan cut him off. "Well, it was one thing when Rycah told me you were expecting me, sugar, when we haven't even met, but it was also one thing to expect sugar when you're supposed to be meeting me at the lobby, at around, say, fifteen minutes ago? And frankly, Mr. Briefs, it was entirely a different thing to make fun of me by pretending to not be someone you are."

Trunks advanced again, but she stepped backwards, her eyes showing fury and disgust for the man she's supposed to have fallen in love with. "Pan –"

"Tell me, how many are we in your life, because I can't remember you calling me sugar before," she interrupted.

"Panny –"

But Pan wouldn't let him talk her out of her anger. "Oh, don't call me that, Mr. Briefs. Well, come to think of it, don't tell me how many we are in your life. Because, honestly, I don't think that would matter, as you're bound to lose one."

Trunks eyes widened in fear, and again, stepped towards her, though Pan took a step backwards again, "No, Pan. You're not letting me explain –"

"Explain what, Mr. Briefs?" she cut off, furious with herself because her eyes started to water. "That you made a complete fool out of me? Is that what you want to explain?"

Trunks threw up his hands in frustration. "Look, I didn't know how to tell you the first time we met because you hated me so much."

The tears fell – but immediately stopped at the surge of his anger. "Well, it just shows that I'm right when I decided to hate you, don't you think?"

"Pan," he started, and knowing that she'll step away from him again, grabbed her shoulders. She struggled against his grasp but he firmly held her in place.

"Please, listen to me. I may be wrong to do all that to you. But Kami knows how sincere I am with my feelings for you. I didn't make a fool out of you, Pan."

But Pan only glared at him. "Am I supposed to believe that? After everything you've done?"

Trunks sighed but did not let go of her shoulders. "Look, I know I'm wrong, but I did all that to know if you'll still like me as an ordinary man and not because I own Capsule Corporation."

If ever, that statement only made Pan more furious. "So, I'm a gold-digger now?"

At this, Trunks threw up his hands in exasperation. And it was a good thing when she didn't move away from him. "You're not listening to me at all. That was all part of the past! Doesn't it matter at all that I love you? That I want to marry you?"

Pan let out a bitter smile. "Listen to me, Trunks, because I'm going to say this only once," she said quietly and his heart broke at the cold anger he saw in her eyes. "I'm not going to love you, not now, not ever – even if you're the last man on earth, I won't."

And with that, she turned around and walked away, not seeing the defeated look in his eyes as she shut the door behind her.

Her eyes hurt from trying hard not to cry.

Author's Note: sniff sniff now, this is bad…(I'm beginning to like that line!)… what will happen now? Next chapter in a few…

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