You have been lulled into a false sense of security.. You have been warned.

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Chapter Two – Decide

"You're in love with me?"

"A little… Well, a lot."

"Since…since we first met?"

Mal nodded.

"Okay," Natara said, shaking her head to clear it. "And you're telling me now because Oscar proposed and you don't want me to marry him because you love me?"

"Well, when you put it like that…"

"But Mal, I can't…I can't just…I love Oscar…"

"Do you? You've seemed really sad lately but when we're together you're always so happy and full of life and laughing… We have the best times together, Natara. Don't you see it?"

"But we're best friends! Of course we have good times. But I have fun with Oscar too, I…" Her voice trailed off.

"Please?" he begged gently. "Please just think about us? Best friends, falling in love… Doesn't it sound perfect?"

"Yes, but…" She stopped at the look on Mal's face. "Okay," she said carefully. "I'll think about it."

"He told me he loves me."

She hadn't seen her fiancé since she'd uttered those six words. Maybe he thought she loved him back. At the moment, she was hardly sure what love was. She'd always thought her and Mal were on the same page. They were great friends. She loved him…as a friend, didn't she? She'd jump in front of a bullet for him or do anything for him, really, but that didn't mean she loved him, did it?

She typed into her phone quickly.

Text Message
To: Oscar Santos
Oscar, please answer. We need to talk.
Natara

She sat on the edge of her bed, anxious, until his reply came in fifteen minutes later.

Text Message
From: Oscar Santos
About?
Oscar

She refrained from rolling her eyes with difficultly and responded.

Text Message
To: Oscar Santos
Meet me at the park?
Natara

Text Message
From: Oscar Santos
Twenty minutes.
Oscar

Twenty minutes later, Natara could be seen on a red park bench, bobbing her leg up and down nervously until a handsome man with black hair and a suit on approached her. She shot up.

"Oscar!"

"Natara."

"You didn't understand me."

"At which point?"

"Mal told me he loved me… He said he loved me ever since we first met. But, I…"

"So he was a coward and didn't say anything," Oscar interrupted. "While I proposed and you'll go to him anyway?"

"I said I didn't know how I felt," Natara mumbled.

"Oh, that's just great. So you don't know how you feel about me either? This isn't fair, Nat!" He slammed his fist on the back of the bench angrily. "You told me you loved me, you agreed to marry me, but one other man says he loves you and you suddenly question everything? You obviously aren't sure enough to go through with this."

"No!" Natara was on the verge of tears. "Oscar, please! I do love you. It's just, it's Mal. He's my best friend. I thought I loved him as a best friend. But it's just…it's Mal. I just don't know right now."

Oscar nodded slowly. "I understand. I'm sorry. You're only human."

"Thank you. What do you think I should do?"

"I think you need time to think. Talk to Mal again, if you feel up to it. And Natara?"

"Yeah?"

"If you pick him…I won't be mad."