Gabriella could not believe what had just happened before her very eyes. This is so unreal. This guy who is on his knees right now, who she had just met a few days ago and did a favour for is down on his knees to ask her hand in marriage. She didn't know what to do. She froze in front of him looking shock. It is just too unbelievable for her. She didn't realised she had been staring at him for a moment while her co-workers looked over and already started 'aww-ing' to one another.
"Gabriella? I said will you marry me?" Troy asked again. "Please?" he added.
Gabriella didn't know what to do. All of the people surrounded her whispered to her, "Say yes! Say yes!" But she didn't want to say yes. She wanted to say no and say goodbye officially to this idiot but she couldn't do it in front of everyone.
"Get up!" Gabriella mumbled to Troy.
"What?"
"Get up! Follow me right now you idiot!" Gabriella said while pulling Troy's wrist as she leads him to the nearest closet and she locked the door shut. Now that they are alone, Gabriella could say what she wants without anyone judging her.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Gabriella said. "You can't just come to my work place and propose to me especially in front of every one of my co-workers. Do you know how embarrassing it is for me?"
"Look, I know you're upset but just hear me out right now," Troy said.
"What happened when you told your parents that I was moving to China or whatever reason you told them?" Gabriella asked.
"Well I didn't really got to that part yet because my mom won't let me speak first so she started talking and one thing lead to another, both my parents said that my family liked you and gave me my great grandmother's engagement ring," Troy said. "I am just as freaked out as you are."
"If it freaks you out so much, why didn't you just say no? What is wrong with you with saying no? It's easy. I say no all the time and I'm about to say no to being your bride," Gabriella said.
"Please just help me out here. They said if I refused, they will plan my arranged marriage already. It's just not right. I don't want to be an arranged marriage," Troy said.
"Why not? I thought most of your relatives did it?" Gabriella said.
"Well you obviously don't know how most of their marriages went. I'll give you a hint, not wonderful," Troy said.
"Isn't that good? If you don't like the person your parents set you up with, wouldn't it be a lot easier to just divorce her? That way your parents would know how ridiculous the marriage is and they'll leave you alone officially. True, you might get divorce before you turn thirty but what are the chances that your parents will set you up with someone you completely hate?" Gabriella asked.
"A million to one," Troy answered. "Please just do this. I haven't plan a way out of this for you but please I'm begging you. I'll do everything you want. I'll listen to everything you say just be my wife."
"Don't you feel just weird? We just met last week and here you are asking for my hand in marriage," Gabriella said. "And isn't what we're doing right now is somehow an arranged marriage too?"
"Of course it's weird but . . . oh just forget it. I'll just tell them the truth and get this over with," Troy moped. Gabriella suddenly felt bad for him. No one should go through an arranged marriage. Troy was right; no arranged marriage has ever survived long. Those who have are apparently the lucky ones but it seems Troy doesn't believe he's one of those lucky ones. She wanted to make him feel a lot better but what can she do? Then she realised that most of her co-workers are probably waiting in anticipation for her to come out of the closet with a new ring on her finger. Speaking of which…
"So your parents gave you that ring right? Can I see it again?" Gabriella asked.
Troy gave the ring box to her, "Here, I have to admit it's a very nice ring."
"Me too," Gabriella smiled. It was the most beautiful ring Gabriella has ever seen in her life. The ring is princess cut and it has a shade of light blue. Gabriella knew that when the ring is shined with light, it will sparkle so beautifully. Gabriella had always imagined what kind of ring she would wear when she is engaged but even the ring she imagined isn't as beautiful as what she had in her hand right now. Oh how she wished she was wearing the ring right now and show off to her friends. Could she?
"So? Uh…how are you going to tell your parents about this?" Gabriella asked while still admiring the ring.
Troy noticed how Gabriella is looking at the ring. She seemed to be attracted to it. She didn't even look up when she was talking to him. Troy knew that she was too busy admiring the ring. Troy smiled a little. This was his chance to mess with her head and she won't even notice. Troy smirked a little before answering her in a sad tone, "I don't know. But I sure know how disappointed they are going to be in me. My mother is probably going to cry day and night because of my lie and my dad would probably never look at my face again. The rest of my relatives would probably give me a call tomorrow how the proposal went and then I would have to tell them the truth and say that all of it was a lie. My life would never be the same again."
Gabriella unfortunately did not notice that Troy was just acting and felt sorry for Troy even more. She didn't know how hard it is to keep up an image for your family who is like, super perfect and expects nothing less. Gabriella wouldn't know how it feels because she doesn't have to. Gabriella had a pretty small family. She was an only child and she doesn't have any aunts or uncles or cousins. Troy on the other hand has loads of uncles, aunts and cousins.
"So if I say yes to this, will you still do anything I asked you to do?" Gabriella asked.
Troy smiled inside but still managed to maintain a frown, "Yeah I guess I'll be your hero or whatever they call it but I understand you don't want to, I can't make you so…"
"I'll do it!" Gabriella said, surprising herself.
"Really?" Troy inquired.
"Really. I'll help you with this but we are going to find our way out of this sooner or later right?" Gabriella asked.
"Totally. We just have to live with this right now," Troy said.
"And keep it just professional. No groping or whatever right?" Gabriella asked.
"Yes. I promise," Troy said. He felt a weight being lifted from his shoulders.
"Alright, then, I guess I agree to be your fiancé only and only if you listen to me and do as I say at all cost," Gabriella said.
"No problem. I'll call you as soon I heard any word from my parents," Troy informed her.
"Great," Gabriella faked a smile. She started to feel a little awkward and wondered if Troy felt it too. "I guess we will have to leave now. My co-workers are probably wondering why we're in here for so long."
Troy sensed her awkwardness and decided to make her comfortable again. "Maybe they thinking that we're making out or something," Troy said.
"Why would I even want to make out with you? I bet you're a bad kisser," Gabriella said.
"I beg to differ. I can tie a cherry stem with just my tongue," Troy said.
"So?"
"Where did you come from? Everyone knows that whoever can tie a cherry stem in their mouth means that they are a good kisser. And I don't mean to brag but I can tie faster than my brother," Troy said.
"Ooh, baby brother can kiss better than his big old brother, good for you," Gabriella said sarcastically while rolling her eyes.
Troy looked at her challengingly, "Do you want some proof?"
"We don't have cherries in the office for you to tie up," Gabriella said.
"No problem, I guess I will just have to do this," Troy said before leaning to Gabriella and kissing her lips softly. Gabriella was shocked but she was secretly enjoying the kiss while it lasts. Troy was right, he is a good kisser. Troy was also enjoying the kiss. Both of them suddenly felt something weird building up in the stomach. Gabriella quickly pulled back and looked at Troy. "So, enjoyed that?" he asked.
Gabriella took a deep breath. She didn't want Troy to win, "No. In fact, I rather kiss a monkey than to kiss you ever again."
"Please, you are so bluffing. You totally enjoyed that," Troy said amusingly.
Gabriella gave him a stern look. "Why? Did you?"
"Whatever. Can we just get out of here right now? It's getting hot in here," Troy said.
"Fine. It's enough I'm going to be your fiancé and kissed you. I need some air," Gabriella said.
"You're forgetting something," Troy said while pointing to the red velvet box she was still holding. Gabriella then remembered that she wasn't wearing her engagement ring yet.
"Oh right. Of course. Thanks."
"No problem. I should probably apologise what I'm about to do when I'm out of this closet," Troy said. Gabriella scrunched her eyebrows together. She didn't know what Troy meant.
Troy then opened the closet door and started to yell out, "SHE SAID YES!"
Gabriella mouthed opened widely. She could not believe how stupid Troy is. This is embarrassing beyond repair. The whole staff started to applause and congratulating them and Troy faced Gabriella again with an evil smirk on his face.
"Get out now," Gabriella whispered.
"I love you too, baby. You made me the happiest man on earth. And I'll see you at home for our little celebration," Troy said which made Gabriella gasped. She wished she could just kill him right this minute but there are too many witnesses. Troy gave Gabriella a kiss on the cheek and left the office.
Before Gabriella could even breathe, most of her female co-workers started to surround her to look at the new rock on her finger.
"Oh my god! I can't believe you're engaged!" one girl said.
"He is so adorable! What's his name?" another one agreed.
"Troy Bolton," Gabriella answered while the others were taking pictures of the ring and started to all compliment her all at once. This was moving way too fast for Gabriella. She needed to sit down. She knew the rest of the ride is going to be bumpy filled with many obstacle courses.
----
Sneak peek on the next chapter: Someone from Gabriella's life has come back and it's Gabriella's job to tell him what happened to her while he was away.
Can you guess who? Here are the options:
a) An ex-boyfriend
b) Her father
c) A long lost friend who has a crush on Gabriella since forever
So can you guess which one? Let me know what's your guess.
PLEASE REVIEW!
