"Wait up man." Ryan pulled me aside.

"Listen, you're going to do just as I ask you to." He said with a mischievous smile on his face

"I won't. I already agreed to this because you gestured to. Now I want to know what you are up to before I take another step." I could never trust him and his plans.

"Fine, I will tell you. You said you aren't sure of Brae's feelings for you right ?" He asked, referring to the talk I had with him after that lunch.

"Did you guys kiss and makeup?" Ryan clasped his hands, faking excitement like a high school girl. I threw the pen in my hand at him.

"Ouchh. So that definitely didn't go well." He said rubbing his arm.

"No it didn't." I banged my palm on the desk.

"What happened?"

"I couldn't make her utter a single word. She just wanted to run away. There is something that she is hiding. But..."

"But ?"

"Then again I was wondering if there is nothing like we are thinking. Maybe she didn't like me anymore and at that time made up the story, the excuse of a rich boyfriend and all that shit."

"Yeah and the realisation hit her like a truck when the church was asking for her consent in the marriage." He spoke, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"It could have been the case. You never know. But still I can't, I am not ready to just give up on her. I just don't want to let her go."

"Then don't. Don't let her go."

"I do get the desired reactions from her sometimes but her words, the way she says makes me sometimes feel like I am forcing myself in her life."

"Evan , be practical. If she is trying to hide something she is going to act. She has to make you believe her story."

"I know. I know." I murmured. I couldn't just give up like that.

"Yes. So ?" I tilted my head to the side in confusion.

"So I can clear your doubts."

"How?" I asked.

"She is jealous of Kate." I looked at him like he had two heads. Why will she be jealous of Kate? She knew we were friends from a young age.

"Jealous of Kate? Why on Earth?" I scoffed and looked away.

"I don't know but she is jealous. She was mimicking you, mumbling under her breath when you two were planning your lunch." What ? This sounds so like her. Back in those days, whenever a girl would talk to me or show a bit of interest in me, she would get jealous and mimic her.

"Ryan." I sarcastically shook my head in denial because false hopes fucking hurt.

"Believe me. Fine, don't believe me. Just do as I say and you can see it for yourself." He said like he had hatched a genius plan.

"Like ? What should I do?" I massaged my forehead before asking.

"Like you will ask Kate to get into the passenger's seat." I chuckled humorlessly and nodded. I couldn't believe that I agreed to this but I wouldn't lie that I didn't want to confirm Brae's feelings for me.

.....................

"We are taking my car." All of them nodded but Brae seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"Kate , sit in the front." I even managed a small smile.

"Sure Evan." Kate smiled widely at me. From the corner of my eye I thought I saw Brae raise a brow.

After all of them were settled , I drove off.

"Where are we going first?"

"I think we should go to the venue first. The decor is yet to be decided."

"Kate can decide where we should go." Through the rear-view mirror, I saw Brae looking at me incredulously while Ryan was amusedly staring at her.

"Let's go to the restaurant first. I am really very hungry." I smiled at Kate adoringly. Well she was special to me but I never really looked at her like that. All credit goes to Ryan that I was discovering my skills in acting.

For the rest of the ride, Kate kept speaking about anything and everything while we just listened, with me stealing occasional glances of Brae.

As soon as the car was parked, Brae sprinted out as if she couldn't bear staying inside for another moment.

Ryan and Brae sat opposite me and Kate. We placed our orders.

"Are you really eating that? I mean that's so many calories." She made a disgusted face. I frowned at that and looked at Brae's face. I mean that was an unnecessary comment but maybe Kate's resentment towards Brae provoked her. Brae sighed before putting her fork down and looking at Kate.

"Well it satisfies my taste buds. I prefer a little unhealthy food and a happy mind over a model-like figure." Though she smiled sweetly at her, her voice brought out the hostility.

Staring up at Ryan, I saw him stabbing the piece of carrot not even bothering to hide his smile.

.............

"Let's go to the other place before deciding. From what I saw on their website, it looked better than this one."

Brae suggested and Ryan nodded agreeing.

"No we don't need to. This is fine." Kate objected. With her hand on her waist, she looked around.

"Still we should have a look at that one once to choose the better one." She muttered looking at her phone.

"I like this already." At Kate's words, Brae stopped whatever she was doing before looking up and casting her an incredulous look.

"'You' like it? But it is not your wedding reception venue that we are looking for. " She emphasized on 'you', irritation evident on her face. Ryan was trying hard to not snicker.

"Oh, don't worry. When I get married, I won't burden you with the responsibility of choosing the venue." Her voice sounded venomous.

"I am tired. I don't want to go anywhere else." Brae rolled her eyes at Kate. Looking at Ryan I saw him gesturing to me to continue with our act.

"Very well you can go back. I will go -" I cut her off.

"No need. If Kate likes this venue, let it be the one." Brae looked at me like she was seeing an alien. I saw her fists clenching. She was taking deep breaths trying to control her anger.

"Oh Evan , you're so sweet." I smiled back at Kate but from my peripheral vision I saw Brae making faces. I smirked, liking this side of Brae.

......................

"You can look at these options and choose. We will decorate accordingly."

"This one will look good." Brae pointed at a peach, silver and grey theme.

"No, this is better." I looked back at Ryan, tired of this continuous contradiction but Ryan signalled me to continue.

I stepped forward looking at their choices. Kate was preferring a purple and pink decoration. Honestly Brae's choice was far better than Kate's but.... I did what I had been doing till now.

"This will be the one." I said choosing the purple one. Honestly, I felt bad this time but I did this for a reason which I was half aware of.

"Incredible." Brae mockingly praised. She looked frustrated.

"I think Kate has an excellent choice in almost everything because Mr. Lewis loves everything she chooses." I was amused by her expressions. There was a smile on her lips but her eyes were glaring at me. I nodded, agreeing to her.

"Excellent, so I will leave you guys to it." She stormed out.