95- The Meeting

95- The Meeting
I chuckled and felt as if I had received an eternal source of rapture, a never ending feeling of tranquility, the end of my journey. 

A beautiful meaning of this meaningless life. 

"Get ready." Roy grinned excitedly, pulling away, he was looking forward to something I didn’t know about.

"Why? I have just returned. Is there something else left?" I asked, turning to him, tilting my head in confusion.

"I told you, I will not go and tell Mother about you alone. We will go together. Get ready." He beamed. My jaw dropped as I shook my head no.

"Why?" He asked with a perfectly raised eyebrow.

"What she doesn't like about me? What if I am not up to your standards- what I am not but still there's so much difference between us. What if-" 

Before I could ramble on further in anxiety, Roy put his index finger over my lips.

"Shh. There's nothing to worry about. I am with you. You just get ready." He assured me. I gave him a timid look and nodded.

I took a shower and walked out in my towel and saw Roy sitting on my bed using his phone. I blushed furiously and yelled,

"What the hell, Roy!? Get out!" He turned to look at me. 

A smirk crept upon his lips, his eyes scanned me from top to bottom, increasing my heartbeat.

"Stop gawking!" I stuttered under his sharp gaze, looking at me with that ravish look. 

"Nice body, love." He winked, turning back to his phone.

"Leave Roy. I need to change." I told him. 

He sighed and stood up, "Okay.. I am waiting outside." 

He paused and glanced over his shoulder with a playful smirk, “I have seen ‘every’ inch of his sexy body anyways.” 

After he walked out. I took a deep breath and put my hand over my chest to calm my racing heartbeat along with a smile over my lips.

I heaved and wore a matching maroon frock with full sleeves, I applied a little makeup and let my hair fall on my back. 

I smiled and seemed satisfied with my looks. I walked out and saw Roy looking at mine and Eri's pictures with a sad smile over his face.

"Roy.." I called him. 

He turned to me and smiled, "Looking gorgeous, even more when we are wearing the same color." He complimented me, scanning me constantly.

"Thanks." I mumbled sheepishly.

"Shall we go?" He asked, grabbing his phone and keys from the table.

"Yes." I breathed out from nervousness and we left.

During the drive, my hands were cold as ice. My legs were shaking due to distress building inside of me, stirring my mind. I was feeling so scared and tense but Roy didn't seem affected by this.

"Roy." I called him with a glint of fear.

"Hmm."

"Do you think it's a good idea? I mean-" 

I was vexed, I didn’t have a track of good records of interactions with him before his Mother.

"Garnet, you are my choice and I don't think I will be happy as much as I am with you. I love you and don't want anyone else in my life. If not you then no one." He tried his best to reassure me.

"But, don't you think it's a bit early."

"It's not like we are going to marry tomorrow, Garnet. Calm down." He said with a smile. I hesitantly nodded and remained silent.

We reached his home. I rubbed my cold hands together and exhaled deeply. I forced a smile and turned to look at Roy. He held my hand and I said,

"The last time I came here was when you were drunk."

"Yeah.. and you asked who loves the real me." He said with a chuckle. 

"Now there are two women. You and mother." He whispered happily, pinching my cheek. 

I squeezed his hands tightly and took a deep breath. He took me inside, my heart was bursting from beating that fast. I felt extremely nervous, my mind went blank. I swallowed hard and walked beside Roy.

"Ah Roy, Welcome home, Son." Mrs Layne said. He smiled and gave her a side hug.

"Hello, Ma'am." I said politely. She smiled and noticed that Roy was holding my hands.

"Mother… you told me that I said the Garnet could be the one for me when I was drunk..." He began to say.

"Yeah, you did." She trailed off nervously, looking at us, taking a hint about what he was about to say.

"Mother. Today, here, in all my senses, I am saying that Garnet is the one for me. The one who loves the real me, the one who understands me." He announced. Mrs Layne's eyes widened when she heard it.

"I love her, Mother." He enunciated with a laugh, pulling me close and wrapping his hand around my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat. I gulped and looked at Mrs Layne waiting for her reaction. 

After being stunned for about a minute she smiled strangely, "You are that serious about her? When was the last time you truly loved a girl?"

"Never." He replied, shrugging his shoulders. Mrs Layne smiled widely and engulfed me in a hug. 

"Finally he found himself his better half. I am so happy." Her eyes teared up. 

I smiled sadly and said in a faint tone, "I will never let the shine I gave him fade away." I promised wholeheartedly.

"Even if he loses all his money?" 

A voice came from behind and that old voice which evoked anger in me was enough to know that it's Mr. Arthur Layne. 

I forced a smile and turned to him, "Even if he loses everything, I would still be his." I said confidently. 

"I have been in the same situation as him. I will not let him make the same mistake." He snarled.

"So will I." I said, walking towards Mr. Layne, glaring at him.

"Remember this, Mr. Layne. The ravage of your son has calmed down and I have no intentions of letting anyone ruin it. I will never let anything take his tranquility away from him; not even you." I growled, not wanting to talk to his Father at the first official meeting. 

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile as I turned to him. Roy smiled widely and walked to me.

"I want to marry Garnet." He declared. 

I fake coughed and turned my head away. “His idea. I am not a part of it.” I said, defending myself, putting my hand in the air.

“Hey, ‘the door of my heart is open for you’ where is that now?" He asked, turning to me. A blush rose to my cheek as I stood there motionless, losing my strength.

"You sure, Roy?" Mrs Layne asked. 

"Yes, Mother." He said firmly.

"You will regret it." Mr. Layne said and whenever he said anything the urge to retort back to him aroused in me and I did. I think I have a knack of taunting the Layne bloodline.

"He is not ungrateful like you."

"What did you say?" He hissed.

"What you heard." I scoffed.

"Roy, that girl would be your mistake." Mr. Layne said direly.

"Then I would be the mistake he will cherish for the rest of his life." I said firmly. 

Mr. Layne opened his mouth to say something but Roy said, "Enough, Mr. Layne."

"I am just here to let Garnet meet Mother." Roy said.

"And what about your Father?" He asked furiously.

"Mother, take Garnet with you." Roy smiled but I held his hand, mouth gaping at his abrupt words.

"I am not going. I believe you said ‘we’ not I." I said sternly.

"Garnet, I need to talk to Mr. Layne. Go." I pouted a little and then sighed. 

"Fine but I will be back soon." I mumbled. I honestly didn’t want to go with Mrs Layne, I understood Roy was emotional.

But I also think that she returned to them for money and not… her children. But that didn’t define the condition Mr. Layne made out of his sons. 

Mrs Layne took me with her to the patio. I sat beside her timidly, not understanding what I should say.

I think I should go back.