Chapter 3 To Meet With Her
"Do you think it'll work?" Mason asked, curious as he glanced at his phone screen while Matt dialed Isabel's number.
"Listen, don't cancel the marriage over the phone," Matt quickly replied, piquing Mason's curiosity even more.
"Just tell her you want to meet in person and then cancel the marriage face to face," Matt continued, and Mason nodded, now in agreement.
But both of them were left dumbfounded when Isabel didn't answer the call, even though it was ringing.
Mason snatched the phone from Matt and dialed Isabel's number again, waiting anxiously for her to pick up.
Meanwhile, Isabel was making a wedding shopping list with her little sister Emma. Suddenly, her phone rang, startling her.
Looking at her slightly cracked screen, Isabel saw Mason's name appearing, causing her heart to race. She found herself shaking because it was the first time her fiancee had called her, someone she had already started dreaming about every night.
Isabel had liked Mason from the moment she first saw him; it was hard not to, considering he was incredibly handsome. One day, when Isabel was heading to college with her brother Liam, he pointed out Mason from a distance.
Although Liam wanted her to talk to Mason since their marriage was already arranged, Isabel had been too shy that day to approach him. Now, receiving the first call from Mason made her incredibly nervous. Isabel's nerves got the best of her, causing her to miss the call. However, a few seconds later, she received another call from Mason.
Caught in a dilemma, Isabel hesitated but eventually answered. She went to the balcony with her phone, seeking a moment of privacy to talk to him. As she heard Mason's voice for the first time, her heartbeat raced even faster.
Isabel struggled to find her words, taking a deep breath before finally speaking in a slow tone.
"Hello."
"Is this Isabel?" Mason asked, trying to hide his annoyance.
"Ye... Yeah... it is," Isabel replied, still sounding nervous.
"It's Mason. You recognize me, don't you?"
"Yes," she assured.
"As you know, our wedding is approaching, but we haven't even met yet. So, I was thinking we should meet if you're interested too." Hearing Mason ask her out, Isabel shyly smiled and became excited at the same time.
"Sure... Where should we meet?" Isabel asked happily.
Mason became more annoyed by the sudden change in Isabel's tone but managed not to be rude.
"I'll text you the time and place."
"Are you sure you're coming?" he couldn't help but ask, wanting to erase any doubts about their meeting.
"Of course, I will. I'll be there on time," Isabel assured him, wearing a happy smile.
"Okay then. Take care. Looking forward to meeting you, Isabel," Mason said before ending the call.
Mason sighed in relief after hanging up. Matt observed him and asked, "So... When are you guys going to meet?"
"Tomorrow," Mason replied, taking a sip of his beer.
"Best of luck, dude," Matt sarcastically wished.
"Whatever," Mason rolled his eyes, not in the mood to entertain Matt's sarcasm. "Don't worry, my friend. It's going to work. Just be patient."
"I hope so," Mason tried to sound positive.
\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At night, Mason texted Isabel, asking her to meet him at Eastern Cafe at 11 in the morning. After reading the message, Isabel felt anxious. It was her first time going out with a guy other than her brother or dad, and her shyness made her worry.
Isabel started contemplating whether she should go or not. She thought about what to wear and what she would talk about with Mason, among other random things. But the moment she realized she would be seeing Mason up close, her face turned red without her even realizing it.
Just the thought of Mason created a new feeling in Isabel's heart. She fell asleep peacefully, her mind filled with thoughts of him.
Meanwhile, Mason lay in bed, thinking about how he could convince Isabel to break off their engagement. However, he knew he had to be careful around his mom if he wanted to succeed in ending the marriage.
Mason also thought about proposing to Addison if the marriage ended successfully, which brought a bright smile to his face.
The next day, Mason arrived at the cafe 20 minutes early. Isabel hadn't shown up yet, so he sat at a corner table and ordered a black coffee. Sipping his coffee, he glanced at his watch.
There were still ten minutes left until the agreed time, and Mason grew impatient. He continued sipping his coffee while checking his watch every minute, feeling restless and unsure if Isabel would come or not.
Ten minutes late, Isabel finally arrived at the cafe. Her eyes scanned the place, searching for Mason. Suddenly, they landed on a table in the corner, and she recognized him.
It was the second time Isabel saw Mason in person, but this time, she was closer to him and could admire his perfect features in detail. From a distance, she silently observed him, marveling at his perfection.
Mason had chocolate brown, fluffy, straight hair that complemented his fair, yellowish skin tone. His well-defined brows framed his face, which seemed like a work of art waiting to be painted or sketched. High cheekbones, a straight nose, and a firm square jaw completed his attractive appearance. However, it was his captivating dark green eyes that stood out the most.
He wore a plain white t-shirt, a wine-colored jacket, and jeans, which made him look even more handsome.
Isabel was so captivated by Mason that she stood frozen at the entrance of the cafe. Eventually, she snapped out of it when Mason stood up from his seat.
While Isabel had been studying Mason from afar, he was unaware of her presence, engrossed in a text conversation with Matt on his phone. Impatience grew within him as he awaited Isabel's arrival, and he finally began to think she might not come. He made up his mind to leave the cafe.
Just as he was about to go, someone appeared in front of him. When he looked up, he saw Isabel standing before him, and a wave of disgust washed over Mason at the sight of her.