The Best Friend's Contract novel Chapter 8

''Try to remember this. Say it out loud,'' He says, slowly handing me his phone which causes me to furrow my eyebrows at the word count. This does not seem like a proper proposal because this seems like a damn essay.

''Okay, when you get there . . . pretend as if you've been running to see her. Like you were going to lose her if you didn't hurry. You were supposed to be on your flight to somewhere but you ditched your flight so that you'd be able to propose to her. Sweet, eh?'' He says, grinning.

''This is like a Bollywood movie. Do I have to change clothes, too?'' I ask, causing Gerald to let out a scoff but he quickly covers it by clearing his throat—continuing to look down at the road with both of his hands gripping onto the steering wheel.

Dimitri laughs, ''Man . . . since you're proposing in public, I'm trying to attract people to watch your damn proposal. Once they start lifting up their phones and record the whole thing, it could just get viral. Then, you can shove it in your mother's face.'' He replies.

If anything about me goes on the internet, mother wouldn't be pleased. Well, if those kind of things are scandals . . . but if it's a proper proposal, she'd flip with confusion and joy at the same time, especially if she finds out that it's Kenna.

Does proposing in the emergency room at the hospital count as a proper proposal? The main point is to surprise Kenna. She doesn't need to know I'll be proposing today because like she said, she wanted a proper proposal—a proposal where the other person is surprised.

''Do you think it'll work? The emergency room is always busy and what if I get kicked out?'' I question with a slight worry showing on my face as I keep on gripping onto his phone.

''For all I know, you'll be curing those people.'' He responds before pointing onto his phone, ''Now . . . stop procrastinating and start reading. Memorise them,'' He adds.

As I'm about to read, he stops me.

''Never mind. Let's do a little bit role play here,'' He turns his body so that he'll be sitting the opposite from me instead of beside me. ''I'll be Kenna and you'll be yourself, now read the damn proposal,'' He says, making me think that the proposal might already be damned.

''Kenna . . . thank god you're here,'' I begin to read as I look up at his face, making sure that I'm doing it correctly before continuing, ''Look, do you have a minute?''

''Don't forget the panting,'' He interrupts.

Just as we both continue the role play, I am already memorising the words. They seem to fit our situation perfectly . . . me describing the years we've spent together and how her beauty somehow mesmerises me—she'll be stunned at the words.

Yet, this proposal isn't something genuine from the heart. It's made to impress her and also the people around her for them to stop what they're doing and look at us.

''Remember what I said, don't forget to pretend as if you've been running.'' He looks up at my hair, ''Run your fingers through your hair a little bit, try making them look messy in a good, attractive way.'' He adds which causes me to chuckle, doing as told.

Just as I'm about to ask him something, his phone starts to ring which causes him to raise his index finger up before looking down at the screen—immediately answering the call as soon as he sees it's no other than his, son.

''I'm leaving,'' I say before turning to Gerald, ''Drop him wherever he wants and then come back here to pick me up at the exact spot,'' I add and he nods, making me turn to Flynn who is stepping down the car to open the door for me.

As I step out of the car, Flynn quickly catches up with my walking pace before answering his phone that has been ringing for the past couple of minutes.

''Yes, I'll make sure to tell him.'' He says on the phone, quickly hanging up as he stands beside me, ''Mr. Ashton . . . you're needed in the office as soon as possible. Esmeralda told me that—'' I cut him off by turning to look at him, causing him to press his lips into a thin line.

''Flynn, I'm going to propose to Kenna and you're asking me to head back to the office? That has got to wait, this can't.'' I reply before entering the emergency room which is not as packed, making me swiftly walk in the middle, eyes wandering to look for Kenna.

Flynn is being left behind, answering another phone call as he makes his way towards a different direction—making me turn back to look for Kenna. According to the informations I have gathered, she's working at the emergency room this week during the day with no night shifts so she should be here . . . somewhere.

All of a sudden, I find Kenna walking towards one of the patients which is a little girl around the age of six. The little girl's eyes are filled with tears as she holds back the pain from the injury on her knee, making me see that Kenna is doing her best to calm her down.

Kenna smiles at her as she cups onto the girl's face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The little girl nods her head, wiping away the fallen tears with her tiny hand—somehow, leaving me smiling at myself at the current situation.

On the other side of the bed, stands a little boy, also around the age of six with his parent holding onto his shoulders—realising me that the little boy might've pushed her down and cause the injury which leaves me remembering about Kenna and I, in the past.