Purple Romance

''Where do we place this skateboard?'' Lisa asked lifting the skateboard and Paula pointed at the most spacious place that was able to draw attention. On the skateboard were words like 'Will you marry me Gideon?''

''Over there. Gideon will be able to see it as soon as he enters'' she said enthusiastically.

''Look at you all happy? Paula, you still have a lot of time to stop this craziness. Let me tell you, marriage is a trap. Once you get in, there is no getting out and divorce will mar your name for good''

''Lisa, I've made up my mind already. Gideon is the one for me. I am confident in his love for me and if there are any problems in the future, we can just solve them together'' Paula said proudly with a smile and Lisa sighed, shaking her head.

She just couldn't understand why her friend was going to this extent to prove that true love existed. If it existed, Lisa was sure, her love got missing while trying to find her and she wasn't interested in true love either. She could just have fun and do sleep with as much handsome guys as she could without feeling any form of burden.

Her motto in life was simple; YOLO, you only live once. Since that was the case, why tying herself down with a single man for the rest of her life when she could get a lot of them? she definitely wasn't that naïve to believe in such fantasies.

True love? Yeah, right her ass.

''Alright, miss, have you call Gideon yet? That bastard is a lucky guy. He better be worth it or I am going to beat him to pulp''

''I will go and change. Lisa, did you bring me the contraceptives I asked for?''

''Whoa, Paula. I always thought you were going to die a virgin but you got this really planned out? Are you seriously going to sleep with Gideon tonight after the proposal?''

''En, we've been together for so long and he has been patient with me. I want to give him a surprise today'' Paula said shyly as she blushed. She was 23 years this year but she had never been involved with a man. since tonight was going to be her first time, she wanted it to be special.

''Come and sit here, I need to tell you something'' Lisa pulled Paula's hand and they went to sit at the window.

''What is it?''

''Aye, you are so naïve and innocent. I am afraid that you are going to get hurt if I don't look out for you. this is why I advised you a number of times to sleep with as many men as you can to gain experience. Look at you?'' Lisa sighed, she was genuinely worried about Paula because she seemed so innocent. That is why during school, she had always looked out for her and protected her. Paula trusted in people a lot and that scared Lisa, they were like the opposite of the other.

''Stop worrying like you are giving your daughter away in marriage''

''You are like my daughter. I cherish you so much, Paula. That is why I still for the last time want to tell you that we can stop this madness in time. This, marriage is a scam, Paula''

''Marriage isn't a scam. My dad loved my mother so much. I want that kind of love too''

''Enough, you've made your bed, I will let you lay on it, but I will always be here for you. when this craziness fades away, you can always return home to me, who is reality''

''Thanks Lisa, this means a lot to me and having your support means a lot to me''

''Enough, no more. Call that lucky idiot and tell him to come over here'' Lisa stood up and smiled while Paula pouted her lips. Her soft puffy cheeks made her look adorable and cute and they were just Lisa's weakness.

Paula took her phone from her bag that was laying on the side and anxiously dialled Gideon's number.

''the number you have dialled cannot be reached at this moment. Leave a voice message after the tone'

''Oh'' Paula looked at the phone in her hands and turned to Lisa, ''this is strange, Gideon's phone isn't going through, Lisa''

''Try it again, it might be the network messing up'' Lisa could clearly see the worried expression in Paula's eyes.

Paula nodded and dialled the number again but it wasn't reachable and she began to get nervous.

''Lisa, did something happen to him? What if something happened to him? His phone has never been unreachable before''

''P, calm down, okay? You already made an appointment with him and he will definitely show up. just relax''

''Mmm'' Paula nodded.

Just then the bells hanging at the entrance made noise and they looked at each other happily and turned,

''I told you he would…'' Lisa paused and looked at the man making his way into the remote café shop. ''Whoa, nice meat'' she murmured seeming entranced by the man's appearance.

''Hi, may I ask who is Miss Paula Abdul among you two?'' the man's voice which sound crispy and strongly deep made Lisa to feel like she was about to orgasm at that moment.

Her perverse eyes sized the man up abut strangely, the man seemed to be also looking at Paula for some reason.

''I am Paula Abdul. How may I help you?'' Paula asked in a quirky voice and her face turned red. Even though she had always viewed Gideon as the most handsome man, she still couldn't shake it off. the man in front of her was beautiful.

''Right'' the man smiled and stretched forth his hand. There was an envelope in his hand but Paula didn't see it. she instead shook the man's hands nervously startling the man. He looked at their hands and smiled before correcting her, ''not my hand. Someone asked me to give this to you. He said it is important that you receive it''

''Ah, sorry'' Paul retreated her hands quickly from her and took the letter. Her face turned red as she apologised to the man, ''I'm sorry about that''

''No worries. Are you the owner of this café? I would like to order an iced Americano, please?'' he asked Paula.

''I am the owner of the café'' Lisa said to the man and he turned to look at her and simply nodded. ''You can sit over there, I will be there soon with your iced Americano'' Lisa added and the man nodded again before casting a final glance at Paula and then went over to his seat.

Paula's heart seemed to have stopped the moment she opened the letter and started reading it. She didn't know what to make of it and couldn't understand what exactly was going on. She just felt like her whole body had been drenched in cold water.

Her hands quavered and she turned to look at the man who had given the letter to her. he seemed to was also looking at her. With hurried steps she soon got to him and asked.

''Mister, can I ask who gave the letter to you?'' her voice was unsteady as she tried to fight the tears that threatened to fall. She bit her lips hard and clutched her fist, squeezing the letter in the process.

''Is everything alright, Miss?'' the man asked. He could clearly read her tumbling emotions. He had been with people and have studied the actions of humans very well. from his experience, it seemed the letter was a total bad news.

''I asked you who gave the letter to you?'' Paula's voice made Lisa to look up and when she saw the two of them, she quickly let the counter and walked over.

''A man gave it to me at the entrance. He said I should hand it over to you. What is the letter about?'' the man asked politely, but Paula's emotions were all over the place to care about that.

''Who are you? Are you a friend of Gideon?'' Paula asked and Lisa touched her arm worriedly.

''P, what's wrong?''

Paula turned to Lisa and stuffed the letter into her hands, Lisa immediately straightened it and started reading it out loud, subconsciously.

''Paula, I am sorry but I don't think you and I are fit for each other. We have different lifestyles. You are too innocent and your perception about love is pure naivety''

As Lisa read out the contents of the letter, the man finally realised what was going on. He looked up to see Paula's face already drenched in tears. Her minimal makeup was ruined. The man clutched his fist. For an unknown reason, his heartstrings pulled and he couldn't stop looking at her.

This feeling was too familiar to him. Once there was a time in his life that he had felt such desperation.

''The reason why I can't be together with you is, you are not my type. I don't do virgins, especially the ones who believe in happily ever after'' Lisa finished reading the letter and screamed, 'what?'' she turned to face the man.