A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

The strong wind welcomed the passengers as the cabin door opened. Arianna looked up at the bright sky as she stepped out of the plane. It had been four months since she left Dan city and now she's back. After a short pause, she descended the mobile stairway and walked away with her luggage in tow.

Arianna walked hurriedly not bothering with the people around her. Suddenly, a little boy carrying a red balloon stood in her way. She raised her brows as the boy handed her the balloon. She didn't take it. She just smiled, and turned to leave, but then again, another child holding another red balloon came to her. That's when she noticed the letters written on the balloons. W and I...

After that, a pair of twins walked towards her holding also red balloons but with the letter L on both of them.

Arianna narrowed her eyes as if sensing something troublesome about to come. She then noticed three kids holding balloons bearing the letters Y, O, and U. They then fell in line forming the words WILL, and YOU. Everyone turned to see what was happening as a bunch of kids stood in Arianna's way. Just when she thought things couldn't be more conspicuous, a song suddenly played, echoing through the whole terminal.

"I've been a rolling stone all my life

Flying all alone, flying blind

I've seen it all, I've been around

I've been lost and I've been found

But who I am with you is who I really wanna be

You're so good for me

And when I'm holdin' you, it feels like I've got the world in my hands

Yeah, a better man is who I am with you"

Arianna sighed as she recognize the song. It was the song "Who I am with you". This is certainly a prelude to a marriage proposal. Did this kids get the wrong person? Who would propose to her? She didn't even have a boyfriend! Heck, she've never had a boyfriend before!

As the music played, a man dressed in a suit appeared from the crowd. He was wearing a bouquet of red roses in one hand, and a white board in another hand. The words MARRY ME, was written on them.

Arianna held her forehead when the man handed her the flowers and kneeled down in front of her holding a small box that exposed a diamond ring.

"Arianna, will you marry me?"

Arianna didn't know how to reply. What kind of a joke is this? But then the already crowded terminal was becoming more and more congested by the minute. Everyone wants to see the show and people are shouting "Say yes!"...

Arianna closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Seriously, the scene is making her lose her patience. She glared at the man kneeling in front of her.

"Jayden, why are you doing this?"

Jayden looked at her with pleading eyes. "Please?" he begged.

Arianna rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Alright." she answered.

Jayden smiled widely and quickly stood up. He then hugged Arianna in front of the whole crowd.

It was the most tiring flight for Arianna ever. She sat limply beside Jayden inside his car as if her soul had left her body. Looking at her posture, Jayden couldn't help but laugh at her.

"Mind your image, Miss Reid." he commented.

Arianna glared at him.

"What image? My good image was already ruined by you! What's with all this nonsense!" she yelled.

"I'm sorry for not informing you ahead of time."

"Ugh! Seriously. I've already suffered so much for the sake of our friendship! Now, everyone in the city will gossip about me. Your life will be peaceful, but what about mine? You should've just reported Belle to the police! Put that creepy woman in jail and let her rot in there forever!"

Arianna continued nagging. Jayden didn't like naggy women, but when he watch Arianna voice out her complaints, he didn't know why but he finds it cute. Since Yago disappeared, Arianna became short tempered. It was like she's been nursing a ball of fire inside her heart. Although she wasn't like the girl from before anymore, for Jayden, Arianna was still as captivating.

"What are you complaining about? Such an outstanding man like me proposed marriage to you in public! That's a big blessing, don't you think?"

Jayden joked while acting arrogant.

Arianna turned to him with eyes narrowed. "Narcissist!",she uttered.

Jayden smiled and then handed her a small box.

"Keep this ring... just in case."

***

The news of Jayden Bates proposing to Arianna Reid spread out to the whole city and beyond like a wild fire. In a way, it achieved it's goal as Belle didn't come to see Jayden since the day Arianna came back from abroad. To make it more realistic, she even agreed to attend banquets and functions with Jayden as his partner. News of them getting married were circulating around. Even Jayden's company benefited through this gossips. To be associated with the influencial Arianna Reid, there's only gain and no losses.

Inside a luxurious pent house, a man was standing on the balcony, watching the whole city beneath him. Under the dark sky, only flickers of light can be seen from afar.

"Is it true that Arianna Reid was planning to marry Mr. Jayden Bates?"

the man asked the older man standing behind him wearing a butler's uniform.

The older man bowed his head as he replied. "Yes sir. We've confirmed this report."

The man was quiet for a while before throwing away the glass in his hand, breaking it into pieces.

" It looks like Santiago didn't mean anything to her. She could forget about him so soon." he commented.

The butler was silent as he stared at the broken pieces of wine glass. The master had been in a terrible mood this fast few months. Could it be because of his wife?

"Call for my assistant. We will launch an attack on both of them. I don't believe I can't beat the both of them to the ground."

The butler became anxious when he heard those words. He quickly kneeled down behind him.

"Please sir, It's alright not to make a move. If we do things rashly, madam won't let us go."

The man clenched his fist. He knew what the butler said was right. But how can he take this things lying down?

"Fine." he said with a sigh. "I'll wait til their wedding...."

anyway, it's not that hard to abduct a bride on her wedding day, right? He thought with a sneer.