Chapter 19

Tiana's POV

It's already 6:03pm and Marcel still hasn't come in my apartment since he promised me he'd help me prepare for the competition so I decided to text him.

"You coming yet? I'm staaarving let's eat dinner here. Stay safe :) x."

I texted but in a few minutes, the door bell rang so I went down and opened the door to see Marcel wearing a white shirt, some cargo pants, toms shoes, he wore his glasses back on and he gelled up his hair again.

Just like the first time I met him.

"Wow," I sighed staring at him from head to toe as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"D-Do you think I don't look nice?" he said as I chuckled.

"No, silly! You're lovely as always." I said, smiling and hugged him. "Here, come inside. I cooked dinner."

"What did you cook?" he asked, putting down his bag on the couch.

"English cottage pie with cheese and leek topping," I said and did a hand kiss gesture as Marcel chuckled a bit. "Oh and for dessert, I prepared coconut cream pie. But I don't know if you like it though," I added as he smiled and shook his head.

"I'd love it," he said which made me blush.

We then sat down and ate together in the opposite sides of the table. He was quiet though and I began wondering what was going on in his head but I guess it's just nothing so I just ignored it.

Marcel's POV

I kept quiet while Tiana and I ate because I was still thinking over the whole Trevor's advising thing. She looked great by the way, as always. She looked good in her black shorts and red Mickey Mouse sweater. Despite that she's so wealthy and close to perfect, she still remains simple though. Which makes me love her even more. And since it was getting too quiet, I decided to compliment Tiana's cooking saying it was good-- damn it, fine, it's insanely delicious! Not to mention her coconut cream pie tastes heavenly than I could have ever imagine! She could be a good partner someday... hopefully.

Anyway, after we ate, we then headed upstairs to her room to start studying for the competition. I taught her some things since I have already experience being in a competition like that which I gladly won.

"Okay so, you're saying, politics and the economy are the topics that are most likely to be the speech to be told?" Tiana said as I nodded.

I wanted to have this as an opportunity though to ask her stuffs about the things Trevor told me though but I was too scared. She might get mad at me and won't talk to me ever again. But still---

"Tiana?" I said as she looked at me, her brown sparkling eyes looking deep into mine.

"Hmm?" she said as I shook my head.

"Uh-Uhm, do you think I'm ugly when I'm like this?" I said, referring to my hair and glasses and the way I dress as she shook her head and laughed.

"Of course not! What made you think so?" she said as I scratched the back of my neck.

"B-Because you might just have hung out with me when I changed my looks.." I mumbled as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Hey," she said, cupping my cheeks and looked straight in my eyes "You look great. Inside and outside. I hang out with you because you are a very good guy. Okay?" she stated and kissed my forehead which made me blush.

"Okay.." I mumbled as we went back on studying.

After an hour or two of studying, it was time for me to go home. We were standing right beside my car to bid each other good night.

"Good night, Marcel. Stay safe." she said as we stared deeply into each other's eyes.

So deep that everything else just seemed like an illusion. All I could see was her. She looked so beautiful.

I could kiss her.

But I can't do that. I'm not her boyfriend and I respect her personal space.

So I just pulled her in and hugged her so tightly.

"Good luck tomorrow, Tiana. You can do it. Stay safe." I said as she hugged me back tightly.

"Thank you," she replied then we pulled away.

I then got in my car, waved at her and drove off home.

Thinking that I still have 2 days to decide whether I should confess my feelings for her.

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