The Best Friend's Contract

Aidan

"What if I told you that your bride-to-be has somehow ran away?" Dimitri appears from the door, his hand gripping tightly onto his phone as he looks at me with slight worry-causing my eyes to wander across his face in search for lies.

Just as I'm about to speak up, he has already burst out into laughters before entering the room and closing the door behind him. "You, nugget. You should've seen the look on your face. Can we do that again because I need to record it?" He raises his jet black phone up with a wide grin plastered on his face, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"That was not funny," I reply as I turn to look at the mirror again, fixing my tie. "In fact, you shouldn't joke around with things like that. What if my mother heard you?" I question before I start to take a few steps away from the mirror, eyeing down my suit; wanting myself to look very attractive and mouth-watering on my wedding day.

He rolls his eyes, "Diana and apparently, most of the XX chromosomes in your family are with Kenna." He continues to speak as his lips curve up into a smile, "I also heard that she's very beautiful today. I'm not sure if you'll be able to stand up straight when you see her," "Who?" I ask, continuing to eye myself in the mirror before turning to look at him.

"Kenna. Obviously," He replies.

"I thought she has always been beautiful? How can she be any different today?" My questions seem to have cause him to laugh, again. His lips remain curved as he mutters quite something under his breath in French-something I would be able to understand if he'd speak a little bit more louder than just mumbling.

"You... my man, has a lot to learn." He takes a seat, "I'll tell you 'I told you so' when you see her walk down the aisle. The moment your breath hitches, your hands shake and your lips remain speechless at the sight of her beauty... that's when you'll lose grip of gravity. Trust me, I've been there." He says, confidently without a slight fear of being wrong.

"You know what, Dimitri? Sometimes I don't understand you," I reply before looking up at the door, seeing my father standing with a smile on his face.

Marc, my father, looks down at me with proud and happiness glistering in his eyes. He takes a few steps towards me, "You clean up well, son. Your mother and I will always be happy for you and proud of every decision you make," He says, leaving me nodding my head with a smile.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

All of a sudden, Alain appears near the door with Ava holding onto his hand. As soon as she sees me, her eyes widen before running towards me-causing me to pick her up from her feet. Her lips curve up into a smile as she bursts into laughters, "Uncle Gabby, you look pretty." She says, both of her arms wrapping around my neck.

Both Alain and father watch with smiles on their faces.

Uncle Gabby... Ava calls me that ever since she learned how to talk. Just because she heard her grandmother calling me 'Gabriel' all the time whenever she's being serious and that's where she picked up the pieces-decided to call me Gabby. At first, I wasn't very fond of it but it started to sound cute, coming from her mouth.

I did search about the name Gabby on the internet when Dimitri told me it matches my personality whenever I nag. Apparently, Gabby means excessively or annoyingly talkative. That was definitely not true... I am not excessively or annoyingly talkative. In fact, I do not nag.

"What about me, Ava? We played dolls together," Dimitri starts to speak up as he pretends to be slightly hurt from not receiving any compliments from her, "We even had our own tea time and I thought it meant something in our friendship," He adds, crossing his arms. Ava chuckles, leaning closer towards me. "You look okay, Dim."

Dimitri is being called Dim by Ava.

She likes giving people nicknames of her own choice because it's easier for her to pronounce and remember. Unlike my given name Gabby, I actually tease him with the name Dim because it's easily mistaken for Dim Sum. Ever since then, he

wouldn't want to get anywhere near

Chinese food-what a funny excuse?

"I think I look more than okay. Probably, perfect but beautiful, at least." He turns to look at Alain, "One of the reasons why I taught my son to say nice words to people because sometimes, the truth can hurt." He says, leaving Alain to scoff at his childish behaviour.

Just as the four of us men, start to

enjoy the company of Ava, my wedding planner starts to knock

onto the door before stepping in-her eyes wandering around the room Ava, honey. Are you ready to go and walk down the aisle with Aunt Kenna? We better get you in position," She says and I slowly place her down on the ground, letting her run towards Marie.

"We better get going, then." Alain says.

My eyes wander to the mirror beside me, staring at myself a little bit longer than before; wanting to look handsome especially in Kenna's eyes. Instead of finding myself

staring at her in awe or losinine!

the

ability to stand straight when I see her, I'd want her to find herself pulled towards me as her heart beats fast

when she sees me.

"Father, would you please give us a moment?" Alain asks, looking at our father who nods his head and walks out of the room with Dimitri trailing behind him.

see it as a memory worth telling or worth knowing.

Even though this whole wedding and marriage is planned, I want it to be one of the best memories we've ever had in our friendship. I want to be able to talk about it when we grow older other than just seeing it as something... unwanted or fake. It'd be better if we can