The Love Pact

"You're kidding, right?" Louis said, smiling at his father.

When Mark Tomlinson stayed quiet, sitting straight while looking at him, Louis' smile disappeared as he laughed loudly.

"Cut it out! You got me there. Fine, it's funny." He raised his two hands in surrender but the man still didn't speak. That's when he panicked.

"You're really serious?" Louis stated with wide eyes, staring at his father's serious expression for a few seconds. Oh my Gosh! He's really serious! Louis doesn't know if he should laugh or cry.

"Son, stay calm and sit-"

"No, I will not sit down, Dad!" He blurted out, then paced angrily around their living room. "Let me get this straight. You want me to marry someone that I haven't seen even once in my life? That's hilarious!" Had his father gone senile? Maybe he should call their family doctor to check his father up.

"That's not true, Sweetie. You were playmates before you turned one year old-"

"Oh, that's great. That makes him my first friend then." He sarcastically commented. "What kind of lousy argument is that, Dad?"

The old man sighed which caused Louis' brows to furrow. Never had his father ran out of what to say- may it be an abandonment case, the weather or the latest cellphone model. He halt in his steps and asked, "What's wrong, Dad?" Concern was etched on his face.

"Lou, you haven't even seen the guy. Why not give him a chance?"

Louis smiled despite himself. Whew! His Dad's fine.

He kneeled down in front of his father and held the old man's hands. It had been a long day and he was tired from taking care of the abandonment cases where he works. He's out of strength to duel with wits and charm so he dropped the game and went straight to the point.

"Dad, I don't know what kind of badly rotten food had entered your system to cause you to think like this, but.." He looked straight at his father's eyes. "..there's no way I'm going to marry this guy. I don't know him, I feel nothing for him, he's probably dating someone else and I also happen to like someone else too..."

Gosh, he really can't believe this. Mark Tomlinson had always been on the side of angels and justice, fighting for the rights of those who were abandoned and abused and against abusive capitalists. He doesn't understand how could this same man wanted such an injustice to his only child.

"It's not fair, Dad." Louis tried to cover the hurt in his voice. "It's not right to force people to do things they don't want to do, specially when you know that it will have a big effect in their lives. You're the one who taught me this." He said with conviction.

"I'm sorry, Lou. This is your mother's dying wish; to marry you to her best friend's only son. Liam's mother and your mother- they were inseparable. This is their wish. I kept this from you because I want to spare you for as long as I can. But I have to do this or else, I won't be able to face your mother in the afterlife." Mr. Tomlinson closed his eyes looking really tired.

Louis felt nervous. Last month, his father suffered from a heart attack and he became kind-of weak since then. Is this because his Dad feels like his time is running out? So he wants to fulfill his wife's dying wish?

"You okay Dad? Wait, I'll call Dr. Higgins." Louis said, about to get the phone on the desk.

"I'm okay, Son." Mark pulled Louis' hand. "I know that this isn't right, but Lou.." Louis could not believe his eyes; his father was close to tears. "I can't break my promise to your mom. I am deeply sorry." Louis was stunned. "I've never asked you for anything before, have I, Lou?"

Louis closed his eyes and tried to absorb what was happening. It's true. Mark never asked him for anything. Ever since Johannah died twenty-three years ago, Mark became his father and his mother. The man spent all of his time on him and on their family business. The man had no vices other than to help other people. Mark had this superman syndrome, like he wants to save the whole world. He would never want to harm anyone, specially not his Louis.

Louis opened his eyes and stared at his father. He can't recognize the man in front of him. Here is his Superman, head down and shoulders sagged.

"You can't do this to me, Dad." Louis was helpless.

"Louis, please." If only what's in front of Louis is his brave and confident father, he would argue and stand his ground. But the image of his old and frail-looking father was breaking his heart.

Don't you dare! Don't even think about it, Louis. This is your life! Shouted his brain.

Yes, this is my life, but he is my father. And the truth is, he is my life. His heart answered.

"I'll think about it, Dad."

"You will Son?" Mark looked like a thorn was taken out off of his chest.

"I'll think about it."

*****

Tip # 1 : Look ugly. Try to look as unattractive as you can. More often that not, people don't like their partners looking like a wierdo. Even you, for sure, wouldn't like someone who looks odd.

That's the first tip that Louis had read in a magazine article. It was entitled, 'How To Turn Someone Off'. So, he picked a shapeless, baggy jeans and a plain bright orange, oversized turtle-neck to wear on that fateful Saturday night. He separated his hair in the middle of his head and flattened it on his forehead. He put on a big, thick, black rimmed glasses that almost covers his whole face and then, he went out of his room.

Louis and his father arrived ten minutes early at a very expensive hotel-restaurant. Geoff Payne was the person who chose the place because if Louis and Mark will pick a place, it will be a less expensive but cozy and warm restaurant. Louis felt disgusted just by sitting there. A meal in that place will reach four digits while somewhere, a lot of families don't even have a single amount of money, or much worse, don't have food.

He knows that his father also thinks the same; Mark looked very uncomfortable just sitting there, feeling as out of place as Louis was.

Louis sighed. Looks like his father is really serious about fulfilling her mother's last wish if he's willing to endure this.

"They're late." Louis said, trying to sound annoyed after twenty-five minutes of waiting, but the truth is he's happy and he's even praying for the Payne father and son not to arrive.

"Yes, Lou, but they're here now."

Louis stiffened, then shot his eyes at the doorway. His vision was met with two guys, walking toward them looking like Gods from Olympus who just took the day off to try and live the lives of normal mortals.

In a different situation, Louis would've liked the old Payne. In his opinion, the man is just the same age as his father and like Mark, Geoff was also tall and had an easy smile. Too bad he was determined to hate him- he and his son.

The younger Payne was tall and muscled, slightly buzz cut brown hair that had grown longer on top, perfectly chiseled features, deep set of warm brown eyes... He had to admit, the guy was quite a looker. Well, okay, that was an understatement. He was actually devilishly handsome.

But so what? Louis knows that there are much more important things than the physical attributes of a person.

He hadn't noticed that his eyes had stayed on the guy longer than necessary. He caught Liam's gaze then the guy surveyed him from his boringly flattened hair to his red toms. Liam scoffed.

Louis' eyes widened. He doesn't know if he should laugh or get annoyed. But the better side of him took control. Easy, he told himself. This is exactly what you want- to disgust him and send him running off.

"Mark, it's good to see you again." The old Payne greeted them.

His father smiled then extended his hand to offer a handshake to the two men who had just arrived. "Yes, indeed, I'm happy that you're back."

"Mark, we deserve more than a handshake." Geoff gave his father a hug. Then, he turned to him. "Well, this must be your Louis."

No, I am the waiter. Who else would I be?, Louis wanted to sass, but instead, he extended his hand to him for a handshake.

"Yes, Sir, I'm Louis Tomlinson."

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Liam snap his head towards him, wide-eyed. Louis brushed it off as nothing.

Geoff held his hand tightly but gently. "Has anybody told you that you look exactly like your mother?"

Before, comments like that always makes him happy, but now, upon learning that his mother had set him off to marry someone, Louis felt a sudden hostility towards her. "So they say, Mr. Payne." He just said.

"That's too formal. Call me 'Uncle Geoff' for the time being while you two haven't tied the knot yet. You're my godson after all." Geoff said, smiling before introducing him to the devil.

"This is my son, Liam Payne. Son, meet your future husband and future father-in-law."