The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Marcus was speechless, but his colleagues suddenly broke out in applause and shouts.
On one hand, they were trying to suck up to Aaron. On the other hand, they sincerely agreed with him. How could Marcus
propose without a diamond ring?
They were so happy for Marcus that they forgot about the ring! More importantly, Aaron did say he was going to give everybody
the rest of the day off. In other words, they could go home after Marcus finished his proposal.
Unable to go back on his words, Marcus stood up and chuckled awkwardly to hide his embarrassment. “Mister Aaron is right.
What’s a proposal without a diamond ring? Wait for me here, Annie. I’ll be back with a diamond ring.”
After that, he half-jogged out of the cafeteria.
“Wait, Marcus. Don’t go!” shouted Annie, but he was already out of sight.
Everyone sat back down to finish their lunch and waited for Marcus to return with the diamond ring.
Annie glanced at Aaron and rebuked him, “Why did you have to do that to him? He has just started working not long ago, so
where is he going to come up with so much money to buy a diamond ring?”
Aaron smiled. “Well, it’s very brave of him to propose when he doesn’t have any money. I mean, how is he going to pay for all the
living expenses after you two are married? What’s the matter? Were you going to say yes to him if I hadn’t come?”
Annie was a little taken aback. She avoided meeting his eyes as she replied, “I... I don’t know.”
Aaron looked at her helplessly. “Silly girl. You’re in for a life of misery if you go soft for a man. Your heart goes out to him because
he just started working and doesn’t have the money to buy you a diamond ring, yet he doesn’t care that you’ve come all the way
here to find me or that you haven’t eaten yet.”
Hearing this, Annie looked at him in surprise. She then pouted and said, “What about you, then? You’re a man too!”
Aaron shrugged and said, “You’re right. I’m the same. Pity the girl who falls for me because there’ll only be heartbreak waiting for
her.”
Annie frowned before suddenly breaking out in laughter. “Well, it’s good to know you at least have some sort of self-awareness.”

Aaron never denied he was a player, so he did not mind being insulted. “What are you still doing here, then? Are you really going
to wait for Marcus to come back to propose to you?” he asked with a smile.
Annie was feeling a conflict of emotions at that moment. She blinked and said softly, “Aaron.”
Aaron moved a little closer to her to hear her better. “Yes? I’m listening.”
“Please stay out of my business in the future. You’re only going to cause me a lot of trouble.”
...
Only Aaron, who was passing the time on his phone, was left by the time Marcus came back to the cafeteria.
Failing to locate Annie after looking around, Marcus approached Aaron and asked, “Mister Aaron, where’s Annie?”
Aaron glanced at him. “Oh, she left.”
Marcus frowned and took out an exquisite velvet box from his pocket. “Why did she leave when I’ve already bought the diamond
ring for her?”
Aaron put down his phone and took the velvet box from him. He then opened it to reveal a ring with a huge diamond on it.
Notably, the diamond was not real. It was, instead, a man-made moissanite.
Aaron closed the box and put it on the table before getting up with a smile and patting Marcus’ shoulder. “You should keep the
ring for yourself. Annie will never go for a ring like this.”
Marcus’ face darkened to hide his guilt. He knew very well that he had bought a fake diamond ring. After all, he could not
possibly come up with the money to buy a real diamond ring.