"What's with the look?" Liam asked suspiciously.
"Nothing." Louis said as he helped Liam put out the groceries in the kitchen cabinet.
"You're a terrible liar, do you know that?" Liam said drily. Louis looked at him, feigning hurt. Liam shook his head.
"Fine." Louis said. "It's just that, it's creepy being here in your flat after what I've read in that article about you." Louis shuddered in a mix of disgust and disbelief. "Look, I don't mean anything bad, but the things that your ex-girlfriends wrote, they are so detailed it's shocking. And being here kinda eeks me out thinking that you did that here. It could have been here right at this counter..." Louis trailed off seeing Liam's amused expression. "What?" He asked, blushing.
"You have a very creative imagination."
His cheeks turned red even more. "Well, I can't help it."
"On what planet did you grow up? You should know by now that at least seventy-five percent of what you read and see on the net isn't true. What are your sources again? Rumors, right?" Liam answered continuing to put out the groceries.
"Yeah, but why are you scared to let your father know? That means some of the things written there are true, right?"
Liam froze.
Gotcha! Louis smirked. "You know Liam, you're so easy to read."
Liam glared at him. "First of all, they aren't my girlfriends. Those are just women that I spent a night with. My relationship with them were purely physical and I never pretended it to be otherwise. I don't know what they said or what you read but to set the record straight, nothing happened between us to that extent- meaning, we didn't go all the way. From the start, I always say what I want and what I can only give. I never sweet talk to anyone and I never led them on thinking that they could get anything more from me. I never lied to them."
"Secondly, I never bring women to my residence. If I do that, they will think that there's something deeper to what we have. So stop running your imagination inside my flat. This place is clean."
Louis just shrugged.
"What? No sarcastic remark?" Liam took the take-out food that they ordered at a restaurant earlier and prepared it on the table.
"Well, just like what you said, those women knew what you wanted and what you can only give, and they agreed. In my impression to those articles that they wrote, it looks like you're set-up is really like that. So they're not really bitter about it. I suppose that's their choice, so what kind of sarcastic remark can I give to that? They're big enough to know what they're doing."
"Wait, aren't you the almighty prince of morality? The champion of righteousness and defender of justice?" Liam's confused but still sarcastic tone.
"I believe in free will. I respect people's choices as long as it doesn't step over other's rights or hurt others. In your case, I think, no one's hurt. It was consensual. You both have the capacity to decide for yourselves and I can't comment on that. I may think that your set-up was morally improper, but that's my belief. I can't impose my belief on others. One of the most important thing is respect, and I should respect others' preferences- given of course, like what I've said earlier- that it doesn't step over someone's rights and-"
"Doesn't hurt other people. Yeah, I heard you." Liam continued. They'd already prepared the table and sat to eat lunch.
"Eh, how come that you don't respect my preferences in foods and you forced me to buy locally-manufactured products?" Liam opened the canned soft drinks and passed the canned pineapple juice to Louis.
"You really shouldn't drink much sodas. There's no redeeming factor in drinking that. Really unhealthy." Louis said like he hadn't heard Liam.
Liam let out a loud laugh. "See? There you are again. You said respect others’ preferences, so what's this?"
Louis shrugged his shoulders, taking the small box that he brought and placed it on the table.
"Give me the lid of your softdrink can. That can be recycled and can even use to make a wheelchair. Put it here." Louis said, also taking the lid of his canned pineapple drink and putting it in the box. "I did not force you to buy locally-manufactured goods. I merely advised you."
Louis begun to eat. Liam just shook his head, smiling.
*****
"So, here's the plan. My father loves intelligent people, but his conservatism is also strong. He's against abortion, artificial birth control, divorce, premarital sex-"
"You knew that!" Louis blurted. "And yet, you had all those escapades..." He stopped when he saw Liam's glare. He just grimaced. "Okay, okay. Sorry, I keep forgetting you didn't go all the way. C'mon, go on with the plan."
"Talk about abortion, divorce, and premarital sex and tell him that you agree to those things. That should tick my father off." Liam informed.
Louis smiled sweetly at Geoff Payne while he playback in his mind the things that he and Liam talked that day on how they could change Geoff's mind with regards to the engagement. The old Payne needs to be turned off at him.
They're sitting at the long table in the dining room of the Payne mansion. He and Mark are there to have dinner with the Payne father and son.
"So Uncle," He get Geoff's attention while the appetizer is being served to them. "What is your stand about contraception?"
Geoff was surprised by his question, but still managed to share his opinion. "Well, I'm a devoted Christian, Son, so naturally, I am against artificial birth control. We don't need that. Married couples can always use natural methods." Geoff calmly explained.
"But Uncle Geoff, natural method requires a lot of patience. It entails discipline and abstinence. Don't you think it's quite unreasonable to ask these things to people who work so hard everyday? I don't want to sound condescending, but for people who work hard, sex is like a way to relieve stress. It's very difficult to stop that urge and impose them to wait. Don't you think so, Uncle?"
"Well, uhm, coupling is for procreation. It shouldn't be a way to relieve stress." Geoff continued to take the soup.
"It's for procreation in the early times because Christians were persecuted, so they need to multiply. But now, that's not the case. I don't think we need to procreate that much anymore. Especially with our booming population." It's obvious that Liam's father was getting uncomfortable with the conversation.
Louis simply peaked at Liam and he saw the man with an expression on his face that says, 'Go on, you're on the right track.'
Louis was about to speak again, but Mr. Payne beat him to it. "You know, you might be just right." There's admiration in Geoff's face. He and Liam almost choked at the same time. What the…
Louis quickly looked at his fiancé. Liam's face says, 'Go on, keep on talking.' The guy even nodded a little for encouragement. Louis returned his gaze to Liam's father.
"What about divorce, Uncle?" He quickly asked.
"Well, tell me about your opinion, Dear. I'm sure your thoughts are very enlightening." Geoff looked at his friend. "I really like talking to your son, Mark. He makes me see perspective that I've never even considered before. He's really bright." Geoff said smiling sincerely.
Louis and Liam helplessly looked at each other.