Chapter 60

Chapter 60:

A Huge Step A key. But a key to what? Suddenly, an absurd idea flashes across my mind as I gasp, “You are not asking me to move in with you, are you?!!” He gulps and sits up straighter. I haven’t seen him this nervous before.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m doing,” he smiles awkwardly. “But honestly, this isn’t the reaction I was looking for.”

I sit there still, my mind completely blank.

He is asking me to move in with him? But we are only 18! And, of course, he isn’t like normal students since he has his own house and everything, but regardless, we are still too young to make such huge commitment! I am the only one to think that moving-in is a huge, huge step for a couple? Amidst the silence, he leans over and grabs my hands, “OK now you are scaring me a little. You make it seems like that I’m holding a gun to your head and forcing you to jump off a cliff.” I force out a smile, “been there before.”

“Just tell me your real thoughts. It wouldn’t be the first time you rejected me, and I think I can take the hit,” he says in a playful tone.

His attitude eases me up a bit. I take a deep breath and try to organize my thoughts, “well… I just think we are moving a bit too fast. We just started dating not so long ago and there are so many issues between us, like our parents, school, college...Are you sure now is a good time?”

And there is another reason. I haven’t figured out what happened three years ago with that letter that went missing for no reason. I find it hard to open up to him with this between us.

Li 1 L “OK, I hear what you are saying. But I still think you should move in with me,” he says.

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Just answer me this: have you ever thought of our future before?”

I’m stunned for a moment.

Of course, I have thought of our future, so many times that I’ve actually lost count. I fantasize about us going to the same college, getting a nice little apartment off campus, working in the same city after graduation and, eventually, committing a lifetime of happiness to each other.

But I’ve also been through so many heartbreaks at this point that I dare not think too deep into all these anymore.

And now he is asking me this…

“Yes.”

I gather all my courage and answer him in a low voice, “Yes I’ve thought of it before, so many times. But I don’t see how that relates to what we are facing now.”

“It does,” he cups my cheek with both of his hands and touches the tip of my nose with his. “Because I want our future to be tomorrow, not years later. I don’t want to wait another 2 to 3 years to have you in my life. I want your face to be the first thing I see every morning when I open my eyes, starting today.” I find it hard to keep the corner of my lips down, “you sound very forceful.” He smiles with me, “So is it working then?” It is working, probably a little too well. God why is it so hard for me to resist him? “Say something nicer,” I murmur. “I’ll probably say yes.” His breathing becomes fast, and he says, “I love you Nat. And I think we are destined to be together. If that’s the case, I don’t want us to waste another single day.”

My heart swells. His words touch the softest place in my soul. And I have to admit that I want everything he just said. Under his intense and anxious gaze, I slowly nod my head.

“Fuck! Is that a yes?” he gasps with a hoarse voice. “I-wait, let me do this the right way.”

He jumps off bed and slips into his shirt and jeans as quickly as possible. Then he takes the velvet box in his hand, getting down on one knee beside the bed.

“Oh dear god,” I cover my face with my hands, my shoulders shaking with laughter. “Please get up! I’m begging you–” Yet he carries on anyway, in a playful yet solemn way, “Natalia Moore, would you do me the honor-”

I hold my breath involuntarily, staring deep into his beautiful green eyes. “–of moving in with me?” he finishes.

This seems very ridiculous, with him getting down like this and me sitting on bed naked. But I still feel a lump at my throat that makes me want to sob and cry. He looks at me, waiting for my answer anxiously.

“…Yes.” I choke and nod several times.

The brightest smile appears on his face immediately. He jumps up and pulls me in for a long and deep kiss. I kiss back as hard as I can. At that moment, I’m so happy that I feel my chest is going to explode.

***

I get up the next morning feeling like a new person. I feel really good about this moving forward thing, especially since we’ve been through a lot together already. I run into Jenna and James at breakfast.

These two are also hitting it off really well. When Jenna stands up to get another cup of coffee, I follow her out and tell her what happened last night. “Wow really? Moving in together already?” she seems very surprised. “Are you sure about this?”

“I think so, yeah,” I nod. “Unless you’ve found something that can prove me wrong?”

Jenna shrugs, “Unfortunately no. But I’m positive that something is out there… you know what? I’ll check James’s phone sometimes without him knowing.” “What? That’s a bit too far, isn’t it?”

“Relax. I’ll dump him anyway when he becomes useless,” Jenna laughs and pats my shoulder. “You just focus on dating the prince charming for now.”

After breakfast, Jenna and I start wandering about in the garden, until James interrupts us saying that he wants to take Jenna out for a little ride. I want them to have more alone time, so I set her free and turn back looking for Eason.

I find him talking to the bustler in the dining room. I walk closer and catch the last few words of their conversation.

“...yes, you can take down all decorations today. Is there anything else?” Eason asks.

“Yes sir,” the butler says. “You made a video and asked me to play it at the anniversary party. But sadly, we never got to that part. Shall I delete it, or do you want the copy back?”

A video? He made a video for mom and Mr. Ramirez?

Aww, that’s really sweet! Yet Eason quickly replies, “Just delete it. The whole thing.” “Hold on a second, Eason. You made that for them, right? I think they would love to see it!”

“No, I don’t think so. Don’t mind that.”

There’s a fleeting panic in his eyes which confuses me. Is he afraid of me seeing that video? Did he say something sweet and embarrassing? I’m even more curious now.

“But at least you can show it to me-”

“No!” he snaps, his tone harsher than I expected. “Just drop it and let’s go.” Then he shoots the butler an angry glare, as if he’s blaming the poor man for mentioning it. Before I get to say anything again, he drags me away. Yet I keep thinking about it for the rest of the day. Eventually, I decide to go around him and acquire a copy myself. If he said something nice in the video, I will show it to mom and that’ll probably ease up their relationship. So later I find a chance and go to that butler again asking for the video.

He seems very hesitant when he hears my request, “But Mr. Ramirez clearly said that…”

“And I’m his sister, right? You saw how close we are. Plus, if that’s something you can show to the entire crowd at the party, I should also be allowed to see it. Right?”

He pauses a little and eventually agrees. But he says that he doesn’t have the video right now. Later when he gets back to his office, he will send me an email with the copy I thank him in a light mood. I really look forward to what Eason said in that video.