Chapter 89

Lilian POV

"Babe, are you ready?" Ren's voice sounded from outside the room before the door opened, revealing him. He was graced in a pair of black trousers and, a purple button-up shirt that had the sleeves folded up to his elbow. His hair was styled beautifully in a wavy style, and all I could say was admit that he looked cute.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" He asked after he walked inside the room and covered the distance between us. He pulled me close and, our bodies pressed hard against each other, and my heart fluttered. It had been two weeks since we started dating, and those days had been the best of my life so far. I couldn't pray for any life happier and sweeter than this.

"You look cute," I admitted, and he raised his eyebrows as he pouted his lips.

"Feels good to hear that from you. You look gorgeous too, my love," He smiled at me heartily as he tucked the strands of hair on my forehead, behind my ear. Furthermore, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pecked my lips.

"Thank you," I muttered and blushed.

"Hmm. So, are you ready for us to leave now?" He asked, and I quickly nodded.

"Yes, I'm ready,"

"This way, babe," He held my hand and led me out of the room. Ren and I had decided to spend some more time here, and maybe get married here before we go back to LA, who knows?

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and since he had nothing important to do, we were just going to hang out together and have fun.

"Careful there," He uttered as he descended the staircase. He never let go of my hand like I was a baby learning how to walk and he was probably worried I'd fall.

"Thank you," I muttered shyly.

Ren led me out to the parking lot and he opened the door for me like the gentleman I never knew he was until we started dating lately.

"Thank you," I muttered again before I hopped inside the car, and he went to the driver's seat and hopped inside.

"So, where should we go first?" He asked after he drove out of the compound.

"I don't know... Maybe to the restaurant first," I replied to him, and he rolled his eyes sarcastically.

"You must be starving, yeah? You were the one that insisted we shouldn't eat before we left the house, anyway," He shrugged, and I pursed my lips.

"I was thinking we were going to be late, and besides, since we would be going to the restaurant, I thought there was no need to eat before leaving," I replied to him, and he nodded.

"Let's go get you something to eat then," He uttered. The happiness and peace I got from being around him was something I couldn't ever deny.

The drive to the fancy restaurant took pretty much time before we arrived, and I stepped out of the car just when he was about to open the door for me.

"You don't have to do that, Ren. I can handle the car door myself," I said to him after I alighted from the car, and he nodded.

"Come on," He held my hand gently and led me toward the entrance door, and as soon as we walked inside the restaurant, all eyes fell on us. Unlike what I had expected, the restaurant was filled with many people like they were there for an event or something, and for someone who hates being in a crowded place, I felt uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I didn't make a reservation before we came here. Had no idea we would be going to the restaurant," He leaned close and whispered to me.

"If you don't like it here, we can go somewhere else..."

"No, it's fine," Although I felt uncomfortable being here, it would be rude and inconsiderate of me to turn this place down bluntly like that, yeah?

"Are you sure?"

"Hmm," I nodded, and he squeezed my hand gently.

"Let's sit over there," He pointed to one of the empty chairs and we walked over to take the seat. He called the waiter's attention and a young man in his early thirties came rushing up to us.

"You are welcome to..."

"Your menu, please," Ren cut him off, and he mouthed an 'oh' with an embarrassing look on his face as he handed the menu to Ren.

"You should be nice to him. That was rude," I leaned forward and whispered to him in a way that the waiter didn't hear us, and he looked at me. Ren stared at me for the next few seconds with a blank expression on his face that had me frightened and asking myself for a while if I said something that got him angry.

"Did I say something wrong?" It took me a whole lot of self-confidence not to stutter.

"Hi! Thank you," I breathed out when he looked at the waiter with a welcoming and charming smile on his face.

"You are welcome, Sir. Are you placing your order now, Sir?" It was a crazy question to ask as Ren was already holding their menu, but I guess he was nervous.

"Yes. I'll have Mac and cheese. What about you, babe?" He looked at me with a sweet smile on his face.

"I'll have the same thing with a strawberry smoothie and a glass of orange juice," I stated.

"I'll have the same," He looked at the waiter and smiled at him.

"Alright, Sir. I'll go get it for you," The young man bowed slightly and left to get our orders afterward.

"Why were you staring at me like that earlier? I was scared," I pouted my lips, and he scoffed.

"You look so cute when you pout your lips. I feel like kissing you," He cupped his cheeks in his palms and leaned forward.

"Stop... People are looking at us," I whispered after I looked around the restaurant and found a lot of people staring at us. I felt embarrassed and a bit uncomfortable. It was the first time something like this was going to happen to me.

"I'm sorry for making you scared earlier. Was just trying to process something," He apologized to me, and I nodded.

"There is something on your face. Let me help you get it," He stood up and leaned forward.

"Wh... what is it?" I asked as I tried to touch my face, but he held my hand and pulled it down gently.

"I'll help you get it," He uttered as his hand snaked around my neck and he pulled me close.

"What are you..." He kissed my lips, and my heart fluttered. My eyes slowly narrowed in shock and embarrassment.

"Wh... what are you..." I quickly pulled away from him and blinked my eyes rapidly.

"Gosh! He is so romantic. I wish I have a man like him,"

"It's giving me a Korean drama vibe. I wish to be in her shoes,"

"If my man is not going to be like this, then I don't want him. Look at the way he is showing her off here in public. I want me that man," I heard the two girls behind us squeaking, and I felt proud and excited.

"Uhm... I'm sorry for being like that. I'm not used to it... That's why," I apologized to Ren after he sat back in his chair.

"Yes, I know. You don't have to apologize," He smiled at me and I couldn't be more than glad that he wasn't mad at me.

"Your orders are here, Sir," The waiter called our attention as he pushed a trolley filled with our food to where we were seated.

"Thank you," He smiled politely at the waiter.

"Please serve us," He further said, and the waiter proceeded to serve us. After he was done, he bowed slightly and went back.

"Do you want me to feed you, hmm?" Ren asked, but I quickly shook my head.

We were eating when I saw Nate and his girlfriend walk inside the restaurant, and my heart skipped a beat. It's not that I was still in love with him, but you know old feelings can't be pushed away just like that, right?

He spotted us and he walked over to us.

"Hi! Look who we have here," Ren raised his gaze to look at him, and he raised his eyebrows.

"Hi!" He just said to Nate casually.

"Hi, Lilian. It's nice to meet you again," Celine, his girlfriend smiled at me friendly, and I returned the smile.

"Thank you. It's nice to meet you too. Come on, why don't you get chairs and come sit with us?" I suggested, and she quickly nodded.

"Of course, thank you," She smiled at me.

"I'll go and get the chairs," Nate said to her and left to grab the chairs.

"You didn't have to do that, you know? I don't like them being here," Ren said casually, not reducing his voice. I guess he wanted Celine to hear that she and her boyfriend weren't welcome here.

"Babe!" I frowned, and he rolled his eyes.

"It's fine if you don't want us here. We will take other seats," Celine spoke up, but I quickly stood up.

"Don't listen to my boyfriend," I apologized to her, and I could swear that I heard Ren scoff.

"We really can..."

"I insist," I cut her off, and she glanced at Ren before she nodded.

We ate together and talked about random things. It felt uncomfortable at first being around Nate, but I managed to pull it off, and that was when I realized that I had really gotten over him.

After we left the restaurant, we hung out with Nate and Celine at the beach, at the cinema, and at the park where we had fun to the fullest, and when it was finally evening, we left to go back home.

"You didn't have to do that, you know? I really didn't like them around," Ren said honestly on our way back home.

"You didn't have to be so rude and obvious, you know? They did nothing to you, so why didn't you want them around?" I rolled my eyes at him, and he scoffed.

"You had a crush on Nate, and..."

"Exactly! I had, and not have. It's all in the past now, so you shouldn't be like that. Besides, we are still friends, and he has a girlfriend now whom he is in love with. Even if he doesn't, I love you, and won't ever think of doing anything stupid,"

"I know. I'm just trying to protect what's mine," He shrugged, and my cheeks flushed at the sound of 'mine'. I loved how possessive he sounded.

We finally got home after a few minutes' drive, and we headed straight to our room.

"Do you want me to make dinner?" I asked Ren minutes later as I watched him strip out of his clothes inside the room.

"Don't worry about that and just get some rest. I'll order takeouts from a restaurant," He replied to me as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"I can just make noodles," I insisted, but he shook his head.

"No, babe. We've been out all day, and you would be tired by now. I'll order takeouts," He insisted too, and I eventually had to give up.

"Alright then. I want to go shower. Will be back," I said to him and left for the bathroom where I had a long and relaxing bath, and I felt much better. I walked back into our room minutes later, but Ren wasn't inside.

"Where did he go?" I mumbled, and just then, the door opened and he walked inside with two small plastic bags.

"You're done already? I got the food," He uttered as he went to drop the plastic bags on the center table.

"That's so fast,"

"Yes, they are fast. I think they have a restaurant around here,"

"You should go ahead and eat. I want to shower," He pecked my lips before he left for the bathroom, and I breathed out.

I waited for him to finish bathing, and we ate together before we went to bed.

"I was thinking of something, babe?" He began as we both lay on the bed, cuddling up.

"Hmm? What's it?" I asked him curiously, and he sighed.

"What do you think about being my bride for real this time and not a stand-in bride, hmm?" He asked after a long silence, and my jaw dropped to the ground. For the next few minutes, I tried to process what he just said. Is he really asking me to marry him for real?

"Let's get married, Lilian. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to sleep and wake up with you every day of my life..." He paused then turned me to face him, his eyes piercing into mine. He held my cheek and caressed it gently.

"Let's start a family together. Have beautiful and handsome kids together, go through shits and sweet moments together, and grow old together," He said huskily, and my heart fluttered. I swallowed nothing.

"Be my wife and the mother of my unborn kids, Lilian," He said as he stared desperately into my eyes.

Silence crept into the atmosphere afterward. My heart hammered hard against my chest as I stared at him wordlessly. I thought dating Ren was the best day of my life, but now that he was asking me to marry him, I think this had to be the best day of my life.

"Yes! Yes, I will marry you. Yes, I be your wife, Ren," A drop of tears slid down my cheek as I nodded my head. I was going to have the happy ending I'd always dreamt of, but sadly, the person I wanted to be here with me was gone. I wanted my Dad to be here and witness this day, but I guess my fate had been

written even before I was created and sent down to earth.

"Thank you so much, Lilian... Thank you for giving us a chance," He whispered and kissed my lips excitedly...

And Finally! The End