Veronica walked to Rawlf who was already smiling softly while watching her approach him as he skillfully played the lovely tune on the piano.
Beside the big piano, there was a table with two seats. Atop the table was a wine bucket filled with ice and a bottle of wine.
There were two wine glasses arranged near it and a flower vase of red roses at the center part. The setting was neat and it's to Veronica's liking.
Veronica chose to approached Rawlf while he was still playing. She leaned on the side of the piano watching her man. Rawlf smirked at her then focus on the piano keys.
The atmosphere is filled with the soft and pretty tune, a woman staring at her man, love filled her eyes. While the man, from time to time would glance at his woman, as he put his heart into playing the piece for her.
"Do you like it?"
Rawlf asked her after he finished the piece. He pulled her gently to his lap.
Veronica let him pull her to him, "Yes. It's charming. What piece is it?"
"To a Wild Rose. Published by Edward McDowell in 1896. Do you know that the idea of this piece was almost tossed in the trash bin?"
Veronica looked at him, urging him to continue the interesting story of the piece.
"But then, his wife Marian, picked up the paper, uncrumpled it, and played the song, assuring her husband, Edward, the one who made the piece that it was a charming little melody."
"Indeed, it is. Can you play it again?" "Later. Let's have some wine first."
Veronica stood from Rawlf's embrace and the couple walked to the table near them. Rawlf, like a gentleman, pulled a seat and let Veronica sit first before moving to the other side.
He pulled a chair of his own and bent to pick something on the chair. Veronica "awwed" when Rawlf offered him a bouquet of red roses.
The bouquet looks so beautiful that any woman would surely have twinkling eyes, especially if it came from the man she loves.
"You are so…. prepared", she giggled happily.
"Come on, spill it in the open, what is it all about?"
"Well," Rawlf paused as if waiting for something, then suddenly, the atmosphere was filled by the lovely romantic tune.
Veronica turned her head towards the entrance of the rooftop.
There, approaching their table, was a slightly middle aged man playing another lovely piece, this time, on a violin.
Rawlf suddenly stood up and he walked back on Veronica's side, and to the woman's surprise, the man knelt in front of her as he presented an already opened small red box to her.
"I know that mom already introduced you as my fiancé so I was forced to do this." The couple looked into each other's eyes then both of them laughed.
"Idiot", Veronica said to tease him back.
"Yes. So Miss Veronica Wang, this idiot would like to make everything official between us. I thought I lost you five years ago. I don't want it to happen again. I want you and our cubs to live together, forever."
Rawlf paused to look Veronica directly in the eyes, as if relaying his sincerity.
"I want you in my life. I want to spend my lifetime with you. To grow old and gray with you. I want to experience all of it with you and our kids and hopefully, we'll have more in the future and watch them grow up together with you. So Miss Veronica Wang, I'm asking once again, will you marry this man?"
"You're indeed an idiot", Veronica stared at him. She wanted to say "Yes" but then, there were still a lot of things going on with her life.
With what happened to her family years ago and with what almost happened to her while being pregnant with the twins. There are still a lot of unfinished business and they are still unsolved. She couldn't marry him because she still had baggage that she needed to deal with first.
"Veronica, I don't know what made you hesitant. I can see it in your eyes. But trust me, whatever they are, I am willing to wait until you're ready to tell me."
Veronica holds his hands. "Stand up first."
"Accept my proposal first." "Rawlf."
The man looked at her deeply.
Determination in his eyes, and hope. And she doesn't have the heart to break that hope.
Indeed it's true that there are still a lot of things that she needs to solve. But also, she wouldn't let the past stop her from achieving her happiness, current or even in the future.
Discarding her hesitations, she nodded towards the man.
"Yes. Okay. But remem," Veronica was cut because the man suddenly stood up and enveloped her in his embrace!
"Thank you! Thank you! You won't regret it. Trust me, I'll make you happy and protect you and love you. You won't regret being with me!"
Rawlf then put the ring on Veronica's ring finger. The ring looks simple but with Veronica's years in the underworld, she could distinguish that the ring's look is deceiving.
She didn't look to inspect it, she will have time for that later. But she could tell that it's expensive enough to buy a private Island!
The couple enjoyed the sensation of being in each other's embrace as the violinist continued playing the piece, Salut d'amour.
They end up dancing slowly to the tune. Both their faces held the glow of happiness. "How are you able to prepare this not-so-prepared proposal, huh?"
"Honestly, I've been planning to do this since I met you at Diamante hotel." Veronica gazes at the man. His eyes held emotions which surprised Veronica. "What do you mean?"
Rawlf looked back in her eyes, he tightened his arms around her curvy waist. The same waist that must have swollen when she was pregnant with their cubs. A pang of pain surged in his heart. He is once again regretful. Then maybe, he should be honest towards her. At least he could make up his absence during the most critical stage of her life through this. His honesty. Through his honesty.
"Five years ago," he started.