Episode 36

Playlist~ Bahati - Take it slow

Fernando's POV

"Yes!" I exclaimed excitedly punching my fist to the air. Micaela said yes to me, she's now my girlfriend! I Fernando Perez is now in a relationship! I can't believe this, how did everything happened so fast? Just yesterday I thought I'll never be able to love any woman in this planet, but look at me now, I did love someone like every normal man. I Fernando love a woman, not just any kind of woman but Micaela Alvarado a nerd just like me. A beautiful woman with an amazing personality, I regret not getting close to her back in highschool perhaps she wouldn't have been bullied but well that's in the past now, I'm here to make her feel loved for all the time she was bullied. I'll protect her and no one will ever dare to hurt her again, and more importantly I'll treat her like a queen that she is and the thought of suicide will never crept into her mind again.

My mom will be excited to hear that her son has finally found a woman to make his wife! And Antonio, my buddy will for sure be the most happiest when he founds out the new man I've become. Asking Micaela to be my girlfriend wasn't part of Antonio and I plan before I came here, but while I was on the plane traveling a thousand miles down here I felt the need of having someone like Micaela beside me. She needs me just same way I need her in my life and that is why I made her mine.

I dig out my phone and dialled my bestfriend's line and he picks up on the second ring. "Hello brother!" I shrieked with excitement.

"Woah! It's been like forever I heard such a cheering voice from my buddy! What's up bro?" Antonio snorted on his end.

"I guess I sounded so happy than expected" I grin and went to rest my back on the rails used in fencing the rooftop.

"Yes you did and still do. So tell me, what or who has caused my buddy to be this excited? What's the news man?"

"You should take a guess" I replied grinning from ear to ear.

"If this isn't about business then it has to do with.... Micaela Alvarado" he said and chuckles and I laughed.

"How smart of you. You're right bro, that woman just made me the happiest man alive".

"Really? Right now I'm intrigued. What did she do?"

"I asked her to be my girlfriend and guess what? She accepted!" I exclaimed. I want the whole world to know that I Fernando eventually fell in love despite my traumatic past.

"Are you for real?!"

"Yes buddy, it's for real. Hard to believe right?"

"Yes...yes, it's very hard to believe, especially when you never told me you'll be proposing to her, bro. What happened down there? I need a full gist!"

"Well, yeah you're right. I didn't plan it this way either. You know Antonio, you were right all along. I did love her but I was too scared to admit it because I don't want my heart to get broken again by a woman after what I'd pass through as a teenager because of them. But everything changed when I got here, that fear disappeared when she told me that she has been in love with me for quite sometime now and that was the reason she kissed me that fateful day".

"Wow! In as much as I'm in awe for hearing this, I'm overly excited for you bro! I mean who would have thought you'd fall in love someday? Congratulations brother! Congratulations!"

"Thank you" I chuckled and smoothen my hair.

"Welcome to the love club. I'll be your coach to guide you on this journey" he said and we both burst into laughter.

"Don't get ahead of yourself Antonio. Your marriage is just 3years old I guess, right?"

"Whatever. What I know is I'm older in this love thing so I'm qualified to be your coach, that's final. Do not argue with me".

"Yes Sir. We're going to talk more about it when I return. I have to go now, she should be waiting for me for dinner".

"Okay buddy, hit me up when you're free. My greetings to Micaela, tell her I'm sending my love to her and I can't wait to host her for dinner here in Madrid. One more thing, when you get back here, we're going to celebrate this amazing news".

"Roger that. Thanks man, I'll keep in touch".

"When are you coming back?"

"I don't know yet. Perhaps until my woman says she's had enough of me then I can think of returning" I chuckled softly imagining Antonio's facial expression right now.

"You've got to be kidding me?! I guess someone here is going to be more possessive than I've ever been" he said and I laughed so hard.

"Get out of my phone, Antonio" I laughed and hung up the call. If I should break the news to my mom about this, I wonder what her reaction would be. I know of course she'll be excited that her first son is finally settling down. As soon as I get back to Madrid, I'll give her a call and invite her over. I can't believe all that is happening, is so surreal. Love found me and I found love, this is so amazing.

I heave a sigh of relief and walked back inside to go have dinner with Micaela. Just maybe I would spend the night here if she asks me to. I just can't help but wonder what it's going to be like sleeping next to her. Breathe Fernando, don't get ahead of yourself and I did breathe before going in.

***

After we all had dinner, the four of us had a little chit chat before I stood up to take my leave. When I said four of us it includes myself, my girlfriend, Sabrina and Ji-hye. Glancing at my wristwatch it was past 11pm, I need to leave so I'll make it to the hotel before 12am or max 12.30am. "I'll be taking my leave, it's getting really late. Thanks for the dinner, I guess I finally kept to my promise of eating your delicious meal, right Ji-hye?"

"Yes Mr Fernando. I'm happy you did! Will you stop by tomorrow to have breakfast with us?" Ji-hye asks excitedly and I grin widely at her and glance at Micaela.

"If your boss lady would allow that then I'll definitely be here for breakfast tomorrow" came my reply. Micaela blushed and stared down to her laps.

"My lady, can Mr Fernando join us for breakfast tomorrow? You should say yes though, he's your boyfriend anyways" she said giggling and Micaela glance up at her with wide eyes.

"How did you know he's my boyfriend?" Micaela asks and I raised a brow at her. While I was here thinking few seconds ago that she already announced it to her friends, then here she was asking Ji-hye how she knew. Okay, let's hear what Ji-hye has in stored for response.

"C'mon ma'am, you don't need to broadcast it. Mr Fernando is the only man you've ever brought to your house, and I've caught both of you gazing into each other eyes like Lee Min Ho and Jun ji-hyun in a Korean drama titled Legend of the blue sea" Ji-hye blabs and I snorted holding back my laughter. While Sabrina giggles and my girlfriend...well she was blushing really hard right now.

"I think Sabrina is influencing you now" Micaela replied and avoided my gaze .

"Sabrina? What does Sabrina has to do with this again? Why is everyone seeing me as a gossiper?" Sabrina whines and I chuckled.

"Because you are ma'am. Sorry, but it's the truth. You're really nosy than I am" Ji-hye giggles and I couldn't help but laugh it all out.

These ladies are really cool to be around with after all. They love teasing each other and it's fun watching them do that. Although they can be really noisy but their noise is what lightened up the atmosphere. Is this what I've been missing out from? What would it have been like to have a younger sister? Would I had hated her too just because of my past?

"Earth to Fernando!" Sabrina yells and I logged out of my thoughts and flashed her a smile.

"Well, Ji-hye, you're not far from the truth. I'm now your boss's boyfriend, I guess she's too shy to let you know that" I said grinning from ear to ear while my gaze fixed on Micaela.

"Yay!" Ji-hye squealed excitedly and stood up, she came crushing me with a hug. "Thank you for choosing my lady to be yours. It's all I ever wanted for her to be with a gentleman like you, handsome. Please treat her like a queen because she is a queen huh, and you are the king" she giggles louder and we all laughed.

Sabrina began with her own blabbing on how I should treat Micaela in a romantic way, tour the world with her and lots of things she was mentioning that I wasn't paying attention to anymore. Mehn, they're really drama queens around here. Just three ladies here and it's like 20 of them are present.

"Okay, okay, okay! I got you ladies, just don't worry about the young miss sitting over there, I'll treat her in a way that the world will envy our love!"

"Yeah!!" Sabrina and Ji-hye cheered loudly and Micaela covers her face in her palm while I smiled and went over to her sit to kiss her head.

I mean it though, I'm going to love and treat her like an egg, not even a scratch would affect her. As from this day forward, she'll become like the pupil of my eyes.

"Oh God, please send me a man like Fernando" Sabrina prayed with her hands clapsed and her eyes up to the heavens.

"Amen! I want same for myself" Ji-hye answers and Micaela and I chuckles in amusement.

"Okay ladies, it's time to leave. See you ladies around" I announced and stood up with Micaela holding my hand.

"Oh your bag!" Ji-hye exclaims and rushed up inside to go get it.

"It was nice having you around, Fernando. Have a great night" Sabrina said.

"Thanks for everything, I owe you one" I replied and she smiled and left us alone. I returned my gaze to the lady standing in front of me. "Finally, we're alone again".

"Yes we are" she replied and gave me that smile.

"Don't smile at me like that" I pleaded and placed my hand on her right cheek. She held it and kissed my wrists and she let her lips lingers there for a moment.

"How am I smiling?" she asks gazing up at me and smiling in the same way that I asked her not to. Her eyes pierced to mine and I swear its causing me to be shy right now.

"Those eyes of yours are like stars. Have you ever sat outside at night and gaze up to the sky to watch the stars?-" I asks and she nods. "The beauty of the shining stars in the sky at night fits the description of your eyes. There's so much beauty in your eyes that it's almost blinding me right now. I guess if I stare too much I'll get addicted to it and won't want to blink for a second".

She giggles and I grin nervously. "Damn! I definitely suck at this! I wanted to say some romantic words to you but it came out worst than expected. I'm sorry" I apologise and sweep my face with my hands in embarrassment. This is going to be difficult after all, I can't do this alone, I need relationship guidelines. I'll definitely ask Antonio for help when I get back.

"I love it" she announces holding up my chin. "Those are the sweetest words I've ever heard" she added and I was awestruck.

"You loved it?" I asks to be sure I heard her right, and she nodded in affirmation.

"Ferd, I don't care if your words are perfect or not, I love you for who you are. I don't want you to act like someone else but you. So many relationships out there I've broken because of this, they pretend to do things they're not use to until they get tired someday and quit the relationship-" she pauses and took my hands and held it.

"I don't want the same fate to happen to us. Just do you, be real to me and I'll be real to you. Love me the way you can, care for me the way you can, just do things your own way. You don't have to copy someone just to make me happy, I'm okay with whatever you give to me in this relationship, okay my love?" She continues staring into my eyes.

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll love you in my own way, you'd see. I'm glad to have made you my woman" I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Would you say yes if I ask you to spend the night here with me?" she asks and I stepped back and stared at her with wide eyes. Wasn't that what I wanted?