"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU"

IT WAS six o'clock in the evening when Andrew and Samantha finished. Exhausted, the young man decided to spend the night in the condo unit because it was closer to Scott's branch where he came from. The young man was just getting in his car when he heard his phone ring. Samantha came home first and was just picked up by their family driver.

Andrew immediately smiled when he read whose name was registered on his phone screen. He felt as if all the tiredness he was feeling had suddenly disappeared, so he didn't wait for it and hurriedly answered the call.

*****

A BEAUTIFUL smile broke from Lana's lips after that conversation with Andrew. The young lady remained to stare at the beautiful white lace curtain she had placed on the four poster-bed in Andrew's penthouse.

She knew Andrew would like that and she couldn’t wait for a possible reaction from him.

Lana quietly arranged the two wine glasses in the center of the coffee table.

She didn’t know why she was doing this, but she admitted she wanted to make that night romantic.

Why the young lady smiled again and then lit the candle in the middle of the table.

For some inexplicable reason, her chest suddenly trembled when she heard the elevator chime. She hurries out of the room to meet the newcomer whom she knew would be Andrew.

*****

"HELLO," she greeted the young man with a smile when she came across him.

The young man just smiled as well, and with big steps, she only found her own confinement of Andrew's big arms. "Hi," he said after that and kissed her earnestly.

Lana was immediately paralyzed by what the young man did. So before returning to where the simple kiss of that greeting was, the young lady decided to free herself from Andrew's tight embrace.

"I'll give you something," the young man stepped back into the accent chair where he left his sling bag.

The young lady’s chest was immediately filled with ecstasy when she noticed what the young man was now holding. A bouquet of red roses.

"This is for you," the young man then smilingly handed her the beautiful flowers.

Lana bit her lip because of the happiness that she felt and then accepted the flowers.

"Thank you, actually I also want to show you something," Lana pulled the young man's hand into the room.

"I hope you like it," was all Lana said then looked up at the young man who is now standing next to her.

With a beautiful smile, the young man stepped closer to the four-poster bed and her feet followed voluntarily.

"You did this all by yourself?" Andrew asked then touched the thin lace curtain with his hand.

The young lady nodded. "Actually, it's not really in the plan, someone just pushed me to do that," Lana said and giggled softly when the young man suddenly pulled her then took the bouquet of roses that he laid on the foot of the soft bed.

"Whoever she is, please just say thank you," Andrew brought his face close to hers afterward. "And by the way, I want you to know that I didn't just like it. I actually love it," after saying that he finally claimed Lana's seemingly waiting lips.

*****

That kiss was deep but gentle and full of respect.

That is why Lana quickly lost her sanity as often happens to her every time the young man kisses her.

"I would like to tell you something," when Andrew released her lips, that was what she said and then guided the young man to sit at the foot of the bed.

The young man moved his thick eyebrows then raised her hand and kissed the back of her palm tenderly.

"What is that?"

He continued kissing her hand up to her arm so Lana couldn't stop herself from panting because of the strange flow of sensation that Andrew was gradually reviving in her body.

"R-Rhyza, she went to my office earlier. She said she was pregnant, and you were the father," Lana said without hesitation so the young man quickly stopped and stared at her.

"What?" the startled question of the young man in a tone with disbelief.

Lana nodded and then smiled. "Don't worry, I know that's not true. It's been too long and if she's pregnant it should be obvious in her tummy," she laughed softly. "I didn't expect everything to be this difficult Andrew," Lana finally added and then sighed.

Then the young man pulled her closer to him and then hugged her tightly.

"Hey," Andrew said in a tone that eventually calmed her. She also felt fear of the young man's words.

She looked up at Andrew. "Did you know that since you got me pregnant, aside from Andrea, my pride is all that I have?" Lana continued.

"What?" Andrew in his confused tone.

"Aside from my previous boyfriend, you know you're the only man who's gone through my life, don't you? You also know that you're the only man I've given myself to, many times, over and over," Lana continued, and then she bowed her head and began to play with his fingers.

"W-What's wrong with you? What did Rhyza do? Tell me," Andrew asked anxiously then he moved and kneeled in front of her.

Then all the emotions that Lana harbored finally flowed, including the intense insecurity that she could not help feeling because of the ambiguity of her relationship between her and Andrew.

"Y-You don't have to marry me just because we have a child, Andrew," she said trying to save her own emotions, but she failed.

Lana could hear the violent sigh that the young man drew and let out. He then touched her chin then raised her face, but she averted her gaze from the young man.

"Hey, what are you talking about? I can't understand you. If Rhyza is the only reason for all this let me take care of everything. Tomorrow morning, I will talk to her," the young man in the tone streaked with anger she knew for his ex-girlfriend.

Lana shook her head and started to cry. "W-Why is that? Why are they making everything hard for us? Why are they making it hard for me to love you?" when she couldn't stop it, she then buried her face in her own palms.

"Because true and great love is never easy, sweetheart," Andrew reached out to her for her hands then held them tightly. "But you don't have to face all this alone. I'm here, we're together, and I will always be right beside you," continued the young man who was still staring straight into her eyes.

"A-Andrew?" when Lana could read the strange kind of emotion in the young man's eyes.

"I am more than willing to give up everything just to be with you. I can live without money and fame, but to live without you by my side, I have forgotten how," Andrew said passionately.

Lana cried again when the young man said that. "Oh, Andrew," she sniffed.

"I know I've never told you before, but I want you to know that there are only two real reasons why I want to marry you," the man began to dry her tears with his fingers. "Andrea, of course. But in case we don't have a child, do you know that I'll still marry you?"

Lana's eyes warmed again at Andrew's words. "R-Really?" she said in a trembling voice.

Andrew nodded. "Because I love you, so much," the young man admitted.